Page 41 of Impossible Thrills
He waited against the opposite wall. When the door opened, he stared as a vision sauntered out.
Hurrying to her, he couldn’t even form the words. He gently framed her shoulders with his palms, relishing the touch of her warm flesh. “Oh, Darcy,” he murmured.
Then he bent and kissed her. The kiss filled him with purpose and made him feel like he was home even though he was far away. Darcy’s lips meshing with his was more exhilarating than jumping out of an airplane.
“All right, all right.” Jagger interrupted their kiss. “I’m hungry. You two can kiss later. How was the hot tub last night?”
Nick smiled down at Darcy. “We never got there.”
She smiled back. “Who needs a hot tub when you have Nick’s arms?”
“Whoa!” Jagger hooted as Hays laughed.
They all walked up to dinner together. Nick enjoyed dinner and the company. He didn’t like thinking this was their last night together. They all had a good rapport, and he’d enjoyed this week. He glanced at Darcy. More than enjoyed. Had he found his soul mate? He groaned inside. How could she be his target’s ex?
After dinner, they all walked upstairs to watch the sunset. Darcy was cuddled against his side, his arm around her. She leaned up and whispered, “Come chat in my room again?”
His pulse took off. “I would love to.”
She tilted her head to the side.
“Just go,” Jagger said. “Don’t worry about the two bachelors who have to watch a different couple fall in love every week.”
Hays and Darcy laughed, but Nick looked sharply at Jagger. “Did Aiden and Chalisa …”
“Pardon me. I’m not supposed to talk about other shows.” Jagger held up his hands.
Nick nodded. He’d have some answers by tomorrow night. Even though he and Aiden had agreed not to discuss their shows with each other, they worked together and if Aiden was in love Nick would know about it soon. Their friend and pilot Paul would be on next week’s show. He’d love for Paul to find somebody incredible. He’d be shocked if Aiden had really fallen in love. His idol was caring and charismatic and women went insane over him, but Aiden was more of a machine than flesh and blood.
“Goodnight,” Hays said, nodding to them.
He and Jagger took off. Nick wondered what they did at night. Read books in their rooms alone? Watched shows? He’d had ops where he had to wait in a hotel room for days on end. He hated it. He liked to read, but only for an hour or so. He got tired of reading, watching shows, and playing games on his phone. He was an action type of guy.
Darcy smiled up at him. He would love to stay outside and kiss her in a more romantic setting, but he wanted to talk with her more and they couldn’t do that with the cameras playing. So he opted for the kiss first.
Leaning down, he captured her lips and hauled her close. The kiss thrilled him and only made him long for more. He released her, took her hand, and they walked down the stairs.
How was he going to let her go tomorrow? What if he could get Aiden to assign him to watch over her? Could he claim he was flushing Trattori out? Probably not. From what she’d said, she wasn’t in danger. He didn’t even know if she had contact with her ex. Nick wouldn’t use Darcy as a pawn or drag out information about Trattori. When he’d first met her, he’d thought he could do that, but not now. She trusted him.
They reached her room, and he held the door. Sinking onto the couch, he looked her over. “I love that dress on you. Is it comfortable, or do you want to change?”
“It’s surprisingly comfortable,” she said. “The material is so silky.” She ran a hand down the material covering her leg, and he found he’d really like to touch that material too. He restrained himself. Last night, he’d been so close to kissing her for hours and not wanting to stop at kissing. He would never disrespect Darcy or his Savior like that.
She slid off her high heels, and he was fascinated by that simple movement. Then she turned and leaned into his side, curling her feet under her in the opposite direction. Nick instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist and cuddled her into his side, chest, and abdomen. This was a better position for chatting—not quite as much temptation to kiss her.
Until she looked over her shoulder and her lips were soft and right there.
“I don’t want to act like I doubt you,” she said before he could kiss her, “but you’ve really never had a girlfriend?”
He smiled. “I had a couple girlfriends in high school, but then I went right into the military. I dated when I had leave, but nothing serious.”
She nodded and relaxed against him, holding onto his hand. “What would you consider me?”
Here it was. How to explain when he didn’t know how to proceed? “Darcy … I would love to date you very, very seriously.”
She looked over her shoulder again, her blue eyes lit up.
“I told you there are some … issues with my work. When I resolve them, can I come see you and spend more time with you?”