Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
He was discovering he wasn’t the kind of man who courted a woman. He was more the caveman type, like Javier. If he could, he’d just keep his little redheaded woman safe in his home and persuade her he was the right choice for her—somehow.
“You’re frowning.”
He wasn’t. He knew he wasn’t. Inside maybe, but not on the outside. “You’re not supposed to be able to read my mind.”
Her laughter slipped out. Those bright notes that sounded too much like sunshine when nothing in his life had ever made him feel the way she did. It wasn’t even the chemistry arcing between them like electricity—so much he expected to see white sparks snapping off their skin whenever they were too close. It was the things about her that he’d learned while watching her from a distance. From reading the reports Javier had given to him. The generous way she interacted with others. She was real.
Gideon had no idea how or why she managed to take away his demons, but she did. “It’s probably best if you can’t read minds.” It slipped out before he could stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth. Hell.
Her eyebrow went up. She had a hint of red in her eyebrows. Staring at them was much safer than staring at her lips.
“What is going on in your mind that I shouldn’t know about?”
Gideon turned fully toward her, drawn by a source outside himself that was much more powerful than he could control. He shook his head. “I didn’t lure you up here to scare you. I’ve never been so attracted to a woman in my life. I didn’t expect the kind of chemistry we have between us. I’m hoping it isn’t all on my side.”
Her emerald eyes drifted over his face inch by slow inch. He swore he could hear his heart drumming out a beat louder than the pounding sea. A slow demure smile curved her full lips, drawing his attention right back to her mouth. “I don’t believe it is all on your side, Gideon.”
He let his breath out, the relief tremendous. She was honest and she hadn’t taken the least offense. He reached for the cooler in an effort to distract himself from his need to kiss her. “Beer? A soft drink? Water? Flavored water?”
“Water sounds good to me.” She opened the picnic basket. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“I waited to eat, so yes, I’m very hungry.”
He loosened the cap on the bottle of water and held it out to her rather than putting it on the table between them. Mostly it was an excuse to touch her. He wanted to feel her skin again. The pads of his fingers slid over her wrist when she took the bottle. Once again, he felt electrical charges snapping between them.
“What did you bring?” He slid his index finger back and forth along her inner wrist. He knew he shouldn’t, but the sensation created between her satin skin and the snapping electrical flashes was too hot to resist. Heat poured through his veins, and he felt the answering fire in hers, as if the connection between them was growing stronger.
She didn’t pull away. “Traditional picnic fare. Fried chicken and potato salad, but then I went off the rails and made spring rolls and shrimp fried rice. I thought it would be fun to try a couple of different dishes, and you seemed open to new possibilities.”
He liked that she thought he would be adventurous enough to try something different. “I do like to try new foods. When I travel for work, I make it a point to try the local dishes.” He had to release her, and he did so reluctantly.
“Do you do your own gardening?”
“For the most part. Gardening is soothing to me. Everything up here is designed around making this a peaceful retreat.” That along with protecting him if he had to defend his team from enemy fire.
“I do the same thing with my much smaller rooftop patio.” She made up a plate of food and passed it to him with a fork and napkin. “Your rooftop is huge and has all sorts of cool recesses built into it. Were they already there?”
He hesitated. It was a natural question. “I tried to stay as close to the original blueprints as possible on the outside of the building, but not up here. I designed most of this myself.” He could see miles out to sea, all over the harbor, blocks on either side of the road. It was a sniper’s dream, and if drones or helicopters were put in the air, he had so many places to hide, it would be impossible to see him.
“I’ve never quite understood what makes a person decide to put roots down in one place,” Rory said, curiosity in her voice. “Or what causes them to choose that place.”