Page 50 of Stealth Mission

I groan as I fan smoke away from my face. “What is wrong with this thing?”

An echo whispers in my head. What is wrong with me?

He leans in and makes a rough sound. “You’ve got a coolant leak. You can tell by that sweet, burnt smell.”

I fan some more as dollar signs invade my head, pushing out his dizzying effect. Nothing like thinking about money to kill the buzz. “It stinks. But even worse than the smell is the fact that it’s broken and I really don’t have the time or money for this.”

On top of the tractor. Will things ever be easy?

I sigh out my frustration. Hanging my head, I grip the grill. Resting my hands on the weathered metal of the aging vehicle.

“Sorry, that’s not what you need right now, I’m sure.”

I startle when Walt rests his hand on mine.

For a beat, I’m frozen. I can’t tear my eyes away from his knuckles—the scars, but more the size of them. They’re really big. His hands are strong. Capable.

And hot. I remember how hot they were on my skin.

My pulse starts to pound.

He leans near me, making me freeze like a bunny with my ears perking and my nose twitching.

I’ve always liked big men, but he takes the cake. He dwarfed my father. Not that my father is a big man, but he thinks he is for all the wrong reasons. But Walt is built like a strong work horse.

I almost snort. Who compares hotties to workhorses? Clearly, I’ve spent too much time on the farm.

When I look up at him, there’s concern in his eyes, but it’s not for the coolant leak. I know this in my heart. My breath catches and my tummy flutters.

His voice has a deeper timbre than before. “Is he always like that with you?”

I’m captivated.

Something happens inside my body. My breath is definitely stuck somewhere below my pounding heart.

“He’s… difficult.”

The protective hero’s whole body grows bigger, vibrating with anger. “It’s no excuse. He shouldn’t ever treat you like that.”

His fierceness on my behalf shocks me again.

Teetering from the effect, I sound wobbly to my own ears. “No, my father shouldn’t treat me like that, but that’s something that will never change. Not as long as I live here.”

I know I’ve said too much, and should probably feel bad about that, but maybe it is time I admitted that to someone.

It helps that he’s practically a stranger who will disappear in a few days.

Walt releases my hand, a scary scowl on his face as he stares down at me.

I clench my fingers together and put them behind my back. They’re still tingling from his touch. “I should go. I’ll just walk.”

His head tilts. Those incredible eyes hold me prisoner. “Let me escort you.”

A sudden flush of fear crawls up my back. “No. It’s not a good idea. This is a small town. He’s going to know.”

A flash of anger darkens his gaze. He looks deadly. There’s always been something about him… but that edge is even more clear now that we’re outside in the clear light.

He licks his lower lip and his hard gaze sharpens even more. “Pardon my French, ma’am, but I don’t give a goddamn about what he knows or thinks he knows.”

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