“I came down with some of the guys from the base, and I saw you walk past. You know I can’t let you get away so easily.”
Of course he couldn’t. She didn’t fully trust that it was a coincidence he was there. But she wasn’t going to call him out on it because if it was just an instance of wrong place wrong time, she would be embarrassed to have assumed he was following her.
Before she could say anything, someone passed behind her and pushed her into him. His arms automatically came around her, and her body responded automatically. And it didn’t respond in a negative way. She inhaled his sweet scent before letting out a sigh. She almost wished she’d feel her normal reaction of horror at being touched. Why did it have to be Maverick that made her feel safer?
“I’m on my way out,” she told him, back to being in a hurry to get out of there. She was afraid she might do something stupid if she didn’t leave, especially with how her head was currently buzzing from the liquor. She’d had enough of being stupid to last her a lifetime. She wasn’t going to do anything with Mav again. He was forbidden. She had to remember that.
“Why don’t you join me for a drink first?”
The purr in his tone, the heat in his eyes, and the flexing of his abs pressed against hers told her he was thinking about a lot more than just a drink. She wasn’t a naïve woman. She knew when a member of the male population had sex on the brain. It just so happened to be on their minds quite a lot, but Maverick was looking to score, and it appeared she’d just become the center of his target.
Tempted. She was so dang tempted. It shocked her to feel such a taboo emotion when all she’d felt was fear for a year.
Somehow, even in her muddled state, she managed to pull herself away. When he released her, she was a little disappointed, but it truly was for the best. She ran through all the reasons why she shouldn’t be with Maverick.
“I have a test I need to study for,” she said as she took a step back and then another. He followed her. “I really do have to go.” Her breathing was growing more and more shortened by the second.
When Mav set his mind to something, it was more than obvious he didn’t back down. She needed to tell him that it wasn’t going to happen with them. But for some reason she couldn’t get the words past her closed throat, so instead of being brave she decided once again to retreat. She spun around and practically ran from the club, not stopping until she was on the sidewalk.
“It’s much better out here. Not nearly as noisy or crowded.”
The sound of Maverick’s voice in the quiet of the evening air made her jump nearly a foot into the air.
“You didn’t need to follow me out,” she told him too breathily, wishing her head would quit spinning.
“I want to make sure you get home safe and sound,” he told her. “After all, we’re going in the same direction.” There was too much excitement in his gaze at those words.
“I’m hailing a cab. You really don’t need to leave so early,” she said with desperation. “Go back in with your friends.” She began walking away since there weren’t any cabs out front. She’d go to the corner and then keep on walking if she had to. Hell, she’d walk all night if it meant getting away from the man who tempted her so much.
She really should have known better, though. He was right at her side. She would bet money he wasn’t taking any of the pain meds he’d told her he was on. He didn’t need them. Pain wasn’t something he even thought about.
“Do you really think I would let you wander Seattle alone at nearly midnight? Not you, Lins,” Maverick said before reaching out and taking her hand.
She had to control her breathing. It wasn’t that he liked her. She was just a part of his family now—the best friend of his sister-in-law, to be more precise. Without her giving him permission to be her escort, he was doing it anyway.
She would’ve thought the cool air from outside would be enough to calm her nerves and ease the buzz she was feeling, but the touch of his fingers in her hand as she moved down the street hoping to find a cab—which were nonexistent at the moment—was making her feel even more drunk.
She was afraid if she didn’t get away from this man really soon, she would most certainly do something she would surely regret. When she finally spotted the bright yellow cab, she rushed to the curb, Mav not letting go of her fingers as he stayed practically glued to her.
“How did you get down here?” she asked.
“My buddy picked me up,” he told her as the cab pulled over.
“Shouldn’t you go back in?” she said as he opened the door.
“Nope. They will figure it out.”
Of course they would figure it out. They would assume he’d found a girl to hook up with. It wasn’t unusual, or so she’d heard. The thought made her unusually sad. But it was just one more reason she couldn’t give in to how she felt about this man.
She wasn’t strong enough to have an affair with someone like Maverick Armstrong. Not anymore, she wasn’t.
Her fingers were trembling as she turned to tell him good-bye. But he followed her into the cab and gave the driver the address. He started the meter and they moved out into traffic.
Lindsey was silent as she turned and caught Maverick staring at her. The heat in his gaze had her throat tightening as she tried to suck in air. When his hand moved to her neck, the fire in his eyes only intensified. And then he was rubbing her cheek, and she was trying to remember all the reasons why this was such a bad, bad idea.
Her nipples hardened and her core grew wet and hot as she continued looking at Mav. She needed to pull away from him, scoot to the far edge of the seat, and forget this entire evening, but she couldn’t quite manage to do so.
“I should have done this months ago. I’ve given you too much time as it is.” That was her only warning before he pulled her tightly against his chest and then his head descended.
His kiss was exactly like she remembered from their one magical night together. It was full of confidence and ability, and any and all protests dried up as he turned the burning inside of her into a blazing inferno.
Somewhere in the back of Lindsey’s mind, she knew this needed to stop, but she couldn’t quite find the strength to pull away from him. His tongue learned her mouth, and she was just as greedy to reacquaint herself with him as she reached around his neck and clung to him.
Maverick’s hand slid across her hip, and then skimmed up her dress until he was squeezing her breast, making her nipples painfully erect as his palm brushed over the material. She wanted to be naked beneath him, feel his hands on bare skin. Everything else in her mind went blank except for this moment in the back of a cab with the only person who seemed to be able to reach her.
A crackling over the cab radio reminded Lindsey of exactly where she was. Mortified, she broke the connection of their kiss and pushed away from him just as they pulled up to the gate at Cooper’s driveway.
“I . . . uh . . . I . . .” She was at a total loss for words.
“Lindsey . . .” He began and then stopped. Regret seemed to shine in his eyes, but she wasn’t sure. He leaned over her and punched the code in for the gate to open. The cab driver said nothing as he made his way down the driveway.
Mav had him pull around to her cabin. Lindsey’s cheeks were burning. How much had the driver seen of what they’d been doing in his backseat? She didn’t even want to think about that.