“Here, let me show you again,” she said.

We were on my final round of reps, and she was still amazingly patient as she showed me the same exercise for the millionth time. She took the stretch band from my grasp and stepped between me and the wall.

I’d gotten rid of my shirt because it was restricting my movements, and now her warm shoulder blades and the tickle of her hair brushed against my bare chest. She lifted my hand, putting it on her shoulder so I could feel which muscles she was working.

“Pull back like this, see, and—” Her voice cut off.

That was when I realized I’d been holding her body to mine, my hand splayed across her abdomen in a possessive gesture. I looked down, wondering if she would look up at me with her beautiful eyes full of want or confusion, but she only stood there silently, neither leaning into me nor pulling away.

“Sorry,” I grunted. I channeled every ounce of self-restraint I had and released her, taking one step back.

She took a deep breath and began again, almost as if nothing had happened. “Just pull back like this, engaging this muscle here.”

Without looking at me, she placed her free hand over mine on her shoulder. Damn, her touch was so gentle. She moved my hand over the soft skin of her shoulder until she found the muscle she was talking about. She was strong, even as small as she was.

I focused on the movement as she pulled the band tight, and then released. Then it was my turn again. I mimicked her movements through the last round of reps, and she started packing up to leave.

“Where did you park?” I asked. “I forgot to tell you, you can use the garage when you’re here. I have a guest pass.”

She shook her head. “That’s okay, I ride the bus. I don’t own a car.”

“Oh.” I was dumbfounded. How had I not known that? “I’ll drive you home then.” I pulled my shirt back on and grabbed my keys. There was no way I was going to let her take the bus home.

“No, it’s fine. I take the bus all the time,” she said.

“Not anymore, you don’t.”

She smiled coyly. “Are you volunteering to be my personal chauffeur?”

“No, but you leave here late enough that some of the weirdos have already started to come out. The least I can do is give you a ride home.”

She didn’t say anything at first, running her hand through her hair. “Fine.”

She sounded almost like it was painful to accept help from me. I didn’t know if she was that way with everyone, or if I should take it personally. But it didn’t matter, because I would be driving her home.

MacKenzie didn’t talk much on the way to her place other than to give me directions, which left me to wonder if she was upset about me pressing up against her.

As we drove, I became aware that Kenzie was directing me toward one of the worst parts of town. At first, I was hopeful that we were just passing through, but at every turn, we drove farther and farther in, until finally she asked me to stop in front of a building I wouldn’t have guessed was hers in a million years. It might have passed building inspections, having all its windows and such, but that was about all I could say for the place. It was one of those block apartment buildings from the seventies. All the windows were filthy and had cheap twisted-up blinds.

The worst part, though, was the neighborhood. I counted several dealers and hookers on our ride here, and the sun wasn’t even down yet.

“Thanks,” MacKenzie said and hopped out of the car.

“Hang on, I’ll walk you up.” I followed her, my pulse kicking like a fucking mule. It would take every ounce of strength I had to leave her in this place. I would make damn sure the locks were secured before I left her.

“It’s no big deal.”

“I’d feel better knowing I got you all the way inside safely.” Understatement of the goddamn year.

She shrugged and rolled her eyes at me as if I was going overboard, but she let me follow her inside.

“Do you know any self-defense moves?” I asked as I followed her up the steps.

“Thanks a lot.” She laughed. “My neighborhood isn’t that bad.”

“So, that’s a no?”

She shrugged again. “The building’s secure.”

“What if I teach you some moves, you know, just in case?” Or move you into a safer apartment, I added silently.

MacKenzie stopped on the steps, considering, but then continued. “It’s okay, you don’t have to do that. I’m fine. I’ve been taking care of myself for years.”

Damn it, why did she have to be so independent and self-reliant all the time?

“Fine,” I said. But this wasn’t over. Maybe I could work with Chris to get her a raise so she didn’t have to live here. If I had to pay the difference myself, so be it. It would be worth it to be able to sleep at night and not worry about her.

She stopped in front of her door and turned to me. “Thanks. Again. I think I’ve got it from here.”

But something was off. “Hang on,” I said, holding her there. “I heard yelling.”

She giggled. “It’s just the kids on the street, calm down.”

But then we heard more yelling. It was coming from her neighbor’s apartment, just next door. I pushed MacKenzie behind me as the shouts grew louder. Glass shattered, and it sounded like someone was throwing pots and pans.

“Soni,” MacKenzie shrieked, and I felt her small hands cling to the back of my shirt.