He shivers, pulling her back to his lips. He needs to taste her.
“Logan, choppers are here,” John shouts from down the hall.
She doesn’t stop the kiss, so he puts everything he has into it until he finally finds the strength to pull away, leaving her off balance.
“See you in a few days.” He kisses her once more, quickly, unable to hang around any longer. He knows he has to get away from her. She is like a drug, sucking him backward.
“Be safe,” he hears her whisper. Damn it. He turns, gives her a smile, then leaves.
You’ve crossed the forbidden line, asshole!He smiles a little, though, as he rushes down the staircase, her taste lingering on his tongue. His head is swimming as he squints, making his way toward the chopper, flinging his bag inside, and jumping into his seat.
Mark gives him a questioning eyebrow then joins his grin like he just figured out where he was.
Cole closes his eyes and lets himself have a moment to relish the past ten minutes.
Savannah
I flop down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I want to laugh, cry, and scream—my body is firing sparks all over. I have never been kissed like that before—or is it that I’ve never felt like this about a man before? Either way, it is amazing. Now he has four days to think about it. What if he realizes it’s a mistake? I’m technically a client.No, don’t go there, Savi. Enjoy your high.I cross my arms over my head, smelling him on my clothes as I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.
Autumn Ball, Manhattan, 2014. I hit enter, and my fingers strum the desk. I have decided my first task is to find out who the silver bracelet woman is, why she took my picture, and why she was following me. Everyone is a suspect, so I wonder if it was a coincidence that she was there the same the day I was taken. I decide to Google the events I know my father would normally attend. The Autumn Ball was a few days ago. I click on images, scrolling through six before I spot my father. He’s shaking hands with some people in one photo, in another he is standing at a podium, and in a few pictures, he is with the chief of police, who is making a speech.
I keep clicking and clicking, and it becomes pretty tedious, but I decide to keep at it. Just as I am about to give up and try another tactic, something catches my eye. I lean in to get a better look. I click on the image to make it bigger, then click print and grab it from the tray the minute the machine lets go. Holding it under the light, I’m able to make out my father’s table off to the right of the picture. He is sitting beside a woman. His body is blocking hers, but I can see her wrist, and there it is—that bracelet again. I rub my head, trying to take in what I’m seeing. Not only did this woman take a picture of me, but at two different events since I was kidnapped, she’s been photographed with my father. What the hell?
I need a break to clear my head. I know something isn’t right here, and I’m not really sure what to make of the whole thing. I need time to mull it over. I scribble down the number for the event coordinator and leave the room.
I find myself in the kitchen, measuring out ingredients for my mother’s famous chocolate chip cookies. I tripled the batch because I know one would hardly be enough. I love baking. I love how my brain goes into idle mode and lets my hands do all the work.
“The guys mentioned they smelled something good, but I think I may have died and gone to heaven.” Keith snatches a cookie off the cooling rack and shoves it in his mouth. “Mmmmm, warm cookies.”
I laugh and pour him a glass of milk.
“Thanks.” He takes a swig. “Damn, those are good, Savi.” He takes another.
“Thanks. I love to bake.”
“I love that you love to bake.” He grins.
I transfer the last twelve cookies to the rack, not looking at him.
“Any word from the guys?” I ask casually.
He nods and sets his empty glass in the sink.
“Checked in this morning. They crossed the border and are heading to the location now.”
“Cole said they check in twice.” I want him to know Cole spoke to me about it.
“Yes, they’ll check in again when they’re back at the safe house.” He pauses, watching me. I pretend not to notice, then he clears his throat. “Should be around seven, our time.” He grabs a few more cookies. “I need to go get some stuff done. I’ll see you later.”
The dinner table has a few new faces. I’m assuming they step in when Cole’s group is gone. I notice York takes over Cole’s seat at the head of the table. He can’t possibly be in charge while Cole’s away, can he? The thought makes me ill.
“Savi,” York greets me with a superior tone, “meet Two, Three, and Four.” He waves at the new guys at the table.
Two rolls his eyes. “We also have names. I’m Al, this is Dell, and that’s Quinn. Nice to finally meet you. We’ve heard all good things.”
“Yeah, like you rocked it at paintball,” Quinn says, winking. “Heard Cole was livid, though.”
“It was fun.” I grin, remembering the rush. “He was pretty upset, but he cooled off.”