“You’re a dick, and I’m perfectly on the right side.” Hugh brushed hair away from Ellie’s head. “We need to get a better security protocol in place at the power plant. Connor called in reinforcements and they should arrive tomorrow morning.”
“Affirmative,” Deke said. “As soon as you give them instructions, get on the plane. We need Ellie here at the Pennsylvania power plant.”
Ellie sat up in Hugh’s lap. “You found something?”
“Maybe.” Deke’s voice crackled over the speakers. “Somebody has definitely gotten into the computer system, but we need your expertise.”
She rubbed her temple. “Email me what you have, and I’ll look at it tonight.” Then she looked outside at the streetlights flashing by. “I guess I’ll look at it as soon as you send it.”
“Thanks. Deke out.” A click came over the line and then silence.
Connor pulled the SUV into the parking lot of a quaint-looking motel off the main highway. He cut the engine and stepped out, pausing. “Two or three rooms?”
“Two,” Hugh answered before Ellie could. She went still in his arms.
Connor eyed her. “Protest now if you don’t agree.”
She didn’t say a word.
Hugh’s chest tightened.
“Well, you did save her.” Connor nodded and then headed for the office, which had a bright red door compared to the muted blue doors of the rooms.
Ellie turned to meet Hugh’s gaze. “What are you doing?”
“You have a concussion probably,” Hugh said evenly. “I’m sure there will be two beds, and I won’t come near you. But you do need to be observed.” Having her soft little body on his lap was pretty much killing him, but he had to watch that concussion.
“Oh.” She opened his door and scooted off him, rubbing right across his aching cock.
He bit back a groan.
She stood, waiting a second as her balance took. Then she looked up. “That’s too bad. I was kind of hoping we could have sex.” Then she turned and strode toward the motel, her sweet ass swaying in her dark jeans.
Sex?
His cock sprang fully awake, and he was out of the car before he could take another breath.
Was she serious?
* * * *
Ellie reached the office just as Connor stepped out and handed her the key to room ten. What the hell had she been thinking? Hugh had promised not to touch her, and she’d just blurted out the first thing she could think of to say. That was so not like her.
Maybe she did have a concussion. In college, he had held all the cards. She had been shy and awkward, and he’d been the freaking star. The guy who hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her.
She was a woman now. A successful, strong, adventurous woman.
Holy hell. What had she been thinking to say that to him? Her skin sensitized, and she lowered her chin, moving down the walkway and sliding the key into the slot.
“Wait.” Connor ran to the SUV and took two packs out of the back, tossing one at Hugh, who caught it easily. “The hotel manager assured me that they cleanse the rooms every day, but still. We can’t be too careful. Wipe down the room before you take off your gloves.”
She pushed open the door, more than a little grateful for the leather still protecting her fingers from the damn Scorpius bacteria.
Hugh strode in behind her and unzipped the bag, taking out buckets of antibacterial spray and wipes. It took them almost thirty minutes to completely disinfect the room, and only then did Ellie notice there was only one bed. She stood and stared at it.
“What you said?” Hugh asked when he finished wiping down the small television set. “I know you have a concussion.”
She paused. He thought she’d said something outlandish or sexy because she’d had her head bashed into a wall? Humor rippled through her, and she chuckled. So much for being a femme fatale. She turned and looked at him. “You never thought about it? Sex with me?” Curiosity was such a pain in the butt.
