Page 98 of Wrecked
Chapter 30
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All Sam could do wasshake his head at the surreal world he was living in and followHallene’sswaying hips.
He’d never felt blessed, not until today.
Once they hit the road, he found the rental company she’d located and parked. She dismounted as he started telling her where to rendezvous. “There was a huge parking lot at that outlet center we passed.”
“I saw it.” She checked the chin strap on her helmet and made a move toward the bike. It would have been too tall for a woman of average height but no problem for a woman with her inseam.
He frowned. “You need eye protection.”
“Got it.” She pulled a pair of sunglasses out of the bag hanging across her body.
“Be careful, babe.” He had a hard time letting her leave, but he wanted her to find a safe place to wait in the parking lot. He doubted anyone could know they were here, but if someone followed him out, he wanted to unass the tail without her being involved.
“I will.” She climbed on and rocked the ’Busa off its center stand.
“If you see anything suspicious—”
“Stop, Sam. I’ll park in a low-profile spot where I can watch for you, then I’ll pull out when I see you.”
“Your brain is turning me on,Hallene.” He liked saying her name. He’d muttered it to himself the whole way here.
She’d given him her real name. Another gift his heart tucked away.
“Too bad you don’t have time for the rest of me,Sam.”
“Keep torturing me, babe. We’ll never get this done. Just scout out a safe spot. Don’t grab the first one.”
“You remind me of the guy who trained me. He was MI6.”
Sam became very still. “Was he yourlover?”
Was he jealous? Well, hell yes.
Hallene lifted her hand. “Stop. We became close asfriends. I admit I wanted more at one point. He told me there was no life with someone like him. He couldn’t function if his attention was divided between his duty and someone waiting at home for him because he never knew when he might not come back from a mission. He said my friendship meant the world to him. That sort of hurt my feelings at first, but I got past it and now realize he was right. I needed a friend more than a lover at that moment. Then he died fourteen months later.”
Sam couldn’t be angry at the guy who trained her, especially with him dead.
If anything, he felt selfish for wanting what that guy had passed on. Sam would like to think he had honor and would make the noble decision, but he was having a hard time weighing duty against never seeing Hallene again.
