MacGyver caught her elbow before she could take a step. She turned slowly and looked pointedly at his hand.
He sidled closer, his warmth permeating her wet shirt. His lips tickled her ear as his soft chuckle moved the hair near her face. “I’d rather hear it from you. Full disclosure, remember?”
Kellie pasted on a fake smile and strove for a more neutral tone. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know about Tony Palazzi. My life story is another matter entirely.”
His slow grin answered her snub, and he removed his hand from her elbow. “We’ll start with Tony Palazzi and see how far we get.”
Interrupted by a stream of expletives, she glanced toward the entrance to the terminal just as the door closed behind Blake Sorenson. His worn, gray duffle bag hit the floor with a dull clang.
“Sonofabitch! I’ve gone swimming and not gotten this damn wet.” He gave his head a shake, sending water from long strands of black hair every which way. A slight limp she hadn’t noticed before caught her attention. “All planes are grounded, and the airport’s closed. Looks like I’m stuck here for a few hours. Mind if I tag along?” He addressed MacGyver but glanced sideways at her as though expecting her to object.
Just what I need!Kellie brooded silently. She couldn’t catch a break.
“We’re heading east as soon as Travis gets a car. You’re welcome to ride with us, but it could be a few days before we get you back to your plane.” MacGyver’s expression was guarded when he glanced briefly at Kellie.
Great!She grabbed her suitcase and strode across the small terminal. MacGyver didn’t try to stop her this time. Why would he? No doubt he was eager to ask Blake how he knew her. So let them talk. She kept walking until her path was blocked by floor-to-ceiling panes of glass that overlooked the runway. Rolling her bag alongside a line of the least comfortable chairs she’d ever seen, she dropped into one of them, facing the windows.
Suddenly, MacGyver slumped into the seat next to hers. “First rule in situations like this—don’t wander off.” He retrieved his cell phone from his back pocket and handed it to her. “Try your stepdad again.”
Kellie chafed at his orders, but she refrained from engaging. She took the phone, forcing a thin smile. “Thanks.” Her scornful tone was anything but grateful, but he settled back in his chair anyway. Apparently, this was as much privacy as she was going to get.
With one finger poised to begin dialing, the phone vibrated in her hand, almost causing her to drop the device. MacGyver stretched for it, but she pulled her hand to the side so he’d have to climb over her to reach.
She knew that number. “It’s Pop.” Finally. He’d listened to her messages and dialed her back.Please let him be all right.Kellie swiped the screen to answer and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hey, Pop. Where are you?”
“Your stepdad is resting, Ms. Greyson. Charlie isn’t as young as he used to be. But if you do as you’re told, I’ll make sure he gets where he’s going in one piece. First, you’re going to ditch the guys you’re traveling with, and then you’re going to come to the cabin alone. We need to talk.” The man’s strangely familiar voice, dripping with thinly veiled threats to Pop, jump-started the erratic beating of her heart until her entire body pulsed.
Kellie sat forward abruptly, her growing tension apparently alerting MacGyver. He slipped one arm around her shoulders and leaned closer, his head resting against her hand as she held the phone.
Though she was sure she’d heard the voice on the phone before, she couldn’t place where. “Who is this? If you’ve hurt Pop, I swear to God I’ll kill you myself.” Kellie struggled to talk around the lump of fear in her throat.
“Now, now, sweetheart. Let’s not give away the game to your bodyguards. They’re out of this as of right now. Understand? If you bring them to the cabin, I’ll have to settle for keeping your old man.” The coward was laughing at her.
A growl rumbled from MacGyver as he snatched the phone from her hand.
“No!” Kellie grabbed for it, but he caught her wrist and held it firmly, pressed against his massive thigh.
“Listen, shithead, that’s not going to work for me.” MacGyver snarled into the phone. “I’ll be with her all the way, and her stepdad better be unharmed when we get there, or this will be the shortest game you’ve ever played.”
Kellie stared in stunned disbelief as MacGyver ended the call abruptly. She would have jumped to her feet and popped him one, if he wasn’t still holding her wrist securely. “What did you do? You can’t talk to him like that! He’s got Pop! What if he—?”
“Calm down, darlin’.” MacGyver grinned at the couple sitting across from them who had lowered their magazines to watch curiously.
Kellie glanced their way, too, and scowled at their rapt attention. They both raised their reading material again and at least pretended they weren’t listening to every word. She turned to MacGyver, and the amusement sparkling in his eyes was the final straw. Anger and fear mixed to create an overpowering need to hit someone or something. Luckily, MacGyver was within range.
Pushing to her feet, she faced him and yanked on her arm, but instead of freeing herself, suddenly she was jerked forward onto his lap, straddling his muscled thighs as though he were a damn horse. Sputtering and huffing, not one demand to be released made it into full-length words before he slid his big hands into her hair, pulled her flush with his chest and crushed her mouth beneath his.
Bracing her palms against his chest, she pushed as hard as she could, gaining nothing for it—unless she counted his growing arousal pressed between her spread legs. His spicy scent assailed her as his mouth moved over hers, teasing the seam of her lips with his hot tongue. Her blood began to pulsate in her ears, making it hard to think about anything but the sensations rocking her and the strength of his hard edges and plains. Her traitorous female reactions sabotaged her best intentions. Winding her arms around his neck, she pressed closer, long buried needs overpowering internal warning bells.
One of his hands moved from her hair, shimmied down her back and palmed one cheek of her ass, urging her forward. He met her halfway with a powerful grind of his hips. A moan escaped her. As though he’d planned it that way, his tongue slipped effortlessly through the opening she’d given him. His minty taste filled her as he licked, explored and claimed her mouth.
Through a haze of desire, she became aware of other sounds invading the veil of privacy she’d only imagined.
“What a disgusting display,” the woman across the aisle hissed.
“That’s why this country is going to hell,” her husband replied.
Sounds of rustling clothes joined their indignant complaints and moved farther and farther away.