Page 165 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

“Anything for you.”

And my heart cracks to let out an ooey-gooey warmth that fills me. “Kai…” I sigh withaffection.

“So, here’s the plan,” he says with determination. “Coffee, food, shopping.” We share a brief smile, knowing that we have our priorities straight. “And a place to lay low.”

“We also need to find a ride and come up with temporary names,” I add pragmatically.

It’s crucial to stay under the radar since people are actively searching for us and we’re close to the border. We can’t afford to make mistakes and linger in one place for too long.

Or we’ll die.

Kai massages his neck with both hands. “Let’s discuss it over lunch.”

“Great idea,” I say, relieved. “What do you want to be called?”

“I don’t know,” he admits with a shrug.

“What about I call you ‘baby’?” I offer with a mischievous sparkle in my eye.

He clears his throat and nods. “Yes, please.” But his voice is hoarse.

I shake his hand. “Hi, baby. I’m taking you out because you’re hot as an inferno.”

Kai’s smile falters for a moment before his intense gaze burns into me. I glance at my feet, surprised by my own boldness because even though we slept together, I never openly confessed how much I found him drop-dead gorgeous.

Ultrasexygerous.

I could lick his skin raw while he sleeps.

I’m so hungry.

He mutters something under his breath that I can’t quite make out and turns away, clicking his tongue.

Despite his outward annoyance, a glance over his shoulder reveals the trace of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. I stifle a giggle.

Kai, the hardened criminal who subsisted on gritty negotiations and ruthless fights, is now blushing because I called him “hot.”

It’s a sight to behold.

“Come on, hot stuff,” I tease, threading my arm through his as we stroll toward the nearest café suggested by our fellow travelers. There’s a new atmosphere around us, something light and fun that neither of us is used to.

It feels… normal like we could be any other couple in love, oblivious to crime reports and arrest warrants. It’s nice.

We walk into the café to the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the buttery aroma of pastries. And I let out a moan, my head falling back. No, not a moan.Themoan. The one that comes from my chest and sends a tremor into Kai’s muscles.

He blinks and turns to the barista in haste. “South American medium roast espresso, whatever best you have, with extra whipped cream and white chocolate shavings for my girlfriend.”

My girlfriend?My eyebrows shoot straight into my hairline.No commitment issues here.

“And for you?” the teenage barista asks, his gaze dropping to my breasts.

Fool.

“A black coffee,” Kai answers. “And you’ll get a black eye if you keep staring,” he adds with a grunt.

I’m Kai’s girlfriend.I fight to keep from squealing in delight.

We indulge in small talk over lunch before heading out shopping.

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