Page 16 of Captive at Rescue Ridge

“Take it. I run hot anyway.”

Annalee bit down on her bottom lip like she’d stopped herself from saying something she might regret. And then the corners of her mouth upturned in a small smile. The way she smiled had always made him wonder what she was really thinking.

He finally broke. “What?”

“Nothing.” She kept the offering, placing it around her shoulders as she leaned forward to create a barrier for the wind.

“Bullshit.”

“Fine, but all I was going to say is that some things never change.”

What was that supposed to mean? “How so?”

“You were hot then, and you’re just as hot now.”

Those words shouldn’t make a slow smile spread across his lips or his chest puff up a little more. It meant she was getting inside his head, and he couldn’t have that twice.

“So hot we both burned up,” he muttered before excusing himself to walk the perimeter.

For one, he didn’t want to wait around for her response. For another, he didn’t like the fact he’d just taken a jab at her. His bruised ego had healed years ago, so it had no business showing up and taking the wheel now.

With the stealth of a bobcat stalking its prey, he circled the temporary resting spot twice before he shoved all unproductive thoughts out of his head. His stomach growling was the only noise he made as he returned to where Annalee had been sitting. Or, at least, this was the spot he knew he’d left her.

Once again, she was gone.

Annalee hadto risk Archer walking up on her because she couldn’t hold her bladder any longer. The saying,leaves of three, let ’em be,came to mind, so she counted to make sure she didn’t end up with poison ivy in the last place anyone wanted it.

Adrenaline had worn off a long time ago. Her bones ached from exhaustion. She couldn’t stop from yawning as she made the short trek back.

Halfway there, Archer jumped out from behind a tree, scaring the bejesus out of her.

“What the hell?” She hadn’t seen him coming and hadn’t heard a thing. Were all of her senses as tired as her bones?

For the first time, she saw real fear in his eyes. “I thought I’d lost you.” He issued a sharp sigh. “Don’t you comprehend the words, ‘Stay put?’”

“Hold on there,” she said, realizing the fear in his eyes was because of her. “Mother Nature called, and I’d been holding it so long my eyeballs started turning yellow. I thought I’d beat you back.”

“You didn’t.” His voice was a mix of anger and frustration. She assumed only a small part of that was because of her. The rest, the bigger piece, had to do with the thought of losing his brother since they were making no progress on finding the backpack. Not to mention, they were lost in the woods. He wasn’t saying so, but she could read it in his expression. Some things would never change, and she was surprisingly comforted by how well she could still read Archer. But then, he was one of the most honest people she’d ever met. He had honor, too. Not like so many folks she’d encountered. You’d never know Archer was from one of the wealthiest families in Texas, either. Besides being honest and honorable, he had a third ‘H’ that was a trifecta of perfection…humility.

Most folks in his circumstance would use their name or family money to manipulate others or gain an advantage. Not Archer. If you didn’t know he came from money, he would never tell you.

“I’m sorry,” she said, catching his gaze and holding onto it so he knew how much she meant those words. “For everything, Archer. I truly am.”

He released a hiss from his teeth, and it sounded like a strained balloon letting out air. “You wouldn’t put my family in danger on purpose. I just can’t figure out why anyone would come after me to get to you. I get that the bastard might have gotten to Owen by mistake. But why me in the first place?”

Words clotted in Annalee’s throat. Her mouth opened, trying to say something. Standing this close, locked onto his gaze, her throat dried up.

He needed to hear the reason even if it was next to impossible to form the words.

“This person would do anything to bring me out of hiding, including using the one person who was most important to me. You.”

The admission caused a flash of emotion to stir behind his eyes—a mix of confusion and something that looked a whole helluva lot like desire. The overwhelming urge to kiss Archer was an all-consuming fire burning in her chest.

“It’s been a long time,” he said. His shock did little to tamp down her desire.

“I know.” What else could she say? Would he believe that she hadn’t met anyone in all these years who could hold a candle to him? Would he believe that she’d never truly stopped loving him? Would he believe that she never would?

Annalee’s gaze dropped to his lips—full, thick lips that were so damn kissable. As much as she tried to force her gaze away, it wouldn’t budge. “Kiss me, Archer.”

---