She jumped when Zach’s fingers twined with hers. He was holding her hand. What the fuck? She tried to pull free, but his grip tightened. Maybe he was scared. She relaxed and didn’t pull away.
“How do you know Kim?” he asked.
“Well, from working at the company—I’ve done some freelance work there on my leaves, so we got to know each other. But mainly through Jess.”
“Jess?”
“She’s another of the operatives. She was in the army with Jake and left at the same time he did.”
“Why?”
“Are you always this nosy?”
“Of course—I’m a writer.”
She rolled her eyes. “She said she was crap at taking orders. Anyway, she’s friends with Kim and so I got to know her better.”
“I’ve never met Kim.”
“Really. I thought you and Jake were, like, great buddies.”
“We are. I don’t think he wanted to introduce us.”
“I wonder why?” she said wryly. “Probably thought you’d try and seduce her.”
“You have such a high opinion of me. Do you think I would have succeeded?”
“Hell no. She’s got better taste.”
He leaned his head toward her and lowered his voice. “Why, Dani, I’d gotten the impression you liked me. In fact, I distinctly remember one moment when I was sure of it. Now what were we doing…?”
Zach’s thumb rubbed over her palm and tingles ran along her arm. “I really don’t remember.” But she did. And the memory was enough to tighten the muscles of her belly.
She flicked a glance at Gary, but he was concentrating on the road.
Zach placed her hand palm down on his thigh, his own pressing down and the hard muscle flexed beneath her fingers. He turned his head so his lips were close to her ear and his breath feathered her skin. “The one where you were underneath me,” he whispered. “You were making these cute little noises in your throat and your legs were wrapped my waist and—”
“Okay, I get the picture.”
“Me, too, and it looks pretty damn good. I dreamed about you last night. In the few hours’ sleep I got.”
“You did?” She was whispering as well now as his low, husky voice wrapped a spell around her. But as Gary had said, nothing was going to happen here, so she could afford to relax.
He shifted her hand a little higher against the soft denim, dangerously close to the top of his thigh, and her nails dug into his skin.
“Ouch.”
“You said you wanted to be my friend,” she said. “So what’s with the hand-holding?”
His brows drew together as he thought for a moment. Then his grip loosened. He picked up her hand and placed it on her own thigh. “I don’t know.” But he didn’t let go. “Okay,” he said. “You can listen to my latest plot. I need to get it straight in my head.”
“Go on then.”
She sat back and listened, letting his voice roll over her and through her. He had a beautiful voice, low and rich and full of subtle nuances. Closing her eyes, it was as though he surrounded her, the warmth of his hard hand still gripping her own, his voice weaving its magic.
She didn’t know how long she listened. Finally, he fell silent and she blinked open her eyes. They were speeding along the highway now, the lights bright, and she turned her head slightly so she could look into his face.
“Well?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in query.
She shook her head, trying to get her brain to function. “I like it. I think it works.”
“You do?” He squeezed her hand.
“Except maybe the lovey-dovey crap. You could cut that out.”
He frowned. “Don’t you believe in love?”
Did she? She stared out of the window for a minute, watching the streetlights flash by. The road was quiet. “Yes, I believe in love.” She thought back to her brother. The one person she had loved without reserve and look how well that had ended. “I believe in love,” she repeated. “I’m just not interested in it.”
“Why?”
“No reason.” Or none that she wanted to talk about.
Zach opened his mouth but at that moment, Gary spoke. “We’re pulling into the airport. You ready, Dani?”
…
Zach sensed her withdrawal.
She tugged her small hand free and sat up straight. “I’m ready.”
“Okay,” Gary said. “When we park, Zach, you stay in the car for a minute while we check things out.”
Irritation jabbed him in the ribs. He hated this. He’d looked out for himself since he was seventeen years old and this made him feel helpless. Logically, he could see the sense in it, but the whole protection thing didn’t make him feel logical. It made him feel smothered.