Page 45 of Outlaw Ridge: Jesse
She nodded, sliding out of the seat, her movements sluggish as if she’d put her body on autopilot.
He paused his security system until they stepped inside the mudroom, and he immediately rearmed it again. Yeah, Reggie was dead, but he wanted Lauren to feel as safe as possible.
Inside, the house was cool and quiet. Simple. Clean lines, sturdy furniture, nothing fancy. Jesse led her through the open living room to the kitchen, where he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and handed it to her.
“Elsie’s okay,” he reminded her, in part to fill the silence but also to get her talking. He didn’t think it was a good idea for her to stay in her head like this. “She’s probably already in San Antonio telling her sister all about her ordeal.”
Lauren nodded, taking a sip of water, her hand trembling just slightly.
“Oh, and you were giving your statement so you missed Hallie chewing Reardon out pretty good,” Jesse added, trying to anchor them in something concrete. “Said he took a reckless shot that could’ve hit Elsie. But she’s not filing charges.”
Lauren let out a breath, the kind that sounded like it had been trapped in her chest all day.
Jesse stepped closer, not touching her yet—just there. Steady.
“You’re safe here,” he said quietly.
Lauren nodded again, but Jesse could see it—the part of her believed it but couldn’t quite wrap her mind around it.
But he’d help her find some peace again. No matter how long it took.
And it might just take a while.
Lauren stood there in the middle of his kitchen, her fingers still loosely wrapped around the water bottle. She looked like she was barely holding herself together, exhaustion etched in every line of her face. The silence stretched between them, heavy with everything that had happened.
“You should eat something,” Jesse said, stepping toward the fridge. “I’ve got—” he opened the door, scanning the shelves, “—leftover chili, some eggs… half of a questionable sandwich.”
Lauren shook her head, her voice soft. “Thanks but I’m not hungry.”
Jesse closed the fridge and leaned back against the counter, studying her for a beat. She needed something, even if it wasn’t food.
“I could run you a hot bath,” he offered, trying to keep his tone light. “I’ve got one of those fancy jet tubs. And—I’m pretty sure there’s a kilo or two of bubble bath around here somewhere.”
That got her. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, faint but real.
Before he could say anything else, she stepped closer. And then closer still. She set the water bottle on the counter and reached for him, her hands finding the front of his shirt as she leaned in.
And she kissed him.
Not a friendly kind of peck either. This was the real deal. French and all. It came with a wallop of scorching hot heat.
Jesse froze for half a second, but then instinct took over. He kissed her back, the heat sparking fast, fierce, like it had been waiting beneath the surface all along.
Man, he wanted this. That was the first thought that flashed in his mind, and he instantly knew his dick had put that notion in his head. Yeah, he wanted this kiss.
Wanted Lauren.
But the timing sucked big time.
That’s why he forced himself to stop. To pull back. That sure as hell wasn’t easy, but he managed to get his mouth a couple of inches away from hers. With their breaths gusting, their gazes locked, his hands stayed on her shoulders, anchoring them both.
“This probably isn’t a good time to land in bed,” he finally managed to say. “And that’s exactly what’s going to happen if we keep kissing like that.”
Lauren’s eyes met his, something raw and vulnerable in them. “It will,” she agreed.
For a moment, he thought that meant she would step back, that she would take him up on that offer of a bath, maybe even the questionable sandwich. But things didn’t go in that direction.
“I need you,” she whispered, her voice steady despite the ache beneath it.
