fixin’ to take a break,” he said, playing it up by mimicking his granddad’s much heavier accent. “You might oughtta join me.”
She laughed and followed him just off the trail to a large fallen tree where they sat side-by-side after he dropped his pack. “Might oughtta?”
“Might oughtta, might could, might should.” He found two protein bars and handed her one. “No commitment required.”
“I might could get used to that.”
He ripped open his snack, unable to hide his smile. “I knew you were a quick study, Cali girl.”
Her grin made his heart skip a beat. “Like, totally.” She tossed her ponytail, making the sun throw sparks off the red and blond highlights in her dark hair.
Todd couldn’t look away.
She caught his gaze and they both stilled.
Her eyes darkened as she stared deep into his soul, past the barriers he’d erected long ago, beyond all of the death and pain he’d witnessed, straight to his core.
She licked her lips, and something sparkling and liquid slid through him, warming his chest like a shot of whiskey.
He stopped breathing and leaned in, pulled by an invisible thread.
With every ounce of patience he possessed, he waited. Waited for her to stop him. Waited for her to shift away.
He shouldn’t have lowered his head, but she was so goddamned compelling, how could he not? He watched her face as he moved closer, expecting her to pull back and break the spell.
But then, hot damn, his lips were pressed against hers and he was lost.
Lindsey welcomed the soft press of Todd’s mouth, the searing heat of his tongue as his confidence seemed to grow and he teased her to open to him. She cupped his face, letting her fingernails scrape through the thick stubble before sliding her hand around the back of his neck.
He groaned and deepened the kiss, caressing her cheek. His touch sent sparks zinging through her body and her breath picked up. She was floating, moored only by the feel of his hot skin, aware only of this moment, of this man and the rasp of his beard on her face, the slide of his tongue against hers, the growing heat between them.
Wait until she told Megan what—
Lindsey abruptly pulled back. “I’m sorry, I…”
He dropped his hand, his breath coming fast as he shook his head slowly. “Don’t apologize. I know this is shitty timing.”
“Yeah.” That too.
What the hell had she been thinking? They’d be parting ways within the hour. All too soon, she’d find the police, hopefully get Megan back safe, and go home to California. That was all that mattered. How selfish to want to linger with Todd while her friend suffered God-knew-what at the hands of those horrible men.
Reluctantly, she tried to shake off the lust that tugged at her like an undertow.
Awkward now, they finished their snacks, took turns relieving their bladders, and resumed the trek downhill, saying little.
Her mind pretty much played the kiss on a loop. She’d never been that taken in by such a simple act before. Nothing she’d experienced even came close. New categories needed to be invented to describe kissing Todd.
Was he particularly skilled, or was it just kissing him that made it so different? So special?
Him. Definitely him.
She was thirty-two, not nineteen. She was nowhere close to being a virgin. Yet, not a single man, not even one of her three long-term boyfriends, had prepared her for Todd.
A man you’ve known for a day.
Maybe she was more susceptible to him because of her current state. Hell, she’d nearly died and he’d saved her life. That could do a number on anyone.
Plus, he was still helping her. She considered herself too much of a feminist to be into the whole knight-in-shining-armor thing, but she’d read about how shared trauma and danger brought people closer. And she couldn’t deny the appeal of a man who was willing to risk himself on her behalf.
But then, he’d been a PJ and was now a bodyguard. Risking himself for others was his job. He’d probably do it for anyone.
But, he’d rescued her.
Dammit, she wanted to kiss him again. And do more. She’d had another glimpse of his incredible body this morning, and—holy wow. He was all carved abs, sinewy arms, lightly freckled shoulders…
She fanned herself and removed the long-sleeved quarter-zip he’d loaned her, tying it around her waist.
Gorgeous as he was, being a good guy was his best asset. Caring, competent, confident. The whole package was so sexy she could hardly look away.
Get a grip, Linds.
“I see the trailhead