Hidden Away

CHAPTER 19

SARAH gawked back at Garrett, still trying to process the fact that he was standing in her house. In Mexico. She wanted to be furious—she was furious—but she was too damn tired and befuddled to do anything but stare like an idiot as she tried to take it all in.

Then she shook her head. Why the hell were they standing there talking about kissing?

He reached out and cupped his hand over her cheek. The touch was a jolt to her system and sent a flicker of awareness down her spine. He rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone, the pad rasping over her skin until a shiver crept up her nape.

“You need to sleep, Sarah. I’ll watch over you. No one will hurt you. I need you at your best and then we need to get the hell out of here.”

She swayed, hypnotized by the deep timbre of his voice. How easy he made it to fall under his spell.

“What’s in this for you?” Then as if she remembered, “Besides the money,” she said with a hint of bitterness.

His hand stilled on her face, and a slight current of tension raced through his fingertips. He seemed to struggle with the question, and she wondered if he’d bother answering. Then he dropped his thumb until it rubbed over her lips. “You. You’re what’s in it for me.”

She took a step back, disconcerted by the utter seriousness she heard in his voice. He followed. She retreated until her back bumped against the wall and then he bumped into her, his body pressing against hers until his heat invaded her limbs.

She raised her hands, fully intent on shoving him back, but they stilled when they came into contact with his chest.

“I’m going to kiss you again, Sarah.”

“No, you’re not.”

“The hell I’m not,” he growled just as his lips melted over hers.

This was stupid. They were kissing. She’d just threatened him with a gun. He’d just called her an idiot who was trying to get herself killed. He’d purposely positioned himself on the island to get close to her. Their meeting hadn’t been happenstance. He’d lied.

But he hadn’t. Not really. She’d been an idiot for not being more careful. He hadn’t had to lie to her because she’d never pressed him for information. He’d been there, a strong, steady presence and she’d latched on like some pathetic moron. Much like she was doing now.

She stood still, determined not to respond. Determined that she could show indifference. That she was still angry over his deception. But he was patient. Oh, the man was patient. And lethal. He wooed her with his mouth, tasting, kissing each part of her lips before he gently teased her mouth open so his tongue gained entrance.

He savored her like she was something decadent and delicious, his tongue dancing lightly over hers and then stroking, warm and soft. She closed her eyes and swayed into him, her fingers digging into the hardness of his chest. She froze when her belly pressed into his groin and she felt the evidence of his arousal, hard and hot against her softness.

He cursed softly and pulled his mouth away, leaving only an inch between them. “Ignore that,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She laughed. She couldn’t help it. Her shoulders shook and she looked down and laughed all over again.

“What the hell is so funny?” he demanded. “Definitely not good for a man’s ego when a woman looks at his dick and laughs.”

This time her laughter came out in breathless wheezes. She laughed so hard, tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and then streamed down her cheeks. He glared at her, his scowl growing more ferocious with every burst of laughter.

“On the contrary,” she managed to get out. “You tell me to forget something that obvious?”

“I was trying not to be an asshole,” he grumbled.

For some reason she found that even funnier. “You break into my house. You take my gun away from me. Informed me you lied about pretty much everything when we were on the island. Then tell me I’m an idiot who’s trying to get herself killed. And you’re worried about being an asshole?”

He opened his mouth then promptly shut it. Then he backed away and picked up her gun from the table he’d laid it on. He turned it over in his hand then looked back up at her. “Not a bad choice, but it’s too big for you. You weren’t holding it tight enough for it not to kick back and probably knock you on your ass. You need something smaller that fits your hand better. A .38 would be a good choice.”

She frowned. “I was holding it tight enough to shoot you.”

“You were aiming at my balls,” he said in a disgruntled voice.

“Oh.”

“And if you start laughing again, I’m going to kick your little ass.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle that threatened to pop out.

“You need to get some rest. While you sleep, I’ll figure out where we’re going.”

“I haven’t said I would go anywhere with you,” she said in a low voice.

“And we’ll talk more about that after you’ve gotten some sleep.”

It was really hard to maintain any semblance of anger or argue with him for that matter, when all she wanted was to lie down and do exactly as he suggested. And if he was telling the truth and really was here to protect her, then she could sleep without worry of who or what was out there.

“Yes, we’ll talk,” she said by way of agreement. “I want to know everything.”

He nodded. “As do I, Sarah. There’s a hell of a lot I need to know if I’m going to keep us both alive.”

She was careful not to show any outward reaction, but panic curled in her stomach. She merely returned his nod, not trusting herself to speak. He wanted to know all, and she needed time to determine just how much of the truth she could tell him without telling him everything.

“Show me around the inside of the house. I want to make sure you’re going to sleep in a secure area where there isn’t a threat from the outside.”

Her stomach still churning, she guided him toward the large open living area that served as dining room and living room all rolled into one. He alternated between shaking his head and cursing under his breath.

“You don’t go into this room. Period. And stay the hell away from the windows.”

“But this is where I stay most of the time. I can see everything from here. I’d know if someone was approaching.”

“Like you knew I was here?” he asked balefully.

She flushed. “You aren’t most people. You were probably skulking around in the bushes wearing camouflage paint and wearing shrubs on your head.”

He stopped and held up his hand, and she braced herself for the lecture she knew he was about to deliver.

“First of all, if you can see out, they can damn well see in. And at night, you can’t see a damn thing out there, but with the lights on, they can see you bright as day. Second, anyone who comes after you is damn well not going to walk up and knock on your front door. He’d position himself out there in the bushes and he’d put a bullet through your head the minute you stuck your head out of the house.”

The blood drained from her face and she closed her eyes. “You’re right. You’re right, okay? I didn’t think ... I mean I don’t know how to think like a ... a killer.”

“That’s why you have me,” he said. “Now let’s get the hell out from in front of these windows. From now until we leave, this room is off limits.”

She nodded and followed him toward the hall where the two bedrooms were located. He poked his head in the first and promptly backed out, shaking his head. “Not this one. Too vulnerable.”

She sighed.

He opened the door at the end of the hall and stood in the entryway for a few moments before motioning her in. It was the smaller of the two bedrooms with only a twin bed, but at the moment, she didn’t care. There was only one window, a small square situated at the top of the wall just under the ceiling. Just right to let sunlight pour into the room but not large enough for a human to get in or out of.

He turned and nearly bumped into her. He grasped her shoulders to steady her and then guided her toward the bed.

“I want you to sleep. I’ll wake you in a few hours and we’ll get on the road. I’d rather not stay in Mexico a minute longer than I have to.”

“We’ll talk first,” she said softly. “And then I’ll decide whether or not I’m leaving with you. Marcus said I’d be safe here. I only just got here. Why would I leave?”

He gave her a look that suggested she wasn’t going to get a choice in the matter. She glared back and curled her lip to show him her irritation. He merely winked at her and her mouth fell open in shock. He’d winked at her? Such a playful action was in direct contradiction to every opinion she’d formed about him. Then she scowled because she realized he was just messing with her.

“All yours,” he said, gesturing grandly toward the bed. “I’ll mosey on out—unless, of course, you need my help undressing.”

“Don’t push your luck,” she muttered as she shoved by him to sit on the bed. “I’m too tired to get undressed anyway.”

She flopped back onto the mattress and closed her eyes. The bed dipped, and alarmed, she opened her eyes only to find herself staring up at Garrett as he loomed over her.

He had both hands planted on either side of her shoulders and his knees were straddling her. He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. This time he didn’t linger. Didn’t wade into a long, hot exchange as he had before. He touched his finger to the spot he’d kissed and then murmured, “Sweet dreams, Sarah. You’re safe now.”

Then he backed off the bed and left the room without a backward glance. She lay there, stunned by her reaction to him. More stunned by the yearning that kicked through her soul with enough force to make her heart ache.

She needed to email Marcus and ask him about Garrett, but her laptop was in the living room shoved under one of the cushions of the couch. As soon as she got up, she’d take care of contacting Marcus. Maybe by then she’d be able to think. Perhaps Garrett was the solution. She could accept Marcus’s protection—through Garrett—without having to be in close proximity to Marcus. They’d both be safe.