Page 29 of Holiday Hostage
My pulse ran thick and hot, pounding throughout my body with the kind of force that begged for release.
“Reed.” Maverick’s voice cracked the air.
I snapped around to look at him and pushed an MRE into his hands. “Eat before you turn into a monster.”
He fought down a smile, blew out an exasperated breath, and shoved a bite of the chicken teriyaki MRE–his favorite–into his mouth.
Tarron laughed while scrubbing a hand over his lips and taking the MRE from me with a shake of his head. “One of these days, man.”
“What?” I shrugged and ate my food, keeping an eye on Payton the whole time.
Her first bite was tentative, as was the cautious way she examined each of us when she thought we were not looking.
“Nothing.” Tarron finished his meal and threw everything in the trash. “We should get some rest.”
“I’ll take first watch.” I rushed to offer before Mav beat me to it.
The idea of sleeping made my shoulders tight.
I tossed my empty pack in the trash and made a mental note to take the bag out before we left.
The storm hammered down on us, snow slamming into the windows and rattling the glass.
The walls creaked and groaned like old bones riddled with arthritis.
We’d be here a few days at least. I took in the panicked look Payton shot my way. “I doubt anyone will be looking for us, especially in that.” I pointed at the windows. “But there’s no reason for us to take chances.”
“We should all stay close.” Maverick stood and stretched.
Payton watched the movement, taking in everything.
I grinned when Maverick’s stretch showed a band of skin around his waist, and Payton’s mouth fell open in a kind of awed gasp.
Heat stretched taut as a rubber band, forcing me to turn away.
“The couch opens into a bed. There are a couple bedrooms upstairs, but I doubt the fireplaces up there work anymore.” I cleaned up the small mess I’d made in the kitchen and headed to the fireplace along the living room wall.
“Payton, you can have the couch. Maverick and I will take the chairs.” Tarron flopped into the nearest chair and stretched out his legs, crossing his ankles and lacing his fingers together on his stomach.
Maverick took the matching chair across from him after sliding the Murphy bed free from the couch.
Payton eyed the couch and tugged the blanket closer beneath her chin. “I’m not sure I can sleep.”
“You’re safe, Payton.” I gave myself permission to touch her shoulder, nothing more than a soft pat of reassurance, before I settled in the wooden rocking chair and faced the windows. “Get some rest.”
She huffed but stretched out on the bed, rolling onto her side and drawing her knees up to her chest.
The world shrank to this room, this moment.
Mav and Tarron drifted off to sleep with their ability to sleep at the drop of a hat, something we’d all honed over the years as Rangers.
Payton rolled onto her back and crossed her arms behind her head. A huff of breath drifted almost lazily across the room.
I turned my head to steal a look at her and caught her watching me with her head tipped back. She wiggled upright. “I’m not going to be able to sleep yet.”
“Okay.” I shifted so I faced the windows. My gaze slid right back to her an instant later.
Why couldn’t I keep my eyes off her?
