Rising (Anderson Special Ops #2) - Melody Anne Page 0,55

call me that, you now know why.”

“Wow, I can’t believe you survived a jail in Venezuela. That’s harsh,” she said. “They aren’t cozy and comfortable like our jails here. People die all of the time in those lockups from sickness, malnourishment, and fighting.”

“I have nothing to compare it to since I’ve only been in jail once, but it wasn’t so bad. At least I didn’t end up in prison. That’s where people die. I was pretty much left alone in jail.”

“I have no stories like that to share. My life has been pretty boring compared to yours,” she said. “Am I safe going on a date with a criminal?” she added with a mock scared look.

“I can’t guarantee I won’t attack,” he told her with a waggle of his brows. “But since I have big plans for us, you’ll have to risk it.”

“Well, just be aware I’ve left your photo and contact information on my counter in case I don’t return. So, kill me at your own risk.”

He laughed again as he squeezed her fingers. “I don’t know. It’s always the women who are the sneaky ones. Maybe I should’ve left your photo on my counter. What happens if I come up missing?”

“Hmm, would anyone miss you?” She laughed again. “Besides the five-million siblings?”

They pulled into the parking lot at the mountain and Brackish jumped from the truck, first helping Erin out, and then grabbing two backpacks he’d put together for their hike. He leaned in and kissed her one more time, unable to stand not having her lips against his for one more minute. He pulled back before it grew too heated.

“Are you ready for an adventure?” he asked.

“More than ready,” she told him.

They both stopped for several heartbeats as they gazed at one another. He was falling harder and harder. Would he hit rocks, or dive into a lake when he landed? He wasn’t sure. But at least it was an adventure — and at least he was enjoying the person he was on the ride with. He had a feeling it was going to just get better over time.

Chapter Eleven

Erin’s nerves were so high she was visibly shaking. She’d been with Steve all morning and afternoon and had been looking for any possibility that he wasn’t the man he’d been presenting to her.

All she could conclude was that she didn’t really know who he was. There was the man with eyes of steel who’d protected her when she’d been harassed. There was the man who laughed with utter joy, and there was also the nerd who could win in a game of jeopardy. He was all of those men and so much more, and she couldn’t see any falseness in any of them.

He was also a man who turned her on. She’d only had sex one time before in her life. As a nearly thirty-year-old woman that was quite a sad thing to even think about. She’d been told how much she’d missed out on by not having sex. But her one and only time hadn’t been pleasant at all. It had, in fact, been a nightmare. But she’d changed a lot since then.

For the past several years she’d worked seven days a week, not having time to date, not having time for anything but work. And to top it off she hadn’t felt a spark with anyone. She was hit on often in the restaurant — far more than she’d like, but she’d never felt the need to flirt back, never wanted to take it beyond the restaurant doors.

And then Steve had come through her diner like a class five hurricane, and her life hadn’t been the same since. Did she want to go back to the woman she’d been, or did she want to explore more about the person she could be with Steve? She wasn’t sure. She knew she wasn’t in any hurry to turn back right now.

“I don’t get out enough for hiking. I’m on my feet all day at the restaurant, but it’s not the same as climbing mountains and seeing nature as well as using different muscles than on a flat surface,” she told him after they walked for several minutes in comfortable silence.

“I don’t know how you do that. I can only be inside for so long before I have to stretch my muscles. I’m a tech nerd as you’ve figured out, but I have only so much patience at a computer before I have to run or lift weights,