Another week half-way through, another #1lineWed theme. This week, it’s **JOURNEY**. So strap in to take a sentimental journey with Tait/Shooter and Lauren from MONTANA MOON. This scene pretty much explains itself.
***
When he climbed into the cab of the truck, Lauren was eyeing the gas station, her expression dubious. He also noticed that her knees were clenched together. She really needed to regulate her intake of coffee. “I got us a room. It should be nominally cleaner than the station.”
She cut her eyes his direction. “Well, how hard could that be?” She inserted enough sarcasm into her voice to get a quick grin from him, though he shifted in his seat, drawing her eyes. Her cheeks heated and she swore never to use the word “hard” within hearing distance of him every again. Lauren really wished he wouldn’t look the way he was looking. His grin sent up red flags her libido immediately ignored. Heck, even his scowl caused fireworks to go off inside her fantasies. She pushed her glasses up to the bridge of her nose, hand freezing in mid-motion as the import of his statement hit her. “A room? As in one room? For both of us?” Darn it, why did her voice have to go all wobbly like that whenever she thought about being close to him. It wasn’t like they hadn’t shared close quarters for the past however many hours since he’d rescued her from the roadhouse. Except she hadn’t noticed his very physical reaction to her before now and she hadn’t used that word she now swore not to say—or even think.
“Yeah, one room. That way I can keep an eye on you.”
He parked in front of one of the cabins, backing in so the truck faced out toward the road. Puzzled, Lauren peeked at him, hoping for an explanation. He must have read her expression because he added, “You didn’t like the last J-turn I did plus there’s not much room in this lot for evasive maneuvers.”
She blinked a few times, translating his action hero speak. “Oh. You’re parking like this in case we need a quick getaway.” Satisfied, she twisted to reach behind the seat and clonked her head on Shooter’s elbow. “Oww!” She rubbed at the sting, glaring.
“Sorry.”
No he wasn’t. He looked like he was swallowing laughter. Jerk. “I can get my own backpack.”
He held up both hands, palms out and leaned away. “Suit yourself. Just being a gentleman.”
“Ha!” The derisive snort burst from her louder than she’d anticipated. His chuckle, on the other hand, was the precise tone and sound level to caress her insides and put her in mind of sexy things. Dirty things that she would never in her life do for real. Except maybe with— She shuddered as Shooter leaned over her back, breathing hard, his nose buried in the hair at the nape of her neck. He inhaled and the feminine places on her body clenched. Her libido and her ego had squared off like Old West gunslingers. She could even hear the theme from “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” in her head.
Just as quickly as he’d leaned over her, the heat and weight of him was gone. Lauren reminded her lungs to fill with air. Then she focused on her hand, closed her fingers over the straps of her backpack, and with utmost care, she settled back into her seat. She so needed to get away from this guy before she did something so far beyond the pale that she’d never return. Giving in to her libido was a journey fraught with danger.
“Let’s go, mouse.” He swung out of the truck, then opened the back door to grab his own duffel.
“I’m not a mouse,” she huffed. “Or a cat.”
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
Tait got the door open, stepped inside for a security sweep, then motioned for Lauren to enter. She brushed past him and her scent washed over him. He’d never be able to eat a blueberry muffin ever again. Not unless he claimed her. He dropped his duffel. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.”
Yeah, just as soon as he walked off the raging erection making his dick rub against the buttons on his fly. He’d take a walk, scout the terrain. Because that’s what bodyguards did. He wasn’t running away from her. Not at all. He backed out the door and closed it, leaning against it to order, “Lock the door and don’t open it for anyone but me.”
Then he ran.
***
What journey is on your list today? And writers, if you have any journeys to share with us, please do!
Today’s message from the Universe is short and to the point. I’ll admit that I enjoy writing a little–okay, a LOT–of adventure into my books whenever I can. So much of my life has been an adventure that I can’t imagine my characters not have the same chance.
Moving on.
