AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was nice, Bridget thought as they headed back to the compound an hour or so later, the way they could banter and take time together. They’d spotted some of the other staff in the town, along with a group of Hayden’s men, all enjoying the unexpected downtime, with Hayden lamenting the fact that he was now going to have to ensure he sent all his men for a couple of days’ R&R to Rejupe in the interests of fairness.
And then, all too quickly, they were back at the compound, walking through the gates together, and she had to tell herself that she was only imagining the fact that they’d both slowed down, as if trying to prolong the night that little bit longer.
She really needed to get a grip on herself. Since when had she been the kind of person to read non-existent things into situations? Biting the inside of her cheek, Bridget made herself stay quiet as he walked her to her room.
‘Well, this is me, then,’ she managed, as she stood with her fingers on the handle, unable to make herself actually push it open.
‘Yes.’
She wanted him to say something, do something, and yet at the same time she didn’t. It was painfully confusing.
‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ she managed stiffly, flinching with embarrassment.
He didn’t answer straight away, and she didn’t blame him. Who knew she had a long-hidden skill of turning a perfectly innocent moment into something insanely uncomfortable?
With a great effort she pushed the handle down and began to open her door.
‘We could check out the film?’ Hayd suggested brusquely, halting her.
It was incredible how badly she wanted, at that instant, to pull the door closed and go with him.
Go anywhere with him.
Bridget would never know how she managed to hold her nerve. How she managed to push that door wider. How she managed to make her legs work long enough to carry her those couple of steps inside.
‘Thanks, but I think I’ll get to bed. It’s been a long, long day and I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a decent bed in what feels like forever.’
And she shut out the fact that every fibre of her being was screaming at her not to be such an idiot.
One more night, it cried. One more night with Hayd before he goes back to Jukrem in the morning.
‘If you’re sure,’ he replied, his voice altogether too husky.
Too tempting.
His head was dipping towards her. Barely a fraction but enough to convince her that this time she wasn’t imagining anything.
And, Lord, how she wanted to say yes to whatever it was he might be offering.
‘I’m sure,’ she rasped instead.
‘Birdie...’
‘Don’t.’ She shut him down before she could think. ‘It would be a mistake.’
And then she slammed the door and pressed her back against it before she could do something stupid, like grabbing him by those all-too-solid shoulders and dragging him into her tiny room.
It took her a minute or so to catch her breath before she could push herself off the door again. Another minute to walk across the room to her bed, pull the covers back and then stand there, staring blankly at the sheets.
She wanted him. Incredibly, he wanted her too. Just like he’d wanted her that night at the club. And the night they’d shared after that. And maybe that didn’t mean they had a future together, but who said they had to have one?
Who said she couldn’t enjoy just one more night with him? Because she wanted to spend another night with him. She wasn’t sure she’d ever wanted anything quite so much in all her life.
Abruptly, her body working overtime before her brain could process what she was doing, Bridget found herself snatching her door open again and striding back into the corridor.
Striding back down the hallway and to his room, even though she had no idea if that was where Hayd had even gone. And then striding into his room before any could see her, having barely waited for his answer after she’d offered the tersest of knocks.
‘Birdie?’ Half a question, half a growl, his voice rumbled through her. ‘I thought you said it would be a mistake.’
