“No problem, man,” the youngster with the handlebar mustache replied. “And no hurry. I have extras.”
Trask nodded and turned once again to Officer Daniella. “I’m glad we could be of service, but now we need to get going.”
“Safe travels,” she answered in a business-like tone, and if there’d been any interest there, it was clearly gone, now.
Without kicking himself too much, Trask, in his make-shift fireman’s outfit—complete with bunker boots—clomped over and took Jett’s elbow.
He could see that she was pretty much reeling where she stood, and could also tell that— despite having been protected in her drysuit—the ordeal in the cold water had pretty much sapped her of her normal energy.
“Let’s get you…home,” he gruffed.
She raised a brow, but didn’t argue as he steered her back to the truck.
“Where’s home?” she finally asked, because yeah. If the woman was anything, it was curious. Yawning once again and clicking into her seatbelt, she curled up on his heated passenger seat like a cat, while her dogs leaned over the center console and gave her excited kisses. “Because,” she continued, giving them scritches, “you’ve got to know I’m in no shape to fly for a while.”
At least she had the wherewithal to know her limits.
Here’s where the rubber met the road.
“Well, I can take you back to my parents’ house where I’m temporarily staying. They’d be happy to put you up. Or…” Should he go for it? Why the hell not?
“Or I can get us a motel room somewhere nearby, and we can sleep it off.”
Trask held his breath while she regarded him under hooded lids, a grin twitching at her tired mouth.
“Are you asking me if I’ll have sex with you?” she questioned saucily.
Shit.Did they really need to discuss this offer in detail? Couldn’t the woman just take her cues from him and follow his lead? She alreadyknewhe was attracted to her since he’d kissed her twice.
“What if I am?” he managed, treading on uncertain ground.
“Then crap. I’d say that’s completely out of character. Which means you’re either confused as hell from the cold dip you took, or thinking it might be fun to slum-it-up with someone who clearly doesn’t fit the profile of your normal bed-partner. Am Igetting warm?” she quipped, amusedly referencing their recent dip.
She was, but he wasn’t about to give her confirmation.
“What if I, uh, find you compelling with your…unique way of looking at things,” he managed, going with honesty but without revealing all the caveats that were swirling around in his overactive brain.
She snort-laughed. “Well, I find you compelling, too, but that doesn’t mean we should hook up. If we do, we could be headed for a lot of trouble. For instance…” She got that look on her face that told Trask she was about to become profound. “…what happens when you find out I’mexactlywhat you need in bed?” she posited mischievously. “How are you going to justify it to yourself when you want me for seconds and thirds, when you can barely stand all my…eccentricities?”
“Geeze. Pretty confident, aren’t you?” he answered tersely, then laid his proverbial cards down on the table. “Listen. Here it is in a nutshell. I’m not looking for a relationship of any kind. I’m thinking we can have some fun together for a single night, then part as friends. If that appeals to you, good. If it doesn’t, I’ll take you to my parents’ house where I promise you’ll be safe from my evil clutches.”
Jett threw back her head and laughed heartily, most likely expending the last of her energy.
Right. Was he an idiot to suggest monkey sex? Jett was flat out exhausted, and certainly wouldn’t have the chops to perform.
“How about this?” she sent back before he could rescind his offer. “First, we need to go back to the airport so I can pay for a tie-down for the night. After that, I’ll probably fall asleep while we head to… Where do your parents live?” she questioned.
His hopes fell. She hadn’t taken him up on his motel suggestion.
“Just outside of Orono,” he answered with a clip to his tone.
“Okay, Orono. While we head there,” she speculated. “I’ll nap. Then I’ll have enough in the tank to sneak into your childhood bedroom and fuck you quietly under your wittew cowboy bedspwead.”
She tapped her lip audaciously while Trask nearly choked on his spit.
“Or it could be rocket-ships,” she pondered, making comical engine noises as if she hadn’t just knocked him for a loop.
“You…you…want to have sex with me? At my folks’ house. Not in a motel room.”
