Page 19 of Shadow Games

They sat on the hill in the shade, looking at the paper Ken had left under the floor mat.

“GPS coordinates?”

Wyatt shook his head. “I don’t think so. Not enough numbers.”

He pulled out the other note, the one to his mother.

“You know we have to check the mailbox as we leave, right?”

“Yeah.”

Another delay. Wyatt would be surprised if the cartel even let them off the land. It was obvious they’d all been armed.

“I’m so tired of this,” she said, rubbing a hand over her face.

“Oh, come on, nothing like a good spike of adrenalin in the morning to get the blood pumping.”

She snorted. “I can think of other things I’d rather be doing.”

He gave her a sideways look. “Oh really? Like what?”

Suddenly her face went red, and she looked away. “Oh, you know. Going to the gym, or Starbucks.”

He gave her a long look, and she knew exactly what he was thinking. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced away. Then she realized what she was doing. For so long, she’d tamped down her natural inclinations in fear of what Ken would do. Then she tamped them down because she was still a married woman, which meant something to her. But she realized in that moment that she had no one to account to other than herself. If she wanted to screw the first guy that came along, she could.

She could feel her cheeks heat even more as she slid a glance to Wyatt. She’d dreamed of him, many times. She would forever regret getting into a relationship with Ken, precluding one with Wyatt. But then, she would never have met Wyatt without first meeting Ken. Grr…

Feeling daring, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Wyatt turned to her in surprise. “What was that for?”

“I just had the sudden realization that no one is going to condemn me for liking you.”

Wyatt grinned, flashing teeth. “You like me? Really.”

Rowan rolled her eyes. “You know I do. Did. I've liked you ever since I met you.”

Wyatt’s eyes turned somber. “I liked you for a long time as well.”

She nodded, her thoughts muddled.

“I used to dream about kissing you.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “You have the most amazing lips.”

Rowan pursed, then licked her lips.

Wyatt laughed. “Oh, don't do that. You'll get kissed.”

Something came over her then and she very deliberately licked her lower lip.

Without giving her a chance to say anything, Wyatt cupped her head in his hands and kissed her.

Rowan expected something gentle and quick. Instead, it was as if a firestorm had been unleashed. They'd both been waiting so long. There were no half measures now. He kissed her with his whole mouth, his tongue gliding in alongside hers. Rowan reached up, running her fingers through his hair and holding him tight. She lost her sense of time and space, consumed by the taste of him, the feel of him, in a little cocoon.

They were shoved apart by a wet nose. Echo cocked her head at them, wagging her tail.

“I guess she wanted in on the action,” Rowan said.

Wyatt snorted, shoving the dog away playfully and ruffling her fur. “Probably not the best time to be making out anyway,” he said.