Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
MaeBe laughed at the thought. “Oh, that sounds like fun. This year’s my first Thanksgiving here, and I’m looking forward to it.”
“You don’t have it with your family?” he asked.
Her vibrance dimmed. “I don’t have much of a family. I think Big Tag’s orphan dinner will be way more fun than getting kicked out of my stepmom’s Martha Stewart holiday party for not wearing the right pearls. Anyway, welcome to the group.”
“Yes, welcome, Kyle,” a deep voice said. “You’re late.”
His uncle was standing in the hall that led to the main office. Ian Taggart. The man had been in his life for over a decade, and Kyle wasn’t sure how he’d survived without him.
God, he hoped his uncle never found out how badly he’d screwed up. “I’m twenty minutes early.”
His uncle’s lips curved up slightly. “Like I said. Late. Come on. I’ll walk you downstairs. You’ve got a shit ton of paperwork to do.”
He nodded toward the women. “It was nice to meet you both.”
MaeBe gave him a wave. “You, too. Let me know if you need anything computer-wise.”
His uncle started walking. He didn’t look behind him, merely expected Kyle to follow. Kyle did look behind him, unable to not take one last look at a woman who shouldn’t catch his eye for anything beyond how odd she was.
Oddly lovely. He was lying to himself when he’d thought she wasn’t his type. She wasn’t this version of Kyle’s type. She wasn’t the spy’s type. She was absolutely the dumbass college kid he’d been’s type. That Kyle would have fumbled all over her and tried to figure out how to work his way into her world. He would have flirted and plotted to get into her bed.
That Kyle had never killed a person.
That Kyle hadn’t killed the last woman who’d trusted him.
He jogged to catch up.
Ian stopped in the middle of the hall, whirling around and pinning Kyle with a death stare. “You’re not into my cybersecurity expert, are you?”
That was fast. “We were walking in at the same time. I just met her. And obviously she’s not my type.”
Cool blue eyes rolled. “Sure she’s not. Stay away. She’s a nice kid and you look like a rolling ball of anxiety and murder.”
Kyle felt his jaw drop. “I do not.”
“Get your shit together before you go after her,” Ian announced loudly and then started moving again.
“I’m not going after anyone.” No one in the world could turn him around the way his uncle could. It was oddly comforting. No one would fuck with him in his professional life. Drake might joke with him from time to time, but not in the way his uncle or stepdad would.
“Uh huh. I’ll believe it when I see it,” his uncle countered as he walked past a big office. The door was open, and he stopped briefly. “Charlie, baby, Kyle got a look at MaeBe and his eyes were as wide as mine when I look at a lemon tart.”
Charlotte Taggart was suddenly in her doorway looking chic and perfect in a white sheath dress and high heels, her strawberry blonde hair in a neat bun. “Seriously? I did not see that coming. I’ve been trying to set her up with my yoga instructor.”
“I’m not trying to eat the lady for dessert. I didn’t have a key card. The receptionist wasn’t here yet because I was early. MaeBe let me in. That’s all.” He should have taken another job. Any other job. Something far away from his family.
Except his chest seemed slightly less tight. He’d slept at his brother’s place the night before and listened to David talking about his students and telling dumb stories about the university he worked at, and it had felt normal and sane and comforting.
His aunt gave him a once-over. “Good, because you look very murdery.”
“I do not look murdery. What does that even mean?” He looked regular. He looked like an everyday, ordinary dude starting a new job that did not include gathering state secrets and risking his life on a daily basis. No. Here he would only risk his dignity.
Charlotte waved a hand up and down, gesturing to him. “Look in the mirror, nephew. You should spend some time with Kai before you go after her. Oooo, or I know a nice FBI agent. Should I set you up?”
“Do you want me to quit here and now and go back to the Navy?” He needed to put a stop to this.
Charlotte sighed. “I suppose not. Well, I’ll let you settle in then.”
His uncle kissed his aunt. And kind of started making out with her.
Yep. He was so far from where he’d come.
But closer to home. So much closer.
He wasn’t ready to even consider dating someone. Not close. But he rather thought he would be thinking about MaeBe Vaughn quite a lot. If the heat between them was any clue, she would likely be doing the same.