Watch Me (Stepping Up 1)

“That thing can’t ride with us,” Kiki said. “Seriously. I’m allergic.”

A muscle in Sam’s jaw tensed, and he spoke directly to Meagan. “How do you feel about walking back to the truck? It’s not quite a mile down the beach. The owner has beach lights we can turn on here and turn off at the other house.”

“I don’t mind walking at all.”

They wrapped the kitten in a jacket that Josh had stashed in his SUV and started toward the first house, the breeze off the ocean chilling the air. “I feel like I keep saying this tonight, but thank you for this, Sam.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I would have taken the kitten to the vet, with or without you.”

Her chest tightened with yet another unfamiliar emotion. “You keep surprising me, Sam.”

He stopped abruptly, and faced her. “What…you thought I was mean to children, elderly people and animals?”

“No!” she quickly said. “No, it’s just that—”

He started walking again. She trailed after him. “Sam.”

“We need to get to the vet,” he said. “And we both know that you made a ton of assumptions about me.” He cut her a sideways glance. “Bet you didn’t realize that Special Forces are also focused on humanitarian missions, did you? That we spend a huge portion of our careers helping people, and yes, animals, who can’t help themselves.”

Guilt slid into her gut. “No. I thought soldiers were soldiers. They fought wars.”

“Unfortunately, we often have to fight to give the aid to those who need it. But there is nothing like seeing hope in the face of someone who—regardless of age, race, sex, religion or nationality—thought the world had forgotten them. It’s something worth getting up for every day.”

An injury had stolen that from him. More guilt filled her. “I guess there’s a lot I didn’t know.”

“And a lot you assumed.”

“Yes.”

He glanced her way. “And?”

“And what?”

“And you know exactly what.”

“Fine. I’m sorry. But don’t tell me you didn’t make assumptions about me.”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “I did.”

“And?” she prodded right back, seeking her apology. They stopped a few feet from the truck.

“And I’m not apologizing because so far I’ve been right about every assumption I’ve made. You’re stubborn, controlling—”

“I am not controlling!”

“Determined, hardworking and a great kisser.” He handed her the bundle in his arms. “Hold on to her so I can turn off the beach lights and unlock the truck.”

“Her?”

“Yeah. Her.”

A female. She liked that. “Then I think I’ll call her Samantha, because she’s so sweet and cuddly—just like you.” She snorted. He arched a brow, but didn’t comment.

Instead he clicked the lock on the truck and opened the door. Meagan slid inside, careful with the meowing kitten that she stroked and talked to.

Then, to her surprise, Sam leaned into the truck and laid a sexy, hot kiss on her, his tongue delving past her lips for a slow, sensual exploration before he said, “We both know that not only am I not sweet and cuddly, you like that about me.” And then he was gone, shutting the door behind him.

He was right—he wasn’t sweet and cuddly. He was a big, sexy alpha lion, and she couldn’t wait to see if she could make him purr for her. And there it was. For the first time in a long, long time, a man was a challenge. It excited her. He excited her.

* * *

IT WAS AFTER MIDNIGHT when Sam stepped off the elevator with Meagan by his side, and headed along the hotel floor, toward her room. Samantha’s cut hadn’t been nearly as bad as they’d thought, and she’d received a thumbs-up and a follow-up appointment from the vet.

Sam carried several overstuffed bags filled with an assortment of feline supplies, including a pink bed to match the pink bag in which Meagan was carrying Samantha. Long before the trip to the 24-hour Walmart, where she’d purchased half the pet-supplies department and declared Samantha the show’s new “good luck charm,” he’d known that she was going to be heartbroken if an owner showed up to claim the tiny fur ball. While at the vet, they’d had time to talk, and they’d decided they’d fight for the property, and Sam had promised to investigate where the kitten might have come from.

They stopped at her room door and their eyes met, instant electricity crackling between them, as it had so many times tonight—and well before tonight, too.

Samantha made a soft meow, and Meagan jerked her gaze from Sam’s, swiping at the door with the plastic key she’d pulled from her pocket. She held the door open and went inside. He didn’t. Several eternal seconds passed before Meagan grabbed his arm and tugged him forward.