Page 26 of Bulletproof

“I will not leave Jory alone with that guy. It’s not happening.”

“Sam, you cannot blow this case for⁠—”

“He’s not worried about me,” I lied automatically. “He’s just worried that I’m gonna blow your cover. When Sam’s on the job, he’s totally on it,” I assured Agent Calhoun. “You know that.”

He squinted at me. “I do know that.”

“Well then, see?” I forced a smile. “We’re fine. Both of you should just get the hell away from me.”

“Jor—”

“I’m fine,” I assured Sam coolly. “You guys go ahead. I just need a minute.”

He was going to say something, but Calhoun grabbed his arm and tugged hard. They were both gone seconds later. I was trembling when the door opened again, this time revealing Cristo Liron.

“Hey,” he said gently, sounding worried as he crossed the room to me. “What’s wrong? Are you claustrophobic or⁠—”

“I’m fine,” I assured him, stepping back. “I was just a little lightheaded. I didn’t have any dinner, and I⁠—”

“Fuck it,” he growled, reaching for me, hands on my face, holding gently but firmly, tipping my head up so he could see my eyes. “We’ll eat now. Business can wait. I⁠—”

“No.” I shook my head, feeling out of it, my mind reeling as I pulled free of his touch, putting space between us. “I just wanna go home.”

“Shit,” he said under his breath, swallowing hard, moving forward, only to have me step around him.

“I have to go home.” I needed to see all my stuff was still where it should be, assure myself that I had not gone completely insane over the last hour.

His voice was deep and sultry. “Angel, please just let me take you to dinner.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m leaving.”

“I shouldn’t have brought you here. It’s a waste of your time because I have business to conduct, but I just couldn’t let you go home … I wanted to spend more time with you.”

I moved fast, putting the kitchen island between us before he could protest. I had my graceful way out, and I was going to take it.

“You have things to do, to discuss, and I’m just here, doing nothing but taking up your time. You wanted to thank me for Eddie, and you did. It’s enough. You don’t hafta do any more.”

“No, that’s not⁠—”

“Eddie’s got my number, so maybe next week, you guys gimme a call, and the three of us can grab lunch or something. Or call me, and we can have dinner, just us … but I need to be done here for the night.”

“I want to sit and talk with you.”

“Call me then. The food sounded really great.” I tried to smile for him.

After several long minutes, he nodded. “I will call, Angel, make no mistake.”

“Good.”

He smiled and gestured for the door. I didn’t wait. I bolted.

I didn’t look for Sam. I just moved. Eyes straight ahead, snaking my way through the crowd, I was back on the deck with the wind on my face in what felt like seconds. Down the ladder, back on the dock, I jogged to the parking lot to my car.

Once I was driving, I finally took a breath. I had never been so happy to be going home.

FOUR

Itold myself nine hundred times that I should not be angry. Sam was undercover. The woman was probably undercover too. Or if she was not, she was a beard, and he would not touch her in any way that could be construed as remotely romantic. I knew it—knew him—and the whole thing was too ridiculous to even consider. My brain understood. My heart seconded the notion, knowing how it felt about him, knowing how he felt about me, and that was all well and good, except that my body was hot and needy, just thinking about him.