World's Most Eligible Texan by Sara Orwig Page B

drove, she watched him. His hands were well-shaped, blunt fingers with nails trimmed short. He was handsome, intelligent, the best daddy for her baby.
    He glanced in the rearview mirror.
    â€œAre we being followed?” she asked.
    â€œNo, we’re not.”
    She couldn’t imagine he was right about anyone following her. Why would someone follow her? She didn’t have anything valuable. As they approached her apartment, a muscle worked in his jaw, and her pulse raced. She knew he would finally have to come to grips with her decision. This would be their last date. He would kiss her. Anticipation made her pulse fly, but he wasn’t kissing her into accepting his marriageproposal. No way would she yield on that. Longing for him stabbed her, and she wanted to reach out and put her hand in his, but she couldn’t.
    Instead, she hugged her middle and slid out of the car when he held the door open for her. When she took her key out of her purse, his fingers closed over hers to take the key from her.
    â€œAaron, why don’t we just say goodbye right here and right now? It would be so much more pleasant than arguing about our futures.”
    He unlocked the door, shoved it open and switched on the light. “Let’s go inside,” he said, stepping back.
    â€œIt won’t do you any good,” she stated, looking into his green eyes that blazed with determination. Taking a deep breath and knowing she was going into a contest of wills and a fierce verbal struggle, she moved past him into her apartment. Stunned, she halted.
    With swiftly mounting horror she stared at overturned drawers, clothing, books and papers strewn everywhere, furniture slashed and stuffing pulled out. A scream worked its way up her throat as she gasped and clamped her hands over her mouth.

Five
    A aron pushed past her, already talking to someone about her apartment on his cellular phone. He switched his phone off. “The police are on their way over here.”
    He placed another call and she could hear him talking quietly, telling someone else about her place. When he shut off his phone and jammed it into his pocket, he motioned to her.
    â€œYou stay right here by the door while I look around,” he said grimly.
    He pulled a gun out of the waistband of his trousers at the small of his back, and she stared at it in horror. She knew nothing about guns and Aaron suddenly looked different carrying a weapon. Tall, rugged, dangerous. His green eyes were angry, and fear for his safety filled her until he glanced back at her and she looked into his eyes. His gaze held the coldness and hardness of ice, frightening her. She remembered him telling her about being in the military, and she realized now she was seeing a different, much tougher side to him.
    She shivered, keeping her arms wrapped around herself. Who would do this to her? Why?
    Aaron disappeared into her bedroom and the lights switched on. While she waited, she looked at the slashed pillows. Someone wanted something, but what? She had nothing of great value, nothing important to anyone except her.
    In seconds Aaron returned minus the weapon. He crossed the room to her to pull her into his arms, and for the moment she was glad to feel the reassurance of his strong arms.
    â€œWhy, Aaron?”
    â€œSomebody wants something they think you have,” he replied grimly. “You’re shivering.”
    â€œI feel violated to think some stranger has been in here, destroying my things. I don’t have any valuables.”
    â€œYou’ll stay at my house tonight.”
    â€œI can stay at the hotel or with my friends.”
    â€œNo, you can’t.” He leaned back. “You don’t want to endanger your friends. You may be in danger. I want you to stay at my house,” he declared in a tone that ended the discussion.
    Nodding, she no longer wanted to argue with him. “I’m all right,” she said, moving out of his arms. “I want