“I’m glad you were able to keep him. Whoever had him couldn’t have been as good as you.”
Her faith in him felt like the best of compliments.
Wading knee-deep along the creek, her gaze on the water, she added, “I really am sorry about putting him in danger earlier. I’d die before I’d want Turbo hurt.”
Mostly, Hunter thought darkly, because she didn’t value her own life. “So we’re clear,” he replied, watching her intently, “I feel the same about you.”
Thunder chose that inauspicious moment to rumble loudly, shaking the ground beneath his feet.
Squinting, Jodi looked up at the sky visible between the trees. “Guess it’s going to storm again. It’s gotten awfully dark.”
“Let’s put your new seat cushions inside, then go to my place for dinner.”
Silently, she slogged out of the water, then lifted the hem of her shirt to wring it out, giving Hunter a view of her midriff between her low-slung jeans and the shirt she held.
It baffled him that a glimpse of a woman’s belly would affect him so strongly. Then again, he’d been celibate eighteen months, and this wasn’t any ordinary woman. She was Jodi Bentley, and as he’d told her, she was extraordinary.
“Guess it’s a good thing I left my gun in the house, huh?”
As usual with Jodi, he knew what she said had deeper meaning, so he tried for a neutral reply. “Might’ve gotten soaked otherwise.”
“The thing is...I forgot it.” With chagrin, she stressed, “I never forget it. It’d be like forgetting to breathe. But I had so much fun shopping with you, then putting up my little patio set...”
“Then we walked to the creek—and you’re with me. I hope you know I would protect you.”
Typical of Jodi, his sincere declaration caused a laugh. She looked at his face, saw his annoyance and laughed again, but at least she covered her mouth as though trying to stifle it. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I wouldn’t want you to protect me. If something happened, I’d rather you take care of Turbo.”
Turbo looked as indignant as Hunter felt. The skies shook with more thunder, as if equally affronted. “Come on.” He started them on their way. “We don’t want to get hit with lightning.”
Still wearing a silly smile, she trailed along. “It has been a nice day, huh?”
Most of it, anyway. “Yes.”
“You sure you wouldn’t mind dinner, too?”
The skies rapidly darkened, and off in the distance, he saw a streak of lightning. “I’m sure, but we better hurry in case we lose power again.”
Once they reached her back door, it occurred to Hunter that not only had she forgotten her weapon, she hadn’t locked up, either.
They’d both lost track of what they were doing. Even though her house had always remained in view, it was tricky seeing it through the trees. Someone could have walked in and they wouldn’t have noticed.
He’d have to be more careful, too, and with that thought in mind, he stepped into her kitchen with Turbo, even though the dog was dripping. When Turbo didn’t sniff the air or otherwise seem suspicious, Hunter relaxed.
While he dried Turbo, Jodi surprised him by taking a quick shower before changing her clothes. That she’d do such a thing, trusting him in her house, told him a lot—all of it promising. He remained in the kitchen until Jodi emerged eight minutes later in cutoff jean shorts and another loose shirt, this time with her holster in place. Beneath the shirt, he could see the outline of her flashlight and keys.
He could also see the outline of her breasts and it made him a little nuts, remembering how pale her stomach was, how toned and slender. She would be a pleasure for the senses—but she was also emotionally wounded, and he would never do anything to make her uncomfortable, so he forced his attention to her face.
With her damp hair combed back from her forehead and her cheeks flushed, she shoved her feet into sneakers and smiled up at him. “Ready?”
If she knew his thoughts... But then, Jodi didn’t see him that way, because she didn’t see herself that way. She had no real idea of her own appeal, assuming others viewed her within the narrow scope of her own perception. In her mind, she was only an escaped victim, determined to prove something—to herself, more than anyone else.
“You have beautiful hair.”
Instantly alert, she touched her hair and, at the same time, took a step back. “It’s wet and currently stringy.”
Pretending he hadn’t noticed her retreat, Hunter said, “It’s thick and has a little wave to it. You should wear it loose more often.” Then he locked the back door and led Turbo to the front. “At least the drive is short this time, so Turbo won’t smash you for long.”
“I’ll drive up so you won’t have to bring me back later.”
It was a challenge, but Hunter kept walking. “I’d rather you just ride with me.”
“Why?”
She hadn’t budged from the kitchen. At the front door, he glanced back, acting like it was nothing to see her so far away, drawn tight with wary uncertainty.
“It’s our day together.” He smiled and opened the door. “I’m enjoying it.” One by one, emotions crossed her features—distrust, surprise...yearning—but she resisted each of them, doing her best to keep her feelings hidden.
He imagined she did that a lot, in part because she didn’t want to feel too much.
After five seconds that felt like a lifetime, she gave a stiff nod and strode forward. “Sure, why not. But if you and Turbo get soaked bringing me back, remember that you only have yourself to blame.”
She remained withdrawn on the short drive up, but after a quick and easy meal of canned tomato soup and grilled cheese, she finally started to relax. Another storm did blow through, but the power stayed on, and after an hour, the thunder and lightning passed, leaving only a steady downpour that in many ways seemed soothing.
With Jodi appearing relaxed and drowsy, Hunter tried to refuse her help with the cleanup. It was like trying to hold back a tsunami. She took personal affront at the idea that she wouldn’t pitch in. Though it was only seven o’clock, the dark skies gave the illusion of night by the time they finished. Knowing Jodi could mention heading home, Hunter suggested a movie.
She thought about it, glancing twice at the window, now streaked with rain, before saying, “Why not? But make it something good.”
Having an idea of what she might like, he offered her choices in sci-fi, horror and action. After giving it a lot of thought, she chose John Wick.
“One of my favorites, too.”