Page 39 of Landon

“I washed my face, pulled myself together, and walked back into that room.” Her voice wavered slightly, but her determination shone through. “I smiled and talked to a little three-year-old girl who had two black eyes, a broken arm, and a head injury. She was so small, so scared. The only comfort was knowing she was medicated enough to dull the pain. And at that moment, I made a promise to myself—I was going to do everything in my power to take down the monster who did that to her.”

Landon studied her, his chest tightening. The petite woman before him radiated a quiet strength, one that had been forgedin experiences most people couldn’t fathom. She might appear delicate at first glance, but her resolve and fierce compassion made her a force to be reckoned with. And damn, if that wasn’t the most enticing combination he’d ever encountered.

He clenched his fists, struggling against the overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms, to feel the warmth of her body against his and kiss away the shadows in her eyes. His gaze flicked to the sleeping kids, their peaceful faces a reminder of why they couldn’t afford any distractions right now.But if we were alone…

His eyes found hers again, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them. The storm outside, the chaos they’d endured—it all faded. All that mattered was the woman beside him, her courage and vulnerability drawing him in like a siren’s call.

18

Noel blinked her eyes open, her senses slowly coming to life. Something had woken her, though she couldn’t immediately pinpoint what. The unfamiliar weight beneath her head wasn’t her usual pillow, and the air around her was eerily still. She strained to listen but was met with… nothing.Nothing?

Then the realization hit her like a wave. The storm had passed. The once relentless wind and rain were gone, leaving an almost suffocating silence in their wake.

A slight movement behind her tugged at her attention. Her mind processed the sensations slowly—a warm body pressed against her back, an arm wrapped snugly around her waist, and a leg tangled with hers.Tad and Penny were on the other tarp…

Her breath caught as clarity struck, and her eyes snapped wide open. There was only one possible explanation.Landon.

Before she could react, the arm around her waist tightened briefly, a possessive yet gentle squeeze, before loosening. “Morning,” said a sleep-rough, distinctly male voice, warm and low against her ear.

The deep timbre sent a shiver down her spine as he shifted, pulling away. The loss of his warmth left her feeling oddly bereft as well as chilled.

“G… good morning,” she managed, her voice unsteady as she pushed herself up to sit. She glanced down, taking in their tangled sleeping arrangement. She had spent the night wrapped in Landon’s arms, the man who had swooped in like a hero to rescue the kids and, quite possibly, her heart.

And waking up in his arms felt good. Really good. The kind of good that made her wish they’d slept in the same position in other circumstances.Such as a big bed after a night of hot, sweaty sex.She closed her eyes at the thought, not wanting to look at him in case his X-ray vision could see the images racing through her mind.

Her heart pounded, and she could only hope he didn’t notice the heat creeping up her neck. This mission was complicated enough without adding her traitorous desires into the mix.

Tad stirred, groaning as he sat up and looked down at Penny, still curled on her side, although her eyes were now open.

The two kids looked adorably rumpled, and if she didn’t know better, she could almost imagine they hadn’t been through the kidnapping yesterday. Tad scrubbed his hand over his head, making his hair stand up.

But as Penny sat up, her sleep-eased expression morphed into fear. “Is the storm over? Can we go home today? I want to go home!” Her voice rose with each word, panic on her face.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Noel comforted, pushing to a stand before crouching in front of Penny. “You’re fine, honey. We’re all fine. We’ve got a gourmet meal of more protein bars and water. We slept in this five-star accommodations?—”

Penny giggled, a sweet, melodic sound that cut through the tension lingering in the air. Tad snorted, his expression softening, and Noel felt a wave of relief wash over her. She considered that a win. “Let’s get moving. How about you and I visit the ladies' room, otherwise known as a tree with lots of leaves around?”

Penny giggled again before her eyes turned to Tad. “You okay?”

“Sure, Sis. You go on with Noel.”

Noel glanced toward Landon, seeking his silent approval before stepping outside. His intense gaze was locked onto her, and her heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. Blinking rapidly, she murmured, "Is it safe for us to go out?"

Nodding, Landon said, “Let me take a look first.” His gaze dragged from her over to Tad. “Stay here and keep an eye on them while I check out there, and then we can go out after them.”

She swung her head around in time to see Tad's look of pride. Landon had given him a sense of responsibility, a role to play amid the chaos. It wasn’t about gender or strength—it was about giving Tad something solid to cling to in a world that had spiraled out of control.

Landon stood, stretching his arms high above his head. The motion was fluid, unhurried, and Noel couldn’t help but notice the way his muscles shifted beneath his shirt. She swallowed hard, her gaze trailing after him as he strode toward the door, the memory of his warmth still vivid against her skin. And the memory of their kiss yesterday. Fast, hard, and full of unspoken promise. It had left her reeling, her heart pounding in a way she hadn’t felt in years.

He came back in and nodded. “It’s good for you to head outside. It's wet, and the ground is slippery, so don’t go too far.”

Nodding, she scrambled up and offered a hand to Penny. “Let’s go powder our noses, shall we?” she asked in an overly exaggerated haughty tone.

Penny laughed, and the two walked outside. They walked down the path a little way. She wasn’t surprised the area was soaked from the storm, but it certainly made it harder to find a place to squat.

“Boys have it easy,” Penny grumbled.

Noel chuckled in her agreement. She shoved a tissue from her purse into Penny’s hand. “Okay, a spot behind that tree is about as dry as you’ll get. I’ll go on this side of the path.” They separated, and a moment later, after their bladders were relieved, they met on the path again. Penny’s color had returned, and so had her shy smile.

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