I fisted my hands, and surprisingly, they gripped something warm and soft. Wait, I felt a heartbeat beneath my right hand.
I opened my eyes, and Hunter peered down on me with concerned eyes. “You’re safe. I got you.”
Glancing around, I realized we were off the elevator and stood to the side near the wall. The other three elevators were letting people off.
Thankfully, they didn’t pay us any attention.
“We heading back up?” Hunter asked, his chest rumbling at the deepness of his voice.
“No,” I whispered. “I’m…okay.”
Heat radiated from him, and my hands, greedy for contact, soaked it up like sponges. Instantly I felt calm. I could do this. I would do this!
I should probably let go, but I didn’t want to. Instead, I stepped closer, holding onto my pillar, my hero, my guardian. Each point of contact my body made with his sent a shot of electricity streaking down my stomach. I was pressed against him—as inveryclose to him. Only three inches separated my mouth from his chest, I could—
“What was the trigger?”
I eased away from him, leaving my hands on his chest for as long as I possibly could. “Skull cap and goatee. That was bad.”
“But you made it.” He nodded. “I’m thinking your idea of me never leaving your side was the right one.”
“Might be.” I pressed my finger over the top of my lip to wipe the perspiration away. “Whew, first one down, and I didn’t die. That’s good.”
“Lara Croft is kicking ass.” Hunter glanced to his right, toward the open lobby area. “Ready?”
Yes. I’d be Lara Croft tonight. I knew her better than anyone for how many times I’d seen the movies. She was strong, kick ass, and totally sexy. I could be those, too, at least the strong and kick ass…and maybe a little of the sexy. That was okay, right?
The panic attack was big, and my hands were still shaking, but I’d made it.
I rubbed my hands on my pants and checked that my fake guns were in place then stepped beside my partner in crime. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter Thirteen
Hunter
I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the sexiest person in the room—hands down. She’d faced down a wicked panic attack only thirty minutes ago, and she was here, smiling, and handing out candy to these kids.
Sure, her hands only stopped shaking a few minutes ago, but that wasn’t unexpected. The amount of adrenaline that’d rushed her body would take its toll for a while. Even with the help of some calories to help ease the crash.
Lina reached into the bowl of candy as a young kid dressed as a pumpkin came our direction.
“Trick or treat!” the boy yelled.
“Hi!” Lina said. “And what are you supposed to be?”
“Punkin’. Candy?”
“You’re pumpkin candy?” She smiled and placed a handful of candy into the kid’s bag.
“No! Punkin’.” He grinned, and that’s when I saw he was missing his front teeth.
He looked up at me and stepped back toward the adult I assumed was his father.
“Yeah, he’s a little scary, isn’t he?” Lina backhanded my bicep and shook her head. “Don’t worry, he’s harmless.”
I squatted down as I grabbed another piece of candy from Lina’s bowl. Now the kid and I were eye-to-eye. “Havin’ fun?”
He nodded.