She reopened her eyes and straightened her head. “First Agent Campbell, then Daley . . .” Her throat worked a forceful swallow. “I’m afraid to ask the shooter’s name.”
Lips she’d just kissed lifted slightly at the corners. “Don’t be. Unless, of course, you know a professional hitman by the name of Tommy Harrelson.”
The topic of conversation was inarguably no laughing matter. Even so thanks to the way Emmett delivered the comment, Janie felt herself grin.
“Nope.” She shook her head back and forth slowly. “That name doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Glad to hear it,” Emmett teased. “I mean, I’d hate to think I’m falling for a woman known to keep the company of a trained killer. Present company excluded.” He followed it up with a wink.
A bubble of laughter started to rise up, but then the words he’d just spoken finally sank in.
“Falling . . . I don’t . . .” Janie’s mind scrambled to find the right words. “Emmett, what are you saying?”
“You’re way too smart for that, sweetheart.” He cupped both sides of her face and brought his lips to hers in a soft, short kiss. “Pretty sure you know exactly what I mean.”
“But…we barely know each other.”
“So?” He shrugged. “You really going to stand there and tell me you don’t feel the same way?”
“No.” Janie couldn’t bring herself to even pretend that she didn’t. “It’s crazy, and I can’t even begin to explain it. But somehow, I feel as if a part of me has known you for?—”
“Forever.”
She smiled, the tender moment leaving her lungs breathless and her knees quivering beneath her weight. No longer hidden, the emotion in Emmett’s gorgeousbrown eyes shone brightly. For the first time, it was so clear to see.
He loves me.
“Emmett, I?—”
His kiss stole her precious words, along with the rest of her heart. This was it. The moment she’d dreamed about since she was a little girl.
He wasn’t a prince, and she was about as far from a princess as a woman could get. But there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that the man kissing her now would fight any dragon to the death to save her.
Emmett ended the kiss but only so he could pull the sweater up over her head. Janie aided his efforts by lifting her arms high into the air. The sweater was off in a matter of seconds.
Next came his shirt. Her leggings. His sweats and boxer briefs. Her lace bra and panties.
Like before, he lifted her carefully into his arms. Janie wrapped her legs around his waist and linked her hands behind his taut neck.
Rather than carrying her down the hall to his bed, they only made it as far as the couch. He laid her down so gently it was as if he thought she were made of glass.
The world vanished, as did any sense of space or time as their impassioned lovemaking lingered on. It was slow. Sweet. Their pleasure building more and more with every touch as their bodies became one.
When they finally fell, Janie and Emmett went over that glorious cliff together. And as she drifted asleep in his warm embrace, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful of the future.
Hours later, she woke to the ringing of a phone. With heavy lids, Janie peeled her eyes open as Emmett also began to stir.
“What time is it?” His voice was rough like gravel.
She glanced at the clock on his living room wall. “Two-thirty.”
Emmett opened his eyes and began to push himself up with a frown. “That’s your phone.”
Janie listened as another round of ringing began. “Oh, crap.” Her heart gave a tiny jolt as they unraveled their limbs so she could stand.
Without a stitch of clothing covering her body, she hurriedly made her way down the hall. Emmett followed, the pair suddenly wide awake because?—
“Who would be calling you in the middle of the night?”
