She tugged the jacket over her leather one and pulled the cap on.They wrapped her in his scent, cocooned her in warmth, and protected her from the wind.
He walked with her over to a bench overlooking the waves and sat beside her, hands in the pockets of his own jacket as the wind whipped through his hair.The view was gorgeous, the lights of Crimson Point spreading out along the curving bay to their left.
But mostly she was drinking in Tristan’s profile outlined by the lights.
He didn’t say anything.The tension that had been building in her stomach began to ease.He was comfortable just sitting here with her, giving her time and space to unwind.Silently supporting her, comforting her with his presence.
Shit.She was in deep, deep trouble.
He looked over at her.“Cold?”
A little.“I’m okay.”
“I’ve got a blanket in the truck.”
No.No blankets.It was all too easy to imagine him getting it, tucking it around her.Taking care of her and ripping down the last of her wavering defenses.“I’m good.”
He went back to staring out at the water.It was hypnotic, watching the waves form bright crests as they curled toward shore, then crashed against the rocks below in explosions of foam.The wild, restless energy and rhythm of it soothed her somehow.
The longer they sat there, the more attuned to him she became.But there was a deep ache forming inside her.The pain of longing for something she knew she could never have.
She’d wondered way too many times what he would be like in bed.He was so steady and controlled all the time, but he had an underlying intensity she’d picked up on lately.She’d seen the heat in his eyes a few times when he’d looked at her.
And each time, she’d felt an answering heat ignite in her.
Stop, she told herself angrily.She was just spinning ridiculous, unrealistic fantasies about him in her head.Hadn’t she learned her lesson yet?Or did she want more pain and disappointment when reality crashed into her like a brick wall?
He’s different, a little voice at the back of her mind insisted.You know he is.
She was starting to believe it.But too afraid to risk it.
The combined sound of the wind and waves lulled her.She drew her knees up, hunched into herself more and finally allowed herself to lean over and rest her head on his shoulder.
He lifted one arm and draped it across her shoulders, the gesture both accepting and protective.She told herself it was the cold wind making her eyes tear up.
She could feel her resolve crumbling as the minutes ticked by.More than once she almost gave into the urge to slide into his lap, cuddle up, and find his lips with hers.But she was in complete turmoil.Couldn’t stop her brain from chewing on what had happened.
“I’ve been going over everything in my mind.There are a couple people who could have their reasons for targeting me.”
He looked at her sharply.“Who?”
She didn’t miss the tension in his body or the hard edge to his voice.“People I...testified against in Vegas.But the ones I would consider potential threats are still in prison.”As far as she knew.
“Could they have connections on the outside?”
“Oh yeah.”They definitely could.“That’s what I’m thinking.”
“Who are they?”
She released a slow breath.“People I don’t want to even think about anymore.”
Cassie could feel his frustration that she didn’t tell him more and felt a twinge of guilt.She wasn’t shutting him out because she didn’t trust him.She just wasn’t ready to open up her healing wounds all over again.
“You should tell Ryder.Or Callum or Walker.”
She nodded, sat up straight.“I should head back now.”
He glanced down at her, his face so close it would take no more than a tilt of her head to bring their mouths together.“You sure?”
