“In what manner?” Even his tone was cold.
“Can I sit down?” She moved to the chair anyway, wishing her knees didn’t shake and that her clit didn’t ache. Jeeze, she had it bad here.
“What kind of trouble are you in?” He answered her question with one of his own.
Hannah sat back in her chair and regarded him silently for a long moment before she let a wry grin touch her lips. “Hopefully none at all, Sheriff Grayson, unless it’s breaking the law to have prowlers attempting to break into my house.”
His expression slowly thawed until he was staring back at her in surprise. “When?”
“Last night.” She sighed. “I called nine-one-one and they sent out two patrol officers, but as soon as whoever it was heard the sirens they ran. They were nearly inside the house.”
She could still feel the shaky terror that had assailed her the night before when she had been awakened by her Pomeranian, Chilli’s, growls. He hadn’t barked, which had been her first clue there was trouble, because Chilli was a barker. Unless he was scared. Then he growled. Low and deep, and not a single bark escaped.
“I called nine-one-one when I heard someone at the back door,” she explained. “They were turning the doorknob when the patrol cars came down the street, sirens wailing.”
“You have a security system?” he asked.
Hannah nodded. “I do, and I set it before I went to bed. But it took the police nearly ten minutes to get to the house. They were almost in the house before the patrol cars arrived. I need to know what else I can do to keep them out of my home if they try it again.”
She was scared. Rick could see it in her pretty green eyes. About as scared as a woman could be of what might happen. And he didn’t blame her one damned bit.
“Do you have a gun?” he asked.
She nodded slowly. “It was Dad’s. I know how to shoot it, but I’d like to keep it from coming to that. And I have to be awake to use it. If they get in while I’m asleep, and Chilli doesn’t hear them, then anything could happen.”
Rick thought about the red Pom and doubted a breeze could get past that temperamental pooch without it knowing.
The thought that someone was trying to break into her home had the hairs at the back of his neck standing up in alarm, though.
“I just need some advice.” She leaned forward, the scooped neckline of her navy blue shirt giving a hint of cleavage that would make any man’s mouth water. “Tell me what to buy, what to do, to make the house safer and I’ll do it.”
He had to drag his gaze from the top of her breasts and force himself to focus on the sincere, rounded little face.
Damn, she was pretty. She wasn’t beautiful, but she was pretty. Unique. Dark wavy brown hair fell below her shoulders. Wide green eyes watched the world with a hint of innocence. White, slightly uneven teeth nibbled at a plump lower lip that tempted a man to taste.
She tempted him and therefore he stayed way the hell away. She tempted him bad, so he stayed far, far away.
As he rubbed at his jaw he considered her thoughtfully, his guts tightening at the thought of what could have happened if a prowler had managed to get into the house. She could have been raped, murdered. That bright smile and brighter gaze could have been gone forever.
“Why don’t I stop by the house on my way home this evening and check things over, see what we can do?” The words were out of his mouth before he even realized what the hell he was saying.
Where had that come from? And what the fuck was he supposed to do with the hard-on pounding beneath his jeans now? His cock was tight, erect, throbbing and pushing against the zipper as though trying to burst free to get to her.
Just what he needed. Son of a bitch, was he crazy? Had he managed to lose his mind somewhere since he woke up that morning?
Then that incredible smile of hers transformed her face from pretty, to alluring. Mysterious. Her green eyes brightened with relief and she took what appeared to be a fortifying breath. It lifted her breasts and left his mouth dry.
Hell. He liked that smile.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” She rose to her feet, drawing his gaze to the perfect fit of her jeans. Not too snug, not too loose. Just enough to show the rounded hips and gentle silhouette of her body.
Out of politeness, he rose as well, when he would have preferred to sit and stare like a hungry dog.
“I’m sure I don’t mind,” he promised her, standing still as she moved from the chair and prepared to turn for the door. He wanted to be behind her when she walked away.
“Thanks, Rick,” she said softly, her voice as filled with relief as her smile had been. “I’ve worried myself sick since last night. I haven’t slept a wink.”
“I’ll be there around seven, then,” he promised.