She caught his hand when he stepped away. One hand caught the towel, the other, her fingers tangled with his. “I don’t know why I’m nervous around him. I honestly don’t know. I liked him a lot when I first met him. He’s very quiet. He keeps to the background, but for the longest time I felt safe around him. And then suddenly I didn’t.” She frowned, turning toward him. “It’s weird, Elijah. I have nightmares about him. He’s there and he’s got a gun pointed toward me and suddenly there’s blood all over me and . . .” She trailed off, her hand going to her throat.

Fucking Alonzo. He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s all right, don’t think about it if it’s upsetting to you. Nothing touches you here. I’ll take care of things.”

She turned in his arms, pressing close, sliding her arms around his neck, the towel held up in the front by the tightness of her body against his. Open down the back. He couldn’t stop himself from running his hands down her back and over the curve of her very fine ass. He loved her ass. He loved watching her walk. She had a sexy sway that called to him. Called to any man watching, but that was his.

“Elijah, is Alonzo here? Is he the situation?”

She was smart. Her eyes were on his. Steady. She’d tilted her head to look up at him and close, that face was so beautiful it hurt to look at her, and his hands, full of her soft skin and perfect ass, pressed her even closer.

“He’s the situation, baby. You tried to phone him when you were so scared and wanted to run from me.” He saw the realization dawning in her eyes.

“I did,” she whispered, astonished. “I was so hurt and needed help. But why would I call him of all people? That doesn’t make sense.”

She shivered again, and he didn’t know if it was because Alonzo—or the thought of him—frightened her or if she was cold. He ran his hands up and down her back, rubbing heat into her. The towel had to go because it was damp and didn’t need to be against her skin. He was a hell of a lot warmer. He tugged at it and tossed it aside.

She pressed closer. “Why would I call him?”

“I don’t know, mi vida, but when the phone went dead, he risked coming back here, knowing he might get shot in order to make certain you were okay.” He kept his voice strictly neutral, not wanting to sway her one way or the other.