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He eyed her, then he glanced over her shoulder. “Did she drag me out of the car on her own?”
Someone said, “Yes, but the rest of us helped get you in.”
Liam brushed hair back from her face gently, looking like he wanted to kiss her.Danger.He shouldn’t bend, and they had an audience, but neither of those were the reasons why a kiss was a bad idea—the reason she needed to focus on.
“These are agents with the Northwest Counter-Terrorism Taskforce.” A change of topic was agreatidea. “Special Agent Dakota Pierce, Homeland Security, and her partner, who is also her husband, DEA Special Agent Josh Weber. The German shepherd is his K-9, Neema.”
Liam frowned. “Never heard of you guys.”
Dakota laughed. “That’s how we like it.” She reached over and shook Liam’s hand over Roxie’s shoulder. “Nice to meet you.”
Liam glanced at Roxie. She nodded because he’d realized what she had—that these people’s lives made no sense because what task force was set up like theirs? But they seemed nice. Like they wanted to do good in the world. Dakota ran the team. They had a few more team members who hadn’t come to meet with Clare. Roxie couldn’t remember the rest of it.
She’d tried to ignore his working dog, but who could? Dogs were the best, and this one was friendly.Neema.
“I’m Josh.”
Liam shook his hand. “Sergeant O’Connell, Benson PD.”
“Didn’t you call your department for backup when you realized you were being shot at?”
Liam nodded, relaying a story about being told his badge number didn’t exist.
Roxie’s finger slipped off the tape she was using to hold down the bandage. “Are you kidding me?”
“I know.” He squeezed her arm. “I’ll get to the bottom of it, don’t worry. But I got hung out to dry just now. It’s only by the grace of God that I was close to you guys so I could get some help.”
“Good.” She didn’t want him in danger anywhere except where she could get to him.
He got that look again, like he wanted to kiss her.
Clare said, “I’ll call Gage.”
Roxie stared at Liam. “They’re going to answer for that. You could’ve died today.”Right in front of me.
The group of people started to dissipate, moving away. Roxie didn’t let go of the hard press of her lips, keeping her mouth closed so she didn’t slip and let him know how she felt about him.
Liam shifted toward her.
She started to object. He needed to sit still!
Before she could blink, he pressed his lips to hers.
TWENTY-NINE
Liam lingered for a second, taking his time because he wanted to but also making it light and easy for Roxie. The last thing he wanted was to put pressure on her that she didn’t need right now—or ever, really.
He was vaguely aware everyone had backed off and was talking in the corner of the lobby. Less aware than he was about the pounding in the back of his head, but when he finally had what he wanted, the discomfort didn’t matter. He was resolute in his focus.
Roxie was what he wanted.
She shifted slightly, holding back. Liam broke off at her signal and held her gaze for a second, loving the way she looked a little surprised and a whole lot flushed. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“I don’t know about that.” He felt a slight smile tug at his lips.
She frowned and sat back, picking up gauze packets and tossing them in the tiny wicker wastebasket at the end of the couch. When she returned, he clasped her hand and tugged her beside him. He probably looked like a sorry sight with his ripped shirt and bleeding head.
Still, he needed to say, “Whatever happens, I want you there with me.”
