Page 72 of Holiday Hire

She giggles. "Well, I didn't think of that scenario."

"No?"

She squints, asking, "Do I need to worry about those situations?"

I grin. "No. Hold on."

She grabs the side rail, and we take off. There's a full moon, and the lake glistens. We go into the woods, winding around trees and several rough patches.

"Where are you taking me?" Phoebe asks after several minutes.

"Here," I answer, steering the ATV out of the woods and parking it. I put my fingers over Phoebe's lips and whisper, "Stay quiet."

Her hot breath hits my fingers, and tingles race down my spine. She looks up at me and nods.

Bullfrogs croak all around the lake, and an owl hoots loudly in the sky.

I reach for the gun in the side compartment.

Phoebe's blues widen.

I put my finger on her lips again to remind her to stay quiet.

We sit there for a few moments until the faint yips and howls of the coyotes turn louder.

Phoebe scoots closer to me.

I hold in my chuckle, put my arm around her, and murmur, "Don't worry. Just watch."

She takes an anxious breath. Then her gaze darts across the field and back to me.

I tug her tighter to me, reassuring, "It's okay. I won't let anything happen to you."

She sinks farther into me and rests her head on my shoulder.

A pack of coyotes charge from the other side of the woods into the field. They circle each other in the open area.

I keep my gun in my hand, my eyes alert for any threats, and watch Phoebe's awe as closely as I can. I take deep breaths of her floral scent, wishing my dick would stop taunting me.

The coyotes' sounds get louder, and the head of the pack breaks from the circle. He leads the rest of the animals along the lake, and they all disappear into the woods near the beach.

"Wow," Phoebe utters when their sounds can barely be heard.

"Thought you'd like that," I state.

She looks up. "I did." Her eyes drift to my mouth.

I drop my gaze to her lips, my heart pounding harder, replying, "Glad I could amuse you." I lean closer, and the ringing of my phone suddenly blares through the air.

She jerks away out of my grasp. Her blush appears, and she looks more beautiful than ever in the moon's light.

I remain frozen.

The phone continues to ring.

She says, "You should get that."

What the heck am I doing?

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