Page 60 of August

The corner of his mouth twitched. “I have a feeling I could be caught red-handed at a murder scene and you’d still vouch for my innocence.”

She chuckled. “I wouldn’t go so far as to call you innocent, but you’re noble.”

“I’ll take it.” His hand swept into her hair. “I meant what I said yesterday, babe. You’re the only reason I got out of that jungle. You saved me.”

“How so?”

“It was bad enough being dehydrated and exhausted. The elements were murderous. Add in the fact that I’d just killed innocent people and part of me didn’t want to live.”

The confession brought tears to her eyes. “I’m glad you chose otherwise,” she said.

He guffawed. “That’s the thing. I didn’t choose it. I pictured your face. I was ready to go but... remembering your laugh, your smile... that made me hang on. Made me want to see another day on this hellish fucking earth.” His arms tightened around her back.

Warmth spread through her, and then regret. When he’d been desperate and dying in the jungle, she’d been dating Todd. “I wish I would have responded differently. I would’ve greeted you the moment you arrived on American soil had I known what you were going through. I’m sorry for that.”

He framed her face with his large hands. “Don’t be. I have you now.” He pulled her head down to snuggle at the junction of his neck and shoulder.

She inhaled his scent and let his solid strength surround her. She’d been out of her mind to trade August for Todd. Batshit.

The image of August near death in the jungle, suffering, alone, and weak, made her heart palpitate.

“Goodnight,” he whispered.

She let her weight sink into him. “Let’s try to make it through the night with no more interruptions, mmm-kay?” she said with a chuckle.

He laughed and belted his arm across her back, holding her tightly. “I’ll try to exercise more self-control.”

“Mmm.” The moan came out on a sleepy sigh. “Do me a favor? Never hold back from me.” She yawned against his chest. “I like you just the way you are.”

Sleep crept in, and she let his caring arms enfold her.

***

Once again, August was up before Gigi. Not that he minded one bit. Waking up with her slim body cuddled to his brought a smile to his face every morning—well, the last two. And if he had it his way, there’d be plenty more. Leaning against the counter with his coffee in hand, he felt more awake and revived than he had in years.

What had she said last night? “‘I like you just the way you are.’”

Huh. He’d never been the type to hang off someone’s words, but Jesus, hers did something to him. Scared him? No, not quite. Worried him? Maybe. Though he’d never admit it to anyone but her.

She liked him. Fucking dandy. Her verbiage shouldn’t bother him.

But hell, it did.

Did she want commitment? The thought should’ve occurred to him sooner. He’d been so busy getting in her pants he hadn’t thought about romancing. Christ. He’d have to ask her on a date or something. He’d been stupid to assume he could just fall into an easy life with her. Just pick up somewhere in the middle and skip the tiptoeing around whether she liked him or not.

Well, she’d said she’d liked him. But what did that even mean?

He couldn’t do anything about it now. He wouldn’t try to figure out a future with Gigi when he couldn’t even figure out how to keep her safe. Living in a safe house would get old real fast. By tomorrow, she’d be stir-crazy. Maybe even angry.

Slamming back the last of his coffee, he went to his computer. As he brought the screen to life, the results of his late-night search hit him in the face.

A street camera had caught a photo of Roy Radcliffe exiting a car at—he glanced at the location—the harbor. A man stood at Roy’s side with the hood of his sweatshirt pulled over a baseball cap. But the shot was good. Good enough that the man could be Todd.

He copied what was visible of the man’s face and created a new search.

There was an 83 percent match to Todd.

He sat back in his seat and let the smile take over his face. He’d struck gold.

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