So, before I could talk myself out of it, I threw the SUV into park and put both hands on the center console between us, using it to push myself up and over it in order to bring my lips to Zeke’s.
He froze for a moment, probably from shock, and then his hands were on my face, pulling me almost fully into his seat with him, my ass sitting firmly on the center console as we kissed.
Zeke tasted sweet, like the too-fizzy soda pop on a first date to the movies. His fingers curled in my hair which I was glad I left down tonight because the tugging sensation it brought made my toes curl in my tennis shoes as his tongue danced with mine.
The sweetness of the moment was so overwhelming that I couldn’t help but give into the urge to nip on his bottom lip, making the alpha growl underneath me.
Soon, I needed to come up for air or else I was sure I would start stripping off my clothes, location be damned, so I gentlyplaced my palm flat on his chest and pushed him away before sliding back into the driver’s seat again.
Zeke looked at me, some of the nude gloss I’d been wearing smeared on his mouth as his chest rose and fell in harsh ragged gasps. “Did we just kiss?”
I grinned at him, reaching over to wipe away the gloss with my thumb. “I don’t have any clue what you’re talking about, Agent Adams.”
Zeke looked like he wanted to call me crazy for a minute before he realized exactly what I was doing. “Touché, Miss Holloway,touché. Now put the car in drive and let’s see if we can’t go around a couple of times before Maverick realizes we’re gone.”
Feeling more comfortable than I had before, I threw the SUV into drive and slowly began to roll forward.
***
“Thank you so much for having me today, I know my mother appreciates each and every one of you and when she comes out later she will share more of her vision for the next four years!” I told the roaring crowd as I waved from behind the podium.
People were lined up in the outdoor venue as far as the eye could see, and normally, that would make me feel energized, but all it made me feel right now was anxiety.
Never before had I been so cognizant of every person who looked slightly off or any expression of dissatisfaction as I was now and it was wearing on me as I took a step back, smiling so hard that it hurt.
They couldn’t know that anything was wrong. That was what I was telling myself as I waved with both hands and I walked backward slowly until I smelled them and the tension in my shoulders eased just a bit.
“Good job.” Maverick’s voice was low as I stepped out of the line of sight of the crowd and into the little green room area that had been set up by the campaign tour operators.
Today he and Brooks were my body men while Zeke and Dallas were busy clearing a path back to the tour bus. Just being in their presence soothed away the apprehension that had been ratcheting up from the moment I stepped out on that stage and saw all of those people.
Up till today, all of my stops on the campaign trail had been much smaller crowd sizes and campaign dinners. Much more manageable than the estimated twelve thousand people outside today.
Historic numbers, McDaniels had told us this morning during the briefing. That just meant that everyone was on high alert. Secret Service on all of the surrounding roofs and disguised in the crowds.
It should have felt safe, but I had stumbled through my speech with my skin crawling at the idea that all it took was one person in that crowd to hurt me or one of the people I loved.
A warm hand touched my back, making me jump right out of the morbid thoughts that were swirling around in my head. I turned to find Brooks looking at me with those deep green eyes of his. “You okay?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, thank you…”
“Agent Wilson,” Maverick called from where he was already talking to another agent.
Brooks looked irritated, but he shot me an apologetic look before he hurried to join the other alpha, leaving me sitting on a fold out chair to wait for them.
My phone buzzed in my purse which Brooks had handed to me as soon as I got off stage and I saw my grandmother’s name on the screen.
“Hey sweetheart, you did such a great job,” she said without greeting as soon as I answered.
“No I didn’t,” I grumbled. “I was scared the whole time.”
Grandma was silent for a moment on the other end. “But at least you did it. You didn’t cower in fear, so I’m proud of you.”
I sat up a little straighter at that.
“Now, I haven’t been able to ask since Labor day, but how are things going with those hunks? Good I hope?”
I sighed.
