Free Hawk and the Cougar by Tarah Scott Page A

situation,” she said.
    Hawk jerked from his thoughts. “What?”
    “The circumstances are tense. I’m scared—”
    “You sure as hell weren’t scared this afternoon when you showed up at the dig, or earlier when we were in the Land Cruiser. And,” he added before she could reply, “things didn’t have to go down the way they just did. Unless you’re going to tell me you expected everything I gave you.”
    She muttered something into his chest.
    “What?” he demanded.
    “Young whippersnapper,” she said.
    He laughed, then rolled on top of her. “Could a young whippersnapper do all the things I just did to you?” He couldn’t discern a blush, but knew by the way her lashes dropped that she was flaming. “Look at me, Liz.”
    She hesitated, then shifted her eyes back to his face.
    “You’re beautiful and smart, and you’ve got guts.”
    “I’ll take that,” she replied, and he laughed again.
    He stared at her for a long moment, seriously considering making love to her a second time, when she said, “They’ve amped things up, haven’t they?”
    He released a breath and shifted back to her side. “I should have known last night when they pulled that stunt in the parking lot, but I still had it figured that they were trying to scare me.”
    “You acted like they really were going to mow me down with that SUV.”
    That’s what he’d thought at the time, but then the light of day had got him thinking even Reid wasn’t that stupid. Hawk nodded.
    “Last night,” she murmured.
    “What?”
    “They saw you risk your life for me, and you knew what they would think. That’s why they slashed my tyres. They were telling you they would hurt me if you didn’t comply.” Liz traced a finger along his jaw. “I’m so sorry.”
    He grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
    “No, but, like you said, I have lousy timing.” She released a breath. “But if they intended to use me against you, why the direct attack tonight?” Before he could answer, she added, “Because something happened after they sabotaged the cars.”
    “I said you were smart. Let’s get dressed.” Hawk pulled her into a sitting position and scanned the ground for her bra and panties. They lay a few feet to the right. He scooped them up and handed them to her. “This is as good a place as any to catch some sleep. I want to head back by first light.”
    “First light?” she burst out.
    “It’s not safe tonight. They’re sure to have someone watching the cars.” He put on his boxer briefs.
    “Shouldn’t we try to get to the road?”
    “We’re fifteen miles off Highway 87, as the crow flies. Travelling all night through these hills isn’t a great idea.”
    “Staying here is?”
    He grabbed his jeans. “It’s our best choice.”
    Liz examined her panties and turned them around before sticking one foot then the other into the legs. “You don’t think there’s a chance they’re still looking for us?”
    “They’re not the type to rough it in the mountains.” Hawk paused in pulling on his jeans to watch her shimmy her lace panties over her hips.
    “Damn it, Liz. Do that a second time and I’ll take off those panties and kiss you all over.”
    Her head snapped up.
    “Don’t doubt I can do it.”
    “We just finished,” she said in an incredulous voice.
    “That wouldn’t stop me.”
    She hesitated and he realised she was considering testing him. He waited, wondering how long it would take her to decide. When she reached for the bra, he figured embarrassment had won out. That was all right. He wouldn’t wait too long to prove he didn’t make idle statements. He grabbed his shirt and, a minute later, they were dressed.
    Hawk picked up the jacket, then settled against the incline of the hill alongside the rifle and cooler, and extended a hand. “Come here.”
    She took two steps and lowered herself beside him. He pulled her against his chest, then laid the jacket