“Was a terrible mistake,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice down. “Please don’t rub salt in the wound.” A horrible heat started in my belly and rushed to my chest, anguish filling me.
He reached for me, but pulled back before his hand touched mine. I wanted desperately for him to grab me into a comforting hug. I’d told him we were alone. Why wasn’t he holding me?
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t going to chide you. You should know me better than that. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through.” He wrung his hands in his lap.
Just do it, take my hand. No one will see. He didn’t. “I’m going to fix it. I saw the pickpocket—I knew I could find him again, but Siron refused to even listen until now.”
“I’m not denying that you were treated badly—but still, did you have to go rushing into danger? You have a gift for persuasion. Couldn’t you have persuaded her?”
“She wouldn’t let me talk.” I could feel the pulsing heat coming off his skin, so close to mine. I took a quick deep breath to help slow my heart.
He was here. He was finally here. I suddenly didn’t care about Siron. The only thing I wanted was his hand in mine. I almost reached over and took his hand, but he turned to me and said, “Just…don’t be reckless. Please don’t be reckless.” His body slouched slightly, and his pleading voice tore at me. Hadn’t Siron told me I was reckless?
“I’m not reckless.”
“Uh, this, what you are doing right now, is reckless. Where is your backup?”
Instead I said, “Right next to me.” While it was kind of a buzz kill to have him lecture me, nothing could douse the total excitement that I felt now that he was with me. He moved like he was getting ready to leave. “Before you go, grab a crepe.” I wanted to share something amazing with him. “Mad Dogs.”
“All right. Heading for the Louvre, then?”
“Yes.”
“I just re-programmed your phone. Number one on speed dial is me. If you’re in trouble, press it and I’m there.”
He’d reprogrammed my phone? I hadn’t even felt him take it. He was so good. Or perhaps he just distracted me so much I couldn’t notice. I’d have to get him to show me how he’d done that later.
“I know you don’t want me to say it, but I can’t not say it. Please be safe.”
I nodded.
“I’ll see you back at HQ later.” Then he was gone.
I hated that our first true meeting would be at HQ.
I pulled out my phone to look him up. I had a message. From him. I can’t tell you how good it was to see you. I missed you. My heart raced.
On the train back to the Louvre, a pregnant lady sat close next to me. I had an open seat on the other side of me and thought about sliding over to give her room, but she sighed and turned to me. Summer. I slid to the next seat and she slid into the one I’d vacated. I stared across the aisle. I had had no idea she was there. “That was a beautiful little reunion. Glad I was able to pick you up when you left the Louvre. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss that for the world.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I clenched my teeth. Wait. Had she said she picked me up after the Louvre this morning? I thought I’d felt her following me inside the Louvre. I must’ve misunderstood her.
“You and Jeremy. Even from a great distance, I could see your longing.”
“Shut up, Summer. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know unrequited love when I see it. How old is he anyway?”
I didn’t answer.
“There’s got to be about a ten year difference between you two. He could never be interested in you.” She snorted.
Only eight, I thought. I stared hard at the people across the aisle, my jaw tense. I wanted to get the heck off the train.
“I’m sure there’s someone out there for you,” she continued. “I met some nice guys taking a nap in the train station that would be perfect for you.”
“Look, Summer, you’re supposed to be my shadow. Never seen or heard.”
She snorted. “It’s kind of ironic, don’t you think. That I’m here to keep you safe?”
Heat flushed through my body as I stood to take my exit.
“He has such a smooth and inviting voice—even as a Jamaican.”
I couldn’t help it, my head jerked back to her. She’d listened in on our conversation.
She grinned a wicked grin and I rushed off the train, the sounds of her laughter following me. It took all my strength not to turn back and let her have it.
It was a good thing Jeremy had held back.
***
I stopped off in Division’s restroom to freshen up before the debriefing. I was about to see Jeremy. Jeremy as himself, with no disguise. Would he have changed in the last four months? My heart thumped in anticipation as I looked through the windows of the conference room. The team, Halluis, Ace, Rosabella, and Jeremy, all stood around the table talking. I focused on Jeremy. My whole world seemed to stop as a great relief once again rolled off me. His striped, button up shirt fit snugly against his toned body and I imagined what it would be like for him to hold me tight. His hair was a bit longer and shaggier than usual and my soul was set aflame. I stared a little too long, giving Summer an opportunity to needle me.
“He looks so good, doesn’t he? I’m excited to see the fireworks.”
“There’s nothing going on between us.”
“And I’m good at pretending too,” she hissed before heading to the room, entering right after the director. The room seemed
