She let him off the hook as she clipped through the thick waistband and stood. “Look, I get that you were trying to be noble and self-sacrificing or some shit like that, but we’re in this together. You wouldn’t leave a Marine behind, right?”
He shook his head and rolled in his lips as if trying to hold back ill-advised words.
“Well, I won’t leave you behind either.” She stowed the scissors in the first aid kit and unzipped the legs from his clean pants to make them easier to put on. “I’m not asking for forever. Just until we clear our names.”
Or die trying.
“Give me your shorts.” She made a “come here” gesture with her hand, the fire draining out of her. How could he believe she’d only want his help—him—if he could protect her? Did he really think that was all he was worth to her?
He studied her for several beats with the strangest look on his face, and then raised his hips and pulled the damaged shorts covered in dried blood out from under his butt, letting them drop to the floor.
For a moment, she could do nothing but stare. His abs were still partially exposed and he was mouthwateringly gorgeous from his ripped biceps to his sculpted calves. The only thing detracting from the view was his boxers.
And then, against her will, she giggled.
Scott frowned. “What?”
“Nothing,” she said, laughing harder at the bright yellow underwear covered in a tiny print. “I just wasn’t expecting…frogs.” Green ones.
He affected a hurt look. “You don’t like my cheap skivvies? Or is it that they’re not covered in rifles? Or desert camo.” He raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Maybe an Abrams tank with the big-ass main gun right down the front?”
She laughed again and covered her mouth with one hand.
He tugged her hand away from her face, sliding his palm against her skin until their fingers curled together. “Don’t hide that gorgeous smile. I haven’t seen enough of it.”
Her stomach did a slow flip, and she swallowed hard, her smile fading at the hot look in his eyes.
The plane slowed and dropped altitude.
Scott sighed and released her, reaching for his pants. “Let’s get this done before we land.”
“No more talk of splitting up?”
He shook his head and looked her in the eye. “I’ll stick with you as long as you want me.”
As long as you want me?Jesus, Kramer.Unfiltered thoughts popped out of his mouth around Valerie at an alarming rate. Maybe working with Todd Brennan—a damn good operator who lacked all tact and couldn’t tell a white lie to save his life—was having an effect on him.
Definitely Valerie was.
Scott resisted the urge to walk his words back. Either way she interpreted them, they were true. Especially now that he was certain she hadn’t been manipulating him into staying to protect her. If all she wanted was a bodyguard, she would have jumped at the chance to part ways now that he was injured.
Instead, she’d blindsided him with her loyalty. And the realization that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
His mouth went dry.
Despite his plan to avoid emotional entanglement with a woman, he’d moved far beyond lust and duty with her. He didn’t just desire her, hecaredabout her. He wanted to see her safe and happy. That didn’t mean they were destined for wedding bells—he still didn’t believe in long-term relationships, and, hell, they’d be lucky to survive the next few days—but he could quit fighting his attraction and enjoy their time together.
As much as one could enjoy losing everything and being on the run.
Pulling himself back to the reality of their plane landing, he let Valerie help him don the hiking shorts, and then zipped the legs on. While she buckled in, he gathered up his bloody shorts and stuffed them into the outer pocket of his backpack along with the dirty wet wipes and gauze. He didn’t want to leave a mess for Caitlyn—by some miracle, he’d managed not to get blood on the seats or carpet—and it was best if there was no evidence he was injured.
They touched down a few minutes later, the landing as soft and smooth as the ones he remembered from flying with her in the Caribbean, despite the rain and wind.
“Wow,” Valerie said, her eyes widening slightly. “I expected at least a few bumps.”
“Impressive, right?”
Rain pattered overhead, a reminder of the cold, wet conditions they’d face outside. He hoped like hell Kurt had been able to set up transportation and a safe place to stay. At least for what little remained of the night. Scott knew he was asking a lot, but he and Valerie needed something to go their way.
