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She took a long drink from the canteen and handed it back. Travis’s hand brushed hers, and when their gazes met, a flock of butterflies took wing in her belly. The intensity in his eyes as neither of them let go of the canteen said he’d felt something too. Jordan released her hold first and broke the spell.
Travis stretched and turned on his side. “I’m going to grab a cat nap.” Using his pack as a pillow, he zonked out in no time.
Wow! Who goes to sleep that fast? Certainly not me.Jordan inched closer and lay down beside him, taking the opportunity to study him without the threat of getting caught. His skin was a perfect shade of brown, walnut, but richer. He was an attractive man, and the whiskers that roughened his face only made him sexier. How would they feel against her skin? Not that she wanted to know, but she trembled, imagining his lips on hers, his stubble teasing her cheeks and her neck's delicate skin. It was all she could do not to reach out and touch him.
Long eyelashes created a swoop of dark shadow beneath his eyes, and the slash of his eyebrows hinted at his broodiness, even in sleep. Jordan would never forget how his eyes, hazel with flecks of gold when open, seemed to look right through her. That rare smile was spectacular, transforming him from Mr. McBroody to Shemar Moore in a heartbeat. Tall, six-three or four, with a chest that made her want to skim her fingers over every inch, he was the whole package.
If only she hadn’t screwed up so spectacularly on their first meeting that it made their trek through the mountains, chased by terrorists, seem like following Alice down the rabbit hole.
Of course, it didn’t matter because they were merely unlikely traveling companions destined to part ways. The sooner, the better.Easy enough to say, so why am I lusting after him?Jordan turned on her side, facing away from him.Oh, God, I really need to get a life.
*****
JORDAN DIDN’T REMEMBERclosing her eyes, but she wasn’t ready to open them when Travis woke her with a gentle nudge. “Sun’s down, and it’ll be dark in twenty minutes. We’re on private land now, so we’ll have to be careful. People have been shot around here for less.”
Jordan stretched and rubbed her shoulder. “What’s a few more people out to get us?” Nothing would surprise her at this point. Opening her eyes, she looked straight into his face before realizing they were less than an inch apart, and Travis cradled her head on his shoulder. “Oh, shoot, I’m sorry. I had no idea I was in your space.” She tried to roll onto her back and get to her feet, but one arm across her midsection and one of his legs thrown over hers kept her in place. “Um...what are you doing?”
“Shh, don’t panic. I think you got cold while sleeping, and I don’t mind warming you up.” His face hovered above her, and she could feel his breath on her lips.
“I’m okay now—you can let me up.”
“I owe you an apology.” His whispered words tickled her ear.
“What for?”
“Last weekend, when we met, I shouldn’t have kissed you or touched you the way I did. Not that I’m sorry it happened, but I want you to know I’m not usually that guy.” He brushed some hair strands from her cheek, and desire flared in his eyes. “Apparently, I’m not sorry about this, either.”
Jordan felt as though her heart skipped a beat as his lips touched hers in the softest kiss ever, which he deepened as her hand moved behind his neck to pull him closer. His arm tightened around her, and, without thinking, she melted into him, her stomach suddenly a riot of need. He nipped her bottom lip and gave her one last kiss before pulling away.
“And, now I owe you another apology.” Travis’s smile clearly said he didn’t regret anything.
“If you’re not sorry, why keep apologizing?”
He pushed to his feet and pulled her up beside him, holding her hand longer than necessary. A sexy grin curved his mouth. “Good question.”
Jordan’s lips still tingled, and she raised her hand to touch them.What just happened?Mr. McBroody had hit a foul ball, and Shemar was up to bat. He could kiss her anytime he wanted.
Travis dug a compass from his pack and took a reading. “It doesn’t matter how many people are out to get us. The trick is knowing your enemies from your friends.”
Right. They had talked about private property and getting shot as trespassers before he kissed her. That conversation had gone clear out of her head. She shook herself to get rid of the image of his sexy-as-sin grin. “Um...do you always know who your enemies are?”
“I have a rule. Everyone is an enemy until they prove otherwise. You might think that’s a lousy attitude, but it’s kept me alive.”
A thread of loneliness ran through his words, and Jordan had to tamp down the sudden urge to comfort him.Where did that come from?Travis might be alone, pretending to be someone he wasn’t, but somewhere he had a life, friends, maybe a wife and kids. What did she know about the man other than he was easy on the eyes and made her feel safe in a dangerous way?Whatever the heck that means.She swallowed hard, recognizing the common sense in his rule. Was Travis her enemy?Until he proves otherwise.
“What?” He strode toward her, one eyebrow raised.
Jordan hadn’t realized she’d been staring. A shiver ran through her as his gaze locked on hers, daring her to look away.Who is he, really?
His grin, which would surely be her undoing, tipped up the edges of his full, sensual lips as he bent to grab his pack. “Ready?”
She yanked her gaze from his and stuffed her hands in her pockets. “What you do is dangerous. I mean, working undercover for the FBI has to be, right? Why take the risk?”
Travis shrugged. “Somebody has to get scum like Brody off the streets, and I’ve got the skills to do it and stay alive.” There was no arrogance in his words.
“Of course—from your SEAL training.” His matter-of-fact tone chipped away at her doubts.
Travis studied her wordlessly for a few seconds, and when he held out his hand, she took it, for the first time, knowing in her heart he was a good man.
