Page 33 of Chasing Grace
“And you promise. No escape attempts.”
“Oh my God. Will you give me the phone already?” She held out her hand palm up.
His eyes never left hers. “Say it.”
“Fine. No escape attempts, Rambo. Happy now?”
“None of this makes me happy.” He put the phone in her palm but held on when she tried to take it. “This is me trusting you.”
“I know.” She did know. More than he realized. She’d grown up in an environment where secrets and half truths were the norm. Where one word to the wrong person could result in a loved one dying. Her father had drilled words like discretion, caution, and responsibility into her head by the time she’d turned four.
Hell, she’d spoken so little growing up, making friends had been impossible. The only person she’d ever been able to talk to—truly talk to—had been her brother.
And then he’d left her.
The first time when he went off to West Point at the age of seventeen.
Her father’s doing.
The second time when he was killed in action in Iraq while freeing American hostages about to be executed by ISIS. The hostages made it home alive. He didn’t.
So yeah, she understood the gravity of the situation, and she’d survived enough close calls in the last twenty-four hours to drive the point home. She had no desire to put Chase, his mission, or his team at risk. She just wanted to make sure Tara was okay.
“You can trust me, Chase. I won’t say anything compromising. I promise.”
He nodded and let go of the phone.
“Thank you.” She punched in the only phone number she knew by heart, and seconds later, her best friend’s phone started to ring on the opposite side of the country. Once. Twice. Three times. After the seventh ring, voice mail picked up, and Tara’s singsong voice told her to leave a message.
“Hey, T. Something’s come up, and I’m not going to make it home in time for the appointment with Dr. Suler. I’ll call as soon as I can. Love you!” Fake enthusiasm fading fast, disappointment crushed her as she hung up.
Gaze averted, she squeezed her eyes shut as Chase took the phone from her hand. Under normal circumstances, she wasn’t much of a crier, but lately, her eyes had been leaking for stupid reasons. Sappy insurance commercials. One-legged dog videos. Not being able to talk to her best friend.
“Hey. No big deal.” He brushed his thumb down her cheek before lifting her chin with his finger. “You can try again later. Let’s go get some M&M Peanuts, okay?”
She opened her eyes and regarded Chase objectively. She didn’t like her blurry conclusion, so she knocked his hand away. “I don’t like M&M Peanuts.”
“Everyone likes M&Ms, baby.”
“Not me.” She did, however, like his particular brand of man-candy. So much so, she almost wished he’d kiss her again. Right here. Right now.
Jesus Christ. She had to be losing her mind.
She needed to get away from him, and the sooner she implemented her diabolical plan to make him angry enough to let her go, the better off she’d be. God, she hoped Carl’s Grocery had a license to sell alcohol and a selection of premium vodkas.
Genuinely attracted to Captain Testosterone’s pheromones, she needed a hefty dose of liquid courage to resist the temptation he presented. A few more lingering looks, another sexy caress of his fingers, and a hot kiss or two, and she’d be stripping them both naked in the back seat of the Jeep.
With a shake of her head and a groan that matched the one coming from the hinges on the door, she shoved herself out of the vehicle. The cool air chilled her hot skin, but before she could complain, Chase was behind her, rubbing her arms. “Remember. You promised. No shenanigans. You stay with me, and we make this quick, okay? You try to bolt, and you’ll be coming out of there over my shoulder. Got it?”
Tired, sore, hungry, and ready to get Operation Tick Chase Off started she put her ass in gear and flipped him the finger over her shoulder.
The accompanyingfuck youwent unsaid.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Bagsalready on board the single-engine plane, Chase waited for Gray to get her ass moving and do the same.
“You havegotto be kidding me.” Upper body jammed half inside the tiny cockpit, her doubt registered loud and clear.
