Page 18 of Hunted

Instead, she moved closer still, ready to give in to her needs, give in to this crazy attraction between them. Ready to…

Buzz, buzz, buzz…

Her phone vibrated on the counter beside them where it was charging. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to jar her back to her senses. Clint too, it seemed, if the way he stalked off toward his bedroom was any indication. Good. Fine. She took a couple deep breaths before answering the call. Her mother’s face smiled back at her brightly from the caller ID on the screen.

“Hey, Mama,” Leila said, praying her voice sounded steadier than it felt. “How’s things?”

“Good, good.” Her mother proceeded to fill Leila in on all the happenings around Puerto Rico. Once she’d told her daughter all the latest gossip, and Leila was feeling much more relaxed than she had been earlier with Clint, Samantha Ortiz went in for the kill. “I think you should seriously consider moving down here, chica.I worry about you and Thomas up there all alone. What if that bastard ex of yours comes looking for you? How will you protect yourself?”

Leila sighed. She’d not told her mom about the slashed tire or damage to her car, nor was she planning to. Her motherhad enough to worry about without adding her daughter and grandson to the list. And with Clint’s help, Leila would be able to protect herself and her son just fine. Though it would be nice to have family closer to help out when she needed it. Ugh. She sank down into a kitchen chair and rubbed her forehead where a headache was starting to form. For the first time, she seriously considered it. Leaving Vegas would get her away from Mike and away from her unwanted attraction to Clint. Plus, she could give Thomas a fresh start. At the moment, it sounded like not such a bad idea. But this wasn’t the time to make such a decision, not with the mix of adrenaline and sexual tension still thundering through her system.

“I’ll think about it, Mama,” she said, leaving it at that.

10

Clint kept one eye on Thomas and the other on his phone, tracking where Leila was. He’d made her download the “find my phone” app so he could see where she was as a precaution and to give him some peace of mind when she was without him. He still didn’t like that she’d insisted on going to the grocery store by herself, claiming she needed some space and time to think. But he understood why she needed it. After the tension, sexual and otherwise, between them the night before, he didn’t blame her.

He had been acting like an ass. It was just that he felt torn and twisted and totally in lust with her with no idea how to handle it. Sure, he was no blushing virgin. That ship had sailed a long time ago. But he’d never been with a woman who appealed to him on as many levels as Leila did. He was frustrated, in more ways than one, and he’d lashed out at her.

Stupid move.

She was guarded, yes. But she was also smart and funny and kind and giving and she had good reason to keep her heartprotected. And then there was Thomas. The kid was adorable beyond measure. Clint had always imagined he’d stay a loner for the rest of his days, never considering the possibility he’d ever want a family of his own. After what had happened with his own parents and upbringing, he’d figured it was for the best he stayed alone. But being around Leila and Thomas had him rethinking those long-held beliefs.

Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time for him to live a little. When she got home, he was going to apologize to her. He checked the app again and saw she was still at the store. He focused his attention on Thomas, who’d been happily playing, but was now looking sleepy. He was already in his pajamas. Maybe it was bedtime? If he got Thomas settled for the night, he’d be able to have the conversation he needed to with Leila as soon as she got home.

“Do you love that toy, buddy?” Clint asked as he picked up the boy. Thomas was clutching the stuffed bunny and rubbing it against his cheek. “It was my favorite too. You’ve got good taste. You can keep the bunny with you, but it’s nighty-night time.”

He took the boy into Leila’s room and settled him in the crib. Thomas immediately sprawled out on his back and closed his eyes.

“See you in the morning, little guy,” Clint said after watching for a minute to make sure he was asleep. He quietly crept from the room, leaving the door ajar.

He’d just returned to the living room when the front door opened and Leila walked in, looking upset. His heart dropped to his toes as he rushed over to take the heavy bags from her arms. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

She shook her head, looking out the door to scan the area before shutting it and locking it behind her. Leila leaned back against it and closed her eyes. “Mike’s gang found me. In the parking lot at the grocery store.”

Her breath hitched, and Clint’s heart ached even as anger surged hot through his blood stream. Son of a bitch! If that fucker or his idiot friends harmed a single hair on Leila’s head, Clint would go full SEAL on their asses and make them regret the day they were born. They might be in a gang, but nobody messed with a SEAL or those he protected. Nobody.

He set the bags on the kitchen counter then rushed back to her side, guiding her over to sit on the sofa then crouching in front of her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were wide with fear. Clint reached up as gently as he could to tuck her loose hair behind her ear, hoping to soothe her. “Did they hurt you?”

She shook her head. “Where’s Thomas?”

“Sleeping. He’s fine. Tell me what happened.” Clint didn’t like how weak her voice sounded.

“They just tried to scare me. Drove their car way too close, like they were going to run over me, then started calling me names. Whore, bitch, the usual.” She gave a sad little shrug, and it took everything Clint had not to pull her into his arms. From her troubled expression, he sensed touching her now would not go over well. So, instead, he moved into the seat beside her on the sofa and waited for her to continue. “They threatened me. Said they’d find me, find Thomas, and kill us if I didn’t go back to Mike. Said they’d hunt you down too. Ruin your business. Run you out of town.”

His hackles rose. It would take more than a carload full of punks to make him leave Vegas. This was his home now.

“I’m sorry,” Leila said, sniffling. “I’m so, so sorry. I never should’ve gotten you involved in all this.” She wiped the back of her hand across her damp cheeks then sat back against the cushions to stare up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry about last night too. I’ve done nothing but invade your space and make things so much harder for you.”

“No.” He reached over and took her hand now, unable to resist any longer. “It’s me who should be sorry. I said awful things to you last night. Those words should never have left my mouth. I have no right to judge you. You’re a great mother and a great woman who’s dealing with horrific things with more dignity and honor than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“It doesn’t feel that way,” she said, turning her head slightly on the cushion to look at him. “Most days I feel like I’m barely holding on. Inside, I’m scared to death I’m going to screw everything up. I’m terrified that something will happen to Thomas… or to you.”

“To me?” He looked over at her, realizing now how close they actually were. Close enough for him to smell her spicy scent, to see the tiny gold flecks in her brown eyes, to hear the hint of yearning in her tone. His body tightened in response and a different kind of longing filled him once more. To taste her, touch her, have her beneath him as he drove them both to the point of ecstasy. He tugged on her hand, drawing her closer. “Listen, I can take care of myself.” His gaze flickered from her eyes to her soft, pink lips before returning to her gaze. “I’ll take care of you too, if you’ll let me.”

Time seemed to slow as she closed the gap between them. “Will you? Take care of me?”

“Always,” he whispered before kissing her. She gasped at the contact, and he took advantage, sweeping his tongue between her lips to taste her sweetness as he’d been wanting to do since that day at the gun range. She moaned low and his libido kicked a notch higher. He pulled back before he couldn’t anymore, grasping her hips to set her aside then standing and extending his hand. “Let’s take this to the bedroom, eh?”

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