Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Zach shrugged. “We all have. What do you want me to say? We’re a freaking spy team, and she’s everyone’s best friend. We were all worried about her so we take turns vetting her dates, and if we sometimes happen to be around the spot she’s meeting the dude at, well, it’s just keeping our surveillance skills tight. But you should understand she’s serious about it. I’m pretty sure she’s got a date set up for some time next week.”
“She’ll cancel it.” Though they’d be at home, they were still in the middle of something potentially dangerous.
“Should she?” Zach asked. “Or should she have a bodyguard? I mean someone was recently sent to take in your mom. I laughed at that. They came after Erin Taggart with one dude, and he didn’t even try to snipe her from afar. I think that guy genuinely looked at her and said he could take her. They’ll think the same of Lou, so she should be protected. I was going to talk to her about it. It’s not like you’re doing anything.”
Zach wanted him to watch Lou date? “I don’t know that I could handle that.”
“Sure you can. You be professional and look good. You stand in the background, and every time she looks your way you send her a longing look like you’re a rescue dog she’s thinking of taking back to the pound. Cry a little, man. I know the older generation didn’t have those tools to work with, but we do. Not too much. Just like a hint of a tear and she’ll probably melt. I would also play up the trauma of what you went through. You have to hurt like a motherfucker.”
He did. Every muscle ached. “I took some ibuprofen. I can handle it.”
“Dude, you’re not listening to me,” Zach said. “Let her baby you. Let her take care of you, and thank her for it. And don’t wear a shirt so she can see the scars.”
His father had said the same thing. Was there a class he was supposed to take? Still, he’d promised himself he would let his ruthless side out. He had a plan, but maybe she should see all sides of him, and he could definitely handle some babying from her. “I can do that.”
“All right. Then you’re dismissed, and we’ll meet up after we’ve had some rest. I want to pore over everything you’ve done, everyone you’ve seen or talked to in the last couple of years. Be careful and watch what you say to anyone outside of this team,” Zach ordered.
“Well, my team is pretty much trashed after the Aussie op, so I don’t think that will be a problem,” he replied, working his way out of the seat. It wasn’t easy. Planes weren’t built for bulky dudes.
Zach wasn’t done. “If someone calls and asks where you are, you tell them you’re home for a family emergency and nothing else.”
He didn’t like the implications. “What’s going on that I don’t know?”
“I think there are some people in the intelligence community who don’t like this team and don’t like how much leeway we’re getting. They’re trying to withhold intel from us. Or hell, maybe Kala stepped on the wrong toes or Big Tag did in the distant past,” Zach said with a sigh. “It feels like all eyes are on us, and you being tied to an arms dealer isn’t going to help.”
“I don’t know who he is.”
“It won’t matter if we can’t figure this out, so play your cards close to the vest you won’t be wearing because you’re trying to entice a girl,” Zach offered. “Send Coop back. I’m ready for a nap.”
“Will do.” He opened the cockpit door and stepped out. Lou was leaning over in her seat as though she’d been watching the door, waiting for him to come out.
She immediately sat up, and her head was down, looking at her tablet.
TJ felt a rush of satisfaction. She might not be sitting next to him because she was a big old scaredy cat.
But he still had a shot.
Chapter Eight
Lou took the sheets out and wondered how TJ was going to fit on the couch for longer than a couple of nights.
Three months. He was here for at least three months, and he would be living here and going into the office with Kenz and Kala and hanging out every day. They would eat dinner and breakfast. Like they lived together. Like they were together.
Tired. She was so tired. The flight had taken forever, and she’d been to Germany and back in a forty-eight-hour period.
Kenz and Kala were already sleeping, but she had TJ to deal with. Kala had yawned and told her TJ had been her problem for a long time and if it was up to her, he could sleep with Bud 2.