Page 29 of SEAL of Fate

“It’s wonderful!” She reached for one of the meals.

“Wait a minute.” He grabbed the container, opened it, and checked inside. “This one’s Jake’s.” He set the plate on the floor and shoved it toward the dog. “I had the waitress leave off the pickle and give him fries instead of potato salad.”

“Aw...he’s growing on you, isn’t he?”

“Damn dog.” But he smiled before taking an enormous bite of his sandwich.

Jordan was glad to know Travis didn’t harbor ill will toward Jake, and her opinion of him rose a few more notches.Because who doesn’t like dogs?

She was so glad to have him back; it was difficult not to smile.How can that be? I would have shot him not twenty-four hours ago if I’d had bullets for Brody’s gun.There was no rationale for her conflicting emotions, but he made her feel safe, which had been in short supply the past few days. Or maybe it was textbook Stockholm Syndrome, which would require counseling for years to come.Oh well.She’d worry about that later. Right now, she was cozy and warm, and the food tasted heavenly. Even Jake thought so. There wasn’t a scrap of anything left on his plate.

Travis had also brought bottled water, sodas, and dessert. “I hope you like blueberry muffins.” He handed her one. “They seem to be a specialty in this town.”

Jordan moaned her appreciation. “These are delicious.”

After they ate, Travis added more wood to the fire. Jordan placed their trash in the empty bags and set them aside to dispose of in the morning. She straightened the magazines on the table and then sat on the couch, tucking her legs beneath her. “Did you contact your friend?”

Travis took a seat in one of the chairs. “Something like that. When he gets my message, he’ll notify the FBI, and they’ll round up Brody, Alex, his uncle, and the rest of their crew. My partner will pick us up and take us to the evac site, where a helicopter will be waiting to take us the hell out of here. There’s no sign of suspicious activity in town, so all we have to do is stay out of sight until our ride gets here.”

He studied something in his hand, and she recognized the coin she’d seen him spinning through his fingers the night she’d foolishly accepted a ride with three strangers.

“Agent Roberts will undoubtedly arrange for protective custody for you until everyone involved is tucked away in jail.” He hesitated before continuing. “I thought maybe I could hang out with you until we’re sure you’re safe.”

“Do you think that’s necessary?”

“Yes, I do. I’d feel better keeping an eye on you until Roberts gives us the A-OK.”

“And you’re sure Alex will go to jail?”

“I will personally see that he does.” He held her gaze until Jordan looked away.

There was too much intensity in Travis’s eyes. She tingled all over when he studied her that way. The attraction between them seemed to shimmer throughout the small room. She’d sidestepped his comment about staying with her on purpose because she was already too attached. Her feelings for him had grown, and if she wasn’t careful, she could easily end up with a broken heart. When his job was finished, he would leave.

Jordan had become accustomed to being alone, and it would be easier to return to her life if she didn’t fall any harder for this man who never intended to stick around. It felt good when he held her and kissed her; apparently, she was helpless to resist him. Was it only security she craved or something more?

“How was the shower?” He broke the silence that had settled between them.

“How did you know about the offering plate?”

“It’s important to have good intel before embarking on a mission. SEAL training 101. You’ll never know when you’ll need a place to lay low for a while. No safer place than a church unless it’s a jail.” He grinned.

Jordan liked when the tension eased from his face. Too bad he didn’t smile more often.

Travis pushed out of the chair. “Think I’ll have a shower now. Hope you saved me some hot water.”

Barely five minutes had passed when he returned, his hair wet and droplets of water still clinging to the impressive muscles of his bare chest and back. A tribal tattoo covered his left shoulder and bicep, and a lion snarled convincingly from his right forearm. Draping his flannel shirt and shoulder holster over the back of a chair, he stretched a T-shirt over his broad shoulders and let it slide down to cover his six-pack abs. But not before she glimpsed the purple and yellow discoloration on his right side. She drew a sharp breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“Did I...?” She reached to touch the cotton fabric covering the bruise.

Travis glanced at her hand. “Yeah, that was you. Good defensive move, by the way. I can show you a few more if you’re interested.” His gaze raised to meet hers. For a moment, Jordan thought she glimpsed admiration shining from his eyes. His hand came up and gently stroked her jaw where he’d hit her. “Don’t worry about it. We’re even.”

She was powerless not to lean into the warmth of his touch. His eyes darkened as he held hers captive and stepped closer. Her breaths came faster as the need to escape the intensity of his scrutiny vied with the desire that set her body on fire.This is a bad idea.But the pulse of blood through her veins muted the clamor of warnings from her heart.

He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, then slid his hand around the back of her neck. The heat of his touch seared deliciously even in the warmth of their cozy room, and she trembled. He smiled faintly, still staring into her eyes, then gently tugged her toward him until their bodies touched, and his arms enfolded her. As he held her and stroked her hair, she melted into the protection of his caress where the horrors of the last several hours could not intrude. But...this is crazy. Foolish. So not appropriate...yet she’d never felt so safe.

It’s only a hug. One hug and then walk away. Crap! Does he have to smell so good?

---