“I felt the same about you.”
“Sometimes, I wonder if there’s anything left of mine.”
She put her hand on my left pec. “It’s whole, Paxon.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Same way you’re sure mine is kind.” She rested her head on my chest. “Tell me about your life before this mission.”
It was hard to remember there was a “before,” and I said so. “My life before I joined the CIA was pretty dull. My dad died when I was eight. My mom died not long after I graduated from college. No brothers or sisters, not even cousins.”
“Did you have a lot of friends in school?”
“Nah. I was more of a loner.”
“Like me, although probably for a different reason.”
“I’ve never been much of a talker. People probably figured I was an asshole, so they didn’t bother trying to get to know me.”
“Seems like you have a lot of friends now.”
“Friends? I don’t know about that. Work colleagues.”
“What about Cope?”
I laughed. “I guess he’s my friend. Although, when I first met him, I couldn’t stand him.”
“Tell me why.”
We talked until well past midnight, only stopping every so often to get lost in more kisses. Every time she said she should go, I held her tight, not wanting her to leave. Finally, we both fell asleep.
When I woke, the sun was coming up. Flynn’s back was to my front, and I had my arm around her waist. When I moved it, her eyes opened and she stretched.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Almost six.”
I expected her to say she had to rush off, but she smiled up at me.
“Do you know how much I wish I could spend the whole day with you? Tonight too?”
“As much as I’d like to spend it with you, Paxon.”
I held out my hand, she took it, and I pulled her to her feet. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but are you supposed to be at the dining hall?”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist. “Today is my day off.”
I put my arms around her and groaned. “Now I really wish I could take the day off too.”
She leaned up and kissed me. “It’s okay. I have plans this morning anyway.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m having breakfast with two friends in Gunnison.”
I loved how pleased she sounded. “Who are they?”
That question made her cheeks turn pink. “Nina and Lucy. They’re the ones who helped me pick out new clothes and fix my hair.”
I brushed the wisps from her face, kissed each of her eyelids, the tip of her nose, and her lips. I stopped myself from continuing down the side of her neck, knowing then I’d be starting something neither of us was ready for.
“Do you think you’ll be working all night?” she asked.
“I hope not, but it depends on how much we’re able to accomplish today.”
“If you happen to quit early, maybe I could come over.”
“I would love it. How late is early?”
She laughed. “Text me when you’re finishing up, and if I’m still awake, that’ll be early.”
When Flynn left, I climbed into the coldest shower I could stand. When I got out and looked in the mirror, I hardly recognized the man staring back at me. I’d so rarely seen him smile.
“You’re in a good mood this morning,” said Ali, nudging me with her arm when I came out of the cabin and saw her and Cope waiting for me.
“You can tell that just by looking at my face?”
“Yep,” answered Cope. “Not to mention that when we got up, she looked out the window and saw Buck’s sister doing the walk of shame right after sunrise.”
The smile left my face. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Settle down, Irish. I was just joking. Although, we did see her truck last night when we returned from the dining hall, so I don’t think you can get away with telling us she came by to drop something off this morning.”
“She stayed over, okay? But nothing happened.”
Ali put her arm through mine as we walked to the waiting SUV. “Either way, Irish. It’s none of our business. I’m just happy to see you happy.”
Five minutes after we walked into the ranch house where we were scheduled to meet, every bit of happiness I’d felt was knocked out of me when I saw someone I’d expected even less than Saint.
“What the fuck is Dr. Benjamin doing here?” I barked at Decker, whose head snapped up.
“It was in the brief I sent this morning.”
“I didn’t have a chance to read it.”
He raised a brow.
“I’ll do it now.” I sat at a table and opened my laptop. When I got done reading, I wasn’t any happier about Benjamin’s arrival than I had been when I saw him. It had been Saint who suggested he join us, and from what I read, the only person he’d cleared it with was Lynx.
“I thought I was the lead on this part of the investigation.”
“You are.”
“Then why wasn’t I read in on it before it happened?”
“That’s a question you’re going to have to ask for yourself.” Decker motioned with his head to where Lynx and Emme were standing. I stalked over to them.
“A word,” I said to Lynx, also motioning to Saint. They both followed me out the door to the front porch.
I spun around on them. “I don’t know what chain of command the two of you believe you’re operating under, but for this mission, I’m at the top. Everything that happens with it from here until it’s called, goes through me. In my absence, it goes through Stella. Are we clear?”
“What’s this about?” asked Lynx.
“Dr. Benjamin.”
“What of him? The man is an MI6 asset.”
“I don’t care if he’s the chief of MI6. You should’ve cleared it with me before bringing him here.”
An SUV pulled up, and Doc Butler got out along with Razor Sharp and Gunner Godet.
