Page 20 of Abducted

“If it’s okay, I’ll just shower at your house once I have fresh clothes.”

“Fine with me. We can leave after we get packed up.”

They packed up the food that was left over and the rest of their belongings. Cal knelt at the floor in front of his duffel bag. He pulled a black object from it and slipped it into the waistband at the small of his back.

A gun.

Her breath sucked in.

“Sorry, you’re probably not used to seeing these.” He stood and lifted the bag to his shoulder. “I always have one on me. But don’t worry, the safety is on, okay?”

Of course, he would have a gun. It made sense, but the fact that he needed one sent a tremor down her spine. She nodded.

They stopped at a boutique on the way back to the city. Cal had thought it would be best if they avoided shopping where someone could spot her. She picked out some leggings and long-sleeved shirts, and when Cal wasn’t looking, a couple of bras and panties. Cal insisted she buy a few extra outfits in case it took longer than planned to get her life back on track. Her feet were bare, but thankfully the store was empty. She grabbed a simple pair of black flats and met him at the line of registers.

Without hesitation, he pulled out cash and paid for her purchases. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I have access to money.”

He took the bags from her fingers as they left the store. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not hurting for money.” He tossed her bags in the back seat, then opened the passenger door for her. The gesture came without hesitation. Her eyes landed on his. “Hop in.”

“I didn’t expect chivalry from you.” She hadn’t meant it as an insult, but it sounded that way.

His eyes clouded, but his smile didn’t fade. Separate worlds. They were from separate worlds. “Glad I could surprise you.” He waved at her again. “Let’s go.”

He closed the door and came around to the driver’s side as she buckled up. “What led you to become a freelance security contractor?” She asked as he started the truck and pulled out onto the street. The words rolled over her tongue, unfamiliar to her idea of careers. The title itself was complicated and gave nothing away to indicate what he claimed to do.

His hand held loosely to the top of the steering wheel, his right hand resting on the console. “I was in the military, and then I advanced to recon. I was good, and when I learned I could contract myself out, that seemed like the right fit for me.”

He made it sound so simple. “What do you do, exactly?”

“I take jobs and assignments that are sometimes organized by the government, sometimes private requests. In some cases, it has me out of the country and in very dangerous situations.”

She couldn’t imagine that kind of life. His life was so strange, almost like an alien’s. Her hands fumbled in her lap. She wanted to keep the conversation moving and she needed the distraction. No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, it surged from her subconscious. Someone wanted to kill her. Two nights ago, she could have been dead.

His fingers went to the cruise control. He eased his foot off the pedal and stretched out his long, jeans-clad legs. She let her eyes trail down his body, and her gaze stopped on the bulge at the front of his pants. Her pulse hitched.

Cal cleared his throat, loud and deliberate. Her eyes shot to his face.

He was grinning.

She bit her lip and turned to look out the front window. Her cheeks burned. But not nearly as bad as the fire that had started in her belly.

“I’ve tried tobe selective about the jobs I take. I’m getting older and don’t have the same mind-set I used to have.”

She turned back to look at him. “How old are you?” He didn’t look older.

His skin was nicely tanned, his body beyond fit and toned.

“Thirty-two. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but I don’t want to die doing it.”

“Don’t you want to have kids? Get married someday?”

He kept his eyes on the road, but his mouth twitched fondly. “I’d love a couple of kids, but I would never subject a wife and a family to my lifestyle. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“You just said you wanted to slow down.”

“Slow down, not retire.”

“You’re giving up so much of your life for your career.” She bit her lip after the words left her mouth. “I’m sorry, it’s really none of my business.” She folded her legs in the seat, getting comfortable. He pulled onto the highway.

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