The other thing it did was prevent me from touching any other part of her body because even though I ached for her, neither of us was ready for the intimacy of sex.
“Um, wow,” she said, resting her head on my chest. I had no idea how long we’d been lip-locked at that point, and I didn’t care. All I knew was the sun had long since set and I was nowhere near finished.
“I’m sorry I was such a jackass today,” I whispered as I scattered kisses along her jawline.
“You definitely were, and you’re also definitely forgiven.”
Maisie raised her head and led our kiss, this time keeping her eyes wide open and focused on mine. I never kept track of how many women I’d made out with, but I could say for certain this was the first time both our eyes were open.
Rather than delving deep, Maisie slowly ran the tip of her tongue over both my lips before teasing me by touching it to the tip of mine. It was all I could do to keep myself from imagining how her mouth would feel when she used it on other parts of my body.
She leaned back and put the tip of her finger where her tongue had just been. “I have a proposition for you.”
I raised both eyebrows. I was being as good a boy as I knew how, but if Maisie put sex on the table first, I had no idea how I’d be able to turn her down.
“I would love to know what you’re thinking right now,” she said, but since she hadn’t moved her fingers from my lips, I remained quiet. “I need to do some market research, and in order to get my information firsthand, I want to visit some of the other higher-end hotels and spas in the park. Maybe a few outside of it too. I was wondering if you might like to help.”
I wound my tongue around her fingers. “Give me those,” I said, grabbing them when she trailed their wet tips down my neck, knowing exactly what would happen if I let her keep going. “I’d love to help. Just tell me how.”
“Testing mattresses, evaluating couple’s massages, that kind of thing. Oh, and food. That will be important too.”
“I’m in.” It was going to require some finagling on my part since, in essence, I wasn’t supposed to travel outside a twenty-five-mile radius from my camp. However, if I could clear it with Onyx and have a couple of the guys tail us, there was a chance the big bosses back at K19 Security Solutions would give me permission to travel a little farther away.
I scooted Maisie from my lap. “There are a couple of things we need to talk about first.”
“Okay,” she said, barely above a whisper. Her eyes were back to wide, and she bit her bottom lip.
“How much do you know about what I do for a living?”
“Probably more than you think I do. If it’s true.”
I cocked my head.
“C’mon, Ranger. There was a shootout at your camp a few weeks ago, and a medivac helicopter landed in the meadow. Shortly after that, more black SUVs with tinted windows showed up than I’ve ever seen outside of Washington, DC. If you think the entire county, maybe even the whole park, wasn’t speculating on what happened, you’re in the wrong business.”
“You said, ‘if it’s true.’ What did you mean by that?”
“You’re actually going to make me say it?”
I smiled and nodded.
“You work for the government.”
I laughed. “Which part?”
“The secret part.”
“Use your words, Maisie.”
“Okay, the CIA.”
“Used to. And before you ask why I’m telling you, every single person who was here when that all went down has been thoroughly vetted. That includes you and your grandparents.”
“What about my parents?”
“Them too.”
“Even though they weren’t here?”
“Even though.”
The fact that I hadn’t known Sherman’s Amusement Park was named after an actual person in Maisie’s family still bothered me, but it wasn’t the kind of information that would’ve needed to be included in a background report.
“So, you know I’m not a spy,” she said.
“I wouldn’t say that necessarily. After all, your proposition will involve some reconnaissance.” I brought her palm to my lips and kissed it. “I would very much like to go with you, but before I make any firm plans, I need to clear it with the people I work for.”
She made a funny face. “Really?”
I made the same face she had. “Yes, and there’s more.”
“More?”
“If I am able to join you, we’ll have company.”
“Oh, um…”
“Not directly with us, but watching over us, so to speak.”
“How much watching exactly?”
“Unless we’re out in public, they won’t know what we’re wearing—or not wearing.”
“Will they be able to hear us…you know…talking?”
I laughed out loud. “Only if I want them to.” Maisie looked like she’d swallowed her tongue. “I’m kidding. No, they won’t be able to hear us talking or, ahem…doing anything else.”
“Are they watching us now?”
“They know I’m here. They’re also making sure no one else is who shouldn’t be.”
“What about at dinner last night?”
“Yep. They were in the vicinity.”
Maisie’s cheeks turned pink. “Could they see us in your car?”
“Remember what I said about us being out in public?”
“Oh my God. I’m mortified.” She tried to scoot away, but I pulled her back on my lap.
“Don’t be. I’m sure they were aware of what was happening, but I doubt very much they watched.”
“How long will it take before you know whether you can do this or not?”
“I should have an answer sometime tomorrow. When were you thinking of leaving?”
“As soon as you get your answer.”
I smiled and nuzzled her neck. “I sure do like you, Maisie Ann Jones, and you’re not the first person I’ve told today.”
“Who else?”
“Both of your grandparents.”
She groaned. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
“It isn’t a bad thing, beautiful. Speaking of Al and Mary, what are they going to think about us going away together?”
“I’m twenty-six years old, Ranger, and I went to college. They aren’t going to think a thing, except for my grandmother, who will be happy I finally stopped second-guessing you.”
“I was doing plenty of that on my own.”
She wrapped her arm around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder. “I was too. I mean about myself.”
I put my finger on her chin. “Let’s make an agreement not to do that anymore. At least not with each other.”
“It isn’t that easy. We hardly know each other.”
“A few minutes ago, you said you know more about me than I think you do. Right back at ya, sweetheart.”
“True, but those are things, facts, information. Not what makes you or me tick.”
I brought my mouth to her ear and blew into it. “Finding out what makes you tick is going to be my favorite part,” I whispered.