The woman was nonstop.
Was she ever selfish? Did she ever do anything for herself, just because she wanted to? Maybe that was why he hadn’t ended things yet, even though she was upending his life. Maybe he wanted to give her something that was good for her for once—like on-demand orgasms, for starters. Maybe he was her little act of selflessness. It was the least he could do.
“Great.” She beamed at him. “Then dinner at Fado?”
“Sure, I’d like that.”
Maybe Saturday nights would become Fado nights.
But would he want to go without her?
She turned to talk to the woman, but she didn’t stop touching him, as if she needed the connection. Scarily enough, he did, too.
Run. Run fast.
“You two dating?” some dude asked from beside him, watching Sam with what could only be described as desire.
Taylor stiffened, something unfamiliar and hot poking him in the gut. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Lucky,” the guy said, taking a sip of his cheap beer. “Most of us have tried to get her to go out with us, but she’s always too busy saving the world. To be honest, I was kind of hoping tonight was my night. Fires. Beer. Nature. The stars. But clearly, I’m too late.”
The firelight played with her hair. It highlighted the contours of her face, softening the curve of her cheek. She was absolutely breathtaking, inside and out. It was no wonder this guy had a thing for her.
Taylor did, too.
He faced the guy, trying not to let jealousy get the best of him. After all, soon enough she’d be on her own again, and he’d be nothing more than a memory of that time she had a really long date with some rich asshole. Would this dude be her next one-night stand? Would she break the rules for him, like she had for Taylor? “Yeah, you are.”
“Roy.” The man shook his hand.
“Taylor,” he said as politely as he could.
Roy nodded. “Nice to meet you. You new to all this?”
“Yeah, she kind of dragged me into the life,” he said, tipping his head toward Sam.
“The things we do for love,” Roy said, watching her too closely for Taylor’s liking.
Love? Hell no. Despite his continued desire to be in her company, that was one emotion he had no intention of ever visiting. “I don’t lo…”
“Come on,” Sam said, urging him to his feet.
He let her lift him, following her into the darkness, away from the crowds, despite his itching need to tell Roy he had it all wrong. The second they were out of earshot, he broke his silence. “Unless you’re bringing me out here to fuck, I think we should go back. We shouldn’t wander too far from the group alone.”
“Stop being such a dad,” she whispered, tugging him along.
He gritted his teeth at her insult, the feel of her skin on his warring with his annoyance with her, and, if he was being honest? With himself. “Did you seriously just call me a—?”
“Shh. Here. Look.”
He glanced around impatiently. Nothing but trees and darkness. He’d much rather be back at the campsite, admiring the way the firelight played with her beauty—or better yet? In his bedroom, naked in bed with her in his arms. “At?” he asked testily.
She glanced at him sharply, surprise at his tone evident in her eyes. Gently, she tipped his chin up with her fingers. “Look at the sky, Taylor.”
He lifted his head.
Stars twinkled above. “Wow.”
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, her face turned up to the sky.