And it felt like he was dismissing her.
Dammit.He didn’t want her to come. Maybe he thought she’d be extra baggage. A hindrance rather than a help. Hell, if she didn’t fully believe in herself, how could she expect him to?
But this time, shedidbelieve in herself, and she knew she’d be an asset. Refusing to back down and be left behind in thedust, she squared her shoulders and prepared to tell him she was coming, when Jayson turned and pinned her with a stare.
“You ready?” he asked, his voice laced with a touch of humor, probably at the sullen indignation on her face. She’d misread him, but she wasn’t giving him a chance to change his mind either.
“Hell, yes.”
They headed out to his Tahoe, moving fast. With zero time to spare, they hustled back home. Sabrina was out of his truck before he’d put it in park, racing over to her house. She threw some clothes, toiletries and her gun into her duffel bag, and met Jayson back at his house.
He was just finishing a call, securing someone to take care of the horses while they were gone, and she stopped in her tracks, letting her gaze slide down his body. He’d changed into a fitted black shirt, cargo pants and boots. Incredibly fit for a man his age, her attention lingered a little too long on his flat stomach, then gradually slid lower to admire the way he filled—
“Sabrina.”
“Huh?” Her attention snapped back up.
Something heated flitted through his hazel eyes then disappeared just as fast. “Let’s go.”
He grabbed their bags, locked up and they hustled to his truck. She hopped into the passenger seat, while he tossed their gear and coats in the back. Once he was settled behind the wheel and started driving, her attention shifted sideways to study his profile. Sharp, stubbled jawline. Lips set in a firm line. Brows furrowed in concentration. Biceps full of tension as he gripped the steering wheel. Utterly consumed with the upcoming mission to save Emma.
So determined. Ready to save the day. A man on a mission.
Maybe once they got Emma back safely—because they absolutely would—he would put those large hands on her. Gripher hips hard as he kissed the fuck out of her and drove into her over and over.
Whew.A light sweat broke out on her skin, and she reached over to adjust the vent away from her overheated body. Just a hot flash.
Yeah, right.A hot flash caused by a seriously sexy silver fox who had her fantasies in overdrive.
Before she could spontaneously combust, they arrived at the small airport. As Sabrina got out of the car, she paused, took one look at the tin can with wings sitting on the runway, and fought the urge to get back into the Tahoe and drive to Vegas.
“You want me to get in that?” she asked in disbelief. Normally, flying didn’t bother her. But the metal contraption before her didn’t look like it was capable of getting off the ground much less all the way to Las Vegas. “Are you kidding?”
Lex moved into view from the other side of the plane, running his hand along its side. “Just so you know, she’s got it where it counts. Never doubt my piloting skills or mySpitfire.”
His words didn’t reassure her. If anything, his cockiness made her more edgy.
She leaned toward Jayson, lowering her voice. “Is this thing going to be able to get off the ground?”
“She’s never failed me yet, sweetheart,” Lex answered, rounding the plane’s corner and sweeping a hand toward the entrance.
Talk about supersonic hearing. Geez.
“That’s not very reassuring, Battle,” Jayson commented flatly, pressing a hand to Sabrina’s back and leading her forward. “But he’s right. So far, so good.”
Jayson sent her a crooked smile and her heart stuttered. The man was utterly delicious. How he was still single at nearly fifty was beyond her. She had a feeling there were some verydisappointed women in Cielo Springs—women who’d tried and failed to nab the golden bachelor.
“It’s been a really long time since I’ve wanted to let a woman in, but I’d like to let you in. If that’s okay?”
His words echoed through her mind, and she replayed their amazing kiss as she climbed aboard, conscious of his guiding touch on her back. It felt good. Right, even. The idea of being with Jayson caused her insides to flutter, making her excited for the future.
And it had been a very long time since a man had excited her.
Chapter eight
The loud rumbling ofSpitfire’sengine normally became a lulling sound on their way to and from missions, but Jayson was too keyed up. He did his best to remain calm and level-headed, but the closer they got to Las Vegas, the more antsy he became. He wouldn’t be able to relax until he had his daughter back. He’d given up everything for his little girl and loved her to the moon and back. If he had to burn Sin City to the ground to find her, he wouldn’t hesitate. And he knew his team wouldn’t either.
He wished Xander were there to help because the former CIA agent was familiar with the Ferrante brothers. Unfortunately, they hadn’t heard anything about what had happened to him after the team raided José Barrera’s mansion in Mexico, and Jayson feared they never would. He hoped to Christ he was wrong about that. If anyone could come back from the dead, it was Xander fucking Hawke.
