Page 36 of Close Quarters

“Winter’s coming.” Her chest heaved. “We’d have to make regular trips into Pueblo or Colorado Springs to the gym to keep up with it.”

Alex groaned and sat up. “Might be worth it. Damn. I didn’t realize I was so out of shape.”

She scoffed and sat up next to him. “Whatever. I saw you naked. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

He gave her a wicked grin. “Muscles used for running are different from those for rock climbing. My calves are on fire.”

“Mine too.” She brought her knees up and rested her chin on them, staring out over the landscape below them.

The breeze blew over them, lifting Katie’s brightly colored tresses to tease them over her shoulder. A few tendrils danced across her cheek. He reached out to brush them away. She turned to look at him.

“I know you’re skeptical about us, but I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to get sick of me before that happens.”

A smile quirked her mouth. “That’s a given.”

He chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear, leaning closer to press a gentle kiss to her lips. Pulling back, he tapped her nose. “Come on. Let’s head down. I’m starving and Jenny’s chicken is calling my name.”

“I want that cake she packed,” Katie said, rising.

“Are you one of those women I just have to buy chocolate for and all is forgiven?” He anchored their rope to a tree.

One corner of her mouth lifted, and she gave him a side-eye glance. “Maybe.”

“That’s good to know.” Alex stood at the edge of the cliff and walked backward over the edge.

She took up her position and followed him over. “If you’re really bad, it’s going to take more than a box of truffles to make it up to me.”

He grinned. “Duly noted.”

The chirp of a bird on the ground outside the tent and the gentle flutter of its wings as it shook the dust from its feathers roused Katie. Dim light greeted her as she opened her eyes. The sun was just coming up.

Warm and not ready to move yet, she snuggled deeper into Alex’s side. Stretching an arm over his chest, she tangled her fingers in his chest hair, loving the crisp feel of it. He stirred beneath her, inhaling deep as he came awake. His eyes fluttered open, their sleepy blue depths taking her breath away. She was still in shock that this beautiful man wanted her. Her. The tattooed loudmouth who’d rather be stuck to the side of a mountain in a pair of stretchy shorts and a sports bra than in a sharp business suit and heels.

“Good morning.” His low voice rumbled over her, raspy with sleep. Heat flooded her core.

She smiled at him. “Good morning.”

He turned toward her, his free hand roaming over her hip to grab her butt. She swung her leg over his waist as his mouth came down on hers. They’d exhausted each other last night, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t think she’d ever get enough of him.

A moan broke free from her chest when he rolled his hips, teasing her with his hard length. She felt him smile against her neck.

The trill of the sat phone broke them apart. Alex cursed while Katie dropped her head to his chest and groaned.

“That better be important.”

“It probably is.” He rolled away to pick it up.

She tucked the sleeping bag under her arms and sat up. “Who is it?”

He held up a finger and answered it. “Dr. Randall.”

She watched a frown dip his brow.

“Hang on, slow down. Let me put you on speaker.” He took the phone away from his ear and looked at her. “It’s Devin. There’s a problem at the lab.” He punched the speakerphone button. “Go ahead, Devin.”

Her assistant’s voice filled the tent. “So, I just got here and someone ransacked the lab. All the evidence that was in here is now all over the floor. Including the bodies. And they’re not just on the floor. Someone smashed them. There are thousands of bone fragments everywhere.”

Katie groaned.

---