Almost.
* * * *
After a day spent not finding what she was looking for in the computers, Ellie slid her laptop bag across the small table in her motel room, her very late dinner of chicken nuggets settling in her stomach like lumps. Her head hurt, her eyes ached, and her shoulders felt like somebody had shot cement into them with a much too large syringe. She kicked off her shoes, not caring that the carpet had seen better days.
Hugh shut the door behind her. “We need to sterilize the place. Don’t touch anything yet.”
That was it. That was seriously fucking it.
She whirled around, her hair flying in every direction. “This was a mistake. You and me. Definite mistake.” She barely had enough energy to use complete sentences, and she sure as hell didn’t have the fortitude to let her temper free. The adrenaline rush might kill her, she was so damn on edge.
He took out a wipe and went to work on the table. “Now, Ellie Mae. You don’t mean that.”
Why was it the more emotional she became, the more even-keeled and calm he acted? Now that was just a pisser. Her hands clenched. Nothing. She had not one dang thing to throw at his head. Only her phone and a gun at her thigh. She couldn’t throw those. Both were needed. “I told Connor to just shoot you,” she muttered.
Hugh moved on to the television and furniture holding it. “Yeah. I heard you. At least three times.”
“Because you wouldn’t leave me alone,” she snapped. Why her skin felt too tight and this was bugging her so much, she wasn’t sure. But it was. “You don’t get to go from casual Hugh in the sack to this overbearing protective looking-to-the future guy.” Oh. That was it. He was throwing her off balance and making her want things that weren’t possible. Good. She’d figured it out.
He casually took a spray out of his backpack and took care of the bed, carpets, and even the walls. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do when we run out of this stuff.”
“The bacteria should be dead by then,” she countered, watching him closely. Was he ignoring her words on purpose? “It’ll still be in people, but surely we’ll have a cure. What the hell is going on in your head?”
He finished the room, returned the spray to his backpack, and concentrated fully on her. “Things have changed.”
Warning ticked down her spine. “Not really.” No. He couldn’t pull this on her. Hugh was a love ’em and leave ’em type of guy. Men like him didn’t really change. Especially when a potential apocalypse came calling. “I’m fine with the casual thing you’ve always had.”
“I’m not.” He crossed his arms. “I told you that. With you, it isn’t casual.”
Her heart started to beat faster. This was the worst time in the entire timeline of humanity to start a real romance. Well, except during the plague. No. Scratch that. This was worse. Especially since she now had a beyond dangerous job, and he seemed hell-bent on protecting her. There was no protection these days.
There was a whole lot of planning and even more luck. That was it. “You need to take a breath.”
His grin was oddly determined. A little intimidating. How strange. Especially since the look he gave her sent little tingles through her entire lower body.
“I’m breathing just fine, baby. I understand you’re scared,” he said.
“I’m not scared,” she retorted like any eight-year-old challenged on the playground. She cleared her throat, trying to look like an adult, damn it. “I’m just being realistic.”
“I’m not gonna hurt you, Ellie Mae,” he said, his voice gentle. “Not you. Feel free to fall hard.”
She blinked. Once and then twice. Was that arrogant? She mulled it over, watching his implacable face. Wait a minute. Hell yes, that was arrogance. “While I like confidence as much as the next girl, give me a break. You’re not that irresistible.” Yeah, right. She was getting better at this whole lying thing, though.
He pressed his lips together, and it took her a second to realize he was trying not to chuckle.
What an ass. Her phone was in her pocket. She could throw it. He’d probably catch it. But then that wasn’t worth the risk of breaking the device. Her chest tightened. “I am not falling at all.” Man, that was a lame response.
He gave up the pretense and just smiled.
Somebody knocked, and he opened the door so Conner could poke his head in. “We’re getting some shut-eye before returning to the plant early to secure the remaining areas. Deke said to tell you if you leave, he’ll hunt you down and slice the skin from your body, Hugh.”
Irritation itched through Ellie. “Go away, Connor. I am still working on those files to clear Hugh’s name.” Though if Deke didn’t believe in Hugh’s innocence, Hugh would probably already be dead. “Go to bed.”
Connor winked and then shut the door.
Quiet descended. Ellie cleared her throat. “So. My rules. Either we keep this casual, or you need to find another room.”
He moved toward her then. One long and smooth roll of pure maleness with a side of grace and intent.
