My glare rises from the man as security reaches me. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”
When one of the security guards crouches down to take my place, I push to stand and assess the scene. Ian is helping the last of the group into the SUV. Cade is frozen, his eyes wide and his arm around Olive’s shoulder. Olive is staring at me, her hand over her mouth, in shock.
The man is dragged to his feet now that the guards have him handcuffed. Addressing the group, I demand, “I’m Nate Carson, head of Miss Bell’s security team. You have my contact information on the paperwork submitted. Text me where I need to go to finalize the report with the police. I need to get everyone to the hotel.”
“Yes, sir. Will do.”
With that settled, I move to where Cade and Olive are. Unable to resist the urge to touch Olive, my palm finds her lower back. “Come on, let’s get you both in the car so we can get to the hotel.” I grab the handle of Olive’s suitcase and gently urge her to start walking with pressure on her back.
Cade leads the way, and Olive and I follow him insilence. When we get to the lone SUV, the other one having left with Ian and the rest of the group, the driver takes our luggage, and I open the back door. Cade climbs inside, but I stop Olive before she has a chance to do the same.
My eyes search hers as I ask, “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Areyouokay? You’re the one who took that guy down. I just stood there and watched.” Her concerned expression has a pleased smirk slipping onto my face.
“That was nothing. But I appreciate you being worried about me.”
A small smile has her full, tempting lips pulling up before she turns away from me and disappears inside the vehicle. I close the door behind her and climb into the front seat, feeling better than I have in days.
“Thank you for all your help.”I reach out and shake the hand of the officer helping with the report being filed on the man at the airport.
“No problem. Let us know if you need anything else while you’re here.”
“Appreciate it.” I stalk out of the police station and pull my phone from my pocket.
No texts or calls from a dark-haired woman who’s haunting my every thought.
With a sigh, I walk back to the waiting SUV, letting the driver know we can head back to the hotel. I can go back for a bit, then head to dinner. Alone. Since Ian is handling things with Jenny while I handled everything with the police.
As I pass the front desk on my way to the elevator, I glance to my left and freeze.
Long, shiny black hair sirens me to the gift shop. I take a moment to soak her in. Her thick thighs and delectable ass are covered in black yoga pants. She has a tight, cropped tank top that accentuates her waist. My breath halts in my chest at the thought of what it does to her front. She’s standing with her back to me as she looks over the selection of snacks.
I hope that isn’t what she plans to eat for dinner.
Her shoulders dip as she places the pack of crackers in her hand back on the shelf. She turns to the girl at the desk waiting to ring her up and asks, “Is there maybe a grocery store or convenience store nearby that I could walk to?”
Convenience store? What the hell?
15
Olive
When I get to my hotel room, I sit on the bed and stare off into space for a few minutes. The tumult of emotions that have happened in the last forty-eight hours has left me reeling. Heck, even the last hour was enough, let alone the rest of it. I can still feel the paralyzing trepidation that hit me when Nate practically tackled that man to the ground. There was also a heady dose of arousal at the display of his brute strength. My skin heats when I remember the flex of Nate’s muscles and the deep grunts he released with the physical activity of subduing the man.
Then, when he put his hand on my back…I almost melted right there. I shake my head to clear the lust flooding me at the memories.I shouldn’t be turned on by that, right?Our lives were possibly in danger, but I can’t deny fear for my life was the last thing I was feeling in that moment.
I grab my purse and pull out the bag of candy. My arousal is paired with a different kind of warmth spreading throughout my body. I cannot understand how someone would do something so sweet and thoughtful for me.
For so much of my life, I’ve always had to be concerned about someone else. First, my mom, then Benny. Even with the few people I dated, I was always doing and never receiving.
But Nate bought me candy.
He listened when I told him I liked to get local candy from each city. And when I missed going to one, he took time out of his day to get some for me.
With uneven breaths, I pull one from the bag and stare at it. Even if this were chocolate-covered crickets, it would still be the best candy I ever ate because of what it means to me that Nate would do that.
I’m grateful it isn’t that, though, when I bite into it. It has pecans and caramel and is covered in rich milk chocolate. It’s beyond delicious, and a little moan escapes me as I finish chewing.
