The Intern (The Dalton Family #4)(60)

I didn’t know a goddamn thing about relationships or how to be in one.

Who the hell was I kidding? I wasn’t the boyfriend type.

But had I ever thought about a woman as much as Hannah? Had I ever shown this level of jealousy and rage over a woman? Had I ever had to force myself not to kiss, not to eat a woman’s cunt? No, because women didn’t tempt me that way.

Not like her.

“Fucking jet lag,” Jenner said, tearing me from my thoughts, reminding me that I was in a plane since the only thing I could apparently focus on was Hannah. “It’s winning; my ass is toast. I need a nap.”

He was sitting beside me and closing his laptop, stuffing it into his briefcase.

“I don’t recommend flying to Australia, spending twelve hours there, and flying right back.” He yawned as he closed the top of the briefcase.

“It sucks that you didn’t have time to do anything but work while you were there,” Hannah said.

“Tell me about it,” he agreed. “Especially since Australia is one of my favorite places to visit.”

“I feel that way about this trip to Jackson Hole,” I admitted. “I’ve wanted to visit this area for a while, but we’re just in and out with almost no time to do anything.”

“Don’t laugh, guys, but I was really looking forward to going horseback riding.” Hannah had this dreamy expression on her face. “I had this whole plan to live out my Yellowstone fantasy and buy myself a cowgirl hat and boots and ride off into the—I don’t know—sunset or something.”

Hannah, on the back of a horse—a sight I definitely wanted to see.

Hell, I was even impressed that she was interested in doing something like that.

Something we certainly had in common.

“You mean, Yellowstone the TV show or the park?” Jenner asked.

“I know Jo makes you watch it, so don’t even try to act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Jo and I have had endless conversations about you impersonating Rip.”

“Jesus Christ,” Jenner groaned.

“I don’t watch it,” I confessed.

Both of their heads turned toward me.

“Now, that’s just silly,” Hannah said. “You need to. That show is everything.”

“Do you agree with her?” I asked Jenner.

He laughed. “It’s good. I don’t know that it’s everything.”

“That’s such a guy response,” Hannah teased, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, I’m bummed we won’t have time for horseback riding or to even head into Yellowstone National Park. I’ve been reading up about the geysers and all the animals that live there. They have moose and bears—I’d love to see those in the wild.”

So would I.

Heading into Yellowstone was something I really wanted to do during this trip.

I liked hearing that Hannah was down for the same experience.

“You know, Hannah, I heard about this rafting excursion through the Grand Teton,” I began. “It’s not far from where we’re staying. It’s a ten-mile—”

“Scenic tour down Snake River,” she finished excitedly, her eyes lighting up. “I found the same one. It looks amazing, doesn’t it?”

I nodded. “It does.”

“You know what I think?” Jenner asked. “That all of that sounds extremely exhausting.” He yawned again. “I’m going to go get some rest.” He looked at me and added, “Do you need anything from me before I go?”

“Nah. Sleep well, buddy.”

As he left, I turned around, watching the flight attendant in the galley prepare us breakfast. I was gazing at the biscuits she was placing on our trays when I felt Hannah’s eyes on me. And as I faced forward, our stares locked.

“I didn’t know you were so into nature and the outdoors,” she said. “I wouldn’t have thought that.”

I chuckled. “I wouldn’t have thought that about you either.”

She moved all her hair to one shoulder, running her fingers through the curls. “I take Everly hiking almost every time I watch her. She’s really the one who got me to love nature as much as I do.” She smiled. “What’s your excuse?”

“My excuse …” I huffed. “Don’t know. I just want to see the world. How’s that for an answer?”

“It’s a perfect one.”

Some silence ticked by, and I knew she wanted to bring up the conversation we’d had in my office the moment I unbound her hands. What we were and where we were going—something I’d been thinking about nonstop since she’d said the words. She hadn’t brought up the topic in the days that had passed. But even now, I could see the urge on her face, in the way she was breathing, how her fingers were flicking the ends of her hair.

“So, are you prepared for today’s meeting?” I asked, needing a subject change before the subject was even broached.

Even though she’d written a report on the Spade case, each day more details came in, and I needed her to know all the information.

Knowing Walter personally didn’t give her a pass.

If he had a question during today’s meeting, I wanted her to be able to answer. If he wanted to discuss certain aspects of the land, I needed her prepared.