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Pulling his attention from their fullness, he studied her delicate brows, wide-set eyes with a generous sweep of lashes, and the tiniest sprinkle of freckles across her nose. If no’ for being this close, he’d have missed them.
Another moan, another shift of Tait’s position had Marcus gently backing off the bed. Time to wipe preposterous notions from his head and focus on the question of how to get Tait safely out of West Yellowstone wi’out being followed.
He glanced once more at the woman curled serenely in his bed and headed for the bathroom. He needed a shower to clear his head. And then coffee. Lots of coffee!
Ten minutes later Marcus emerged, still toweling his hair dry, and wearing naught but his jeans. If he hurried and grabbed his cleanwolfT-shirt from the dresser drawer, he could go get coffee before Tait woke up and surprise her. Expecting her to still be sleeping, he was startled to see her sitting on the chair with a half-eaten apple in her hand.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled around the hand she threw up to cover her chewing. “I woke up starving. I’m afraid that’s a trait I haven’t seemed able to alter.” She reached for another uneaten apple, sitting on the dresser. “But I got this one out for you.”
She extended the apple in his direction, but her eyes were fixed solidly on his chest, reminding him of his need for the shirt. Tossing the towel aside, he pulled open the drawer, grabbed the shirt and pulled it over his head. “Thank ye, lass, but I ken I’ll just finish dressing and slip down tae the motel-office for coffee, first. They keep a fresh pot brewin’ for guests.”
He shoved his fingers through his still-wet hair, pushing it from his face, while Tait followed his every move. “Would ye like some, lass?”
She nodded, still watching him.
“How do ye like it?”
“Just fine,” she muttered.
“Pardon?” He queried, sitting on the end of the bed to slip on his boots.
Tait’s gaze flew to his, a pink tinge warming her cheeks. “Oh! I’m sorry. I thought you meant…” she waved her hand at his shirt. “You know…how I liked your shirt.”
“Nae, lass,” he replied, pulling on the other boot. “I was referrin’ tae the coffee.”
“Oh. Ya,” she nodded, looking down. “Cream and sugar, please.”
Trying to banish his thoughts of how enchanting Tait looked, all tousled and soft in naught but his longshirt, Marcus moved to the window and peered between the drapes. Yesterday, he’d seen the car the two men following Tait were driving when he’d lured them into following that bus from Old Faithful. Thankfully, he dinnae see it here, but his view of the parking spaces was somewhat limited.
“I’ll be right back,” he said moving to the door. “Five minutes at most. Lock this behind me and dinnae open it for any reason until I get back.”
* * *
“Five minutes!”Tait grumbled, peeking once more through the opening in the curtains. It had already been fifteen.
She’d dressed and already traced a path back and forth in the small space.
Where was he?
Her anxiety built with each pass across the room. Had he been recognized? Caught by the two men chasing her? Or had he simply deserted her? Could she have read him that wrong?
No, she told herself. She hadn’t. She was sure of it. Of him.Wasn’t she?
Twenty-Five minutes.
Forty.
“That’s it,” she muttered, taking one last look out the window. She couldn’t hang around here like a sitting duck waiting to be discovered. So, Marcus had bailed on her. She couldn’t blame him. Not really. She’d been nothing but trouble since she literally threw herself at him. She should be surprised he’d hung in this long. Obviously, he’d come to his senses this morning about the risk he was taking, and the coffee was just an excuse.
But she still couldn’t be angry. He’d bought her another day. Without him, she’d have been caught yesterday. And he’d gifted her with a restful night’s sleep. That was a lot for a stranger. And that’s all Marcus was. A stranger with a kind heart. And as of this morning, a logical mind that told him when to cut bait and run.
She looked around the small room, caught herself, and laughed. Habit had her checking to be sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind. But the reality was, she had nothing to leave but regret that she hadn’t met Marcus under different circumstances. They might have liked each other.
None of that mattered now, she thought, taking one last look out the window, cursing under her breath as a van pulled in front of her room, blocking her view of the parking lot.
“Thanks, Buddy,” she grumbled. “You just made ducking out of here even harder.”
Moving to the door, she slipped the chain free and turned the lock on the knob. With one last courage-bolstering breath, she opened the door. And gasped!
