Page 21 of Covert Temptation

“Kennedy?” he called out softly.

She paused in her march. “Yes?”

“You’re wearing a track in the floor. What are you doing?”

“I’m counting. It’s twenty-three steps exactly. Living room to front door. One way.”

He arched a brow.

Her gaze skittered away. “Just a habit I have,” she muttered.

In his experience, habits were deliberate behaviors—rituals to control one’s environment.

The air in the room seemed to pulse.

“Good to know I’ve got plenty of time to drag you back if you try to run.”

She shifted her weight to one hip, sending it jutting out in an enticing curve.

That sweater lookedreallysoft. Her hips werejust rightfor a man’s hands to land on.

He jerked his attention away from her body and settled on her face.

Which wasn’t a damn bit better. Just-climbed-out-of-bed hair was as bad as just-had-sex hair.

“You think I’m going to try to run?” She pointed at the wedge of wood he’d stuffed under the front door.

He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t like surprises.”

“Hmph.” Her boots tapped the floor as she finally made her way to the coffeemaker.

He caught himself studying her every move—how she chose a mug from the shelf and wrapped her slim fingers around thehandle of the pot. He definitely didn’t need to take any notes on the way her hair swung forward, partially concealing her pretty features.

When she straightened with the coffee in hand, he quickly turned back to his work.

The refrigerator door opened next.

She breathed a sigh.

“No milk?” he asked, though he already knew the only supplies in any safe house were shelf-stable. The refrigerators were rarely stocked.

She shut the door. “No.”

“There’s powdered creamer.” He turned in time to see her reaction to that news.

And damn if she wasn’t adorable when she wrinkled her nose.

Fuck. He had to put a stop to these wayward thoughts he was having. Get some work done. Get some sleep.

Get laid,his under-used libido told him.

But not by Kennedy,he firmly told it.

She leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “I’ll drink my coffee black until we can get some milk. Wearegoing to get some supplies, aren’t we?”

“Tomorrow. I’m working tonight.”

“I thought your job was to ignore me while keeping me prisoner.”

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