The Best Thing Yet by McKenna Jeffries and Aliyah Burke Page A

like it on men, but damn if his way didn’t make her a bit wet. She dampened her lips and revelled in the way his gaze followed the quick dart of her tongue as his eyes swirled with dark desire.
    “Why did you leave?”
    Deiter began driving again. His expression sobered. “I can’t tell you that, Arissa and I have no wish to lie to you, so please don’t ask.”
    Her brow furrowed. “No wish to?”
    He sighed and gave her a quick peek. “I will not lie to you, Arissa, not on anything but this. If you pressure me in this, for an answer, I will have to. And like I said, I’ve no wish to do so.”
    She let it go, not wanting to put him in that position. Government work sometimes could get messy. Suddenly she got nervous. She was supposed to be showing him how ill-suited they were for one another, but…that plan wasn’t exactly working. Being with him was a lot of fun. He made her comfortable.
    “How are you liking McKingley?” she asked, figuring it would be a safe topic.
    “Beautiful area, although”—he glanced pointedly at her—“I’m liking it much better now.”
    So much for a safe topic. A blush ran up her cheeks and she shook her head in silence. Deiter parked before a row of boulders and shut off the engine. He reached for her chin and instigated eye contact.
    “Ready?”
    Was she? Hell no, not even close. A way to show him we’re not compatible. “Sure,” she lied, climbing out.
    At the back of the Durango, he pulled on a pack and settled it on his shoulders. “Let’s go.”
    She struck out after him, grateful he didn’t walk too fast. The trail was wide, relatively easy to navigate, and some parts of were shaded by the trees.
    Even so, she was winded and feeling lightheaded and nauseous when he stopped. They could see out over the mountains and despite the aches in her body, she enjoyed the view.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, shedding his pack and gripping her shoulders in a firm but gentle hold.
    She nodded but didn’t speak. He guided her to a rock and nudged her down on it. Moments later, he thrust a bottle of water into her hand.
    “Drink slowly.”
    She did and licked her lips when he took it from her. With deep breaths, she hung her head and waited for the symptoms to pass.
    His hand stroked along her sweaty cheek. “Sorry,” he said, on his haunches in front of her.
    “For what?”
    He moved his hands to rub the outside of her thighs. “Forgetting you just got back here and aren’t acclimated to the thin air.”
    The feeling of nausea faded as her attention zoomed in on the feel of his hands on her body. They moved in small circles. Focus!
    “It wouldn’t matter,” she said.
    Up and down he stroked, driving her to distraction. “Why not?”
    “I’m not an outdoors girl.”
    “Not even growing up in this place?”
    She gave a bark of laughter and shook her head. “Nope. I don’t like the constant fear of poisonous snakes or being out for the damn tarantula migration. Then there’s the free-range cattle thing they do out here which really freaks me out. So, no. I’m not a huge fan of outdoors.”
    The only way to describe the look on his face was amusement. “Didn’t you grow up here?”
    “Yes. But, I moved my happy ass immediately after high school. Haven’t been back since. The last nine years, as you know, I spent in Chicago.”
    “Where there was gangs, murders, carjacking, et cetera.”
    She grinned. “Exactly. Much safer.” His return smile warmed her. “Lis, the youngest of us all, is the outdoor one. She barely goes home. Hell, I believe she’d live outside if she could.”
    “But not you.”
    “Oh God, no. I love my bed too much and let’s not forget indoor plumbing and whatnot.”
    He drew her to her feet and brushed a teasing kiss along her lips. Then they retrieved his pack and continued. This time though, their fingers were interlaced.
    “Why did you come with me, then?” he asked as they walked.
    “You didn’t really give me any choice.”