“It’s safe,” he told her.
She stepped into the kitchen and he locked the door behind her. He pulled her into his arms and held her, transferring some of his warmth to her chilled body. It was a measure of how far they’d come that she slipped her arms around him and held on while he rubbed her back.
“You’re cold, minette.”
She tilted her head back, smiling up at him with a question in her gaze. “Minette? What’s that?”
“It means kitten.”
“And why am I a kitten now?”
She didn’t seem upset about it, but she arched an eyebrow.
“Because your claws came out today, Ang. You look beautiful and sweet—and you’re definitely both of those things—but you’re also fierce and willing to fight back.”
“You thought I was delicate, didn’t you?”
He nodded. No sense lying. “Can you blame me? You avoided me for months. According to your best friend you haven’t entirely been yourself. I don’t think anyone could be blamed for thinking you were in a delicate state of mind after everything that happened last year.”
“I know. I guess I was feeling delicate.”
“But not anymore.”
“No, not anymore. Like I told you in the car—I’m done with letting people get the best of me. Not that I’m thrilled about everything I just learned about Charles and his spreadsheet and hidden accounts, but I’m not going to freak out about it either.”
She tugged her lip between her teeth and an arrow of lust shot straight to his groin.
“I know Ian told you more,” she added.
“Yes, but none of it relates to the immediate problem just yet.”
He could feel her stiffening slightly in his embrace. “Which means you aren’t going to tell me.”
“That’s right, but you already know that. I’m sorry if it upsets you, but trust me when I tell you there are good reasons for it.”
She didn’t need to know more than she already did about the Cardinal Group, or about the fact someone had used the Barton, Barnes and Blake alarm code—there was only one for the entire office—on the night of the fire. The code had been used to enter the building twice that night. Someone had come in at 10:13 and left again at 11:53. Someone returned at 1:00 a.m. They’d punched in, but not out. And the fire alarm had triggered within half an hour of that entry.
Which meant whoever started the fire had the alarm code. An employee? Or someone who’d gotten the code by other means?
There was no doubt the fire had been started on purpose. Though Colt had told Angie BDI didn’t do fire investigation, they had explosives experts. Ian had gotten permission for his people to liaise with the fire investigators as they searched the premises—and they’d found evidence of an accelerant in what was left of Charles Martinelli’s office.
What they didn’t know was why. Why had someone taken the risk of burning down the building? The files were already deleted by that time. They’d been removed during the first visit that evening. Dax didn’t know whose login had been used to do it yet, but he’d find out.
The second visit seemed to have been for the purpose of setting a fire. Could have been two different people who’d entered, and with differing purposes. But it sure didn’t make a lot of sense just yet.
“Okay,” Angie finally said, surprising him. “I’m trusting you, Colt. I know Jace can’t tell Maddy everything, so I’m going to believe you when you say you can’t tell me more. But when you can, I want to know.”
“You have my word, minette.”
“I assume I have to stay with you for the time being?”
“That’s the plan.” And he was glad of it. He didn’t want her in her condo right now. Not only because something was going on and she might be in danger, but also because he liked having her here. He liked this moment right now, when she stood in his embrace and didn’t shrink from him.
“So long as you cook for me, I think I can deal.”
“I will cook for you. Whatever you want.”
“Whatever I want?”
He loved the saucy expression on her face. “If I can, I will.”
“Can you do coq au vin?”
He snorted. “What do you think?”
“I think that’s a yes. To be clear, I’ve only had it once. But it was really good and I’d like to try it again.”
“I’ll fix it for you. I need to do some shopping. Probably not today though.”
“That’s okay. Soon?”
“Tomorrow. Is that soon enough?”
“Sure. What’s for lunch today? I’m starved.”
He loved that she had an appetite. “We can order something and have it delivered. Suggestions?”
“Indian?”
“Sounds good. You warm enough now?”
“I think so. It was the rain, and maybe some leftover adrenaline from the meeting.”
Reluctantly, he let her go. He pulled up the menu from his favorite Indian restaurant. They looked it over and he placed an order. Angie disappeared into the bedroom. When she returned, she was wearing a sweatshirt and she’d taken her boots off and put on fuzzy socks that were as thick as boots. She grinned at him as she sat cross-legged on his couch and opened her laptop.
Colt thought he could spend every day for the rest of his life like this. Angie in his house, wearing her comfy clothes and working on her computer. The only thing that would make it more perfect was if he had the right to touch her. He’d kiss her, strip her naked, and carry her to his room where he’d make love to her for the rest of the afternoon.
He shook his head. What the hell was wrong with him? Yeah, he wanted her. More than he remembered wanting anyone. But there was more to it than that. He wanted to talk to her. Joke with her. Share things with her that he’d never shared with anyone.
It was crazy shit, to feel this way. Hanging around Jace and Brett had made him soft. He saw
