Little bit, yeah. “Of course not,” she bluffed, forcing her feet forward. “I just don’t understand why weneedto share.”
“Because a killer is too interested in your whereabouts. Until he’s in custody, we stick together. I’m not taking any chances with you.”
Knowing he was right didn’t make her any more comfortable with it as she started up the stairs.
“Natalie,” his voice, so tender, warmed her from the inside out. “I will find him. We’ll sort this out in record time.”
She hoped so. Because once the danger passed, she was curious about what might develop between them on a personal level. At the top of the stairs, she lingered, meeting his gaze directly thanks to the advantage of the higher step. “I believe you. I also believe in good rest.” She inched away before she let herself kiss him again. “You’re security, I’m hospitality. And in my official capacity, the Hargrave Hideaway is happy to upgrade you to the room with two beds.”
CHAPTER 11
By sunrise, Trent decided Natalie’s logic was infallible. Lying awake all night in a bed had been a big upgrade from lying awake all night on the floor.
Her scent filled the room. Every soft breath or movement from her bed caught his attention. Attention he should be applying to dropping a net over Royer. He didn’t want her scared, but she needed to be smart about this. A killer had taken way too much interest in her.
Quietly, he rolled out of bed. In the adjoining bath, he took a fast, cold shower. Cinching the towel around his waist, he opened the door, intending to go back to his original room for his toothbrush and clean clothes.
Natalie, sitting up in bed, her hair and shirt rumpled from sleep, stopped him. “Morning,” she said, covering a yawn.
“Right.” His entire body was tuned to her and if he didn’t move swiftly, the evidence would be too obvious. “Morning. I’ll, um, be right back.”
“Okay.” She flipped the covers back and touched her toes to the floor. He couldn’t stop his gaze from wandering up from her feet, over her bare legs, to the hem of the shirt she’d slept in. One of his shirts.
He’d offered it last night, a lame attempt to make her more comfortable, and her acceptance had made him want to slay dragons for her. Seeing her now, that unfamiliar possessiveness surged once more. He aimed for the door, silently determined to find an ounce of composure waiting for him in the first room.
He pulled on shorts and a shirt and shoved his feet into deck shoes while he brushed his teeth in record time. Hustling back, he found Natalie dressed and making the beds. “What are you doing?”
“The job in front of me.” She spread her arms wide, a lovely smile on her face. “You opted out of daily housekeeping. According to the website registration.”
“I did.” He didn’t know what to do with his hands when all he could think of was holding her. “I should’ve insisted Jess bring you clean clothes last night.”
“I’m fine.” Natalie waved off his concern.
“This feels weird,” he admitted.
She cocked an eyebrow as she crossed the room. “You’re not having some weird hotel maid fantasy are you?”
This woman. “Now I am.”
She laughed and patted his chest. “Well, you’d best adapt it to a chef fantasy,” she said with an exaggerated flutter of eyelashes. “I’m starving. Come on.”
He followed her down to the kitchen, trying to keep his mind on the work instead of her. Not easy when her every move mesmerized him, making him want to forget everything else. “Our date is tonight,” he blurted out as she started pulling eggs, milk, and bread from the fridge.
She peered at him from around the edge of the refrigerator door. “We’re still on?”
“I’m counting on it.” He’d bought ingredients for a chicken pot pie and he planned to follow through. He’d hoped to surpriseher, but that ship had sailed. “Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
Her smile flashed and her eyes sparkled. “Not a chance. I can’t wait.” She set a griddle on the stove top. “Is French toast good for you?”
“Can’t wait,” he replied, echoing her. “Want help?”
“Not if you have other things to do.” When he hesitated, so did she. “Do you not have the time for breakfast?”
“It’s not that.” He struggled with the easy domesticity of the moment. Sharing a kitchen wasn’t a regular occurrence. He deliberately avoided it. As much as he loved his big family, he typically avoided anything that felt like having a family of his own. He wasn’t ready. And tying any thoughts to the contrary to Natalie was silly. The attraction was there, no doubt. Something to consider more seriously later. When he wasn’t on the job.
“If you have something to do, I can manage this alone.”
“It’s some additional prep work for today, if you don’t mind.” Jess had suggested he go back through any footage from the drone while he wasn’t flying it. “If I handle it now, we can go straight to your place after breakfast before I start my search today.”
