Indecent Danger (Danger Incorporated #3)(16)
She sagged against the doorframe, her hand on her racing heart, trying to catch her breath. For a moment she’d been stuck in one of the horror movies she loved to watch. Add in a killer on the loose and she’d almost fainted with fright.
“I didn’t mean to.” Travis reached for her and she let him tug her into his safe embrace. Suddenly serial killers and crazed clowns didn’t seem so scary. “I heard you moving around and I was worried.”
“I was quiet. How did you hear me? I just came in here to take something to help me sleep. I can’t turn my mind off.”
Aubrey reached into her case and rattled the bottle of pills.
“It will take a while for those to kick in, but maybe I can help you relax like you helped me. Wait here.”
She was glad the shoulder massage had relaxed him enough that he was able to get some rest, but if his plan was to return the favor it wouldn’t work. His big, strong hands on her body weren’t going to relax her in the least. Arousal would be the more than likely outcome.
He disappeared into his bedroom and came back out with a blanket, nudging her along with short hallway to the living room area. Snagging two water bottles from the bar he led her out to the patio where they snuggled on a chaise lounge wrapped up in the blanket. Aubrey could see a scattering of stars in the deep purple night sky along with the bright moon that cast shadows over the trees and buildings.
“It’s not the lake and we didn’t get to ride but it’s not half bad. At least it’s warm.”
It was perfect. The temperature had dropped enough that the blanket was welcome but not so low that she was chilled. A gentle breeze was blowing off the Gulf, bringing with it a tangy, salty aroma that soothed her overwrought senses. It was no wonder people came here to destress from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
“It’s beautiful. A different kind of beauty than Montana but still gorgeous.”
She laid her head on his chest as it rose and fell steadily under her cheek. It epitomized this man – rock solid. Someone that could be depended upon. He made other men seem pale and uninteresting.
“We can come here more often if you like,” he offered. “I’m always up for a beach weekend.”
Did he really believe that he had to give her vacations and gifts? She once again wondered what kind of women he’d dated in the past. Were they all a bunch of mercenary bitches?
“Do you really think women only date you for your money?” she blurted, wincing as the words came out sounding much less smooth than they had in her head.
She could feel his laughter start as a rumble deep in his chest. “I know it for a fact, baby. If I dug ditches for a living I have no doubt that I’d be much less popular with the ladies.”
“Not all women are like that.”
“No, they aren’t and I don’t mean to make it sound like they are. I’ve dated some lovely females in my life. Really smart, funny women who didn’t care about the size of my wallet but there have been more than a few that were quite open about coveting my financial assets.”
Those women were certifiably crazy. Travis was handsome, sexy, smart, and sweet. His money and success was such a minuscule part of who he was. Born into any other family he would have been good at whatever he’d chosen to do. If he’d been a ditch digger they would have been the best damn holes in the ground anyone had ever laid eyes on.
“You have a lot more to offer besides your money.”
Travis tugged on a strand of her hair, sending arrows of arousal straight to her feminine parts.
“Like what?”
With a fingernail she traced a pattern on his chest over his t-shirt. “You’re handsome. And smart. Kind of dangerous in negotiations. I actually felt sorry for that guy when we were working on the mine contracts. He wasn’t in your league and he knew it.”
“I doubt my girlfriends cared much about that. Not too many wanted the details of my work.”
“You also have a kind heart. You’re close to your family and you’re very charitable. I bet that soup kitchen should have a photo of you on the wall with the words ‘Our Founder’ emblazoned on it even though you’re always pretending the things you do for the community are no big deal. They’re a big deal for the people you help. And let’s not even mention the fact that you saved my life. If it weren’t for you and Jason, Gigi and I would be pushing up daisies. Don’t think I don’t know that.”
His fingers ran along her jaw and softly traced her lips, setting a thousand butterflies free in her abdomen. “You make me sound like a cross between Santa Claus and James Bond. Believe me, I have a lot of faults. Tons of them.”
Like she didn’t know. But they seemed insignificant when compared with his positive qualities.
“I’m your assistant. I’m well aware. You growl until you’ve had your first cup of coffee. You sing off key when the radio’s on in your office. You’re impatient with yourself when you don’t live up to your own expectations and you can get lost in work to the point where you forget about the outside world. You also don’t eat enough vegetables.”
To her delight Travis threw back his head and laughed. “You’ve been monitoring my diet? That’s going above and beyond, baby. It’s just that junk food tastes so damn good and Brussels sprouts taste like a grilled tennis shoe. Something went wrong in the universe there. But you missed so many other faults.”