Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I feel a little guilty for thinking about Matty naked while two men are being arrested, the newly arrived fire department puts out a fire, and a team of EMTs carry Bear out on a stretcher with the box of cats balanced on his belly, but not too bad. In those few moments while I was fighting bad guys in front of the burning engine, when my life flashed before my eyes, I only regretted a few things and one of them was not having more excellent sex—especially with Matty.
Gram was right. Sex is one of the great gifts of being in a human body, just like lemon gelato and cupcakes with extra icing, and from now on, I’m not skipping dessert.
Not in any of its forms…
But I’m also not going to be such a sex-pervert that I don’t know when to stop thinking about Matty going down on me while he squeezes my ass tight in both hands and step in for a friend in need.
As Bear’s stretcher is carried past the SUV, I swing out, shouting to be heard over the storm, “Wait! I’ll take the cats!”
The two beefy EMTs stop, blinking in the pounding rain as I hurry over to meet them.
“Thank you,” Bear says, relief flooding his features. “I’m not sure if they’ll let me keep them at the hospital. And Clyde’s upset, and I’m starting to feel dizzy.”
“Of course, you poor thing,” I say, brushing his hair from his forehead before gathering the box containing a belching and yowling Clyde from his lap. “I’ll take care of everything, don’t worry. Is there anyone you want me to call for you? Your parents? A friend? Someone who can meet you at the hospital?”
“I’ll call my friend Jace when I get there,” he says, looking sleepier now that the stress of the cats’ fate is off his shoulders. “But thank you. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”
“Matty and I will call and check on you,” I assure him as the EMTs resume their course toward the waiting ambulance and Matty comes striding back toward me through the downpour under a large black umbrella he’s acquired somewhere along the way. I call after Bear, “Don’t worry about anything, I’ll take care of our little mama and her babies!”
Matty stands beside me, shielding the cats and I from the worst of the rain. “Al’s going to be here in five minutes. He’ll take you back to the hotel, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
My brows pinch together. “No. You have to come with me. No more danger, no more mission, no more CIA. You’re done.”
“Almost. I promise.” He sighs, looking tired, but determined and in love with me. The last part is the only thing that keeps me from crumpling into a puddle on the ground with all the other puddles when he adds, “But I have to finish this. Now. Before the Sweetwaters get wind of the fact that Rex and Wimpy were arrested. I’ll get down to Bad Dog, get the information we need, and get back to you as quickly as I can. The good news is, once I meet you at the hotel tonight, I’ll be done. For good. The rest of the team can finish everything else.”
I want to argue. I want to ask why they can’t do the lurking and sneaking in Bad Dog, too, but his mind is made up. I can see it in his face. And it seems Al is already here. The man with the weathered face and battered ball cap emerging from a nondescript beige sedan a few yards away just looks like an Al.
He also has kind eyes and seems to care about Matty.
His voice is brusque as he says, “Get going, kid. No rest for the wicked tonight,” but his gaze is filled with compassion. He claps Matty on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she has everything she needs.”
“And the cats,” Matty murmurs. “Bear was hurt, so we’re back on cat duty.”
“Of course, you are,” Al says flatly. “It wouldn’t be this mission if there wasn’t cat herding involved.” To me, he adds, “You ready, ma’am?”
Casting a quick glance Matty’s way to see him watching me with a hopeful look, clearly needing me to play nice with his handler, I nod, “Sure. But call me Nora. I’ll sit in the back and try to dry out the cats while you drive.”
“I have towels,” Al says, taking the umbrella handle from Matty. “And a clean sweatshirt for you. Don’t want you to catch a chill.”
As we walk away, I look over my shoulder to see Matty standing in the rain, watching us go, and pray it isn’t the last time I see him. I’m suddenly positive we can overcome any of the obstacles still standing in our path—I’ll take my business on the road in his van if I have to—as long as he comes home to me tonight.