Every Step She Takes (Who's Watching Now Book 2) by Jannine Gallant Read Free Book Online

an exhaled breath. “Stop. Just stop.”
    Her fists clenched. “No.”
    “You win.” His eyes closed for a moment as he pressed fingers to his temples. “We’ll clean out those abrasions then move on together.”
    She swallowed and blinked back tears. “Thank you. I swear I won’t get in your way. I won’t be any trouble.”
    His pack hit the ground with a thump. After digging inside, he pulled out a first aid kit. His expression was closed when his gaze met hers.
    “You’re nothing but trouble. Let’s hope we both live to regret this. It sure as hell beats the alternative.”
    * * * *
    Hunger forced Travis to stop for the night. He’d set a grueling pace, hoping Grace would give up and go back to the lodge. Instead, she’d stuck with him step for step, and she hadn’t complained. Not once. Not even after she’d fallen. She was probably sorer than hell, and he felt like a bastard for pushing her. Knowing he was the reason she’d shredded the skin off her knees made him sick to his stomach. Despite the very real danger they’d come face to face with a killer before he located Sutton, Grace was safer with him than she would be alone. At the end of the day, he didn’t really have a choice.
    “Let me get that.” He grabbed the backpack and eased it off her shoulders then leaned it against a towering cedar tree in the small clearing about fifty feet from the trail. Nearby, the creek they’d followed pooled at the base of a short waterfall before tumbling down the hillside toward the valley below.
    Grace stretched from side to side, grimacing. “I don’t know what has more appeal, a quick dip in the stream to wash off the filth or something to eat.”
    “We can clean up while the food cooks.” His hand stilled on the strap of his pack. “You do have food, don’t you?”
    She nodded. “Berta gave me packets of freeze-dried stuff. I didn’t bring a stove. I wanted to travel light, and I figured I could share yours.”
    Pulling out the ultra-light, single burner stove and an aluminum pan, he set them on a flat rock. “You were so sure I’d share?”
    Her smile looked tired. “I can be fairly convincing when I try.”
    His gut clenched. “I bet. I’ll start some water boiling.” He eyed her drooping shoulders. “Why don’t you just relax. After that marathon hike, you deserve a break.”
    “If you’re sure I can’t help, I’ll go clean up. Take whatever food you want out of my pack.”
    Travis filled the pan with water and lit the stove. When he pulled a packet of beef stew out of her backpack, he couldn’t help noticing she wasn’t carrying a tent. Does she expect to share mine? Just thinking about snuggling up with Grace in the one-man tent he’d brought gave him an instant hard on.
    “Jesus.” He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to will his body into submission. He was up here to find Sutton and get the man out of Alaska, not to have a vacation romp in the sack with the most tantalizing woman he’d met in a very long time. Even if the timing didn’t suck, he was positive Grace Hanover would turn him inside out and leave him hanging out to dry when their fling ended. Best not to even think about the possibility. Best to keep their relationship strictly casual.
    With the stew heating, he grabbed a bar of soap and a towel and headed down to the creek—and rocked to a stop. Grace floated in the pool, eyes closed, a tiny smile curving her lips. She wore nothing but a pair of purple panties and a matching jog bra. The underwear covered more than your average bathing suit, but his body wasn’t convinced. His erection returned in full force. Terrific.
    The dog gave him a narrow eyed look when he sat down on a rock and removed his boots, followed by his socks and T-shirt.
    Grace’s eyes opened. “Come on in. The water’s cold but invigorating.”
    In his present condition, cold was good. Frigid would be better. Now what the hell should he do? He wanted to jump in, but he didn’t dare