Sunlit trees sped by in a blur through the tinted windows of the Land Rover. Sophia couldn’t help but think it was a good representation of the moment. Here they’d gone day after day in wait at the cabin, time nearly moving in slow motion as the date approached, and now it seemed to be rushing upon them, ready or not.

“I was really hoping to get a better idea of who we were up against before today.” Blayze’s comment was loud enough for Sophia to hear, but just barely. She wondered if he’d been murmuring to himself, but then he turned away from the window to face her. His expression was flat, somber. Almost regretful.

“Yeah,” Sophia replied. “I was hoping so too. But I guess we may never catch him unless he acts out again. It’s like that catch twenty-two. On one end I hope he never shows his face. But if he doesn’t, I’ll probably be haunted by him for the rest of my life.” There’d been a question looming in her mind, one she hadn’t spoken aloud: If nothing happened today, could she expect yet another package in three days’ time? How long would the cycle continue?

Blayze stretched an arm over the middle seat between them, offering his hand to her, palm up. Sophia glanced at his loosely curled fingers, considered slipping her own fingers through them, but had a better idea. With one quick move, she released her seatbelt and shrugged out of it. A swift slide across the leather seat and she was nudged up beside him

Blayze wrapped an arm around her, took hold of the middle belt, and fastened it into place with a grin. “There.” He rested his hand in the same fashion on her lap.

This time Sophia took hold of it, sandwiched it between both hands, and tipped her head to press a soft, lingering kiss to his wrist. There hadn’t been much thought in the action, but as she felt the heightened speed of his pulse at her lips, she turned to catch him studying her with heavy eyes.

She held his gaze, allowed for the smallest, playful grin, and came in for another kiss, a little higher up his arm. The mood took a sudden shift as her pulse quickened now, the chemistry between them proving to be all she remembered and more. She wondered about making another move as her gaze drifted up to his lips. Would he stop her? She leaned in, pressed her mouth to his bicep instead, this one separated by the thin fabric of his black, cotton tee shirt. She glanced up at him through her lashes; that need to be near him building once more.

Maybe this could be their safe place. A spot to, at the very least, hold each other close.

Blayze brought his other hand to her face and studied her through narrowed eyes, his expression turning serious again. They hadn’t kissed since that night in the cabin, and Sophia had remained confident that Blayze was simply exercising his self-control.

The only thing she’d been unsure about was the type of feelings he had for her. Sure, he was attracted to her; the two had great chemistry after all. But would he really want to pursue things once this was through?

The question was one he likely had to ask himself too. It wasn’t like he would lie about it. Tell her one thing while knowing it wasn’t true.

But as she looked into the depths of those blue, tortured eyes, a realization struck her: perhaps Blayze’s need to be a gentleman extended both ways. Perhaps what he’d really been resisting was telling her the truth—that he didn’t see a future with her at all.

The epiphany was an explosion in her chest. Blazing hot and destructive. The peace she felt moments ago, gone.

“What’s wrong?”

Sophia snapped out of her thoughts long enough to see his face clearly once more. Concern. Maybe even pity.

He wouldn’t want to lie to her; she’d been right about that. It wasn’t in his character. But if he were doing so for—in his mind—the greater good…

“Nothing,” she said, and nuzzled into his chest. Her breaths came fast and hard as she worked to push the discovery out of her head. Why had it never occurred to her that Blayze could simply be stringing her along until this was through, thinking it’d be the nice, gentlemanly thing to do? After all, she was in crisis mode, no need to add to her burden.

Stop it, Sophia. His feelings might be genuine. And even if they weren’t, she wouldn’t want to know. Not yet. Not until she’d delivered her speech. She couldn’t hear that he didn’t really care for her in that way just hours before stepping up to that microphone.

Blayze flattened a strong hand along her back, ran it up, then down. Up, this time toying with the small hairs at the nape of her neck. “It’s going to be all right,” he promised, his deep voice raspy.

She clenched her eyes shut, forcing the dilemma out of her mind. For now, she’d forget about the uncertainty in her life, and enjoy the warmth of being held in Blayze’s comforting embrace, praying it wouldn’t be one of the last they shared.