Taming Cross - Ella James Page 0,73

tongue another beat because I think he's going to say something. Last night was inappropriate; you mean nothing to me except in a business sense: something like that. When he doesn't, I take a big, deep breath and force myself to act like things are normal between the two of us.

“So, are you ready to leave? I can just get some clothes on and then I say we just...go.”

He nods, just as stiff and forced as I am. “I don't think we have the time to focus on...the laundry room.”

Right. He means the body.

“We don't.” It's horrible, but it is what it is. We need to get out of here and try to make it to the border.

Evan stands up, steps over to the bed, and hands me the bag from his bike. “Here are those things I bought you, if you want to use some of them now.”

I frown, trying to remember what’s in there, other than deodorant. I swear, my body temperature just climbed two degrees in the second he's been standing near me.

“Just the toiletries I showed you the other day, plus some clothes,” he says.

“Clothes...?” I wiggle my eyebrows, praying he doesn't say ‘panties’.

“Some shorts, some pants, a jacket. I should have given them to you sooner but I wasn't thinking.” He shrugs, as if it all means nothing to him.

“Okay, well thanks.” I take the bag. “Did you buy it yourself? That's really thoughtful.”

He looks embarrassed. I think I actually see some color in his cheeks. Without thought, I reach up and cup his cheek with my hand. His slight smile spreads into an irresistible grin.

“I'm a thoughtful dude.”

“Dude.” I grin, too. “A California dude.”

The smile falls off his face so fast, I wonder what I said. He takes a swift step back and nods gravely. “I am.”

I'm confused. “Is that a bad thing?”

He shrugs. “No. Guess not.” Looking like someone killed his puppy, he nods my way and slips quickly through the door.

26

Cross

“THANK YOU FOR the toiletries. I didn't use all of them yet, because I'm going to wait on my next shower, but the deodorant is wonderful, and I much prefer these clothes to what I was wearing last night.”

Merri is standing before me in the kitchen, looking sexy in a long-sleeved brown t-shirt, black cotton yoga pants, and the green and purple sneakers she had back at the clinic. The way her wavy, strawberry hair hangs over her shoulders reminds me of a fairy tale princess. And I have something that will make her look even better.

“I also wanted to give you this.” I hold out my black leather jacket to her and belatedly decide I need to explain. “It's overcast.” And I want to see my clothes on you. Because I’m an inappropriate freak.

She takes it, pulling it up against her midriff. “But you ride in front…”

“And you're my passenger.” I crack a small smile, thinking how hot she'll look on the back of my bike. Then I remember who the hell she is, and I quickly wipe it off my face. “Keep the jacket.”

I turn around and open the refrigerator, unloading bottled water from the door into my arms. I've already packed a few bottles, plus some homemade bread and beef jerky, into the storage compartment of the Mach, but I needed an excuse to turn away. I can't even look at this woman without getting hard. I laugh a little under my breath, because this is so perfectly fucking Cross.

In lust with my father's former mistress.

That’s not how I see her of course. Merri is radiant. Lovely. But untouchable for the very huge reason of her history with my father.

It makes me furious, because her past isn’t good enough for her. And neither am I. I hate myself for letting her languish in Mexico for so long. She’ll hate me when she finds out. I know she will.

That’s why I need to keep my distance now.

Without turning around to look at Merri, I carry the water into the hall, outside the laundry room, where I've got the Mach all patched up and ready to go. It took me a little under an hour to cover the two holes in the rear tire with the stuff in the patch kit I keep inside my bag. It’s not 100 percent trustworthy, but it should hold. I've got our passports tucked into the small, flat zip pouch I've got strapped under my shirt. Merri’s carrying my bike bag, and I guess I'll