“I love your tattoo here.” Using her thumb, Ginny rubbed the tattoo under his earlobe. “Did it hurt?” When he didn’t answer, Ginny rubbed the one right below. “This is my second favorite. The only thing I don’t like is your earring. You need something else. I don’t know what yet, but when I do, I’m going to buy it for you.”
“To remember you by?” His beautiful eyes were becoming clearer.
“No. So every time you look in a mirror, you’ll know you’re mine,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Gavin closed his eyes, then reopened them, shaking his head at her. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope. I’m a mountain woman—I don’t know how to give up.” Ginny rubbed her cheek against his chest, satisfied his heart was beating normally again, before lifting her head to meet his eyes. “I didn’t drug you.”
He closed his eyes again, nodding.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
When he still didn’t open his eyes, Ginny reckoned he was still trying to convince himself that she hadn’t.
“Are you sure?” she asked doubtfully.
“I’m sure.” His lying eyes remained shut.
Ginny grinned. She had never been afraid of a challenge. Well, she had, but she never let anyone know it.
“Then prove it. Can I kiss you here?” She brought her thumb to his jaw.
His eyes sprang open. “No.”
“It’ll be short and sweet, just to prove you believe me,” she wheedled. “I can give you one like I give my brothers.”
“No.”
“I knew you didn’t believe me. I guess we’re going to have to stay here all day, because I’m not—”
“I said I believed you.”
Were his lips twitching? Ginny started worrying about her own heartbeat skyrocketing out of control at the beginning of a small smile.
“Prove it,” she wheedled again. “Short and sweet … for a sweet man—”
“Jesus, just do it!” he shouted. “Just shut u—”
Ginny didn’t give him the opportunity to take back his permission. Giving him a quick peck on his cheek, Ginny then jumped off him, going to the floor to pick up her scattered pajamas that she dropped when he tossed her onto the bed.
“That’s it?” Gavin rose up on his elbows to watch her as she repacked her suitcase and zipped it closed.
Pasting a pretend frown on, she put the suitcase on the floor before turning to face him. “Too long?” Faking misunderstanding him, Ginny rolled her suitcase to the door.
Gavin sat up on the bed, his long legs hanging off the side. “I need a shower before we go.” Getting up from the bed, he removed the belt from under the door. “Stay here while I get my clothes from the car.”
“Why didn’t you bring them in last night?”
“I wanted my hands free in case someone tried to jump us. Your stalker won’t take a chance of losing you with you on the move. I wanted to be prepared if he made a last-ditch effort.”
This time her frown was sincere. “Was that why you didn’t offer to help me with my suitcase last night?”
He frowned back. “When it comes to your safety, being a gentleman comes last.”
“You could have told me. A woman needs to know these things.”
“Ginny, what feelings you have for me … we’re traveling in two opposite directions.” Gavin uncaringly said, as he burst yet another bubble of hope that he was ever going to love her the way she loved him.
“Gavin, I can carry my own suitcase.” Her forehead creased in irritation as she set her hurt feelings aside. “I don’t know what women you’re used to dealing with, so I’m going to give you a free clue where I’m concerned. I don’t need you to carry my weight when I’m more than capable of carrying it myself. What I should have said, since you misunderstood me last time,” Ginny spoke clearly and succinctly, “is it would have been nice to have been forewarned that you expected us to be jumped when we got out of the car.”
“I should have told you,” he admitted grudgingly. “But—”
“No buts. Next time, just give me a heads-up. I don’t scare easily, and I can take it when you tell me I need to be careful. What I can’t take is you thinking I’m a nincompoop with no concern for my safety. You may be here on Viper’s order to protect me, but don’t you ever forget this is my life we’re talking about, and if I screw up, the final result could end in not just me being hurt, but you as well, and that thought is unfathomable to me.”
Gavin reached for the handle of her suitcase. “You just don’t stop. I’m going to go get my clothes and load your suitcase in the trunk. Don’t unlock the door for anyone.”
Ginny’s hand went to her suitcase, stopping him. “I don’t play games,” she stated. “I love you, and I’m not going to pretend I don’t.” Her voice became gentler yet was just as firm. “We may be going in opposite directions, but we could both end up in the same place. I can wait for you to get there.”