Tell Me You Need Me (Search and Seduce #1)(17)

“I’ll take care of the victim,” he said. “But we have to get going.”

And he was now going to be staying in his camo for longer than he’d thought.



Chloe sighed and walked around the entrance to the state park where Gage had texted her to meet him. All he’d said was: This is not a dinner date. Wear jeans, tennis shoes, and long sleeves.

She had half a mind to tell him to take his “non-date” into the mountains and make sure it was never found, but then again, she needed a day off from the stress of preparing the restaurant. What better way to spend it than jean clad and tempting the S&R expert who’d been featured in her fantasies last night?

Hopefully he was finally starting to see reason. The other night, he’d left her wanting more of him. She might have been naked on a table, but he’d cleaned up nicely with his button-up shirt and clean-shaven face. He was hot, and he’d come over ready to take her out. Part of her felt slightly guilty at her deception, but that dwindled when she remembered how well he’d eaten her…dessert.

“Gage?” she called out. The trees to her left rustled, and she spun. Something emerged from the thick canopy of shadows, and she stepped back and gasped.

Gage was in camo pants and a tight green T-shirt, and his face had war paint streaked across it. A massive knife was strapped to his thigh. Complete with a butch black watch and backpack, he looked like GI Joe come to life.

Yes, please.

She liked the way he cleaned up, but honestly, she loved the dirty, dangerous side of him even more. He was all man, muscle, and…

He pulled a small daisy from behind his back and handed it to her with a wink.

Romantic.

Only Gage could pull off the romantic version of Rambo.

She stood frozen. Maybe she should’ve gotten herself lost in the woods ages ago. Hell, if this guy came to her rescue, she’d play the part of the damsel in distress all day long.

“You look like you’re in shock there, sweetheart.” He tucked the daisy behind her ear. His fingers lingered a moment by her face, and she leaned into his touch. “I’m equipped to handle people in shock, you know?”

She struggled to stop staring and pause the naughty fantasies involving Gage and his camo. She’d be damned if she fell for whatever he was up to.

“I ah…” She blinked a few times, finally breaking her staring competition with his impressive pecs. “Just admiring the scenery.”

“Uh-huh.” He flexed his abs enough to call her bullshit. He knew exactly what scenery she was admiring.

“What’s going on?” she asked, trying to keep her voice normal. But he stepped closer, and those fantasies started to take over again. He looked rough, tough, and a little dirty, but he smelled like pine and spice, and she’d bet her salary he tasted like sweet cinnamon.

“I need you, sweetheart…” He took another step closer. “To be my victim.”

She frowned. “What? Is this one of those kinky sex games?” Because if so, sign me up.

“You wish.” He grinned. “But sadly, no. The team is doing a mock search and rescue. I want you to be my victim.”

That’s it? He’d called her out here, looking all hot and manly, only to ditch her in the woods? She was hot, bothered, and he’d barely touched her. Now he wanted her to play victim? And not in the cool, sexy way? Eff that.

“No thanks.” She crossed her arms. “I’d likely actually get lost and—”

“I’d stay with you the whole time.”

That perked her up. “Really?”

They’d be in the woods. Together. She could pull out her best seductress skills and see what he was packing under the camo.

He nodded. “Time is kind of an issue here, so if you’re in, I’ll take you now.”

Please take me now.

Chloe shook off the thought and tried to focus. She didn’t have much going on other than burning another attempt at crab cakes and ruining a perfectly good pan, so playing victim wasn’t such a bad idea. Especially if there was a chance she could lure him to her side of sex-induced-thinking.

“All right,” she said.

And he didn’t waste any time. He grabbed her hand and led them through the forest, walking with her for what seemed like forever.

At first, her seduction skills didn’t have a chance to work since he was tugging her quickly through the damn old country. She could barely breathe normally, much less speak.

“I thought this was a drill?” she said with a few panting breaths.

But he looked back at her, and damn him, he hadn’t even broken a sweat. Fuck cucumbers, Gage was as cool as the air-conditioning she’d left back at her place. Nope, Mr. Army of One was hiking this terrain like it was just another day. Which, for him, it probably was. His boots were steady even when walking on the uneven ground. He obviously knew what he was doing, which made her like him even more.

“It is a drill. But we have to make it count.” He glanced back at her and stopped. “Why don’t we take a quick break?”

Oh, thank God. She stretched and scanned the area.

“Good girl,” Gage said. “You’re taking in your surroundings. That’s a good sign that you’re a survivor.”

“Are you reading me now or just offering up lessons on survival?”