Page 28 of Desperate Temptations

He murmured softly to her and calmly ran a hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her. The smell and feel of her in his arms calmed him enough to loosen the taut muscles straining through his body. He would gladly kill Gary just for scaring her like this.

“How much did you hear?” he asked.

Jessa tilted back to look at him and shook her head. “I didn’t hear anything, I just came out because it got so quiet.”

He gently wiped the tears she shed. She looked intently at him.

“Thank you, Cain. I was so scared. I’ve never seen him like that. What’s going on? I don’t understand what’s changed with Gary.”

Cain pressed a kiss on her forehead and smiled when she made a sweet humming sound at the contact.

“Don’t worry about him, Jessa. He’s not going to bother you again.”

“I can’t help but worry about it. Gary’s been a friend for years, but he’s never shown the least interest in me until now.”

Cain smiled, gathered her against his body, and held her snugly against him.

“Sweetheart, I’m pretty sure Gary has cared about you for a long time. I’m guessing even before Drew’s death.”

“I didn’t know. I never felt like that with Gary. God, poor Aubrey. I hope their divorce had nothing to do with his feelings for me. I haven’t been a good friend to her. I called her a few weeks ago and asked her to have lunch, but she never called me back. I was going to try calling her again, but I got so busy. Now, I think I’d better wait.”

Cain bent so he could look into her eyes.

“I agree, don’t call her again until I find out what’s going on with Gary. Okay?” When she nodded, he softly pressed his lips to hers, extremely pleased when she rose on tiptoes to push herself tighter against him.

Jessa pulled away, lightly stroked her hand over his chest, and stared intently at Cain, but he could tell her mind was in turmoil.

Cain wanted to take her mind off Gary, and his mind off the need to pick her up and take her to bed, showing her precisely whom she belonged to.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“How about we go to the store? We can stop and get lunch somewhere beforehand.”

Jessa visibly drew herself together, stepped back from Cain, and smoothed her t-shirt. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and lifted her chin, giving Cain a small, shaky smile.

“Sounds good. I need to get out of here for a while. Let me get my purse and shoes, and then we can go.”

He watched her compose herself. Cain was so proud of her. He’d met strong women before, but observing this little woman visibly pull herself together was incredible.

Drew’s stories of her over the years made him feel like he really knew her and even made him fall a little in love with her before he’d ever met her. But seeing her courage, strength, and care made him fall even deeper in love with her, causing his stomach to tighten.

He’d never loved anyone like this. Like he needed her to be able to breathe. He didn’t even realize until then how much of a part she'd played in keeping him alive on his last missions. Thoughts of coming home to her, even if they were just dreams, made him even more cautious, probably preventing his death more than once.

“What’s wrong, Cain?” she asked with concern in her voice. She placed her small hand on his muscle-roped arm and chest and looked intently up at him, her face clouded with worry.

He mentally shook himself, smiled, and smoothed his thumb down her cheek to curve his hand around her neck.

“I’m perfect. Now go get ready so we can leave.” He watched her go, his gaze falling to her slim back, long legs, and the sweet curve of her ass.

Jessa came back out within a few minutes. She had changed from her old jeans and t-shirt to a short-sleeved pink blouse that complemented her skin tone and nice jeans that hugged her sexy curves. She was so damn gorgeous she took his breath away.

“Get a sweater or jacket, Baby. I don’t want you getting chilled.”

Cain made sure the door was locked behind them before he laid his hand on the small of her back and steered her toward his truck. He made sure she was in and buckled before going around to the driver’s side door. His eyes were always in motion, taking in their surroundings for any danger.

Although he didn’t sense any danger, he wasn’t going to take a chance with her. He would take Gary’s threat very seriously and do whatever necessary to protect her.

After he put his seat belt on, he turned his gaze on her and draped one of his arms over the steering wheel. He watched her tenderly, enthralled at all the different colors. Shades of rich brown, russet, and copper tangled together in a beautiful cascade of silk that ran down her back and slim shoulders. She stayed quiet and continued to look out her window.

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