Chapter Seventeen
TWO DAYS LATER, ZOEYreminded herself about her privilege as she completed her tapestry and contemplated her next project.
First, she was staying in a luxurious home—with modern gadgets she had no clue how to use and didn’t care much to learn.
Second, the home was in a beautiful seaside location—where she couldn’t take a walk because safety issues left her a veritable prisoner.
Third, at Kennedy’s request, a doctor had come for a house visit to check Zoey’s recovery—though not being poisoned in the first place would’ve been nicer.
But she’d been well cared for. Barrett had rallied his brothers who stood guard near the hospital room anytime he left, even for five minutes, and now they’d taken turns watching Kennedy’s mansion. While Zoey should be—and was—beyond grateful, it also reminded her she’d never had a close-knit family.
Uncomfortable with the twinge of envy, she glanced out the window at the gorgeous view. Her lips flattened further. Of course, she wasn’t allowed to open the window to breathe the salty air and hear the ocean whisper sweet nothings to the sand. Shaking her head, she leaned back over the loom and wove a strand of violet thread into the bird’s wing. Like a little birdling being hand-fed, all her needs and wants were met and even anticipated, and in theory, she could get anything she desired.
But what she longed for was love.
She’d grown up feeling alone, and she’d accepted it. Now, she was supposed to have people in her life, and they were... not there. Todd had sent a gigantic bouquet, which Barrett had made sure carried no suspicious bugs, and her father and cousin had brought lots of chocolates and flowers. But, while their gifts melted on her tongue and flooded the house with amazing fragrances and she appreciated that and their thoughtfulness, they then said they’d needed to leave on an important business trip and, well, left.
Zoey understood it. Still, her stomach clenched. They hadn’t asked her to come with them, probably because she had no knowledge of or interest in the business. Leaving her when she’d been recovering and vulnerable didn’t sit well with her. But she couldn’t expect them to drop everything, could she?
On the other hand, Barrett had spent a lot of time with her, and she loved every minute of it. But he could drop everything because she was a task assigned to him. Yes, and she was only a task assigned to him. She pushed the tapestry aside when she messed up and wove the wrong thread through.
She wanted to be outside. She wanted to breathe fresh air and feel she could fly like a bird. And she wanted to be with Barrett.
Minutes later, he showed up with a bouquet of pink and yellow tulips, and her heart fluttered like that fragile bird.
“Hello, Zoey. Or how is it? Bonjour! How are you?” He wore a black leather blazer over a black T-shirt and matching leather pants, plus combat boots, so he probably arrived on his motorcycle.
She waved him in once she could stop gawking—and, let’s be honest, drooling. “Fabuleuse!” Yes, she felt fabulous now that he was here. “Come on in, please.”
“Merci.” He stepped inside.
Stubble covered his face as if he hadn’t shaved this morning, and her fingers twitched to run over that stubble. He smelled faintly of gasoline, and his dark hair was adorably ruffled from being under a helmet. She imagined he had this look when he went undercover.
Her heart stirred, loving the look on him. Not that... not that she could love him.
If he’d been an actor in a movie instead of Todd O’Malley, she’d watch that movie twenty times. No, make it a hundred. Okay, give or take a couple hundred more.
“You didn’t have to bring me flowers.” Yet joy spread through her when she pressed her cheek to them. Tulips were her favorite flowers, hence her artist name, but it still pleased her he’d guessed it.
He raised an eyebrow at the bouquets that had arrived since his last visit.
“Dad brought more flowers before leaving on a trip.” Her eyes narrowed as his expression relaxed. “And even if they were from someone else, is there such a thing as murder by an insect?”
“I don’t want to take any risks.” He winced. “What did the doctor say?”
Oh, great. The joy dissipated. She wasn’t just an assignment to him—she was an assignment he considered he’d failed. He was just making sure she was recovering well.
“This morning, the doctor Kennedy sent said I was in the clear. I’m fine, really. I can resume all normal activities. Nothing but chicken broth and Jell-O yesterday, but I can eat normally today.” She paused and shivered at the memory of waking up in a hospital. “It could’ve been much worse if not for you.”
She arranged the flowers in a crystal vase, then carried it to the kitchen sink to fill it with water. It wasn’t the gilded cobalt Italian one from previous centuries, but Zoey had no doubt this vase was also ghastly expensive.
Barrett’s tulips for her weren’t meant for an attractive woman he admired but a recovering patient he fretted over. Sort of an upgrade from get-well cards. She suppressed a grimace as she poured water into the vase. Their faint fragrance added to the aroma of the upside-down pineapple cake she’d baked earlier.
He brightened. “Glad to hear it. Would you like me to bring you something for lunch? And if so, what would you prefer?”
She perked up. “You’d like to have lunch together?”
His lips curved up, making her think again about kissing him, but then his smile slipped away. “I need to tell you about the investigation progress—especially about the poisoned gift basket. And we need to eat, right?”
“Right.” Hiding her disappointment, she pushed her lips upward. “A working lunch. Gotcha.”
His hand moved toward hers but sadly didn’t reach it. “Zoey, I...”
“Yes?” Hope poked its head like a tiny fox from its hole in the ground.
“Never mind.”
“Oh. Okay.” Hope hid again. She placed the bouquet on the dining table, then returned to the kitchen while he followed her. “You don’t need to bring anything for lunch. Kennedy stuffed the refrigerator with gourmet food her Mediterranean chef made. I don’t want it to go to waste. And I baked a cake and some bread. Kennedy has triple ovens here.”
“You baked?” His eyebrows rose.
She rolled her eyes as she retrieved covered dishes from a gigantic stainless-steel refrigerator that responded to verbal commands, provided recipes and dinner advice based on its contents, and reminded her when its door wasn’t closed. That thing could probably even give love advice. A gust of cold hit her in her face. Maybe it was giving her love advice—telling her to cool it, that love would never work for her.
“Don’t sound so surprised.” She spoke both in answer to him and in answer to her heart as the refrigerator’s advanced advice chilled it. She slid the large dish in the microwave to warm up. Too bad, she couldn’t do the same for her heart. “I spent nearly all my life stuck inside the house. Without servants. I know how to sew, how to make stuffed animal toys, how to fix simple plumbing or check electrical issues, how to cook. I certainly know how to bake. Maybe not on the same level as five-star restaurant cuisine, or whatever it’s called, but still...” She plopped the freshly baked bread into a bread basket.
“Wow.” He took the basket and carried it to the dining room. “I’m amazed. I love discovering all these new things about you. Is it bad that I don’t know how to fix plumbing issues?”
She chuckled as they returned to the kitchen for gold-rimmed china and fancy silverware that lived up to its name. “Not at all. You have plenty of other talents. And to be honest, Mom had to call a real plumber a couple of times because I messed things up. Some things should be left to professionals.” The microwave beeped, so she removed one dish and fit another one in, then set the timer. She’d rather warm them up in one of the triple ovens, but the microwave was faster.
His gaze held admiration indeed. “Is there something that you don’t know how to do?” He picked up the dishes while she got the silverware.
I don’t know how to win your heart.
She couldn’t say it out loud. So she just said, “Lots of things. I’ve missed out on many real-life experiences. For example, I’ve never been on a motorcycle.” Then she froze.
Would he think it was a hint? She waited for him to say it would be too dangerous for her now, considering the circumstances. But he didn’t say anything, just gave her a long look that made her breathing go shallow. Wow, she didn’t need a microwave to warm up her heart. She’d better move before she blurted out something silly. Like how much and how fast she was falling for him.
“Here. Could you please take it to the table?” She transferred the warmed-up dish to his hands. Thankfully, unlike her heart, the container was heatproof, so he wouldn’t burn himself.
Like she was going to if she couldn’t stop this growing attraction.
Once they set the table and sat down, he said grace.
She wasn’t brought up in faith like Barrett had been, but she started wondering now. At first Barrett, then Dad and Kennedy, had talked to her about faith, tentatively, without pushing.
She lifted her chin. Her father and cousin weren’t here. But Barrett was.
And God... Was God always with her? Even when she didn’t believe in Him?
Her heart warmed more from Barrett’s company than the food. She could get used to sharing meals with him. She’d been used to lunches alone when her mother had been somewhere out and about. Zoey stifled a snort at the thought. Apparently, it was only dangerous for Zoey to be outside and not her mom. But whatever. This was so much better.
Zoey nibbled some duck with fancy mushroom—truffle—sauce. “If you like this, I can get the recipe and make it again.” Her fork with green beans stopped halfway to her mouth. Oops. She spoke as if they’d repeat this domestic situation. This was a working lunch, nothing else. She stifled the longing in her heart.
“I love... that idea.” He winked. “Maybe we can cook it together.”
“Only if you’re a better cook than I’m a plumber.” She winked back.
What was she saying? She’d gladly cook with him if he even had no clue how to boil an egg.
“I think so.” He grinned as he helped himself to bread. “This is excellent, by the way. I can’t claim I dine in five-star restaurants all the time, but I believe this is better.”
“Thank you. Okay then.” She needed to fan herself.
Must be all this hot food warming her from the inside, not that lopsided grin and the glow in his baby blues. She gulped her cold mango juice, clattering ice cubes shaped like stars. Did he realize she didn’t just have stars in her glass? She had stars in her eyes when she looked at him.
Then his expression sobered up. “I managed to speed up the tox screen. We got the results. And by the way, thank you for giving me the authority to act on your behalf.” Then he went into detail explaining poisons and their effect. “Sorry, I hope I didn’t diminish your appetite.”
She swallowed a bite of roasted and herbed baby potatoes. “Um, it’s okay. So let me see if I understand correctly. There was poison in the cookies, but not enough to kill me?”
He frowned. “Correct. Still enough to damage your liver if the poison wasn’t flushed out in time.” His jaw set tight. “So some damage would be inflicted, and the message sent.”
A lump formed in her throat. She gulped down more sweet mango juice, hoping to flush it away. “A message to me or Kennedy?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. The police talked to Todd and Mason, and so did I. Kennedy arranged meetings with both and they cooperated.”
“Very nice of her.” Yeah, Zoey already knew how incredible her cousin was. That thought required more sweet mango juice. Might as well be accompanied by the duck in the yummy mushroom—truffle!—sauce and fresh green beans.
“Of course, both claim innocence.” Barrett’s brow furrowed, giving her the urge to touch it and clear his expression. Uh-oh. “I don’t imagine Todd would put a card with his name on a poisoned gift basket, though he’s still on the suspects’ list. But my conversation with Mason was more interesting.”
“I can imagine,” she muttered over more mango juice, emptying the glass and leaving the star-shaped ice cubes to melt in it. She didn’t want to remember Mason’s animosity or his statement that even more people highly disliked the incompetent new heiress.
What if all those people combined and decided—No. She tightened her fingers around the smooth empty glass. Best not to think that way.
Barrett lifted the juice pitcher, a question in his eyes, and when she nodded, he refilled her glass. “Mason described the delivery company that brought the gift basket. His story checked out so far. I talked to the legit delivery guy—the man who dropped off the basket doesn’t exist.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Meaning?”
“Meaning the name was fake. I also gained access to the bakery’s surveillance recordings.”
Her lips lifted before she sipped her juice. After setting the cup aside, she scooped up some roasted baby potatoes. “Another friend?” It wouldn’t surprise her. The man was likable. Very likable. Her heart fluttered. Much too likable.
“I have good connections.” He shrugged. “The appearance of the man who dropped off the basket matched the description of the man who placed the order with the bakery and picked it up. The man, who paid in cash, wore sunglasses, and a fedora shadowed his face. He kept his head low, deliberately, no doubt. But guess who the appearance matched otherwise? Like the suit, the height, the approximate weight, the slightly stooped stance, the gait, and the gray mustache.”
Unease whirled in her stomach, and no amount of duck with mushroom sauce or mango juice could settle it. “Someone from Zachary Reed’s family?”
“No.” Barrett helped himself to another slice of bread. “Gerald Fowler. I also glimpsed a ring with an initial G. I studied his photos from the past years. He used to wear a similar ring. Maybe even the exact same one.”
She slumped back against her chair. “But why would he take such a high risk?”
“He’s bold and arrogant. On the other hand, someone could be disguised to look like him. But the ring with his initial... That ring was expensive and unique. It raises questions. I’m gathering more information before I approach him.”
“Crash my lunch with him, perhaps?” She liked being useful, though she wouldn’t mind if someone didn’t attempt to harm her.
His eyes darkened. “I like the idea of you having lunch with him even less now.”
Oops. She slapped her forehead. “Uh, I forgot something. I won’t be having lunch with him. Kennedy called and said he requested a change in plans.”
He seemed to heave a sigh of relief. “Okay, I feel better now.”
“He asked for dinner tomorrow instead, and I agreed.”
He pinned her with a stare. His Adam’s apple bobbed. Then his jaw set tight. “You’re not going to change your mind?”
“Nope.” She needed answers. And she wasn’t going to get them while Barrett did all the work and she sat locked in a tower—ahem, beachfront mansion. She gestured to his empty plate, then her own. “I think we’ll need a lot of cake to figure this all out.”
His jaw loosened as he grinned. “I’d never refuse a cake.”
If only you’d never refuse me.
Of course, she kept the words to herself while her longing intensified.
“I’ll get it.” He slid back his chair and headed to the kitchen alongside her. “I have the restaurant layout. You’ll need to study it, and I’ll introduce you to the staff tonight. I’ll ask my brothers to dine there tomorrow, and I’ll station at least one of them outside to watch the exits. We’ll have dinner there tonight, okay?”
“As in you and me? Or you and your brothers?” She hoped for the first. After all, their rehearsal meal hadn’t happened when she’d been poisoned. But she couldn’t make any assumptions.
“You and me, of course.” He stumbled. “For the meal, of course.”
Right. Because him and her—as a couple—didn’t exist.
She opened the oven—one of three—and stepped away from the still-warm air coming from it. How was it possible to feel this close to someone, close enough to touch, close enough to hold, close enough to kiss—
Don’t go there.
Yes, so close, but still so far away?
She topped slices of warm cake with scoops of vanilla ice cream, adding extra decadence to the already gooey treat. Then enjoying the cake and orange-spice tea with an amazing fragrance, they spent an hour or so going over Gerald and his employees, then Zachary Reed and the people connected to him. They studied the information Kennedy had given them about Mason and other employees in her company—the company that could be Zoey’s if she wanted it. Part of her even considered joining Kennedy and doing so well Zoey would prove all the people who didn’t believe in her were wrong.
But would it be her heart’s desire?
She loved her arts and crafts, and...
The true object of her heart’s desire was sitting right in front of her. Right now, clad in a black leather jacket, combat boots, and leather pants he possessed so much appeal she ached again to run her fingers through his tousled hair, touch the light stubble on his face.
She caught him watching her several times, and it sent the blood rushing faster through her body.
By the end of the long lunch, she knew two things. One—she was falling helplessly in love with him. Two—they still didn’t know who was trying to harm her.
“Would you like to... It’s probably not the best idea, and feel free to shoot it down.” He glanced out the window as if trying to find answers in the ocean. “I can get my brothers and friends to ride around us to reduce the risk. Would you... would you like to ride my motorcycle with me along the coast?”
She nearly dropped the platter with the rest of the cake she’d been holding.
He reached for the gold-rimmed platter. “Let me get this. It was delicious, by the way.” He paused, maybe trying to pronounce something correctly. “Délicieux. Best cake ever.”
“Merci.” She released the “best cake ever,” which he placed on the counter and covered with a dish. She leaned against the milky-white marble counter as her legs wobbled. “Is it possible? I mean, it’ll be out in the open. This house is big enough to get lost in—don’t ask me how I know it—but, um, not to go around on a motorcycle.”
“Kennedy will probably kill me for this....” He swallowed hard. “Okay, that wasn’t the best choice of words. I have friends with motorcycles. And some can loan them to my brothers, as well. They can cover us as we exit the house. Plus, all my brothers except Austin have motorcycle licenses, so they can cover us while we’re on the road.”
“And they’ll cover us on our way back? I get the idea.” And the idea of being close to him on the motorcycle, of wrapping her arms around his torso while the wind sang in her ears was too tempting to refuse. Her heart fluttered in her chest like a bird about to take flight.
He nodded, his gaze intense. He had the most intense eyes she’d ever seen. “Yes. And Austin will follow in a truck to make sure there’s no tail.”
“And I can ask Kennedy for a helicopter to watch from the air.” She lifted her hands in a mocking surrender. “I’m kidding. I’m not that spoiled.”
“You’re not spoiled at all.”
She sized him up—purely for deciding what kind of clothes and gear she’d need. She had about as many clothes suited for motorcycles as he had designer stiletto pumps. “I’ll need a helmet, right? And boots and leather clothes?”
Ducking his head, he rubbed the back of his neck. “You don’t really need special clothes. I already bought you a helmet. It’s green.”
She nearly flung her arms around him. “I love that color.” Breathing the same air with him, knowing he cared enough to offer something to bring her joy and excitement... She had to wrap her fingers around the marble counter’s hard edge to stop herself from hugging him.
“I noticed.” His gaze searched hers as if he wanted to say so much more. Finally, he did say, “Some leather clothes and sturdy boots wouldn’t hurt.”
“R–right.” She expected him to tell her something else, do something else, but he didn’t. Doing her best to hide her regret, she pulled her phone from her skirt’s pocket.
Whenever she mentioned Kennedy’s name, people listened. And they delivered. In many senses. So she ordered a black leather jacket and knee-high boots from a local store. She could use the blue jeans and a green T-shirt from her closet.
Then she spun to him as the excitement bubbling up just had to be released in a squeal and she almost threw her arms around him. “Thank you for the green helmet. It’s... it’s the color of spring for me, and spring is the sign of renewal and awakening.”
“It is.” Again, he looked like he wanted to say something more, and again, he stopped himself. But his blue eyes spoke louder than his words.
Surely, she couldn’t be wrong about the affection flooding their now-turbulent waters. Return attraction swept her up, and more excitement nearly bubbled over, for more reasons than one.
Her memories flooded in. “Growing up, I spent so much time near the window, looking out. Don’t get me wrong. Winter is beautiful with sparkly snow and intricate frost designs on the window glass. But every year, I was excited about spring, with the songbirds returning from their winter migration, the first flowers offering fresh fragrance, and the bright, vivid greenery bursting out. Spring is still my favorite season.”
“You weave a beautiful picture, but then, you always do.” His gaze softened, and he leaned a little closer. He smelled of leather with a faint note of motorcycle exhaust and his signature spicy cologne. He smelled of new promises and something forbidden. “You are the sign of renewal and awakening for me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. But she shouldn’t read too much into it. Despite how much she appreciated his words, she made a dismissive gesture. “Oh please.”
“Seriously. It’s like I finally woke up and saw a new world. Filled with color and... and promises. I lived in the past, but you created a... a tapestry for me. You are spring for me. In so many senses.”
“Many senses?” If she lifted onto her toes and angled her face the right way, she could brush her lips against his...
“Spring as a season. Spring as a stream, crystal-clear water gushing from the ground.” Emotion roiled his baby blues. “Spring as the urge to spring into a bright, fresh future.”
“Not a spring like the metal thingy sticking up from a bed when it falls apart?” Why did she need to clarify that?
He chuckled. “Not that one. You’re the promise I can’t ask for.” His hand shot out, and his fingertips touched her cheek with such tenderness her heartbeat skyrocketed. “Zoey, I...”
The front doorbell chimed. He pulled back, and crushing disappointment nearly buried her. “Must be your clothes delivery. Please let me check it, okay?”
“Oui. Sure.” Her breathing was still erratic, and she was in a mental daze.
What just happened?
Was he going to kiss her before he’d gotten interrupted? Tell her something very important? Both?
Contrary to her hopes, Barrett slipped back into professional mode. He strode to open the front door, then tipped the delivery guy, and inspected the footwear and clothing before handing them to Zoey. She’d already paid online.
“You didn’t need to look through every inch of merchandise.” She sighed demonstratively, though she was more frustrated that the kiss she’d anticipated and hoped for hadn’t happened. “I won’t get poisoned. Unlike Kennedy’s dogs, I have no intention of eating boots, you know. And the art of hiding poisonous leaves in clothes is thankfully lost from medieval times.”
“I know. But I wanted to make sure no explosive devices were hidden in the boxes.”
She grimaced. “Right.”
He studied her. “I love you surprising me, but I’d prefer to be better prepared this time. You’ve really never been on a motorcycle before? Or do you ride like a pro and plan to leave everyone behind if given a chance? Your shooting abilities have already made you a legend in my family.”
Deeply pleased, she laughed. “My first time on a motorcycle. Really. Okay, give me a few minutes to make sure all these fit and get ready.”
To go with the outfit, she decided to draw the cat-eye look around her eyes and added lots of mascara on her eyelashes.
When she reappeared in the living room, a low whistle slipped past his lips. “Wow. You look different.”
She tugged at her black leather jacket self-consciously. She’d never worn such clothes before. She didn’t know how to wear them. Should she have a more daring stance? “Good different or bad different?”
He kept staring. “Jaw-dropping different. You just keep surprising me.”
Warmth spread through her. Nobody had ever looked at her like that. She could bask in his gaze. “I’ll chalk it up to good different.”
Still staring, he swallowed visibly. “That’s what I meant.”
“I can’t wait to go on this adventure with you.” She couldn’t help smiling. The anticipation gave her jitters. Good jitters. “Thank you for offering.”
If she opened a new world for him, which she still found difficult to believe, he opened a new world for her. And it wasn’t just about eating hamburgers or dancing at a gala or even riding a motorcycle.
It was about someone being there for her through it all. For the first time.
He was still looking at her with so much astonishment. If he didn’t talk, he’d look like a statue. A masterpiece to admire. “Me, either. I mean, I can’t wait. I mean, my pleasure. Truly.” He chuckled. “I usually don’t babble like this. And I usually don’t get surprised. I... I’ve seen so much in my line of work. But right now, I’m stunned.”
“Merci.” Her smile widened.
He stepped to her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, making her suck in a breath. “Do you even realize how breathtaking you are?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?”
“Yes. No.” He was moving closer and closer. “I don’t know. All I know is I get lost in your eyes and don’t want to be found.”
Was he going to kiss her?
Did she want him to?
The answer to the second question was a firm and resounding yes.
She closed the scant distance still between them and trailed the outline of his face with her fingertips. It felt rough under her fingertips, and somehow, it made it all the more real.
“I’m sorry I didn’t shave this morning. I was in a hurry to get here,” he whispered.
Was it because of the job? Or because he couldn’t wait to see her?
She wanted it to be the latter so badly. “It’s fine. Better than fine.” She wound her arms around his neck, anchoring him to her, making it even more real. The desire to kiss him was overwhelming, and the anticipation swept her up like a proverbial ocean wave.
He dipped his head. “You can stop me at any time.”
She met him halfway. “I don’t want to—that is, I don’t want to stop you. I do very much want you to kiss me.”
He chuckled against her lips and did as she’d asked.
It wasn’t her first kiss, but she wished it had been. Because nothing in her meager experience could compare. Not even in the same realm. Tender and sweet, he brushed his lips to hers, and he held her like something oh-so-precious. Then everything blurred as shared emotion and passion swept her up.
Her head spun, and she felt as light as seafoam, floating, soaking in every second. No, like a bird letting the wind carry her. Her every cell alighted with pleasure, and butterflies started their summer dance in her tummy.
She didn’t know who pulled away first, but one of them had to as the rumble of multiple motors outside threw her out of a world where only the two of them existed. Regret that the kiss ended too soon stung, but the euphoria of the experience left her in a haze.
“My brothers and friends must be here. The kiss... It was...” he whispered.
She nearly finished for him with the word, “Incredible.”
But he said, “Very unprofessional of me.”
What?!
Her heart tumbled down, and the butterflies in her tummy flew away, scared. Did he regret it? She didn’t have the chance to ask as the front doorbell was ringing now. She touched her lips as if she could hold onto the kiss and the memory.
He checked the cameras on his phone. “Cavalry arrived. Are you ready?”
Yes. No.
She did her best to gather her bearings and nodded as she didn’t trust her voice.
Outside, he did the introductions. She offered everyone a smile or a handshake and thanked them profusely. Then she strapped on the salad-green helmet Barrett handed her, hoping that it would give her some anonymity.
Wow. There must be at least fifteen people here. The fact that everyone showed up at Barrett’s first word floored her.
How would it feel to have friends and family rally around her? She stifled her wistfulness as the riders grouped around her and hurried toward the motorcycles.
In a way, these people did rally around her. But it was because of Barrett. And no wonder. He oozed charisma and was always ready to help, professionally or otherwise. Meanwhile, she was a lonely bird, surrounded by tapestries and fashion jewelry. A solitary bird who’d traded one cage for another, even if for a much larger and more expensive one.
Barrett looked spectacular on a motorcycle, but she looked away, remembering his reaction to their kiss. He wasn’t her boyfriend. He was her bodyguard. Huge difference.
She slipped behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso, and the jolt it sent to her heart was difficult to ignore. He revved the engine, its roar nearly deafening. But it might be a good thing because it drowned her thudding heartbeat.
“Hold tight,” he yelled back to her.
She didn’t need the reminder. She wanted to hold on tight to him and never, ever let go. But it was impossible, wasn’t it?
At least, she could hold tight to him right now. For safety purposes, of course. They took off en masse, the chorus of roaring motors overwhelming.
With the sun shining bright and not a cloud intruding, the weather was awesome for something like this. Beyond the embankment, the ocean sparkled in a never-ending spectacle. Awe swelled in her chest together with fresh air, and the road whirled beneath them.
“Whoo-hoo!” she yelled. “I can fly like a bird!”
The guys near her gave her a thumbs-up.
She waved her arms in the air, letting go only for a moment. Then her fingers clutched the soft T-shirt over his hard abdomen as she didn’t dare to touch him too much. An avalanche of emotions already tried to bury her as it was.
After the kiss, everything changed. Now, he wasn’t just opening a new world for her. He was becoming her entire world fast, way too fast, and she shouldn’t have let it go this far already. It didn’t matter that she was ill-equipped to fight her growing attraction to this incredible man. She should’ve stopped it, anyway.