"I'll be fine."
He made a sound suspiciously like a snort of disbelief and slammed the door closed.
She ignored him and marched up the street. He was beside her almost instantly, his stride long and loose, arm casually brushing against hers when he shoved his hands into his coat pockets. They walked in silence for several long minutes, but she was very aware of him watching her.
"I think we need to talk about last night," he said softly. Last night was a nightmare she'd rather forget, as he was no doubt about to tell her to do. "Don't worry," she said, her voice holding an edge of annoyance she just couldn't help. "I know you were drugged. I took advantage of it, and I'm sorry." He lightly touched her elbow, guiding her across the street. "That's not what I was talking about."
Heat flushed her cheeks. She knew exactly what he was talking about. Pulling away from his hand, she strode on, keeping her gaze well away from him.
"I realize what happened between us was just a result of the drug, nothing more."
He didn't answer straight away. Almost against her will, she found her gaze drawn to his. There was a hint of wry amusement in his smile that just didn't make sense.
"Took the words right out of my mouth," he murmured, then grabbed her arm, lightly pulling her sideways. "Dog shit," he explained when she glanced at him.
"Not a smell I recommend in the confines of a truck cabin."
"Thanks," she muttered, and once again pulled her arm from his grasp. It felt too good, too comforting.
Too intimate.
They walked on in silence. Ten minutes later they reached his truck. Jon opened the door for her. She climbed in, carefully avoiding his touch and his gaze, then reached for the road map shoved down the side of the seat.
"Head up the freeway. According to this, the turn off to Jewell is about twenty miles out of Taurin Bay."
He nodded as he drove off. "When we find this cabin, I want you to stay in the truck—with the doors locked."
"No." She crossed her arms and stared out the window. She felt his annoyed gaze flicker over her.
"Maddie, we have no idea who will be in the cabin with the kids. It's safer if you stay here."
His voice held a barely controlled edge of impatience. She ignored it and shook her head. "You can't handle both Hank and Eleanor alone."
"You only saw Hank last night."
Last night seemed little more than a bad dream. Suddenly weary, she pushed her hair back from her face. "Eleanor has had plenty of time to get there, you know."
"I know."
His answer seemed ground out between clenched teeth, as if he didn't like to be reminded of it. She glanced across at him. Dark stubble lined his cheek, and tiny crows' feet edged the corners of his eyes. He looked tired. And worried.
"They've had plenty of time to arrange a trap."
"They don't know we're coming," he replied reasonably. Too reasonably. Tension surrounded him, edged with anger.
"After last night, they'd suspect the worst. They'd plan ahead." She watched his fingers flex against the steering wheel and knew she was sitting next to a volcano ready to explode.
How often did he come this close to losing control of his emotions? Last night she'd thought he'd been just as surprised by the passion of their kiss as she, but now that she'd had a chance to think about it, maybe he was more surprised over the fact that he hadlosi control.
I need you, he said. The words made her heart tremble, even now. She had a feeling that he rarely admitted to needing anything—or anyone—even for something as basic as sex.
They passed a road sign, and she glanced down at the map to check their position. Her stomach tightened. They were close.
"We're almost there." She glanced at him. There was no mistaking the worry she saw in his blue eyes this time. Her heart did an uneven little jig.
"I can't let you go in alone," she continued, and glanced out the side window. "And I won't run, no matter what you do or say."
"And I can't let you endanger yourself needlessly." She met his gaze and steeled her heart against the brief flash of emotion she saw deep in the bright depths of his eyes.