A small smile lifted the corners of those pink lips just a hair.It was enough to make her even more beautiful.She exhaled.“You already know that my name is Cassie.”
He nodded.
“Okay then,” she continued.“You get one question.”
“All right.”He took a minute to think this over, not wanting to waste his one opportunity to end a sentence with a question mark without her closing up further.“After I fix this tire, I’m heading to a ranch outside of Houston.”
Cassie studied him.“That’s not a question.”
“Fair point.”Here goes.“Why don’t you come with me?”
2
Cassie almost choked on the drink of water she’d taken.“For one thing, I just met you.”
He held out his hand, offering a handshake.
She stared at the offering, knowing full well not to take it or risk him picking up on her body’s reaction.
“I’m Hudson Sturgess,” he said with a smile, unbothered.He clapped his hands together.“If you won’t go with me on my assignment, then at least come back to my place long enough to grab a shower and allow me to load you up with some food and supplies.”
Cassie discreetly lifted her shoulder and got an unpleasant whiff of her B.O.The offer of a shower was almost too good to pass up.Almost.“I’m good, but thanks anyway.”
“It’s the least I can do after you saved my life.”
She eyed him up and down, noting his impressive size.Considering the size and weight difference between them, she should probably be scared of Hudson.For reasons that defied logic, she wasn’t.In fact, she’d never felt safer.
Trusting the feeling would be about as brilliant an idea as walking a tightrope across the Grand Canyon without a safety net.
The thought of clean hair and skin proved tempting…
Going back to Hudson’s place for a quick shower might work under the right circumstances.Going inside would have the added benefit of getting her out of the open, at least for a little while.A real bathroom sounded like heaven.Plus, an angry and wounded mountain lion stalked these woods.She could leave her tent for a little while.No.She’d been found by Hudson.Her location was compromised.Moving on was a necessity at this point.Damn.This was the closest she’d been to him in weeks.Seeing him, knowing he was okay, meant the world to her.Leaving now hadn’t been the plan.She needed time, a couple more days, to get her bearings and pluck up the courage to risk a visit.
Would he know her?Recognize her?
A Wildlife Services vehicle came up, slowed, and the driver smiled at Hudson.He motioned toward the area the mountain lion had fled through.The male driver nodded and then parked twenty feet from the back of the trailer.
Cassie couldn’t risk being seen.Panic tightened in a knot that had formed in her chest.“I should go.”
Without hesitation, Hudson waved her off and hopped out of the bed of the truck.“I’ll be right back.I’d like it if you were still here, but no pressure.Do whatever you need to.”
Those words were the equivalent of a warm campfire on a freezing cold night.
“Okay,” she said.The word came out in a croak, emotion twisting her vocal cords in a knot the size of the one in her chest.
“I’ll make sure Marcus doesn’t see you,” he said out of the corner of his mouth before disappearing beside the trailer.
Cassie scooted to the very back of the truck bed and hugged her knees to her chest, forming a tight ball, and strained to listen to the conversation.
“Where’s Joann?”Hudson asked.
“The recent ordeal shook her up pretty bad.”There was a pause.“You know she has a kid, right?”
“I do,” Hudson said.
“She’s spending time with him, taking some time to heal.”Marcus’s voice was a few octaves higher than Hudson’s.His deep timbre had a way of rolling over her and through her at the same time.His physical presence was a force unto itself.Add the voice, and her skin goose-bumped just thinking about him.
How long had she been on the run?Alone?Too long.