Page 27 of Taking Care of the Target

“I don’t think that’s a blend,” she said with a smile. “So, what’s the name of the restaurant? Not that I’ll know it unless it’s a chain that’s been around for a while.”

His fingers splayed across her stomach and electricity zinged down her core. “I’m actually taking a break now. Looking to maybe get into another position somewhere else. Think your grouchy manager is hiring?”

Cassie laughed. “I think that’d be a bad idea. You don’t seem like the type to take direction very well.”

His lips brushed her neck, the intoxicating scratch of whiskers following right after. “I’m not,” he said against her skin.

Thoughts grew fuzzy and she was having a hard time focusing on the conversation. She turned in his arms, her chest rising and falling against his. She’d never felt so drawn to someone she’d just met, and instead of it scaring her, she wanted to dive in and enjoy the rush.

His eyes darkened, and he seemed to be fighting for control. She wished he’d stop. Who needed control right now?

“Cassie…”

“What? Am I making you nervous?” She leaned closer, her carpe-the-hottie motto running through her head—it was definitely time to seize all the things.

“Always,” he said, and then he took hold of her hand and started across the bridge, leaving her with hormonal whiplash.

***

Holy shit.Vince kept his eyes carefully forward as he strode across the stupid bridge. The woman fried the link between his brain and the rest of his body.

First he’d told her he was a restaurant manager. He should’ve thought up a better cover story, but he also knew telling mostly truths was the best way to not get caught up in your lies, and his were quickly stacking up.

Then he’d tried to distract her from the fact that he hadn’t really answered her question, only to get distracted himself. Staying away from her had been easier when he’d had the restaurant to keep him busy. But with nothing else to do…

Youhavesomething else to do. If she gets her memories back or if Carlo decides to give the kill command anyway, you’re going to need a clear head.

“Are we speed-racing through the rest of the park for any particular reason? Or are we on a deadline I don’t know about?”

He slowed the pace and dared a glance at her. “Sorry. Just don’t want to make you late for work.” Luckily she didn’t look annoyed or mad. Just confused, which made him feel like a dick. Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.

Maybe he should just do it, then. Gather her to him, cover her lips with his, and get lost in her for a while. Every minute he spent with her, the more attached he grew, and he knew one kiss would never be enough.

There was just no way this was going to end well.

If Carlo even suspected Vince felt a fraction of what he did for Cassie… He shuddered at the thought. And if Cassie ever got her memories back, she’d feel like he’d used her. Say he got lucky and they were permanently gone, she’d still be horrified if she knew all the things he’d done. Hell, only a few hours ago, he’d wanted to choke the life out of Sal. Justifiably so after he’d nearly killed them, but he doubted Cassie would see it that way.

What I wouldn’t do to start over. Just forget about my screwed up family and start a whole new life.If anyone could help him start over it would be Cassie.

Too bad that was a fantasy and nothing more.

“I was just thinking about your lost memories,” he said as they came around the final loop of the trail. “Maybe you’re better off without them.”

Two creases formed between her eyebrows, and her steps slowed. “When you have them, I think it’s easy to feel like they don’t matter that much. I’ll admit I even had this moment shortly before I left the hospital when I thought, of all the memories that could be erased, why wasn’t it watching my dad get worse and worse?” She put a hand over her heart, rubbing it like she was trying to soothe the ache underneath. “But if I lost those, I might’ve lost all of him. Or had to find out that he was gone and then spend the rest of my life feeling like I didn’t get to say goodbye, even if I had. My mom died when I was younger, so he was my whole world. And the thought of not knowing him…” Her voice cracked.

Another brick of guilt added itself to the pile that’d formed in his gut. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I just thought it’d be nice to forget a few of my memories.” He stared off into the distance, wishing he could erase the image of Dad sputtering for air as he bled out on the lawn. The memory of finding Mom and her bottle of pills and calling the ambulance even though he knew it was too late. Of how Bobby had gone from a sharp kid to a guy forever looking for his next fix.

So much he’d like to forget.

Cassie lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of his. Longing flooded his system, so strong he could hardly focus on anything else.

“I don’t deserve that,” he said, turning to face her. “You think that I’m some bodyguard do-gooder guy, and I’m not.” Considering he needed to stay close to her, he probably shouldn’t have confessed that.

“I also gave gym rat as an option, and that type is usually full of themselves and plan their lives around their workout schedule.” A tiny smile ghosted across her lips before blowing away with the breeze. “So don’t worry, I fully expect you to tell me that you need to go because you just remembered you have to pump some iron, or do the personal training thing or whatever. Even though I know you’ll really be leaving because things got too real, and you’re not ready for that or in a place to start a relationship with a girl who has a weird memory thing.”

The vulnerability swimming through her features slayed him. “Cassie…”

She closed her eyes like she feared she couldn’t handle the rest. In a way, it made it easier for him to say what he needed to.

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