Elusive Memories (The Hunted #1)

  *****

  A knock at the bathroom door startled her. After sneaking back inside late the previous night, she’d barely slept, even though Coop had returned to his place on the floor. She’d taken another bath this morning, trying to banish the fog.

  “Samara? I’ve got coffee. I don’t know if you li—”

  “Yes!” The mention of coffee pushed the cobwebs away and had her tying her shorts quickly and scrambling toward the door. Whipping it open, she grabbed the cup of coffee he was holding.

  She inhaled the rising steam. Heaven. She took a sip, breathing deep and reveling in the hot liquid. At Coop’s strangled noise, she finally came back to her surroundings, noticing first his hands, and soon the rest of his body. She took another long sip and arched her eyebrow in question, appreciating his tousled hair and stubble. She hummed with pleasure.

  He hooked his thumb over his shoulder at the table where she spied another cup. His voice nearly a laugh, he said, “I was going to ask if you wanted some, but I see you’ve already helped yourself.”

  “If you want to keep your own coffee, don’t hold it anywhere near me.” She speared him with a glare. “No one comes between me and coffee.”

  She walked over to the table and sat down. “Duly noted.” Coop followed suit and grabbed the other cup. “I hope you like it black.” He nodded at her cup. “That’s how I drink it.”

  “I like it any way I can get it.”

  He coughed, nearly choking. Eyes glittering, he smiled at her and winked. “So do I.”

  She paused with her cup halfway to her face, replaying her words and his reaction. When she realized what she’d said, a blush crept up her face. She hid behind her cup, taking refuge in her coffee.

  “I can see we’re going to have fun working together on our army.”

  Her stomach fluttered at the mention of “our” army. Sam wished she could joke about the future. But they had more pressing issues to address. “We have to get to the bottom of this first.”

  They had to find out what her mother was up to and what her uncle knew before they entertained thoughts of what came next.