Until he got her out in the hallway.
Turning back to her, he clasped her hand tight. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they stood there, her gaze holding his, the world around him fading away until there was nothing left but the raw desire that pulsed between them like a living, breathing entity.
And then, without warning, Penny’s lips crashed against his, capturing his mouth in a fiery and intense kiss that left them both breathless. He caught up in an instant and pressed his body against hers, her back hitting the wall. He cupped her face, deepening the kiss, fueled by a passion that had been building for far too long, and in that instant, he knew that there was no turning back.
“Wait,” Penny rasped, suddenly pulling back from the kiss. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, her eyes clouded with confusion. “We can’t do this, not now. We’re in the middle of an investigation.”
Hawke’s heart clenched with disappointment, but he knew she was right. As much as he wanted to continue down this path, they had responsibilities to fulfill, and giving in to their desires could cloud their judgment. If he got his hands on her, he wouldn’t think of anything else but that, until sleep stole him away.
They needed to stay focused on Julia. But he couldn’t ignore that he got the feeling that thejobwasn’t the only thing holding her back.
“Of course,” he said reluctantly. He slid his hand to the back of her head, tangling his fingers into her hair. “When we solve this, we’ll revisitthis.Yes?”
She nibbled her bottom lip. “I’m not saying no.”
“I’ll take it,” he said, taking a step back, putting distance between them he did not want and leading her back into the room to catch Julia’s shuddering orgasm.
5
Aweek later, Penny sat behind her desk in the warehouse, as frustrated as ever. Hunt had verified a couple days ago that Julia’s prints matched the ones found on the bugs, confirming they were on the right path. Surrounded by state-of-the-art surveillance equipment and computer screens flickering with data, she should have had Julia all figured out by now, but she was getting nowhere.
She scanned document after document for any information that could help her uncover the secrets hidden within Julia’s past. She’d met her a few more times at Phoenix and Julia seemed to trust her a little more, but she never gave up any further information.
“Come on,” Penny muttered under her breath, impatiently tapping her foot on the cold hardwood floor. “There has to be something I’m missing.”
The thought of Hawke briefly flitted through her mind, the memory of his lips on hers igniting an ember of longing deep within her, as it had every minute of every day since their mind-blowing kiss. But she quickly pushed it aside—she couldn’t forget she was on a job. No distractions. Especially gorgeous Navy SEAL ones.
He would arrive in an hour after a meeting with Archer, and she needed to stay focused. Her fingers fluttered over the keyboard, each keystroke bringing her closer to uncovering the truth about Julia. An alarm sounded, indicating someone arriving at her front door. Penny clicked a few buttons until the surveillance camera appeared on her screen, revealing Elise.
“Come in,” Penny said through the intercom and then buzzed her in.
As Elise headed into the warehouse a minute later, her presence was a welcome distraction from the weight of Penny’s investigation. She approached Penny at her desk with two to-go cups, her smile warm and genuine.
“Thought you could use a coffee,” Elise said, offering one of the cups to Penny. “The dark stuff that will keep you awake for days.”
“Thanks, I do,” Penny replied, gratefully accepting the coffee. She took off the lid and blew on it gently, allowing the steam to dissipate before taking a cautious sip. The rich, dark brew invigorated her senses, giving her a much-needed jolt. “What do you have for me?”
Most of Penny’s income came from working for Elise and her clients through her private investigator agency, even though Elise respected Penny’s need for secrecy.
“I have a client whose husband has been receiving some suspicious emails lately. I was wondering if you could help me look into the sender’s background, maybe find out what their intentions are.”
Penny’s curiosity sparked to life. At least she could feel useful, instead of the sitting at a dead end with Julia. “Of course, I’ll help. What’s the client’s name?”
“It’s Rosemary Clark,” Elise replied, a sigh of relief escaping her lips.
Penny quickly accessed Elise’s system and pulled up the client’s case file, her eyes scanning the screen for any critical details. Elise leaned against the edge of Penny’s desk, sipping her coffee while watching intently.
“Rosemary believes her husband may be cheating on her,” Elise began, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “She’s found some suspicious messages and unexplained charges on their credit card statements.”
Penny nodded, her eyes narrowing as she absorbed the information. She could sense the pain and betrayal that must be tearing at Elise’s client, and it only reminded her how flaky people were.
Only a few minutes later, she said, “I have an address.” Another few seconds passed before she added, “And a name. Scarlett Morrison.”
Elise cursed. “Well, Rosemary’s suspicions might just be right. Scarlett is her husband’s co-worker.”
“Ouch,” Penny said, focusing back on her computer. She finished pulling all the evidence she could to prove to Rosemary her husband’s betrayal, which included deleted text messages the two lovers shared. “There. It’s all in Rosemary’s file.”
“Thanks, babe,” Elise said. “You’re the best.”
