Page 62 of Perfect Alpha

“Okay,” she whispers. “Thank you.”

I soften my voice even more. “I’m sorry. Really. I just… I just wanted to talk to you.” My voice breaks and her expression softens into the tender and caring face I love so much.

“Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing we can do now.” She pauses. “Do you…”

“I have two guns in the truck. A bear or lone avenger won’t get you on my watch. You can still trust me.”

Her answer is another sad smile, and when I hop out of the truck, she follows.

“You don’t have to help me, angel. This is my fault.”

“I want to.” She knows exactly what she’s doing, and we have the tent and bedding set up in no time.

Victory shivers. “I forgot how cold it gets here at night.” She’s wearing tight jeans paired with a long-sleeve V-neck, and all her perfect skin on display makes my mind a hazy mess.

“Do you want my hoodie?”

“No.” There isn’t an ounce of hesitation in her voice, and she raises her hands in surrender. “I need you to just keep all your clothes on, please.”

I chuckle. “Why? Don’t you like the view?” I wiggle my eyebrows, which usually makes her laugh.

It doesn’t this time.

“I don’t want to be one of your playthings, Cade.” The hurt and disappointment in her eyes send me mentally stumbling.

“It’s not like thatat all,” I reply hotly. “Not with you.”

“Well, youarereally good at apologizing when it suits you,” she reminds me, crawling into the truck bed. As much as I tell myself not to stare at her ass, of course I do, and then I scramble in after her.

“Okay, so maybe I don’t handle jealousy very well,” I admit.

“You don’t handlelifevery well,” Victory accuses.

“That’s not fair,” I protest. “I’m a doctor, you know. I just don’t handleyouwell.”

“That’s for sure.” Victory roots through her purse and digs out a king-size Twix, which immediately has my mouth watering. She makes me watch her eat the first half before offering me the other pieces.

“Thanks, angel,” I say gratefully.

“You can thank Aidan. I stole some of his Halloween candy for the plane ride.”

I burst out laughing. “Stealing from a toddler is pretty low, even for big shot agent Victory Parker.”

“I’m just a junior agent,” she says. “I’m still working my way up the ranks.”

“Are you happy?” I ask gently.

She takes a long time to answer and won’t meet my eyes. “Happy is relative.” She settles on the makeshift bed and pulls the blanket over herself, but she’s still shivering.

“Take my hoodie,” I growl, getting under the covers and snuggling behind her. I expect her to push me away, but she must be freezing because she lets me lock my body behind hers.

“I’m fine,” she lies through shivers.

“We could always get naked. Then you could let me pull you close for body heat,” I suggest wryly, my lips on the back of her neck. “I’d stay behind you, so you wouldn’t even have to look at me.”

“Okay,” she agrees, and my head spins like I’m on a tilt-a-whirl.

“What?” I’m legitimately flabbergasted and not doing a very good job covering it up.

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