When he was on a flight, not much changed.Enzo and Franco had kept watch over her.Franco had been an asshole, whereas Enzo hadn’t been able to stand to watch the abuse.He’d confided that he was making his own escape plan as soon as he banked enough cash from this gig, the gig being one of Jarek’s right-hand men.For the longest time, she hadn’t been able to decide whether or not to trust Enzo.She’d feared he might be setting a trap.She’d worried that he might be setting her up so that he could be the one to bust her and bring her back to Jarek, making him a hero.
In that twisted world, trust was near-impossible to come by.
In the end, she’d decided that she didn’t have a choice.Trusting Enzo would give her the best possibility of escape.And she knew he’d been looking out for her when he’d gotten Franco to talk about the money being moved so that she could overhear them while in the next room.It had worked perfectly because Enzo had distracted attention away from himself by saying Franco had a big mouth.It was true, too.Franco did have a big mouth.He also had a big gun that he wasn’t afraid to use.He’d been clear with her that she meant nothing to him, and he would shoot her the second she stepped out of line and think nothing of it.
Franco was a bully.But then, he’d been paid to intimidate her as well as keep an eye on her.
“Shit,” Hudson said, drawing his hand away from the stir-fry pan.
“You okay?”
“It’s just a burn,” he said, shaking his hand before checking his finger.“Hey, look at that.I’ll live.”He shot a smile at her that struck with the force of a bullet fired at close range.Warmth exploded in the center of her chest, flooding her with feelings she had no idea what to do with.
Why did Hudson have to be so damn adorable?Was that even the right word?He was already gorgeous, sexy, honorable, and intelligent.The man had to have some bad traits, right?
“I just burned dinner worse than my finger.”
“Totally unacceptable.”She hoped the light teasing would make him smile.When she was rewarded with a show of perfectly straight, white teeth, more of that warmth pooled lower, settling between her thighs.
Shit.
Having an attraction to someone was one thing.Acting on it was another.So, fine, she could be attracted to Hudson.She would be leaving at first light tomorrow morning, and their paths would never cross again.
What would living in the moment hurt for a few hours?
Cassie stood up and walked over to him.“The food is still edible.”
He clicked the burner off and moved the skillet.When he turned around, she was standing almost toe-to-toe with him.
“Mind if I take a look at that burned finger?”She brought her gaze up to meet his, setting off a fireworks show that could light the darkest sky.Would kissing him tamp down some of this out-of-control attraction?Her gaze settled on a set of perfect lips—thick, Cupid’s bow lips that begged to be kissed.
Could she…?Ask for a kiss…?
“Be my guest.”He stood there, not budging or seeming to mind that she’d moved so close—close enough to breathe in his unique scent of spice and warmth with woodsy aftertones.The way he looked at her made her feel deeply seen in a way that defied logic, considering they barely knew each other.
An instant connection?Did that exist?
Rather than talk herself out of her next actions, she brought his finger up to touch her lips.She feathered a kiss there and then on the vulnerable side of his wrist before checking in with a look to make sure her touch was welcomed.The hunger, the look of need in his gaze, answered the question better than words ever could.
Still, consent was everything, so she asked.“Can I kiss you, Hudson?”
His smile widened as he spoke the word she wanted to hear.
“Yes.”
Cassie pushed up to her tiptoes and then pressed her lips to his.Sensation flooded her as her pulse picked up pace.The kind of heat she’d only ever read about in books threatened to consume her.A kiss, no matter how brief, had never felt more right.He dipped his head down as he brought his hands up to cup her face, positioning her for better access.Then his mouth molded to hers.She parted her lips as he positioned his against hers, softly biting on her lower lip.More of that fire spread inside her as she teased his tongue inside her mouth.She brought her hands up, pressing her palms against his bare, muscled chest.The man was a brick wall covered by silk.Her fingertips tingled with sensation and a need to explore every line and curve.
She lost track of time while they kissed.For a moment, nothing mattered.She had no worries or concerns, and life was simple, easy.She could stand in this feeling forever.
A noise outside caused reality to crash down hard on her.She instinctively broke off the kiss and crouched down low, tugging Hudson down with her.The realization that she was placing Hudson in danger by staying here slammed with the force of a runaway truck.Real danger.The kind that could cost his life.
“What’s wrong?”he asked.
“We shouldn’t be visible through the windows until we figure out what that noise was,” she said, hearing the panic in her own voice.She hated this feeling, the one where it felt like she’d been caught and would be dragged back into a life that felt more like a prison sentence than a relationship.
Hudson army-crawled to the kitchen door.Slowly, deliberately, he raised up until he could investigate the noise.Meanwhile, Cassie froze.
Jarek doesn’t get to control me.Not now.Not ever again.