Kelly had been so happy with Hunter’s friends that he could immediately sense her nervousness as he pulled up to drop her off at her house.

It was dark outside, and as he parked and came around to open the door for her, she had a slight scowl as she stepped out.

She also surveyed the landscape carefully, as if looking for something, but then seemed to steel herself to go back inside.

He could sense she didn’t want to be alone here, but he had no idea how to offer without sounding like a cad. After all, he’d known he’d be in the neighborhood anyway, whether it was in cat form prowling the mountains and keeping watch or human form in her home.

When they got to the door, she jingled her keys awkwardly, looking up at him with brown eyes that were luminous in the moonlight.

Despite the beautiful smell of fresh pine out here, he could still make out that slight spicy vanilla scent that drove him wild.

He wanted to put his fingers in her curls, pull her close… do so many things he had no business doing, not when he’d promised to protect her and that was all.

She put her hand on the door but paused, sighing. “Um. You don’t have to go home yet, if you don’t want. You could maybe come in for a movie?”

He perked up at that. It wasn’t begging, but it also didn’t sound like the kind of offer he could pass up. He didn’t have anything else to do, after all. “Sure.”

She led the way into the house, and he did the deadbolt behind them.

He was already starting to feel this place was more cozy than rundown, but that could be because it was full of her scent, and he associated it with her presence.

Yes, it needed things fixed, but once it was in better shape, it would make a hell of a home.

The image of him curled up with her in front of the fireplace (once he fixed it) was still stuck in his mind.

She’d set up a small table for her TV, and there was a small worn couch in front of it. She gestured for him to sit down as she shrugged out of her coat and left it on a nearby chair.

He sat on one side of the couch, putting his arm over the arm of it and getting comfy. It was older but nice.

To his surprise, she sat down right next to him, close enough to touch. He could feel the silk blouse she’d been wearing all day. It smelled like the adventures they’d had by the pond, the lunch with friends. But mostly, it smelled of her. Hunter wanted to bury his nose in it but resisted.

Good kitty.

If he got too much closer to her, he might not be able to resist purring, and that would be a hard thing to explain.

She grabbed the remote and pulled up the channel list. They settled on a movie that was playing on one of the local stations, but he could tell neither of them was paying much attention as the tension in the room began to build.

She was so beautiful sitting next to him, smelling wonderful—probably would feel wonderful.

But Hunter kept his hands to himself, knowing any advance was probably unwelcome.

He was surprised when, moments later, he felt her gently lift his arm so she could cuddle up. She propped her back against his side and let his arm drop around her waist, holding her close.

Then she let out a happy little sigh that touched his heart as she put a hand on his chest and relaxed, her legs tucked up on the couch beside her.

For a moment, it was hard to talk. It felt so good to hold her. Her waist felt amazingly soft, and her breasts were just above his fingers.

Don’t think about it, Hunter.

“I thought this was just business,” he croaked out, adjusting his arm to make sure it wasn’t in a risky location.

She sent him a furtive smile, then blushed. “I guess it didn’t feel like business when you took me to your friend’s for a date.”

“Was it a date?”

She pressed her lips together. “Hunter, there were two other couples and us.”

He swallowed. She had him there. He’d only meant to make her feel welcome, but hanging out with couples, it had been hard not to feel like they were one as well. “I guess so.”

“Is that a problem?” She raised her eyes to his curiously, looking vulnerable as she waited for his response. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“It’s not a problem, but I told you I wasn’t going to take advantage of you. And helping you out is still my first goal. You said you didn’t want romance.”

She pulled his arm tighter still and cuddled in even closer. “I guess I’m beginning to change my mind. I came out here planning to stay single, but it’s turning out to be harder than I thought.”

“Yeah,” he said, throat still tight.

“And I mean, I wasn’t planning for anything, but there’s a difference between that and letting things happen naturally. I like spending time with you. I’m okay with seeing how this goes.”

He sighed, secretly relieved. “I’m glad you aren’t blocking me out.”

She looked up at him. “Grayson was right. You’re incorrigible. I might as well give in.”

“Only if you want to.”

Her hands rested on his arm, soft and warm. “I guess I do, a little, for now.”

He tried not to grin stupidly and told himself to just focus on the movie. But hearing her say that made him happier than he’d ever been. It made the cat in him want to purr, and it made him want to rub his cheeks against hers, marking his territory.

But he would settle for holding her in his arms, watching a movie and knowing she was safe by his side.

* * *

Kelly was still surprised by her own audacity at cuddling up to Hunter on the couch.

She’d had such a warm, awesome day with great people that coming home had felt dreadful and cold.

She’d been glad when he accepted her invite to see a movie and glad when he’d been patient with her cuddling under his arm.

She’d told herself no romance, but something about the way he gave her all the space in the world while teasing her with an irresistible warmth made it so she wanted to break her own rules.

So when the movie ended and she still had no excuse to keep him there, her heart sank like a rock in a pond.

She hadn’t had any reason to feel unsafe here, yet, but she also didn’t want to be alone now that she remembered how good it felt to have someone by her side.

Besides, she hadn’t seen any sign of the bear, so Hunter should be safe still.

She wasn’t trying to bring anyone else into her problems, but it had been so long since she’d found someone she could trust. New friends along with him even.

It all seemed too good to be true, but it felt real at the same time. As if there was definitely a reason she was meant to move out here. As if these people would be a continuing part of her life.

But maybe that was just wishful thinking. Maybe Hunter really would just fix her house and move out, on to his next adventure.

He was so warm and fun that she imagined it was hard to keep him around and entertained. Could a quiet painter like her really do it?

He certainly seemed to like being by her side.

He stretched, yawning, and then looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to suggest what was next.

If he stayed… would he expect something to happen? Would she mind if it did? A part of her didn’t feel ready yet, but another part just wanted that hot man in her bed and didn’t care.

“Um, if you stayed, you wouldn’t have to drive over in the morning,” she said, resisting the urge to put her palm over her face in embarrassment at how transparent it sounded.

He looked genuinely taken aback, his blue eyes widening as he looked down at her, then at the watch on his hand. “True, but—”

She put a hand over his. “I don’t know what we’re doing here. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. But you’re kind to me, and I think you like me and—”

He caught her hand and squeezed it warmly in his. “I think you’re afraid, and if you want me to stay and protect you, you don’t need to offer me sex.” He grabbed a blanket that was on a nearby chair and slung it over his shoulder as he headed to the stairs. “Come on. Let’s get you tucked in.”

She followed him up the stairs warily, wondering how this was going to work out. “Um, where will you sleep?” She looked around the main bedroom. There wasn’t even a chair he could comfortably curl up in.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said with a shrug. “Probably the floor.”

“What?”

“I like hard surfaces,” he said easily. “Now go change. I want to tuck you in.”

She smiled at his eagerness to do something so… kind. It had been a long time since she’d been taken care of like that. Or at all.

“Okay, be right back.” She grabbed her pajamas, a modest flannel pair that covered her from head to toe, and came back in the room to see him spreading the blanket he’d brought at the foot of the bed.

“You really can sleep on the bed. I trust you.”

“Nah,” he said. “I’ll wait until you trust me even more. ‘Til you don’t look nervous when you invite me in.”

He had her there. As much as she wanted to be, her heart just wasn’t quite ready. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for. She just knew that no matter how awesome Hunter was, past hurts were holding her back.

He held back the covers so she could crawl into bed and then moved them over her, tucking them under her chin.

“I’m not a kid,” she joked.

“I know,” he said as he walked over to turn out the light and check the lock on the door. “But I like taking care of you. Sue me. No, don’t. I’m not rich.”

She laughed as he disappeared beneath her view, taking up residence on the floor with a plethora of rustling sounds. “Don’t you need a pillow?”

“I stole the chair cushion while you were changing. That okay?”

“Of course.” She was flushing, lying there in the darkness with just the two of them alone in her house in the middle of nowhere.

Somehow the sexual tension from before was still there. She turned over on her side and let out a sigh, thinking how different this felt than the night she’d spent alone here.

Just hearing the quiet sound of his breathing, the way his masculine scent tinged the air, made her feel safe.

“Good night, Hunter. Thanks so much for staying.”

His response was quiet. “You’re welcome. You sleep well, okay?”

“Okay.” She nuzzled into the covers, thinking that, for the first time in a long time, she would probably have peace in her sleep.

And she did, until she woke up a few hours later to the sound of a blaring alarm.