Theoretically.
Evan tapped on Juliet’s office door. “I come in peace.”
She looked up from where she sat at her desk. “I know my brothers are your best friends, but they are really idiots sometimes.”
“No argument here.” Evan sat down in a nearby chair. “But if it helps, they’re on board now. Anything you need or want for this op, just ask them and they’ll get it to you.”
Juliet nodded. “I know they’re worried about me. I don’t blame them.”
“You’re going to do fine.” Looking at her now, so comfortable in her office, her color just slightly heightened from the fight with her brother, Evan believed his own words.
“I noticed when you were telling Dylan what happened that you left out the part where I hurled my guts all over the pavement. That’s not exactly the most confidence-inspiring action.”
Evan shrugged. “We’ve all lost it a time or two. Throwing up isn’t the worst way someone’s dealt with the stress of an op. Plus, you didn’t do it while we were surrounded by Cady and his men. That’s what counts.”
“But what if I had, Evan?” Juliet’s posture was hunched, her voice strained. “What if I had lost it right there in the middle of everything?”
“Then we would’ve dealt with it. Like anything that doesn’t go your way while you’re undercover. We would’ve blamed the guy who grabbed you, or the Avian flu, or told them you were pregnant. But we would’ve come up with something.”
Juliet didn’t look convinced.
“We can’t prepare for every possibility in the field. That’s why not everyone is cut out for working undercover. You have to think on your feet and be ready for anything.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t know that I’m able to do that anymore. I could barely think at all at the warehouse this morning.”
“We’ll stick together as much as possible, have each other’s backs. And always, if you don’t know what to say, the best bet is to say as little as possible.”
Juliet’s grin was wry. “That shouldn’t be a problem for me.”
“Are you nearly done here? I don’t think we can afford to waste any time. We’re going to need every bit of the days we have before meeting Cady.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Burgamy all but jumped for joy when I told him I was going back undercover as Lisa Sinclair. Then got this very smug look on his face, like he knew it would happen all along. He had Chantelle clear everything off my plate for the next couple of weeks.”
“Poor Chantelle. I don’t know how she can bear being that close to Burgamy all the time.”
Juliet began gathering up papers, straightening her desk. “I won’t waste any more time around here, so you and I can get to work prepping for the op. And I won’t be offended, Evan, if you feel we need to start back at the very beginning. As if I’m fresh out of the academy.” But he could tell she found the thought distasteful.
“Even if you were straight out of the FBI Academy, you’ve still got good instincts, Jules. You’re just going to need to learn not to panic. You’ve got the skills, we just have to hone them. It’ll all come back.”
Evan walked over to her desk and helped her collect and stack the files that had to do with Vince Cady. Juliet’s discomfort grew as he got closer to her. Normally he would’ve backed off, given her the space she requested with her nonverbal communication. But not now.
Physical distance between the two of them was over. Their lives would depend on it.
Evan never actually touched her, but definitely came near enough to invade her personal space. Juliet didn’t say anything, but shifted away, avoiding eye contact and rocking slightly.
That sort of behavior was more likely to get them killed while undercover than anything else. She couldn’t cringe every time he was near.
“Jules.” Evan kept his tone soft, even. “Lisa Sinclair wouldn’t shy away from Bob. He’s her husband. They love each other.”
She nodded jerkily and stopped sliding farther away. But she was obviously still uncomfortable. Evan moved nearer.
“It’s just me, Jules,” he said softly into her ear. “I’ve been this close to you a hundred times before.”
* * *
JULIET KNEW WHAT Evan said was true. They had been this close countless times before. She had known him since they were teenagers. He’d been running around with her brothers for almost as long as she could remember.
Evan was never going to hurt her.
Juliet tried to relax into that knowledge. The presence of such a large man—she came only up to his chin—so close beside her was still unsettling, but this was Evan. It was okay. Juliet took a deep breath and let the fear ease out of her system.
This is Evan. She repeated it in her head like a mantra.
They finished stacking the files. Evan helped her put them into her bag.
“So what’s the plan?” Juliet asked him.
“When was the last time you fired your weapon?”
“I’ve kept current. Been at the range at least weekly.”
“Good, because we don’t have time to mess with that. We’ve got more important things to do, like go grocery shopping.”
Of all the things Juliet could think of that needed to be done before their next meeting with Cady—memorization of her undercover role, brushing up on hand-to-hand combat, going over details about Cady and his known associates, coming up with a solid overall plan—none involved walking leisurely through a grocery store.
But that’s where she found herself forty-five minutes later. Strolling through the local grocery store, pushing a cart, Evan right next to her helping her pick out produce.
As if they were on their fifth date and about to make a romantic meal together.
And the crazy thing was, for the first time in as long as Juliet could remember, the thought of a romantic meal didn’t make her want to be sick to her stomach.
Evan didn’t talk to her about the case or Vince
