Out of Uniform (Wingmen Warriors 14)

She did bristle easily. He linked his fingers over his stomach. “Or we can stay in your room if you prefer, but I’d rather be closer to the registration desk and Emily.”

“You can’t sleep here.”

“Thank God you realized that. These beds aren’t long enough for me.” He stood and waited. The dazed look hadn’t melted from her face yet. “Are you ready? How long does it take to gather up your spare sweats?”

“No time at all, because I’m not gathering anything.” Dee held up her hand. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for all you’ve done. But even if I weren’t ready to fall flat on my face, I wouldn’t pay you back by sleeping with you.”

Sleep with Dee. Now there was an enticing image. This probably wasn’t a good time to think about the fact that he’d been six months without sex since breaking off his last relationship. “As appealing as that sounds, it’s not what I’m suggesting.”

“It’s not?”

Did she sound disappointed or was it only his over-active libido leading him into wishful territory? “Given your droopy eyes, you would probably crash before the first kiss, anyway, and wound my ego forever.”

A grin tugged at her full pink lips, which in turn tugged at his self-control. Damn it all, she wasn’t even his type. He usually went for the more chatty, flamboyant sorts who filled the conversation, which left him free to stay quiet.

This woman had listener written all over her.

Tucking her into bed, alone, was the smarter move. “I’m talking wake-ups every two hours in case you have a concussion. It’s easier if we stay in the same place, rather than me tromping through the parking lot in fifty below wind chill to wake you up to count my fingers.”

Strawberry-red crawled up her face. “You must think I’m a paranoid granny.”

“I think you’re alone and don’t know who to trust.” Hell no, she wasn’t paranoid. He wanted nothing more than to rip the bedspread off one of those mattresses and tangle his body with hers. But a rivaling need churned inside him, a need to protect her, find out who had handled this woman so carelessly.

He tipped her chin with his knuckle. “I promise, I’m not going to jump you while you’re passed out.”

Did she know that she kept moving ever so slightly against his touch while she stared into his eyes? Just when he considered extending his reach and cupping her face in his palm, she nodded, leaning back. “Thank you. Again.”

“Okay, then.” Restless, Jacob stood and paced around the room, snagged her coat, turned the heat down. He yanked the door open. “Let’s get moving.”

Frigid air blasted them. The wind nearly lifted Dee off her feet like Mary Poppins. Jacob allowed himself to drape an arm around her shoulders as they charged across the parking lot, sleet and snow stinging his skin.

Lord, she felt good against him.

Inside the lobby, Dee dipped from under his arm without meeting his gaze. “I’ll just get some extra sheets,” she mumbled as she all but sprinted for the supply closet.

Jacob shut off the coffeemaker and followed slowly. He found Dee tucking the beddings along the sofa cushions. He braced a shoulder against the archway leading from the hall to the living area. “Thanks. But I can take care of that myself. I’m going to catch up on some paperwork out front, then I’ll probably end up falling asleep in the recliner.”

She didn’t stop.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Dee sank to the edge of the couch and slid off her shoes. “Going to bed?”

“Right. Bed.” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder toward the loft. “In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s over there.”

Her jaw set. “Your bed is over there. My bed is here.”

“I don’t think so.”

Her tennis shoes thumped to the floor. “I knew you would be this way. Don’t you get tired of being so predictable? Stop with the male strutting ritual. A recliner isn’t a bed. If your feet hang off the edge of the motel room beds, you really can’t expect to fold yourself onto this sofa. I’m almost half your size. The couch is fine for me.”

The woman would argue with a rock.

“Dee, I’m going to be up most of the night anyway. You might as well be comfortable.”

“I won’t be able to sleep if you’re on the sofa or in a chair.”

Jacob almost laughed. Her eyelids were millimeters away from sliding closed. She’d be asleep sitting up if he kept talking.