Chapter 25
––––––––
Hallene had checkedthe fuel gauge over Leclair’s shoulder a moment ago. Wind blew into her face harder when she didn’t have his wide back blocking for her. They had enough fuel to go farther, and she enjoyed the cool temperature, but she had nodded off once already. Leclair had gripped her arms to keep her from falling back. That had awakened her.
He had enough to do handling the bike to keep them safe in the traffic without having to hold her in place.
She hoped he was headed to a hotel. They needed sleep and to regroup. What adrenaline had kept her going was long gone.
They’d driven around Washington, D.C. and were now in eastern Virginia.
If they still had a car, he could probably keep going but they really didn’t have a reason to travel any farther south without more intel.
She feared Midnight’s intel may no longer be of use.
Where would that leave her?
Sam slowed the bike and exited the interstate. A large fuel station lit up as bright as Christmas stood out on the right with a connecting hamburger joint. Beyond that, a bar appeared to be doing bang-up business for a Thursday night. She’d caught a look at the highway information sign before the exit, which had shown a hotel to the left.
Leclair took a long look in both directions at the bottom of the exit ramp, then puttered to the left.
The hotel sign was as tempting as a mirage of water in a desert. Her shoulders slumped with relief.
Leclair drove past the hotel.
What? She looked back then forward again, lifting to view over his shoulder. What was he searching for? She wouldn’t ask. She wanted his full attention on whatever he was doing.
A half mile down on the left side of the road was a long building with a large parking lot for a grocery store, seafood restaurant, thrift store, and hair salon. All were closed this late. She glanced at her watch. Just past midnight.
Slowing, he drove into the parking lot and made a U-turn, then jumped back on the dark highway heading toward the hotel again. When he pulled in at the hotel this time, he parked on the dark side of the manager’s office. He had to have been watching for someone to follow them, then chose a place to stop where he could hide the bike.
She put her hands on his shoulders to climb off and stepped back to keep her balance. The helmet came off next. Her shoulder bag was still looped across her chest. Her eyes were gritty, and her hair had hit the point of ick.
Sam dropped the side stand and took her helmet to hook on the handlebars before climbing off. “How you doin’?”
She’d captured this man while minding his own business. He should hate her but had bought her food, saved her from an assassin, and kissed her. There had been more, but all she seemed able to recall was his kisses because it had been so bloody long since she’d felt desired.
That wasn’t exactly right.
She hadn’t desired a man like Sam who pinged all her female wants from being a partner to respecting her abilities to protecting her. Even Coop hadn’t been around to protect her during some hair-raising situations while saving kids.
She ran her fingers back and forth through her hair that had lost the ponytail band, admitting, “I don’t even want to know what I look like.”
He stepped close, stared at her from head to neck, then kissed her sweetly. “You look like sex on a stick.”
Her lips parted.
He laughed.
They’d been through hell, and he could still laugh.
