“No,” Everly whispered from the shadows. “But then again, all the soldiers start to look alike after a while.”
It took Cam a minute to realize she wasn’t talking about military soldiers like him. She was talking about the low-ranking guys in the mafia. The Aeon was a bit too far away to make a dash for it now, judging by the sound of the footsteps headed in their direction. What they needed was a distraction then, something to throw the guys off the scent of the car and keep them from finding it. On impulse, he shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it around Everly, then took her hand. “I’ve got an idea, but I need you to trust me.”
She was silent for a moment, so long he feared she’d tell him to fuck off again. Then she sighed. “Fine. Whatever it is, make it quick. They’re almost here.”
That was all the encouragement Cam needed. Before Everly could say another word, he had her in his arms and kissed her for all he was worth. At first, she struggled against him, but then she relaxed slightly, her lips softening beneath his. He took advantage and swept his tongue along her lush lower lip, discovering at last the answer to a question that had plagued him since high school—what did Everly Knight taste like? Sugar and spice and everything naughty, that was what. There was a hint of pineapple and garlic in there too from their pizza. It all mixed together to form a combustible cocktail of pure awesome.
Still, Cam did his best to keep a modicum of control. After all, he was only kissing her to create a distraction, or at least that’s what he was telling himself. Peeking one eye open, he picked Everly up and her arms went around his neck and her legs around his waist. Moaning loud, he stumbled down the sidewalk with her and around the corner, running smack into the two goons in the funeral suits.
Keeping one hand on the back of Everly’s head to press her face into his neck just in case these guys had recognized her, Cam gave them his best astonished stare. “Oh, shit. Sorry guys. Guess we got a little carried away.”
The two men stood like a solid wall of black doom. They exchanged a look then tried to peer around Cam to the area where the Aeon was parked in the darkness.
“C’mon, baby,” Everly groaned, her hot breath scorching the side of his neck and making his damned cock twitch to life. She ground herself against him in blatant invitation, her fingers twining into the hair at the back of his neck. Cam’s knees shook before he steeled himself. This was all for show, not real. Not at all. No matter how it felt at present. “I wanna fuck you all night long.”
Cam gave the two goons an embarrassed grin. “Women.”
Goon number one nudged goon two and their stiff posture relaxed slightly. Without a word, they backed away slowly. The door to the shop opened and out came the pregnant waitress with a pizza box in her hand.
“Order ready,” she said, handing it to the two guys.
Okay, so maybe the goons really had come for food. Cam glanced at their sedan again. It was old and rusted and hardly government-issue. Not what he’d expect a bunch of mafia guys to ride around in either. The two men handed the waitress a fifty then continued to back toward their car. And it was entirely possible the waitress had been on the phone because she was taking their order. It all fit. Maybe too well. That knot of tension that had loosened when he’d kissed Everly now pulled tighter again.
He didn’t breathe again until they’d pulled out of the parking lot. She squirmed out of his arms and handed him back his jacket.
“What the hell was that all about?” She stared as the sedan’s red tail lights faded into the night. “Who were those guys?”
“No idea.” Cam took his jacket from her and licked his lips, still tasting Everly there. Distracted, he rushed back to the Aeon and entered the passcode before starting the engine. Everly climbed into the passenger seat, her expression concerned. “But we need to get out of here.”
“Where are we going to go?” Everly huddled into her corner of the seat, looking as confused as Cam felt. “Can’t go back to the shop.”
“Nope.” Cam flicked on the headlights then pulled out of the gas station. “You’ll see.”
4
They pulled up in the driveway of the nondescript white bungalow on a quiet side street just outside Fredericksburg. Everly had been snoozing in the passenger seat for the past hour and Cam was careful as he shut off the engine not to wake her.
He undid his seat belt, then got out, gun drawn. Norse Security had purchased this property a few years back as a safe house to use when needed for missions. Technically, Cam didn’t have permission to be here now. This would only strain his already tight budget for this case too, what with utilities and food he’d have to pay for, but dammit, he needed a quiet place to think.
So far, all his best laid plans on this mission had gone to shit. Then there was that ill-advised kiss with Everly in the gas station parking lot. He was glad she’d fallen asleep on the way here. Saved him from having to deal with a bunch of questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. Things like why he’d deepened the kiss when a simple meeting of lips would’ve done. Or why his cock got hard as granite each time she touched him. It was all damned inconvenient. And confusing. And bewilderingly hot.
Cam walked the perimeter of the small home, checking for anything out of the ordinary, then jumped the chain link fence in the back and scanned the yard before fishing out the extra key they always kept stored under a rotted board at the corner of the small utility shed. He let hi
mself in the back door then performed a quick check of all the rooms in the house, turning on a few lights as he went. The sun was starting to come up and the neighbors would be up soon. He wanted to make sure he and Everly were inside and the Aeon was well-hidden in the small garage before then. No sense drawing any more unwanted attention at this point.
Once he’d confirmed everything was all clear, he went outside again, through the front door this time, and walked around to Everly’s side of the vehicle. She was awake now, staring at him through the windshield. He gestured for her to come out and she opened her door hesitantly, looking around at the quiet blue-collar neighborhood like it was an alien planet or something.
“Where are we?” she asked, her voice still husky from sleep.
He felt that gruff tone all the way to his toes. Cam shook off the erotic images filling his head—of them hot and heavy against the wall, Everly grinding against him as he drove hard into her, urging them both toward completion—and looked away. “Just outside Fredericksburg. This is a house owned by my security company. We’ll be safe here for now. Why don’t you go inside while I pull the car into the garage in the back?”
She crossed her arms and gave him a sour stare. “Right. So you can take off with the Aeon and ditch me here? I think not.”
Too exhausted to argue anymore, Cam acquiesced. “Fine. Then make yourself useful. Open the garage door while I get the car started again.”
“Or you could open it while I drive the car,” she offered, her smile sticky sweet.
“Yeah. Nice try. I’m not giving you the passcode.” Cam tapped his fingers on the hood of the car. “Garage door. Now.”