Though she pressed into his side, he didn’t tug her any closer. “You aren’t the only one in need of time apart, Evie.”
Ouch. “I’m not used to this relationship stuff, okay? I’ve never even had a boyfriend. I’ve had boys that took advantage of a young girl desperate for someone’s approval, guys that used me for a night and snuck away—and, yeah, okay, that always made me feel like crap and I suck for doing the same to you, and I’m sorry. I was wrong. And I know you told me not to apologize anymore, but it really does bear repeating. I was also wrong to judge you and call you the very names I called myself for years. Minus the ‘he-’ and ‘-man,’ of course. You’re a great guy, Blue, and it’s throwing me off my game.”
At first he gave no reaction. Then, with a sigh, he tucked his arm under her nape and rolled her into his side. She nearly wept with relief.
“You are not a whore or a slut,” he said. “And I don’t want to hear you talk like that ever again.”
His vehemence thrilled her. Who was she kidding? Everything about him thrilled her. “I want to be with you while we’re working this case,” she admitted. “You and no one else. Not just once or twice, but every day, every night. I want us to be exclusive.”
A pause.
A pause that scared her.
Rejection? This one would hurt more than any other. But she was a fighter and wasn’t going to give up easily. Not this time. “You need space to think. I get it. Meanwhile, ask me anything,” she said. “I’ll tell you straight up. I’ll even kick things off. Do I think this relationship is going to be easy? No. Do I think it’ll be worth it? Yes.”
No longer hesitating, he said, “What happened to Claire?”
She stiffened. Of course he’d go there. But she’d said she would spill, and so she would. “Three years ago, Michael assigned me a job, told me to pick a couple of agents to help with recon before I made the kill.” The more she spoke, the easier it was to get the words out. “But I didn’t want to pick a couple of agents. I wanted to do it on my own. I was so certain I’d succeed, and then I could hog all the glory.”
He didn’t say anything, but his arms tightened around her.
“Do you remember the Night-light Killer?”
“Yes.”
“It was her. I narrowed down my suspects to two, did more recon on both, and decided it was one over the other. I was right—and I was wrong. I made my kill, and while I was busy patting myself on the back for a job well done, the other woman was doing recon on me. The two were partners. I’d taken her best friend, so she waited for the perfect moment to strike and take mine.”
Blue kissed her temple. “You don’t have to tell me the rest.”
Yeah, but the rest of the details poured out of her anyway, unstoppable. “I came home and found Claire in pieces. Blood everywhere. And on the television screen was playing a loop of the murder. In it, Claire screamed. She screamed so much and even begged for me to save her. Until the woman ripped out her throat. Then she quieted, and I wanted so badly for the screams to start back up because it would mean she was alive. My sweet, gentle girl alive.”
“Oh, baby. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Her chin trembled and tears trickled down her cheeks. “After that, I told Michael I was done with the agency, and I meant it.”
“So you’re not back on payroll once John is found?”
“No. I’m going back to the hospital.”
“Do you like it there?”
“Yes.”
“But not love?”
“I . . . don’t know anymore.”
“I think you love being an agent. You’re so good at it.”
“Thank you.” But . . . “I’m not going to risk leading a criminal to an innocent ever again.”
“You’re wiser now. You know how to avoid—”
“No.”
He sighed. “Okay, baby. Okay. Let’s backtrack a little, then. You said you want to be with me as long as we’re working on the case. What happens after?”
“Afterward you go back to your house and your life.”
“And that means we can’t see each other anymore?”
Her brows drew together in genuine confusion. “Doesn’t it?”
“No,” he said. “Not to me.” Never had he sounded more determined.
“I know this isn’t the deal with Tiffany, but one day the seduction of a target is going to be the only option open to you. And I’m not dropping the hammer of judgment on you or anything like that. I just know the kind of cases you’re given, and I’m stating what I can and cannot accept from a boyfriend.”
At first he gave no reaction. Then his grip tightened on her, almost bruising her, and she wondered what thoughts tumbled through his head.
“So . . . I called Michael,” he said, changing the subject, “and told him to put a watch on Tyson Star if at all possible.”
Disappointment hit her. She’d wanted assurances from him, she realized. “Good thinking. It’s odd that the guy wants me. I mean, he wouldn’t even meet with me when I toured Star Light. Talk about setting myself up for the perfect snatch-and-kill.”
“Didn’t want your disappearance linked with his business, I guess.”
“All right, I’ll give you that, but
“I can think of two reasons. Either to please his father and help the guy nail Michael, using you as bait, or he’s taken over the empire, since Daddy is hiding in the country, and as Michael’s daughter you’re now a liability.”
Blue always seemed to home in on motive, something Evie always struggled with. She was great with gadgets but horrible with other people’s reasoning. “Well, I’m sending Tyson a personal invite to the victory party. He’d better come.”
“I have a feeling he will, since there’s no way his sister will stay away—which is why I want
“Uh, that would be a big fat no. Besides, the party is at his hotel, and if you’re right and he doesn’t want to involve his business, he won’t make a play for me while I’m there. It’s the safest place I could be.”
“Had a feeling you’d say that,” he grumbled. “We need to get some sleep—after we have sex. Papa wants some loving. But I’ll make it fast, because we’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“So kind of you.” Feeling suddenly shy, she said, “Afterward are we going to have our snugs?”
“Try to get away. I dare you.”
Blue jolted upright, instantly alert. Evie did the same, the covers falling to her waist. Sunlight slanted through the curtains, highlighting her beauty. Her tank was bunched under her breasts, revealing the flat plane of her stomach. She was blinking rapidly, trying to focus.
He’d been having the most erotic dream, his hands all over her body, his mouth soon following, when all of a sudden—
That.
“Someone’s trying to break in,” she gasped. She jumped to her feet and raced out of the room before he could stop her.
Cursing, he grabbed the pyre-gun he’d shoved under his pillow. He pulled on a pair of boxer briefs that did nothing to hide the stiff morning wood he would have liked to introduce to Evie.
“Intruder” was going to pay. Severely.
He stalked into the hallway. The sunlight was brighter there, streaming through uncovered windows, filling the confined space. No sign of Evie.
