Spots clouded my vision, and the room spun like it had earlier today, but this time, not from a hangover. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. Kat grabbed my hand. I didn’t want to connect to her, not yet, but her warm touch calmed me, so I didn’t pull away.
I reopened my eyes. “You’re one of the good guys, though, right?”
“Yeah. I mean, I lived overseas for six years, and not everyone looks at the US government that way, but as far as I’m concerned, we’re still mostly good guys.”
I took a deep breath. My equilibrium steadied like I’d stepped back on solid ground after a wild carnival ride. I stared down at our joined hands. “What happened today? Can you tell me?”
“Just the broad strokes. I got made—identified—by an old enemy. In my agency, we’re particularly good at cleaning up our messes, so it doesn’t happenoften,but it does still happen. And by the way, Pasco mentioned you were muttering about seeing me kill someone. If it makes you feel any better, my Glock is specially altered to shoot tranquilizer darts as well as bullets. I tranqued the guy. I didn’t kill him. We take our enemies in alive whenever we can. We get some of our best intel that way.”
“But you’ve used live ammunition before.” I didn’t pose it as a question because I already knew the answer. Honestly, I didn’t yet know whether I was okay with that.
“I can’t go into any more details about my work than I already have, and not everyone can handle that. If you can’t, I understand.” She squeezed my hand. “I hope you can, but if not,” she shrugged, “no harm, no foul. You helped me with fuzz-face over there, and I saved your life.” She winced. “Technically, I also endangered you, but I hope I made up for it.”
“Quid pro quo.” My thoughts and emotions swirled around my head in a big, gooey mess, but one thing rose to the surface. I still wanted Kat Hartmann of 6B. I looked into her eyes and saw the same heat and want reflected back at me. I couldn’t yet bring myself to smile, but I did quirk up one side of my mouth. “Speaking of quid pro quo, you told me a great big secret. Now, how about I tell you one of mine?”
CHAPTER 20
KAT
Iwas riding on a double high of my post-mission adrenaline and telling the truth about who I was to my sexy neighbor. Then Gage made his irresistible offer. My pulse thrummed wildly in my throat as I leaned forward, ready for any part of him he was willing to share.
“I had a little fantasy about you as a spy after we talked about your job at the State Department.”
“Oh, did you?” I pulled off my black sweater, revealing my fitted black T-shirt underneath.
“Is that my reward for sharing a secret?”
I hadn’t intended that, but what the hell. “Yes,” I said. “Quid pro quo.”
His half-smile spread to a wide grin. He tugged at the hem of his own sweater and quirked an eyebrow. “Your turn. Another secret, one that’s not classified.”
“I’ve had several fantasies of my own, starring you.”
“Several,” he repeated as he pulled off his sweater and tossed it aside. “All this week?”
“Yes. And before that. Since you mansplained.”
He pulled me onto his lap and undid my bra clasp.
I pressed my arms to my side. “Uh-uh. Secret first.”
He kissed the corner of my mouth. “Speaking of mansplaining, I’ve had a crush on you since that first day we met over recycling.”
I nodded. “So, you finally admit you were mansplaining.”
“I think you missed the important part of that confession.”
I pulled off my bra and flung it over my sweater. “I didn’t miss it.”
Gage sucked in his breath and ran his big, warm hand up my side and over one breast, then the other.
I arched into his touch, then tugged at his T-shirt. I licked my lower lip in anticipation of seeing his naked chest again. That image had been front and center in my fantasies all week long.
“Nice try.” He nibbled his way up my neck and whispered in my ear as he stroked my back with his strong hands. “And normally, that would work. But right now, we have an agreement. Spill some tea, 6B.”
My body was humming under his touch, and my mind was spinning. So many things I couldn’t say. So unfair. I groaned. “I don’t…” He sucked my nipple between his teeth and circled it with his tongue. “Okay, 3D. I accidentally discovered 3D cheats on his taxes.”
He leaned back and let me pull off his T-shirt. We pressed against each other, skin to skin, and shared a long, lingering kiss. He started to lay me down on the sofa, but we weren’t alone. A gray fur ball yowled at us.
