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

plan twice as hard as it should be.”
    In the dark, she felt more than saw his smile.
    “Maybe you need a new plan.”
    She let out a long sigh. “I don’t sleep with all the men I date.”
    “I wasn’t assuming you did.”
    Ignoring his interruption, she continued. “I have a five date rule. Most guys never make it past the third.”
    “Sounds like you date the wrong sort of men.”
    She squirmed onto her side. Their noses were inches apart, his fresh breath fanning her face. “You’re probably right. The thing is, you’re not my type.”
    “Surely a point in my favor.”
    She shook her head, her hair sticking to the fleece jacket she was using as a pillow. “We don’t even live in the same state. If we start something, it’s doomed from the beginning. Bad idea.”
    “You’re right.”
    “Then what are you doing?”
    His lips grazed her jaw. “One good night kiss seems reasonable.” Inching upward, his mouth settled over hers.
    She opened to his invading tongue, tasting him. Her skin flamed as his hand cupped her head, holding her in place. When he finally drew back, she gasped for air as desire burned deep inside her.
    “Satisfied?”
    “Not exactly.” He flopped onto his back, his chest rising and falling. “But I’m convinced.”
    Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she steadied her breathing. “About what?”
    “I need to concentrate on finding Sutton. Maybe after we’re all safely out of Alaska, we could have dinner or something...”
    “Sure.” The chances of that happening were zip, zero, nada. They both knew it. A little ache settled in her chest. “Good night, Travis.”
    “’Night, Grace.”
    They didn’t speak, but she knew he wasn’t sleeping. With a sigh, she flipped onto her other side, facing the tent wall. This was a smart decision, so why was she struggling to hold back tears. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She was exhausted and out of her element. Tomorrow, in the light of day, everything would look much brighter.
    * * * *
    Someone was following them. Travis knew it in his gut, though he hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of the man. The hair at the back of his neck prickled. Damn, he wished Grace had gone back to the lodge. He didn’t want her in harm’s way. But he did want her. After a sleepless night, he was tired and on edge. Not to mention horny.
    “What has your shorts in a bunch this morning?”
    He glanced over at her. They traveled side by side on a relatively flat section of trail through an alpine meadow. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail and no makeup, she looked closer to twenty than thirty. Which made him a dirty old man.
    “My shorts are just fine, thank you.”
    “Could have fooled me. You’ve been scowling since we left camp.”
    “Someone’s following us.”
    She spun and stared, squinting into the sun. It was another beautiful day, but he wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it.
    “Geez, why don’t you hold up a sign telling him we know he’s back there?”
    “I don’t see anyone.”
    “Of course you don’t. I’m counting on the fact that he wants to stay hidden.”
    Turning, she ran a few steps to catch up. “Then how do you know someone’s there?”
    “I just do.”
    She was quiet for a moment. “All right, you’re the trained professional, so I assume you know what you’re talking about.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”
    “What do we do?”
    “Nothing right now. I don’t anticipate a problem until we hook up with Sutton.”
    “And after that?”
    Running a hand through his hair, he resettled his Mariners ball cap. “Let’s play it by ear. Based on Sutton’s itinerary, it’ll be another day at least before we run into him. If all goes well.”
    She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “Maybe it’s just a random hiker back there.”
    “If you’re right, we’ll either leave him behind, or he’ll catch us.”
    “Good point.” Their rhythmic footfalls on the trail and the whisper of tall grass blowing in the