Page 29 of Point Blank

God, get a grip.

“Wait a minute, when did you see that?”

He dropped her hair and went back to his food. “At Alban’s.”

She hitched up her top lip. “How?—”

“Your dress didn’t cover an inch of your back, that’s how.”

She wet her lips and swallowed to slow the flames that were spreading through her belly. He’d seen her tattoo, so what? There was nothing significant about that. But he remembered seeing it two years ago . . . Her cheeks tingled, and she took another bite to avoid his laser-focused stare.

“Are you going to tell me what it says or do I have to see it for myself?”

She coughed, covered her mouth, and reached for the glass of juice to dislodge the egg from her throat. The flames that had warmed her belly scorched up her neck. The image of being naked with Milo, his fingers tracing her tattoo, unleashed a flood of desire.

She dragged her eyes up to meet his. Lust sparked his fiery greens. His hand, so large that it ate up half the counter between their plates, twitched, and her fingers itched with the need to wiggle into his meaty, calloused palm, which had kept her anchored only hours before.

His eyebrows rose and he dipped his head, waiting for an answer.

She opened her mouth and urged her brain to come up with words . . . any words . . .

Ding, dong

Milo’s gaze jerked from hers, and he lowered his fork. “That’s Brock.” He pushed back his chair and stood. Serena glanced at the clock on the microwave: 9:41 a.m.

“He’s late,” she said, and followed him to the front door. Milo hooked his hand around the door handle and turned to her.

“Try to be nice.” His tone held a hint of humor, but the squint of his eyes warned her.

“I’m always nice.”

“Yeah, right.”

She poked him in the ribs and he let out a grunt. He opened the door while rubbing his injured side. “Hey, man.” Milo extended his hand.

Brock shook it and stepped into the house, shutting the door behind him.

Serena had to tilt her head back to look at Brock’s face. His form filled the entryway, standing a hair taller than Milo. Aviator shades covered his eyes, and his sandy brown hair waved in short locks. He peeled off his sunglasses, and his eyes landed on hers.

She screwed her lips to the side.

It had been three years since she’d seen Brock when he’d cut Dani out of a job. She shouldn’t be seething now. Not when she was so removed from her old life. But this was Brock. The cocky, playful dick who’d broken her sister’s heart and stolen fifty grand from under her nose.

“Hey, S.” His mouth hitched up in a brief flicker of amusement, but the smirk faltered as quickly as it had appeared. “I’m sorry about Dani. How are you holding up?”

She tightened her arms around her chest and rolled her lips in. Milo’s hand on her bicep warmed her. “I’m fine. I won’t say it’s nice to see you, but thanks for coming to help.” Her throat tightened on the words.

Traitor. Dani’s voice rang in her ears. Serena winced. Dani would get over it . . . eventually.

“Come in, Brock. We’ll go over what we have.” She waited for him to kick off his shoes and then led him and Milo into the office. With caffeine in her system and food in her belly, it was time to get down to action. She rounded the desk that had been cleared of its computer and electronics. Freshly printed blueprints covered its glass top. On the edge of the desk was a sheet of paper outlining the details of the mission.

Milo moved next to her, his body so close that she ached for him to touch her. He didn’t. He pointed to the paper. “The property is gated, but judging from pictures, we can climb the wall and that will position us behind the tennis court. We’ll have to enter the house here,” he said, gesturing to the side entrance. “According to the prints, it’s the farthest from the servants’ quarters. Less chance we’ll be caught.”

Brock crossed his foot over his ankle. “Yeah, I like that it’s close to this line of trees. It’s a good spot for me to be on standby if you need backup.”

Serena approached the drawings. Her mind was much clearer now than it had been a few hours earlier.

“That won’t work.”