Page 43 of Tracking Payton
“Something Daddy knew.” That would explain why he’d been kidnapped.
Alex raked a hand through his hair looking upset. “This is all my fault. I involved your dad looking into this. If I hadn’t contacted him, he’d still be safe,” Alex growled in frustration; he leaned forward, balling his hands into fists between his knees.
Payton pushed out of her seat and crouched down in front of him. She hated that be blamed himself for this. It wasn’t his fault any more than it was her dad’s. They were just casualties in the larger scale of things. “This isn’t your fault, Alex.” She took his clenched fists in her hands, rubbing her thumb over the top of his hand in a soothing motion. Her mom used to do it to her when she was a little girl. She always found it soothing. “They were going to come after my dad whether you asked for his help or not. If Dad was head of this cyber terrorism group like you said, then he was probably already aware of what was going on.”
Alex pulled is hands back and looked to the side, giving her his side profile. “And how to do you figure that?” His voice sounded dejected.
Payton wouldn’t be dismissed so easily. She touched his cheek and forced him to look at her. He could have pulled away again but didn’t. “They attacked different bases looking for something. Something that connected to my dad. They were coming for him regardless.”
Alex glanced at her, perturbed. “You can’t know that.”
She didn’t, but that’s where the evidence was leading. So what was it at the other bases that led to her dad? The attackers must have gotten something. That was the only logical conclusion. “Not for certain, but I believe it. Help me prove it. Help me find the connection. There was something at those other bases that led to here. To my dad. If we find it, we can find him; I know it.”
He didn’t say anything. Going for good cop didn’t work; it was time for bad cop. He needed a dose of tough love.
“Get over it, it happened, nothing can change what happened. Now put your big boy pants on and help me find my dad.”
Alex stared into her eyes, and Payton felt like she’d been sucker punched in the stomach. It wasn’t that he was just looking at her. But he was actually seeing her, as if for the first time ever. She felt like she was falling as she stared into his eyes. Drowning in their depths.
She could accept his anger, or more annoyance, but not this hot intense panty-melting gaze.
“Alex,” was all she could get out before his hands pulled out from under hers and clasped her face as his lips descended toward her.
Chapter 20
There were a million reasons why he shouldn’t be trying to kiss her right now. But honestly, he couldn’t think of a single one at the moment. Everything centered around here and now and the woman of his dreams finally in his arms. Well, kneeling at his feet. When she’d looked up at him so earnestly trying to console him, his defenses has crumbled like leaves in the fall.
Payton closed her eyes, waiting for him to devour her. To give to her what only he could. Pleasure unlike she’d ever known. He would smite any man of her past from her mind. She’d never think twice about looking in Colin’s direction or any other man. All men would pale in comparison to him.
It sounded egotistical, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t the glorified man-whore some of his teammates were, or at least he didn’t brag about it. But he knew how to take care of a woman. To leave her begging for more.
Suddenly his phone rang, freezing them both. Their lips just centimeters apart. Alex was frozen in horror at what he’d almost done.
No, off limits. Nick’s daughter.
The thought sent ice through his veins. What the hell was he doing thinking of kissing Payton? It was one thing to fantasize about it and another to actually do it. But it was so tempting with her right there in front of him, her eyes practically begging him. It would take a strong man to refuse such a gift.
It was a herculean effort, but he managed to pull away. To put more distance between them as he sat back in his chair. “Payton, we can’t.” His voice came out hoarse and gravelly. Most of his blood was still in his groin. “I’m sorry.”
Payton smoothed back her hair, avoiding eye contact. He tried to think of something to say to take the edge off, but Payton stood up, taking her laptop with her. He expected her to retreat to her bedroom again, but she just reclaimed her seat on the couch and started working on her computer as if they hadn’t just almost kissed. Again.
He looked away in shame before he saw her hurt expression. He was the worst kind of ass. Twice now he’d almost kissed her, and twice he’d pulled away. This was more torturous than he thought being in such close proximity to her.
His phone continued to ring. A reminder of what had stopped them from making a huge mistake. It was Colin.
“What’s up?”
“What did you do?” Colin asked instead; there was a hardness in his voice Alex had heard before, but never had it been directed at him.
Alex stole a glance at Payton, wondering if she’d somehow relayed a message to Colin, then realized he was being paranoid. Colin just had really good intuition. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I can tell by the tone of your voice, something happened.”
“Nothing happened.” It almost happened, but nothing happened. He wasn’t lying.
“Uh huh,” Colin said dryly. “Do I need to call Payton to verify that?” he challenged.
Colin calling Payton was the last thing he wanted. Not only did he not want his closest and oldest friend poking into his personal business, but he didn’t like the thought of Payton getting all heart to heart with him. “Did you have any luck with the drive?” Alex asked, changing the subject to something safer.
