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“Oh, shut up,” she muttered.
Chapter 11
Trent checked the GPS and figured they had maybe another half-hour before they reached Bellagio. He gradually steered the boat toward the middle of the lake, so they wouldn’t pass too close to Lapaglia’s villa in Lenno. Much as he’d love to cruise by and see what was going on at this hour of the evening, he was too tired to handle any more high-speed chases or gunfights. A day or two to regroup was in order after the past twelve hours.
He was just thinking he should’ve taken the chance to eat back at home when Halli appeared at his side.
“I can’t believe you live in a country with some of the best food in the world, and you stock Spaghetti O’s.”
She held a bowl of said pasta and a glass of what looked like wine. What a combo. The pasta evoked a sad smile as he said, “My brother used to ship them in by the case.”
In the middle of taking a sip of the wine, she quickly set the glass next to the bowl on the table behind his chair. “Sorry.”
“It’s all right.” His stomach rumbled at the thought of food, even though he didn’t particularly care for Sean’s favorite fare.
Halli stepped closer to the captain’s chair. “How about I drive while you eat.”
He glanced back at the bowl and fought a grimace. “Thanks, but you go ahead. I’ll fix something after we stop.”
“I ate when you went to get the camera battery.”
Alarm filled her expression and her gaze did a frantic search of the front seats. “Where is my camera?”
“Relax, it’s safe and sound under the seat here.” He indicated the cushion he’d braced one knee on.
“Oh.”
Was that disappointment in her expression? Before he could ponder the strange reaction, she took hold of the wheel with one hand, waiting for him to slide out of the way. Like he could turn down the food now, knowing she’d prepared it just for him. Prepared being a very generous definition for dumping a can of processed food in a bowl and using a microwave.
Trent assessed their positions. Without slowing the boat, he gingerly lowered his left arm to his side and inched back to give her just enough room to slide in and take the wheel. “Best to use both hands out here in the middle of the lake.”
She eyed the space he’d allowed for her body between him and the wheel while he did his best to maintain an innocent expression after his bogus suggestion. Although her expression reflected suspicion, she turned her back and eased in, practically hugging the steering wheel. Trent felt a little bad taking advantage of the situation, until her backside brushed against his front.
In that one second, all his guilt was swept away on a wave of hunger. Despite the running around they’d done since she’d showered, a hint of flowery freshness still clung to her skin by her neck. His senses filled, and desire intensified. He leaned in, his chest against her back. Just close enough to brush his lips against the ear she’d tucked her hair behind and pretend he was concerned about her handling the boat.
“Got it?”
Her stiff nod matched her posture.
What would it take to get her to melt against him? Need spiraled to his groin. The enticing sway and brush of their bodies from the movement of the boat became delicious torture. Heat from her flowed into him, magnifying the urge to turn her around into his arms. Struggling for control, he reached his right hand past her shoulder and pointed to the GPS display.
“Keep us headed due north and we’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
Another brief nod.
When he shifted back to the left, the dim light of the dash revealed a blush tinted her cheeks. Hmm. Maybe she wasn’t as indifferent to him as he thought. Exploring that possibility was highly tempting, but his stomach growled again, reminding him first things first. Satisfy one hunger before moving on to the other.
Trent reluctantly moved out of her space to pick up the bowl of canned pasta and glass of wine, gritting his teeth at the pain with the flex of muscle in his left arm. He spun the passenger chair around to face her and sunk into a low slouch before propping his bare feet up on the arm of the captain’s seat.
The wine, he discovered, was a bottle of his premier Chianti Classico. After an extended sip, he secured the glass stem between his legs and ate while watching Halli. Spaghetti O’s had never tasted better.
“I have to admit, there were a few times today I was afraid you might lose it,” he said around a mouthful of food.
“The video?”
He chuckled at her indignation. “Your cool.”
She surprised him with a low, husky laugh. A genuine one like he’d heard on the video with her family. He liked it even more in person.
