Ricardo (The Santiago Brothers Book Three) by K. Victoria Chase Page B

on your neck.”
    “Hmm. That’s it?”
    “And just what exactly do you want me to say?”
    “The truth.”
    That he’d practically kissed the trust right from her lips? No. She wouldn’t say that — not yet. The story of his father’s terror had softened her heart’s steel exterior, but her trust in him had begun to build long before she heard the tale. “You’ve done so much for me. Saved my life, helped me with um…” She looked at the spot on the rug where she’d been immobilized by fear and dread that a repeat occurrence of the rape in college couldn’t be avoided.
    “And we’re going to build on that. Right?”
    She nodded her head slowly and met his eyes. “Right.”
    “Good, because I don’t wanna get used to kissing you just yet.”

 
     
     
Chapter Seven
     
     
    Where is it?
    Mel frantically searched her bag of belongings Ric had secured from Abdul. “Please, please, please be in here.”
    “What?”
    Ric smelled so good. Soap and a faint smell of musk. It nearly made her pause and breathe deeply. In under a minute, the entire tent was filled with his fragrance. She cut him a swift glance and returned to her search. She forced herself not to dwell on how his slicked back, jet-black hair glistened with moisture and curled right at the nape of his neck. Or how she didn’t see him just slip on a fresh black t-shirt over well-defined abs. Especially not how his biceps flexed when he pulled the slide back on his Ruger to check the chamber.
    And his smile.
    Nothing in this world had ever looked so beautiful to her. His grin was broad as his eyes settled on her and he waited for her response. She hated to turn away, but everything about him was too distracting.
    Even her comfort level around him couldn’t be explained. Last night, he’d slept in the same position as he had the previous night — on his side of the pillows in the bed — and once again, she’d slept so deeply she hadn’t noticed his presence there. She’d slept like a baby — dreamed even. It’d only taken a couple of nights, and a couple of kisses, and she was ready to trust him. Am I making the right decision? I can’t be this nervous around men. Not every man will attack me...
    “Mel?”
    She let out a blast of air. “I can’t find it.”
    “Tell me what you’re looking for and maybe I can help.”
    “Is this all Abdul had? He didn’t give you anything else of mine?”
    Ric shook his head. His brows dipped and his eyes moved from the bag to her face. “ What are you looking for?”
    “My badge and creds.”
    “Your law enforcement badge and credentials?”
    “No, my flight attendant badge and creds — look.” She paused and dragged a hand through her matted hair. I must look like a hot mess. Ric had beat her to the bath and she’d thought to casually look around for her badge and creds all the while forgetting that she’d just woken up and hadn’t even checked her face—
    “Ask me nicely and I’ll help you look for it.”
    Her eyes shot to the playful look in his own, his full mouth cocked to one side in a flirtatious smirk.
    Maybe I don’t look half bad.
    “I forgot you’re not a morning person.”
    She inwardly cringed at the cheeky reminder of her second morning in the tent. The night before, her mind raced with thoughts of her handsome rescuer; exhaustion hit her with the force of a sandstorm. Gently shaken from her slumber, the action startled her so much she screamed and threw a punch, socking him in the rib cage.
    “The bruise is just now forming, if you wanna see.”
    With his left hand, he patted himself underneath his right arm; the other hand fingered the bottom of his shirt. Her cheeks warmed. “Uh, I believe you.”
    “And I believe you have a great left hook.” His eyes softened as they traveled the length of her. “You were sleeping so peacefully, I hated waking you.”
    “I don’t know how…”
    “How to sleep? You have trouble sleeping?”
    Not anymore. Not for a long time,