through the door, and all that hard work he’d done in the shower went right down the drain.
It was just a black dress, but the way it cupped her breasts and pushed them together was a goddamn threat to a man’s sanity. The fabric clung to the curves of her waist and hips, then stopped short just above her knees. Not only that, but she wore heels so high she came up to his chin rather than his chest.
“I brought my stilettos with me,” she told him cheerfully. “It’s not often I can wear them around a man without towering over him.”
He grunted, since that was the only sound he was capable of making right then.
“Also, in a pinch, I can use them as a weapon.” She bent to slide off one of her shoes, giving him an even better view of the bare upper curve of her breasts. His mouth went dry.
He cleared his throat. “That’s okay, you don’t have to demonstrate. I feel safer already.”
She tugged the shoe strap back into place and stood up. “How’s your appetite?”
Wrong question. He lifted one eyebrow and didn’t answer. She flushed and ran her tongue over her lips. “There’s a great steakhouse around the corner.”
“Works for me.”
Good God, he had to get a grip. He was here to watch her back, not slobber all over her.
She pulled on a red sweater—forevermore, he’d associate the color red with her—and they headed out the door.
The electric atmosphere between them followed them into the elevator and through the foyer. It must have made Kate nervous too, because she launched into a breathless explanation of how much she’d been looking forward to dipping into her Los Angeles wardrobe again. And then something about makeup and hair stylists and brunch.
When they hit the sidewalk, she wobbled a little on her stilettos, and he grabbed her arm to steady her. She leaned on it for extra support as they walked. Finally he saw the advantage of those shoes, aside from the fact that they made her legs look about as long as a high-rise.
“Look at us, all civilized and going out to dinner in LA. We’ve come a long way from that muddy road in Lost Harbor,” she said lightly.
“And from the Moose is Loose, passed out in that cabin.”
“Knocked out,” she corrected. “Passed out sounds more degenerate. I didn’t have enough fun to qualify for passed out.”
“Really?” He gave her a wicked sidelong look. “I did. It was a great night, until I woke up all alone with a goddamn crick in my neck.”
She pulled a mock-apologetic face and slid her hand to the back of his neck. “Poor baby. I can make up for it now if you like.”
She massaged him lightly, and he groaned. “Now? In the middle of a city sidewalk when I’m supposed to be watching for bad guys? We really need to talk about your timing.”
With a smile, she dropped her hand, letting it linger on his back before settling at his elbow. The muscles along his spine tingled, missing her touch already.
“Don’t worry, I won’t interfere with bad guy patrol. If you weren’t here, I’d be barricading myself in the hotel room and ordering room service.”
“Maybe we should—”
“No. It’s such a short walk, and there’s all this warmth and smog to enjoy. “
He laughed. “Forget what it’s like after all that clean Lost Harbor air?”
“I did.” She inhaled a long breath. “It’s strange being here. I feel like I’m drunk but I’m definitely not.”
“I don’t even have that excuse,” he murmured, half to himself. But he knew exactly what she meant. It was a giddy feeling to be here with her in this enormous, sprawling city in which no one knew their business. No curious volunteer firemen or hockey teammates to be seen. They could do whatever they wanted and no one ever had to know about it.
They could throw every rulebook in existence out the window.
Except for the one that would keep her safe, of course.
To that end, he made sure they were seated in a corner booth, from which he could see everyone who came in and out of Ruby’s Steakhouse.
“You seem like you know what you’re doing, bodyguard-wise,” she commented after the hostess had left them alone with their drink menus.
“I’ve watched enough Jason Statham movies to get the general idea.”
She smiled at that. He loved making her smile. That little divot that appeared near her chin just did him in. Every time.