Page 69 of Until the End

How stupid was she?

She slid a hand across the scruff on his cheek—obviously beyond-all-hope stupid.

He shifted closer, drawing his mouth toward hers. Breathless anticipation had her rising from her seat to meet his lips, unable to wait for the spark of friction, no air between them, when a throat cleared in the rear of the vehicle.

Castle shot back away from her so fast you would’ve thought they’d been caught on the verge of committing a felony.

Embarrassment burned her cheeks as she settled in her seat and remembered: she was a POI, this was his job, and his colleague was in the back seat.

“Are we going to grab a little brekkie?” Alistair asked, looking peaked. Bloodshot eyes, complexion somewhat on the green side, he was still rather handsome. In the way gritty bad boys always were. He sat up, groaning. His dirty-blond hair flopped in his face, and he raked it back into his hipster mohawk. “I’m famished.”

“No time,” Castle said, avoiding eye contact with her. “Ms. Westcott said that Professor Mendoza swims on campus every morning, Monday through Friday at eight. If we hurry, we can catch him as he’s leaving the pool.”

“But we have time for this?” Alistair waved a finger between her and Castle. “Pit stop?”

Kit’s face was on fire. She rolled down her window, letting in cool, fresh air.

“We need gas.” Castle cut the engine, hopped out, and slammed the door.

Alistair followed him. “Backup isn’t my primary directive,” he said, his voice carrying easily through her open window.

“What do you mean?” Castle asked.

“The chief assigned me to run interference.”

Interference from what? she wondered.

Both men looked over at her through the driver’s side window. Flames spread down her throat to her breasts.

“I guess the chief was right to be worried about you cozying up to her. Dad must have a crystal ball. If I had known you were going to work at warp speed, I wouldn’t have drowned my sorrows in a bucket of booze last night. Instead, I would’ve been superglued to your arse.”

Castle folded his arms across his broad chest. “This isn’t a problem unless you make it one.”

“What I heard and saw is a problem. It’s not like you to mix business with pleasure.”

“Fuck off, Allie.”

“Aha, see.” Alistair pointed an accusatory finger at Castle. “I knew you had fucking on your brain. But you can’t dip your stick in that pond. Don’t go catching feelings—they’re worse than bloody herpes. Remember, you’re the heartless Beast. Hooking up with that princess isn’t going to turn you into a Disney-crooning prince.”

Castle slapped his hand away. “Worry about where you dip your stick and I’ll worry about mine. I’m in no danger of catching anything. I have always been and will continue to be a professional.” He didn’t sound the least bit conflicted, like this was a little, harmless flirtation and nothing more, but she’d never wanted to be wrong about something as much as she did now. “We’re here to do a job. Let’s get it done. Okay?”

“Big boy, I’m on your side. I’ve got your back.”

“Really? What are you going to report to the chief?”

Her breath hitched. No one had ever risked anything for her before. Not to help her or even for her money. Castle’s job seemed a part of him, gave him the same sense of purpose that taking care of her team had given to her.

Had she jeopardized that for him?

“There’s nothing to report. Right?” Alistair said, sarcasm thick as clotted cream.

“Right,” Castle shot back.

“Once we get the package, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no longer any potential conflict of interest. Let’s gas up, grab some nibbles, and go get it. Then you two consenting adults can do as you please. Who am I to judge when 007 shagged every twat in sight?” Alistair glanced at her through the window again and winked. “Did you catch all that, luv?” He flashed a wicked grin that felt like payback for calling him out as a Scouser.

She averted her gaze, hating the compromising position she’d put Castle in. Why couldn’t one thing in her life be simple?

Castle was turning out to be a genuine white hat, despite his chosen profession. They certainly needed more of them. Castle was trying to stop terrorists, keep the world safe, and had made the harder, ethical choice of not railroading her to do it.