Leaving Las Vegas (Entangled Ignite) by Aleah Barley

shook his head, dismissing her doubts. “I want to help you—to see this through. And I need to go off-grid to figure out who is helping Tiffanette.”
    “Any ideas?”
    “I can’t imagine. My friends, my acquaintances—I don’t see any of them doing this.”
    Right. She rolled her eyes. “Because you know them all so well.”
    “Because they have their own money. They don’t need to hold up a poker game, and they don’t need to kidnap me.”
    “Maybe it’s not about money. Is there anyone you’ve been arguing with recently?”
    “Erick. He works for me. He’s not happy about the accelerated time frame on my latest project, but I don’t see him doing something like this. Erick’s been with me forever. He’s a good man. Even if he does get a little self-righteous about certain things. Always thinking he knows best.”
    “Maybe he just wants to be sure you’re giving everything due consideration.”
    “He’s a pain in the ass, but he wouldn’t kidnap me.” Luke shook his head. “I’m not going to figure this out tonight. I need time to think, and I can do that while I make sure you get home all in one piece. If Tiffanette catches up, then I can keep you safe.”
    She snorted.
    “Besides,” he said, “this is the most fun I’ve had since college.”
    “Fun?” Oh, no . She bit her lip to keep from giving Luke a piece of her mind. It didn’t work. “Fishing off Dandelion House’s dock with Ashley is fun. Watching the Potter kids learn to skateboard in front of my diner is fun. Borrowing books from the traveling library is fun.” Her voice was tight with emotion. “Getting shot at wasn’t fun.”
    It was too late, though. She’d already made up her mind. He could come with her. But first she needed to set a few boundaries. That kiss had stirred way too much up inside her, like a teenager who’d fallen head over heels in first lust.
    “We need some ground rules. No kissing,” she insisted.
    “It was a damn good kiss.”
    Too good. That was the problem. His kiss had made her lose all semblance of rational thought, and she needed to stay sharp. She didn’t need to ride the roller coaster of her hormonal reaction—not over some guy who’d take off as soon as they hit Beaux’s town limits. Glory sucked in a deep breath, forcing herself to concentrate on the road ahead. “Do we have a bargain?”
    “Really?”
    “No kissing.”
    “No kissing,” he finally allowed. “Until you ask for it.”
    Glory’s head pounded. At least he’d agreed. That would have to be good enough. Even if the rough velvet of his voice sent a jolt of electricity down her spine. “All right,” she said. “I’ll get off at the next exit so we can switch seats. It’s your turn to drive.”
    And her turn to fight the desire to run her fingers through his hair and feel his lips on hers and—
    Oh, God . This really had to stop.

Chapter Five
    Luke woke up stiff, sore. His eyes flickered open, revealing blue skies and crooked conifers. The woman in his arms let out a soft moan, wriggling backward, farther into the crook of his arm. The same position she’d been in since they’d pulled over at around three-thirty in the morning. After three and a half hours of driving, both he and Glory had reached the point where they’d need toothpicks to keep their eyelids open.
    Staying in one of the quaint motels that dotted the interstate wasn’t an option—the guys in the SUVs would be prowling all motel parking lots for the Vanquish. So he’d pulled off for some shut-eye at the exit just before the exit to State Route 64. Glory had tried to complain, but all that yawning had gotten in the way. He’d parked the Vanquish behind a grove of trees, out of sight of the highway. And out of sight of Tiffanette’s men.
    He raised his head to peer out the car window. Yep, they were out of sight.
    Then he looked back down at Glory. Her body was curved around the center console, her legs tangled with his. They were both