Page 24 of Turn the Tide
She nodded, her hair tickling his nose.
“Still hungry?” he asked, in need of a distraction.
“No. I’m too keyed up to be hungry.”
He knew the feeling. Only the keyed-up part was worse now that he had her against him, right here between his legs.
She swallowed audibly. “Got any booze in that bag?”
“Here.” He leaned over and rummaged through the pack, doing his best to ignore the way she had to shift against him. “I’ve got painkillers. Booze is too dehydrating.”
“So, you’re one of those survivalist types?” She swallowed the couple ibuprofens he’d handed her, then followed them with a deep pull on the water bag.
“I like to be prepared.”
She nodded, sniffed, seemed to hesitate, and then sank into him a little deeper, turning so their eyes met when she spoke. “Not a drinker, I suppose?”
“I’ll drink the occasional beer.” He paused and gave her smirk. “Or three.”
That brought a little laugh to her mouth, which he liked. There wasn’t much about this woman he didn’t like.
Two years he’d been taking his boat out here, in hopes of seeing her. Now here they were, pressed as close together as two people could get, and he couldn’t even enjoy it. Not with what she’d gone through to get here or the possibility of those assholes coming after them.
“Gotta say, Eric. Whatever brought you out here today”—Zoe raised her chin toward him, and though the moonlight and the glow stick washed everything to a pale blue-green, he could see the emotion in her eyes, focused hard on his—“I’ve never been happier to see anyone in my entire life.” She paused and flicked her gaze down to his lips, then back up. “But whatever it is, I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
“Yeah?” He bent slightly toward her, his forehead almost touching hers. “Well, I’m not.”
