Page 21 of Viktor

“Putting on my shoes.”

“Why?”

“Why?” He paused and looked up at her. “So we can go to the store?”

“I’mgoing to the store.Youaren’t going anywhere.”

Nope, nope, nope. She was not sitting in the car with him for any length of time. The temptation to touch him would get the best of her.

He stood, his height towering over her small five-foot three-inch frame. His eyes went hard, and she took an instinctive step back.

“We’ve had this discussion before, Sara.” He took a step closer, but she barely noticed. His eyes were blazing with intent. “I’m here to keep you safe, and I can’t do that if you go off running around by yourself. You’re stuck with an escort until this case is resolved.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Escort sounds better.” He plucked the keys out of her hand and set them aside. “We’ll take the Jeep.”

“My car is perfectly fine,” she huffed. The way he simply decided what they were driving grated on her nerves.

“Yes, your Focus is a perfectly fine car, but as you pointed out, Gabe and I eat a lot. The Jeep is roomier, and I plan on loading it down with groceries. Your parents shouldn’t have to foot our food bill.”

It was logical, but she still didn’t like the decision being made for her.

“Viktor…”

He put a finger to her lips. “I know you hate this, but I’m only trying to help. We’ll take your car next time.”

She reared back away from the feel of his skin against hers. His fingers burned, and she let out a little hiss. He cocked an eyebrow and gave her a smile that said he knew exactly what his touch did to her.

Damn him.

Sara narrowed her eyes and flounced out the door, leaving him and his smirk behind. The Jeep’s doors unlocked as she reached it. She climbed in and tried to calm her nerves. They were only going to town. It was a short trip. She could control herself that long.

Viktor slid into the driver’s seat, his phone in his hand. “I sent Gabe a text to let him know to watch the house until we get back.”

The scent that was all Viktor surrounded her as soon as he closed the door. He smelled woodsy with a hint of gunpowder. He must have been cleaning his guns earlier.

They rode in silence for the first few minutes until Viktor turned on the radio to the local station. The sounds of Sam Hunt filled the small space.

“I met your husband.”

She glanced over at him, startled. “You did?”

“The day I arrived, I swung by his shop.”

“Does he know who…”

Viktor shook his head. “No. I told him I was interested in renting some of his four-wheelers. I wanted to get a feel for him.”

“And?”

“And he’s a weasel.”

Sara laughed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

He flipped the radio station several times before giving up. “Fucking radio wasteland. Ah, shit…I shouldn’t have said fuck…damn it.”

“I think you should stop while you’re ahead.” Viktor had a potty mouth, but he tried his best not to cuss around women. It was one of the first things she’d learned about him. He usually failed miserably, and she loved it.

---