“Where would we go?” she asked, and it was obvious she was striving to sound brave despite the tremor in her voice.

“Mexico,” he said without waiting a beat. He paused, looking at the expanse of her legs. “We’re going to have to walk until we can get another car.”

“We are not going to take your truck?” She looked at him curiously, as if she couldn’t fathom why he would want to leave on foot.

“I kinda made a spectacle when I picked you up.” He offered her the basketball shorts again. He wasn’t going to be able to take it with the full view of her thighs for too much longer.

She was far too tempting, and knowing that they were both in danger only seemed to add to it. “Plus, there’s a really obvious dent in the front grill. So, if I ride around with a hot blonde in the front seat, we won’t be inconspicuous.”

“Hot blonde?” she echoed, her brows raising. “They do not fit,” she said about the shorts with a frown. “If I try to walk in them, they will just fall around my feet.”

“Here.” He held them out for her to step into them, trying not to be amused by the prospect of them falling around her knees. “We can knot them at the hip and see if they’ll stay up that way.” He gave her a look. “You can’t walk around in just my t-shirt.” Even if it was an appealing sight. “I think that would fall under indecent exposure.”

“I could put my dress back on,” she offered then faltered. “But if anyone gave a description of me to the police, that would only create more trouble. Okay, let us try your way,” she said with a sigh, stepping into his shorts without any more protest. He struggled not to touch her skin, knowing it was probably as soft as it looked.

He caught a glance of the lacy front of the panties, and he found himself swallowing hard again. He wasn’t going to be able to resist this. She was close and he couldn’t deny that she was attractive. He wanted her, and the longer he was around her, the worse it would likely get. He pulled the elastic waistband taut, then tied a knot at her hip. “There.” He looked at her, noting the closeness now. “That should work for now until we can get you something that fits.”

She smiled. It was a slight pull of her lips, and it his drew his gaze down to them. How did she taste? Would she get offended if he kissed her? “Thank you.” She brought his attention back up. “This will work for now, as you said. Let us get going.” She sat on the bed and put the strappy things she had been wearing the night before on her feet. “How long do you think it will take us to find a replacement car?”

He grimaced. “With you wearing those things, I’ll have to make it quick.”

She looked up at him curiously. “I can handle wearing these.”

“That sounds like a challenge.” he grinned at her and hefted up his duffle bag, slinging it over a shoulder. “Let’s put you to the test.” He opened the door to the motel room and stepped out, leaving it open behind him. If she chose to run, now would be the perfect opportunity for her to make an escape.

But she didn’t. Instead, she followed him out and watched him put the gun case into the truck and stick the keys into the ignition. “If you are not going to take the truck, why are you doing that?” Confusion colored her voice.

“Well, maybe other people will assume I killed you and dumped the truck. Walking around with a gun case with a woman dressed like you will make it seem pretty fishy.” He closed the truck door and offered her a hand. “We’re trying to go for a nonchalant look. Like maybe you’re doing a walk of shame and I’m tagging along or something. Not at all like I kidnapped you and I’m holding you hostage. Understand?”

She paused for a moment, reaching forward to take his hand. “But you are not holding me hostage.”

Maybe she felt it, too? What were the chances that she’d want him? He smiled, deciding he’d have to find out. “I’m relieved to hear you say that. C’mon then. Let’s go for our long walk of shame.” He took her on foot through the grassy area, finding out the hard way that she would have to go barefoot until he had them on a sidewalk.

They walked together for nearly an hour. She kept up with him and held onto his hand without a thought or complaint. The weather was cool, warming as time went by, and it was pleasant even though they spent the majority of the time walking.

She fished for information from him with small talk, trying to learn details about him and what he did after their memorable first meeting. He didn’t have much to offer, but he found himself entertained regardless. He liked her, he decided, and he wished he had more to offer her than the sad excuse of a life he had been living.

It was unfortunate that she was placed in such a situation, though he found himself thankful that it had been him who had been assigned this mission. Otherwise, she would be dead by now.

She tugged his hand and they both halted. “As nice as this long stroll is” —she wiped a hand at her brow, her sandals hanging from her fingers— “how much longer are we going to be on foot?”

“I was actually looking for us a car this entire time.” He gave her hand a tug, unable to resist smirking at her. “So we can get off our feet and get out of town.”

“Oh.” She looked surprised. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention.” She laughed a little bit at that. “I was enjoying the casualness of this ‘walk of shame’ so I forgot that there was an objective to it.”

“Keep talking like that and I’m going to think you’re flirting.” He looked away from her, spotting a late-model sedan sitting in a parking lot. It wasn’t great wheels, but it would be easy to hotwire. “Found us a car.” He turned to grin at her. “Mark that off the list of things to do.” He pulled her in the direction of the parking lot, pausing only so she could put her shoes back on. Once they were there, he found a slim jim in his bag.

“Be a lookout for me.” He slid the thin piece of metal between the glass of the window and the door. “Cough if you see someone coming our way or looking.”

She nodded and tried to casually look around the surrounding area. He got the door open and sighed with relief when an alarm didn’t start screaming. “Luck is finally with us.” He ducked under the steering wheel and busted into the steering column. “Keep watching,” he said to her as he fished out the right wires. “As soon as the car starts, I want you to come jump in the passenger side, got it?”

“I get to ride up front and not in the back?” she asked, though there was a hint of teasing to her voice.

“I thought you weren’t a hostage.” He couldn’t help but snicker. “If you want me to tie you up, all you need to do is ask.” It was hard not to flirt with her. The car roared to life and he heard Jovana gasp. He turned to check on her but spotted her running around the car. He hit the unlock button just as she tried to open the door. “Oops.” He hit it again.

She managed to get in after that, though she let out a laugh that lit up her features. “Things should look up now?”

“Yep, time for a road trip.” He righted himself in the seat and as soon as they were both settled, he backed out of the parking lot. He turned south and pulled out his cell. She went quiet as he easily maneuvered the road and his phone as he got back with his contact. “Documentation is ready, now we just have to get to the meeting spot. I hope you’re good with some international travel.”

He saw her nod from the corner of his eye, though the mood had cooled from their flirting and it wasn’t because of the air conditioning. She got a melancholy look on her face, and she turned to look out at Denver passing around them. “Will I be safe?”

“I’ll keep you safe,” he assured her. “What I’m doing is everything I can do to make sure you stay safe.” He offered her his hand again, putting his phone into the cup holder. “I’m not leaving you alone this time.”

She took it. The look on her face was radiant, and he knew he said the right thing. He knew he wouldn’t be able to let go either. They drove out of Denver and made their way south, only stopping long enough for him to meet his contact. He paid for the passports and identification when his friend eyed Jovana. “You in trouble?” the other man asked.

“Just trying to disappear,” he commented in return.

“Well.” He nodded and stepped away. “That’s the best way to start. Good luck. I expect I won’t hear from you again.”

“Probably not,” Scott said as he turned back to the car. It took little effort to get them back on the road and back on track. He wasted no time.

Jovana seemed unperturbed by the new name on her passport and ID. “Laura Miller?”

“What’s mine?”

She shot him a look as she opened up his passport. “Stephen Miller.” She sounded amused. “Does this make us married?”

“We could be siblings.” He posed the argument, glancing at her to see what her reaction would be.

“That seems unlikely, given that we do not look alike. Save for our hair and eyes.” She sniffed lightly. “Let us not pretend to be siblings. I do not like that idea.”

“But you like the idea of pretending to be married?”

The hand that held on to his squeezed, and he felt his heart begin to race. “I would not object to the idea,” she said lightly. Maybe she would want him.

The drive was pleasant, and he found himself wishing that they had met again under different circumstances, that she wasn’t in the danger that she was in so that perhaps, they could explore the connection that was between them. Was this connection because of their dire situation or because of what happened in Kosovo?

He didn’t know, but the more relaxed she became and the less stress that showed on her features, the more he found that he was attracted. It only seemed to get worse, this attraction to her.

He didn’t realize the feelings were becoming mutual until they had stopped at Trinidad for gas. “I need to use the washroom,” she said as she got out of the car. “Is that all right?” She looked at him for approval, as if she was worried that doing something as simple as using the bathroom was dangerous.

He turned and spied two doors just outside the little convenience store. “Go ahead.” He nodded in their direction. “I’ll keep an eye on you.” She went without any more hesitation, walking in her heeled sandals and looking silly in his borrowed clothes. They would need to stop to get her something proper to wear. Not that he wasn’t still able to appreciate the way she looked wearing his clothes. She was beautiful.

She didn’t stay in the restroom long and, fortunately, no one went in after her. She came to his side as he pumped for gas and placed a light kiss on his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered, then went to get back into the car.

He stopped her, unable to stop himself, really, and caught her mouth. He kissed her, careful not to get too wrapped up in his desire for her. He wanted to give her an idea just how he felt, and there was no other way for him to show it. Words were lost to him, and every time he glanced her way in the car, they fell short.

Her simple kiss drove him to return it, though he put far more meaning behind it. She probably felt his erection with the way he pressed so close to her. When he finally pulled away, he gave her a short nod. “Thank you.” He cleared his throat. “You want anything?” He jerked a thumb toward the convenience store.

She was flushed, the color looking pretty on her cheeks, and she gave him a smile that suggested that she wasn’t disturbed by his forwardness. “A drink and maybe some snacks?”

“It’s not a real road trip without junk food.” He opened the door for her, suddenly acting like a gentleman. “I’ll be back in a sec and we’ll hit the road again.”

He finally got them back on the road, though with some distractions. He found it harder to not watch her, grasping her hand again and wanting to keep it. This felt like something he had been missing, this connection he felt with her. He had wondered before if he was capable of love, if after all the prostitutes and the throw-away lifestyle he had been living, there was something in him that could adapt to a relationship.

He didn’t have an answer whether it was something he was capable of, but he knew it was something he wanted now. He wanted it with Jovana. The longer he was with her, the more they spoke, the more that he wanted her. It was hard not to like her.

As soon as they crossed into New Mexico, he noticed they had someone on their tail. He had been so clouded with romantic thoughts that he didn’t know how long they had been there. Jovana had dozed off and he released her hand so that he could focus on losing whoever it was that was following them. It was dangerous to stay on the I-25, and the chances of losing the tail while on the interstate would be difficult.

He growled with impatience but decided to play dumb. While there wasn’t heavy traffic, there was enough that the person following wouldn’t be trying anything. It made the next two hours of driving tense. It would be foolish to speed in a stolen car.

As soon as he saw the first exit for Raton, he took it. As expected, his tail followed at a distance. While he didn’t know the city well, he took advantage of every twist and turn he could, looking for anywhere he could hide and any chance he could take to lose the people in the other car. As it got later, the traffic got heavier through the city, making it easier to put more distance between them.

It took little effort then for him to pull out of traffic and into a packed parking lot of a grocery store. “Duck down,” he commanded Jovana, who had woken at some point but stayed quiet the entire time, perhaps knowing the danger they were in.

She did as he told her, ducking down. He watched as the black town car passed the lot that hid them and made no move to pull into it, watching through the mirror on the side of the car. He waited a beat before he sat up and checked the street. “We’re going to need to get another car.”

“There are so many in the parking lot,” she pointed out and sat up as well. “But there are so many people around, I do not think you could steal another car without someone noticing.”

“We’re going to leave this car here,” he said and opened the door. “Make sure you get everything.” He put the passports into his bag and waited for her to join him. “As soon as we get another car and get out of here, we’ll see about getting a room so we can get some rest.”

“I have done nothing but sit.” She stretched and sighed. “I am fine with walking if it is necessary.”

“Let’s see if we can help you out with your clothes first.” He took her hand and they began walking. “There’s a department store over there.” He nodded ahead of them to a store that sat a couple of blocks away. “We’ll get you a decent pair of shoes and clothes.”

They spent the next hour or so getting her a few things to wear, shorts, a few tanks, and tennis shoes, as well as fresh undergarments that he tried not to think about. She hadn’t made an effort to get sexy things, but the sheer thought of her wearing them would get him in trouble.

Once they were out, he started to prowl the parking lot. It had gotten dark, and it would be easier to hide that he was stealing a car. He found a sporty little car that he couldn’t resist. He slipped the slim jim in and popped the door open without an effort.

“Keep an eye out for me.” He ducked in, ready to hotwire it, when the shifting of weight in the car caused a set of keys to fall from the visor. “Yes! Get in.” He shot her a big grin. “Our luck just keeps changing for the better.”

They loaded up the little car with their things, just throwing them in the poor excuse for a back seat, and breezed out of Raton without another thought. The day was cooling, and he had half a mind to let the top down, but he knew that wouldn’t be the best idea. Inconspicuous. Be inconspicuous.

After another two hours on the road with little excitement, he pulled off the interstate at Las Vegas, New Mexico. He didn’t want to stop. Really, they should push for Santa Fe. But the soft snores from Jovana were enough to decide that they both needed a bed.

They needed sleep and food that didn’t consist of mostly sugar. He pulled into a little motel, something that looked rundown and easy to hide in. “Hey.” He gave her a nudge. “C’mon, we’re going to break for the night.”

She hummed lightly and stretched, wearing clothing that fit her a little too well now, and gave him a good view of her curves. “Oh, good. I could stretch out my legs now.”

“Are you saying you don’t like the car?” he asked, not bothered by her complaint. He got out and waited for her to join him. He should have opened the door for her and been a gentleman again. “It’s a nice car. I’d like to see how fast it goes once we’re on a less notable stretch of road.”

She snorted out a laugh as she stood and stretched her arms all the way over her head. The tank top rode up and afforded him a good look at her flat stomach. Blood rushed south and he shook his head, closing his door and locking up the car. “Let’s get a room. There are some things I need to do.”