Exhaustion clouded her mind, but still, she studied him, thinking of their kisses. He concentrated on the dark highway, only the dashboard lights illuminating the chiseled hardness in his jaw. It looked more than capable of taking a punch. He was none the worse from earlier. And those lips. They promised to keep her safe. The whole act was… attractive. In an evolutionary sense. Women were attracted to alpha males for biologic reasons.

Besides, he wasn’t her type. Safe and stable worked just fine. Though his callous, foreboding act was interesting. She’d give him that. Add that to his impermeable wall breaking down, well, it made her want to curl up in his arms. This is insane. But psychologically speaking, her reaction made sense.

Dang his bad boy charm.

Heat crawled up her neck, and her nipples tightened. What she wouldn’t do to feel his kiss again. She brushed her fingers over her mouth. It tingled with his memory. The adrenaline had disappeared, but the desire stayed alive. Too bad he wouldn’t kiss her like that again. Men like him used women to expend energy. The action was gone, and his interest in her morphed into the sexual equivalent of oatmeal. Tasteless, colorless, and only appetizing if starving. With that understanding, her want froze and eyes sealed tight against the sight of him in the dim dashboard light.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Each s-turn on the sharp mountains road swayed Mia into her seatbelt. Her head bumped the window, waking her. With a sleepy yawn, she rubbed her eyes and fingered her knotted hair. He’d been watching her for hours, just as long as he’d observed the passing white lines speed by in a blur.

Damn if she wasn’t something to stare at, even in the dark, and she made cute noises in her sleep. Precious breaths and sleep-drenched murmurs. He’d remember those long after this op was over.

He had fidgeted with the temperature gauge, not wanting her to be too cold. He kept the radio quiet, just loud enough so he could hear it and stay awake, or to distract his mind from her. Whatever. It didn’t help.

“What time is it?” Her slumber-soaked question didn’t sound rested. It was the same tired keel as before she passed out. Mia needed real food and real sleep. She needed to get away from this road trip from hell. His on-the-job lifestyle was pragmatic. Sleep when necessary, and down gas station purchased protein bars and Dots. The Dots alone could suffice him, and sleep was overrated. But Mia needed more. Hell, she deserved better.

“Colby? Is that clock right?” They’d be much closer to their destination if that console timepiece was anywhere near correct.

He checked his wristwatch. “Nope. We should be further along, but with our adventure at the gas station, we lost major time.” He paused. “So I’ve been thinking, you handled yourself well today. Not many people have your aplomb.”

“Aplomb?” She asked in a deadpan voice.

“Oh, big word. Didn’t think I had a brainy side, huh, doll?”