The Hero She Needs (Unbroken Heroes Book 1)(20)

He walked back to the truck and helped Gemma out. He grabbed their bags, and they made their way to their room. The paint on the building had once been white, but it had faded to a pale, stained beige. The trim was a chipped green.

Gemma was now wearing jeans that fit her perfectly and a new sweater from Walmart. And some running shoes in her own size. She looked like a college student.

He unlocked the door and frowned. The lock was barely worth the effort. The room had two double beds, stained carpeting, and the vague smell of old cigarette smoke.

“I take it back,” Gemma said. “This place is five stars. Nothing beats stale cigarette smoke oozing from dirty carpet.”

Ignoring the sarcasm, he nudged her inside. “It’ll smell like pizza soon enough.”

Boone fed Atlas while Gemma sat cross-legged on one bed and bit into a slice of pizza. He took a chair at the rickety table.

“I used to dream of taking a road trip when I was younger. Just getting in my car and driving away. Go and live a normal life.” She looked around. “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

Boone snorted.

“I’ve been thinking about my abduction,” she said.

He lowered his slice of pizza. “And?”

“I don’t think it’s about money.”

“What makes you say that?”

“They haven’t given up. They really want something.” Her brow wrinkled.

“Did you hear something they said? About exactly what they were after or who they work for?”

“I don’t know. It’s all still blurry.” She bit into a second slice of pizza, chewed, and then swallowed. “There are still things I can’t remember.”

“You know much about your father’s company?”

“No. I’m a baker, remember.”

“But you worked for him for a few years.”

“Yes.” She licked her fingers. “After I graduated from college, I worked at Expanse.” She blew out a breath. “I was miserable. Every day my soul died a little.”

“I think it’s brave that you finally did what you really wanted to do.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

“So, you know some of your dad’s business.”

“Sure. Some of the behind-the-scenes stuff with the systems. I worked on a few different projects.” She shook her head. “Nothing that seems worthy of being abducted.” She frowned.

“What is it?”

She rubbed her forehead. “I feel like there’s a memory right there. I can’t quite see it clearly.” She blew out a frustrated breath.

“Don’t try to force it. It’ll come in time.”

“I hope so. I want to stop these guys and get my life back.”

“You’ll get there.”

She rose. “I think I’ll take a shower.” She grabbed some of her new clothes from the plastic bags and entered the tiny bathroom.

That’s when it hit Boone. She was right there, behind that door, undressing.

He dragged in a breath and reached for the bottle of water he’d gotten at the pizza place. He wished it was a beer.

Atlas was watching him.

“Why aren’t you sleeping, huh?” Boone made himself eat another slice of pizza as he heard the water in the shower turn on. He wondered where else Gemma Newhouse had freckles on her skin.

“Get a grip, Hendrix,” he muttered.

Just as he finished the pizza, the shower cut off.

Then, Gemma screamed.

His instincts fired, and he snatched up his Glock. He crossed the room in two strides and shoved open the bathroom door.

She was standing on a threadbare mat, skin and hair damp, wrapped in a skimpy white towel. She gasped.

He scanned the small room for the threat.

There was no one there.

“What’s wrong?”

“There was a cockroach.”

He drew in a breath. “A cockroach.”

“It was the size of a small pony, Boone.” She shifted and slipped a little on the mat. She lost her grip on one side of her towel. It slipped, baring one high, full breast, and one side of her body.

Boone couldn’t look away, and he watched her nipple bead under his gaze.

Fuck. His cock swelled.

Then Atlas butted into the room, knocking Boone forward a step. Instinctively, he gripped Gemma’s hip. The bare one. She gasped again.

Atlas barked, looking for a threat, as well. There wasn’t enough room for the three of them.

“Atlas, out,” Boone said.

The dog whirled and hit the back of Gemma’s legs. She pitched forward into Boone’s chest. He went back a step and sat down on the closed toilet seat lid.

Gemma landed on top of him, straddling him.

His dog headed out, just as Gemma lost her grip on her towel.

It slipped to the floor.

Boone found himself eye level with both her bare breasts now. Blindly, he set the Glock on the sink.

Gemma gripped his shoulders, her chest rising and falling. Her nipples were tight buds.

He couldn’t move, except to swallow. “I know I should get up and leave.”

“So why don’t you?” she whispered.

“Because I really fucking want to suck one of your pretty nipples into my mouth.”