His pulse ratcheted up a notch, and as much as he wanted to accept that inferred invitation, he thought better of it. Now was not the time to get too distracted.
He reached back and locked the bolt on the front door, then checked to make sure the windows in the kitchen and living rooms were locked.
“I’ll check the window in your room one more time, then I’ll leave you to get some rest.”
She signed audibly.
Was he a horrible person for liking that reaction from her?
“Okay.”
She followed him to her bedroom. The window was locked. Just as he’d left it earlier.
“I’ll be right across the hall if you need me.”
She nodded.
He spun to leave the room and then turned to face her.
Lifting his hand, he pointed at her.
“No sneaking out, young lady.”
She smiled warmly.
“Yeah, pretty sure I won’t be doing that again. It didn’t work out so well for me last time.”
They shared a laugh, and he exited the room, shutting the door behind him.
He slipped into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. When he opened the door to leave, Emma stood in his path. Dammit. He hadn’t wanted to see her again before he went to bed. It had been hard enough when he left her alone in her room as it was, but having to do it again was painful.
She looked sexy as sin in those powder blue pajamas with puffs of little white clouds. Taut nipples poked at the material. He needed to look away from them before she noticed, and he lost the strength to walk away from her.
“Are you finished? I need to use the bathroom.”
Her question snapped him back into reality.
“Yes, sorry.”
He stepped past her and slipped into his tiny bedroom and checked the window to make sure it was locked. He then kicked off his boots, stripped off his holster and tactical pants, and pulled the black t-shirt over his head. He yanked a pair of shorts from his bag and slid into them. Sleeping in the nude or just in his boxers wasn’t an option, just in case he’d have to get out of bed and react quickly to a break-in situation.
The cool sheets felt refreshing against his tired and aching skin. The pillow was too flat for his liking, so he snagged the other one on the small double bed and stuffed it under the other pillow so his head didn’t feel so cockeyed.
Within a couple of minutes, he heard the bathroom door open and the door to the bedroom across the hall close. That was it. She was tucked in. Sleep would come now.
It didn’t.
Chapter Fourteen
Cap lay awake, staring at the dark ceiling.
Emma’s image refused to leave him. Her sexy curves under those cute pajamas, her intense gaze, nervous smiles, and, more importantly, the weight of her trust.
He closed his eyes and worked through his breathing exercises. In through the nose, hold, let it out slowly. His overactive brain calmed with each round.
Now we’re getting somewhere.
That peaceful slumber was in sight.
