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“Understood. I’ll reinforce the warning. Do you need anything else from me?” Rafe asked.
“Keep your ear to the ground. I need to know if you learn more before tomorrow night. After that, Bridget and I will be off the grid.”
“Bridget? You’re taking her?”
“Boss’s orders. Bridget will ensure her sister’s cooperation.”
“And be under Hugo’s roof along with Ruth. You’ll have two innocents to worry about rather than one. This is a terrible idea.”
“I made that point. No dice.”
“Brent has taken leave of his senses. I’ll call Juan, then roust more contacts for information on Hugo or the gas. After that, I have to hit the sack. We have a training session scheduled tomorrow morning at two.”
The operatives chuckled. “Ah, the infamous tracking-in-the-dark seminar.” Trace grinned. “The early hour makes for a long day, but Ethan Blackhawk is the best tracker I’ve met. You’ll learn more in two hours with him than you did in Quantico.” The Otter Creek police chief was an Army Ranger and a legend in Special Forces. His tracking skills were in high demand with law enforcement agencies across the country, especially when cases involved children. His success rate surpassed ninety percent.
“At that time of morning, he better be phenomenal. Take care of yourself and your woman, Trace.”
He ended the call and turned to Bridget who stared at him, eyes wide. “Problem?”
“Rafe called me your woman.”
“I heard.”
“You didn’t correct him.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
Joe and Sam looked at each other. “Time for us to leave,” Joe said. “Nico wants to meet tomorrow at headquarters for a training session and mission planning.”
“I’ll be there.”
“We’ll be there,” Bridget corrected. “I’ll train with Zane. Afterward, I want more self-defense pointers, Trace.”
Good. He didn’t want to leave her alone even if she was in his well-fortified home.
“Don’t forget the ice packs and pain meds,” Sam told Bridget. “Call me if your pain level goes up.”
“I will. Thanks for coming, Sam.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Ben said. He followed his teammates from the kitchen.
“Trace.” Bridget laid the ice pack on the breakfast bar. “Why didn’t you correct Rafe’s assumption?”
Figured she wouldn’t let this go. Fine. If she wanted to push this right now, she’d have to deal. “Because it’s the truth.” He paused, then held up a hand. “It will be true if you give us a chance.”
“Is that what you want?”
He stilled. “More than I want my next breath. You’re burrowing into my heart, Bridget Monihan. You slipped past my protective barriers when I wasn’t looking and now I can’t envision my life without you in it.”
Trace captured her lips for a deep kiss. His hand cupped her nape, holding her in place as he explored the texture and taste of her mouth.
When Bridget’s tongue danced with his, he tugged her against his chest and wrapped her in his arms. Trace could kiss this woman for hours and still crave more. He suspected Bridget was the only woman for him.
Hearing Ben returning, a deliberate act on his friend’s part, Trace lifted his head although he didn’t release her. “Will you give me a chance?” he whispered.
“What I feel for you is deep and developed so fast I’m having a difficult time trusting my own instincts.”
