chuckled. “No, actually I’ve lived here for two years. I guess it’s a little hard to tell, huh?”
“Yeah, a little.”
“Maybe while you’re here, I can get you to help me pick out some furniture. You’re going to soon realize there are a few other rooms that are also vacant of furniture.”
Trinity smiled, not surprised by the admission. “You are such a guy.” It took her brother Maxwell a couple of years to furnish a couple of rooms in his house as well, and his wasn’t half the size of Gunner’s.
She continued her walk through the first floor, no longer waiting for Gunner to guide her. After spotting another bathroom, a huge bedroom and a home office, she realized that they were back near the kitchen. Stepping up to the sliding glass doors, she glanced out at the backyard, not surprised to see an enormous pool that took up much of the yard.
“So, do you swim?” Gunner asked.
“Occasionally,” she responded when she turned from the glass doors. Gunner stood several feet from her, leaning against a wall in the kitchen, his dark skin creating a perfect contrast next to the stark white backdrop. Damn, this man is too sexy for his own good.
Her gaze traveled down his six-foot-one form, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, his legs crossed at the ankle. She admired how comfortable he seemed in his own skin. He probably had no idea that he looked as if he was posing for the cover of GQ magazine. Her gaze eased back up his body and heat rose to her face. Desire rippled through her when she noticed how perfect his jeans outlined the enticing bulge pressing against the front of his pants. Lord help me. She had always been attracted to ruggedly handsome men and Gunner was no exception. Everything about him screamed hot sex god. From the five-o’clock shadow lightly covering his strong jaw to his devil-may-care attitude, he was the epitome of sensuality.
She glanced away. Please God, help me get through these two months without falling under his sensuous spell. She just had to stay focused on her reason for being there, and not get caught up in the passionate longing that soared through her body whenever she was in his presence.
She returned her attention to him. “I noticed you have an alarm keypad near the front entrance, and one in the kitchen near the door that leads to the garage. Yet there are no signs of motion detectors or any security on the windows.”
Gunner shrugged. “Yeah, the house came with this alarm system and it only covers the doors. I never had a reason to look into anything more.”
“Well, in light of what you’ve told me about the attacks, we’ll need to better secure the house...just in case.”
Gunner yawned and pushed away from the wall. She didn’t know why he insisted on showing her around when it was clear that he was exhausted. Since he was a gambler living in Vegas, she imagined he slept all day and hung out in casinos all night. The thought of what he did for a living still irked her. She remembered him being super smart in college. It seemed like such a waste that he hadn’t used his knowledge to secure a real job. Maxwell had often complained about how hard he had to work for a B, while Gunner breezed through school, carrying a 3.9 grade point average throughout his four years of college. And the way Gunner partied with a stream of women floating in and out of his dorm room, Trinity wondered when he had time to study. What bothered her the most, though, was why he had to become a gambler instead of using his brains for something more productive.
“I trust your judgment regarding the security system,” Gunner said, breaking into her thoughts. “Just let me know who to write the check to. Come on and let me show you the rest of the house.”
* * *
Gunner started out showing Trinity around his home, but when she walked ahead of him, he let her. Following behind her offered a much better view. He didn’t know what type of workout routine she did, but whatever she was doing, was definitely working. At five-eight, she was the perfect height for him, with an hourglass figure and long legs that went on for days. Right now, his gaze was on her tight round ass encased in tailored slacks. He couldn’t help but imagine how well her butt cheeks would fit into the palms of—
“Okay, so I assume most of the bedrooms are upstairs? I only saw one down here.”
“That’s correct.” He turned suddenly, hoping she hadn’t noticed the evidence of how his body had reacted to hers. “I’ll go and grab your bags. Your room is upstairs,” he called out over his shoulder. He was going to be in a lot of trouble if he got an erection every time she was near him.
Fifteen minutes later, after showing her the three bedrooms with attached bathrooms, he took her to the room that he had prepared for her stay.
“This is lovely.” Trinity smiled at him and he wished she would look at him like that more often. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you had talked to my brother or my mother to find out my favorite colors. The room looks exactly like I would have decorated it.”
She ran her hands along the light blue, silk comforter and then onto the footboard of the mahogany sleigh bed. Gunner would never admit to asking Maxwell a few questions regarding her favorite colors and her taste in furniture. Apparently, her brother knew her well. Now, if he could get her to let down her guard some, maybe he could show her the man he had become and not the man she knew back when he was in college.
“Let me show you the last room in the house, and the real reason I purchased this place.”
Trinity followed him out of the room and down the hall. He could have given her a room on the other side of the house, but she had given him a speech about being his shadow for the next two months.
“I’m glad you put my room near yours. If I’m going to be guarding you, it’s a good idea for me to be as close to you as possible.”
Gunner smiled to himself. He was sure she didn’t realize how her words sounded to him, but was glad she was okay with the living arrangement.
He pushed open the double doors with as much flair as his exhausted body could muster and ushered her in.
“Welcome to my humble abode.”
Trinity laughed when she stepped over the threshold. “There is nothing humble about this space,” she said, humor in her voice. This was one of the few rooms that he had hired an interior decorator to create for him. His favorite part, besides the four-poster king-size bed, was the blackout window treatments that were regulated by a remote control. Since he did most of his sleeping during the day, they were necessary and one of the best investments he’d made to date.
“Through the double doors to your left is the main reason I purchased the house.”
Gunner’s gaze followed the sway of her hips as she glided across the room. He couldn’t for the life of him imagine this sexy woman as a cop. Sure, she had no problem saying what was on her mind, and could even be considered aggressive at times, but the thought of her wrestling a criminal to the ground or against a wall to arrest them was mind-boggling. Since she had graduated at the top of her police academy class, he had no doubt that she could handle her business.
“Oh. My. Goodness! This room alone is worth whatever you paid. This is absolutely gorgeous.” She gasped and he knew she had spotted the highlight of the luxury space. “Get the heck out of here! It has a sauna, too?”
Gunner stood in the doorway, chuckling
