What would it be like to have this in my life every day?
She couldn’t begin to imagine and cut herself off from fantasizing about something that had such a slim chance of happening. She shored herself up and gave a final wave as Misty pulled away from the curb.
Ian’s hand slid down Savannah’s back again, then around her hip, his forearm stretching across her waist and pulling her fully up against him. She pulled in a sharp breath of surprise, of pleasure. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
The moment was so decadent, her eyes closed again as she soaked in the feel of him. The sensation of being wanted. The sound of the cruiser’s engine turning over pried her eyes open. Deputy Sandberg flipped on the headlights and pulled away from the curb.
“Did he follow?” Ian’s voice sounded low and rough.
“Yes.”
“Are you still interested in trying Smoke?”
Even though everything in her wanted to turn in Ian’s arms and kiss him until neither of them could think about anything other than getting naked, she said, “Yes. We should go before someone comes to take Sandberg’s place.”
“Roger that.” Ian stepped back, releasing her. When she turned, he took her hand and started toward the back door, pausing to press the button on the television, turning it on. “Little noise will add to the illusion that you’re home.”
He pulled her through the kitchen and out the back door to his waiting truck, which was already running. Opening the door for her, he helped her into the warm interior and rounded the hood to the driver’s side.
Instead of securing his seat belt, he scooted to the center of the bench seat and cupped her face with one big warm hand. “I need to get this out of the way or I won’t be able to think about anything else all through dinner.”
He slowly drew her forward, his gaze lowered to her mouth. Savannah pulled in a quick breath of surprise just before his lips pressed hers. She instantly hyperfocused on the moment. To the feel of his firm lips against hers. To the way he kissed her, tilted his head a little more, and kissed her again. The warmth of his tongue as it slid over her bottom lip, into her mouth, teasing her until she met it with her own.
She’d long forgotten the feel of a man’s mouth on hers. Wondered if anyone had ever kissed her so seductively before. Considered changing her mind about going anywhere…
He pulled back long before she was ready and left her tantalized and aching. She smiled and pressed a hand to his cheek, brushing her fingers over the stubble and reveling in the wholly male feel of it. “Now I won’t be able to think about anything else all through dinner.”
He grinned, quick and bright. “My job here is done.”
And he moved behind the wheel, secured his seat belt, and put the truck into Drive, all while smiling at her like they had a new secret.
8
So far, so good.
Ian was surprised by just how receptive Savannah was after all she’d been through. What he continued to put her through. Her resiliency, warmth, and trust humbled him. The only thing that kept him from feeling like a complete user was the fact that he was intensely attracted to the woman.
He shut down his emotions, compartmentalizing this outing as his job. He was doing his part to catch and stop terrorists who killed thousands of innocents. None of this was real. Savannah was out with the man she thought he was, not the man he really was.
Once he’d turned onto the main road headed out of town with no tail, Ian patted the seat next to him. “Slide on over here, beautiful.”
She hesitated, then unfastened her seat belt, moved to the center of the bench, and belted herself in beside him. He loved having her close. Loved the easy, feminine heat of her. The jasmine-and-sunshine smell of her.
He squeezed her knee and let his hand rest on her thigh. “It was nice of Misty to take Jamison tonight.”
“He loves her. She’s always pulling some new crazy gadget from her father’s stash to entertain him. She’s a good friend. My only friend, really.” She smiled at him. “Thanks for this. It’s the first time in years I’ve felt like a real person.”
He squeezed her knee. “My pleasure.”
She leaned into him and covered his hand with hers.
Ian threaded their fingers, fighting to concentrate on the job and not how damn right this felt. “So…the story.”
“Story?” She glanced at him.
“Yeah. The reason you stay in town instead of moving away from your shithead of an ex.”
“Oh, that.” Her gaze returned out the window. “If you don’t discover the answer to that question before we reach the restaurant, I’ll tell you then.”