“Right.” In truth, she didn’t want to be done. In disbelief, her hand sought the matted nest of pine gum and peanut butter. She found only smooth, oily strands. “How?”
Fingers whispering across the skin of her neck, Chase used both hands to sweep her hair behind her shoulders. He let the strands fall through his grasp one last time before he walked to the window and split the curtains enough to see. “She would’ve liked you, Gray.”
She doubted it. She wasn’t the type grandmothers usually preferred for their grandsons, but the compliment pleased her anyway. “Thank you.” For saving her hair. For saving her ass. What more could she say?
Panic rising in her chest, she popped out of the rickety chair and glanced at his broad back. He kept his piercing gaze on the world outside, and grateful for the reprieve, she attempted to escape. “I’m gonna go shower.” She didn’t move fast enough. He pegged her with a look over his shoulder that she felt in the marrow of her bones.
“Be quick. We need sleep, and we can’t stay long.”
She nodded once and retreated. Holy fuck.She needed to get away. Away from Chase and his hands before she started giving in to him, and them, in much more dangerous and catastrophically stupid ways.
Despite his order, she stayed under the spray until the water turned cold, taking the time to think. The extra three minutes didn’t help, and still at a loss as to her next move, she dried off with the hand towel because the single bath towel sported a suspicious stain.
Fucking Jackson.She needed to talk to him. He had to know something. He obviously had inside information and was about to bust open another barrel of crap, or he wouldn’t have sent her to get the proof.
Helpless without her phone, she cursed Chase for refusing to give it back. Sure, the men after her would have a trace on her number, but she only needed to turn it on for a second. Okay, sixty seconds, but whatever. Once she had Jackson’s contact information, she’d use the secure phone or a landline to call him.
The risk was minimal.
Determined to go another round with Chase about her phone privileges, she pulled her pants up with purpose. Her stinky sports bra, though. Not happening. Instead, she slipped his T-shirt over her bare skin.
She felt better for being clean. Clean skin, clean teeth, clean hair. As she brushed her hair, still long and sap free thanks to Chase, she couldn’t help but recall his touch. It made her skin tingle in all the right places for all the wrong reasons.
Stop!Jesus. Why did being around Captain Testosterone have her acting like a complete moron? She didn’t do the damsel in distress thing and had been in plenty of tight jams with America’s fighting finest. She even had the scars to prove it. So why was she so…interested?
And why had she kissed him? He was a soldier, for Christ’s sake, a military man to his core. She’d been around his type all her life. She didn’t need the details about his mission or to eyeball his dog tags to know he put his unit and country first.
Military men were off-limitsfor a reason.
They left. They died.
They broke your fucking heart.
Again and again.
Nope. No matter how obsessed she’d become with Chase and his friendly fingers. No matter how much she liked his stories and the way he had of making her feel special. She needed to break her no-escape clause and ditch him fast.
Hell-bent on finding a way to get free, she emerged from the bathroom and found Chase on the bed.
The sight of him froze her mid-step.
Eyes closed, he had one hand behind his head, the other on his chest under the rucked-up fabric of his tee. He’d popped the top two buttons of his jeans, and she let her hungry gaze roam over well-defined stomach muscles.
Hot damn, he made her panties wet.
She bit her lip and took a tentative step. Then another.
Boots on, and his ankles crossed, he looked at ease, his chest rising and falling with his steady breaths. On the table beside him, she spied his gun. Next to the gun, the car key. Her heartbeat quickened.
Finally, the chance she’d been waiting for.
Her gaze flicked back to the sleeping man.
Why are you hesitating, freak? Guaranteed, he’ll break your heart. Take the damn key fob and run.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Maybe Chase sensed her?Maybe she made a sound? Whatever the reason, his instincts kicked in, and he grabbed Gray by the wrist, jerking her off balance. She squealed in surprise as he flipped her to his opposite side.
