Page 103 of Tough as Steele

“For sure and certain.” He came to his feet and lifted his face shield. “I’ve rendered the device safe.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Slowly, she lifted her finger off the button, exhaling a long breath when the bomb didn’t send her sky-high. She held out the remote to him, and he took it.

He started walking toward the officers, calling out, “All clear!”

A collective sigh filtered through the officers and medics.

Londyn could move now. She was free. But she couldn’t lift her foot. Either one. Even move a toe. She was paralyzed in place. What was up with that? Didn’t she trust the tech?

Nate approached and held out his hands to her. “One step at a time.”

She clung to his hands. They were warm when hers were like ice. “Why can’t I move?”

“It’s a normal reaction to the situation. I’ve seen it plenty of times, but you’re strong. You can will your body to move.”

She concentrated and slid a foot to the side—held her breath and his hands. Nothing happened. Another step, and she was off the device. She climbed to the top step. Nate tugged her into his arms and held her so tightly she could barely breathe. But it wasn’t the suffocating loss of breath that she’d felt standing on a bomb. No, she was alive with a joyous sensation.

She reveled in his touch. The strength of his arms. She rested her head on his chest. Felt the heat of his body. The strength of his muscles. His jacket was damp, but soft.

She was alive. Alive!

She pulled back and looked into those dark eyes and lost all common sense. She rose up on tiptoes and pressed her lips on his. They were cold and far more insistent than she’d expected. He crushed her closer and deepened the kiss.

She heard movement nearby but didn’t care who it was or what was happening.

She was alive. Blissfully alive. And maybe in love. So very quickly in love.

Wait. Quickly.

She pulled back, and her eyes flashed open.

“What is it?” He looked more uncertain than she’d ever seen him. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t be doing this. This thing between us. It’s too fast. Way too fast. I know I should be way past this, but it’s just too fresh from Brad to let it go, I guess.”

“I know you got burned by moving fast, but I’m not that guy.” His expression relaxed, and a wide smile turned up those very kissable lips. “I can go as slowly as you need me to. We’ve been together for around thirty-six hours. Think of how many dates that might be. Plus, we’ve been stressed and under pressure. I think we can safely say we know what each of us is like.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. I’ve seen you handle terrible things with grace and compassion.” She smiled up at him. “So what say we get out of here and go check on Mimi. I want to be sure she’s all right.”

“Are you sure you don’t have to check in with your family?”

“Oh, right. My family. Yeah. Once I know that Mimi’s okay, I need to go home. But I want you to come with me, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.” He took her hand and started for his vehicle. “I like your family. Even your dad with his evil-eye stares. But if you tell him that I said I like him, I’ll deny ever saying it.”

She chuckled.

The sergeant stepped into their path.

“I know you want our statements,” Nate said. “But we need to check in with Ms. Vandervoort. We can meet with you in a few hours.”

The sergeant looked like he wanted to sigh but held it in. “There’s no point in me arguing, is there?”

“No,” Londyn said. “We appreciate you coming to our rescue, but we have a commitment to this woman that we need to fulfill.”

“I wish I could say I don’t get it and insist you stay, but I do get it.” He dug a card from his shirt pocket and handed it to Londyn. “A couple of hours. In my office. No excuses.”

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