“Dani, we’ve talked about this. I’m not sure it’s a good idea.” He turned and rounded to his side of the car.
Dani climbed inside. “Just hear me out. After sitting in that room and thinking about how much Jason is missed, seeing that little girl and knowing she doesn’t have her daddy anymore? You know I lost my dad. No girl should have to grow up without a father. It’s not right.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but I’m still not sure.”
“Look. You know me. I am cool as a cucumber under pressure. And going to a party and trying to lure a man into saying something he shouldn’t? I’m practically built for this job. I’m very good at getting men to do things they shouldn’t.”
Cole laughed quietly. “Yes. I’m aware of your superpower.”
“And I know you’d never let anything happen to me.” She took his hand. That one touch sent a jolt of electricity right through him.
“Is now the part where you get a man to do something he shouldn’t?”
Dani smiled, which only made him do the same. He couldn’t help it. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
She was right. She was perfect for this job. And in theory, it was a simple one. Plus, he knew Bird and Stanton. They would never let anything happen to a civilian. Even more so, he would never let anything happen to Dani. He would stand in front of a barrage of bullets for her. He did want the chance to live up to his promises to her. He knew he’d let her down all those years ago. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
“Is that a yes?” Her voice was bubbly and excited.
“Yes. That’s a yes.”
She clapped her hands and rubbed them together. “Awesome. Tell me everything I need to know.”
Cole started the car. It felt good to know she still had confidence in him. “We leave Tuesday afternoon. I have a private plane chartered.”
“Fancy. Is that really necessary?”
“Yes. Sheriff Orson knows everything that happens within a hundred-mile radius of his county. He thinks I’m a major big hitter. He has to know that we’re flying into that tiny airstrip in our own plane.”
“Will he be able to trace where the plane came from?”
“The FBI is taking care of that. They’ve set up a false identity for me, and the plane is registered to that name.”
“Sounds like you have it all figured out. What else is left to do before we go?”
Cole and the FBI had indeed gone over every contingency. He certainly felt prepared. Still, he’d have to be at the absolute top of his game. There was no room for mistakes. “I’ll brief you on everything on the plane. But we are going to have to go dress shopping. You’ll need something suitable for catching the eye of a very bad man.”
“I have dresses. No need to go shopping. I attended several black-tie events in New York.”
“Well, then, maybe we just need to go through your closet.” Visions of Dani filling out slinky dresses popped into his head—the pleasing contours of her hips, the swell of her breasts, the sexy bow of her lower back as it led to her butt. His body was buzzing just thinking about it.
“You don’t trust me to pick out my own dress?”
He did trust her to choose a gown, absolutely. Still didn’t mean he didn’t want to be there for it. “I need to make sure that it passes muster on the sexy scale. It needs to be really sexy.”
“How sexy?” Dani’s voice was soft and husky.
“Super sexy.” Cole glanced at Dani just as she ran her tongue over her plump lower lip. Cole thought he might fall over.
“We could go look now if you want. Elena won’t be back with the boys for a few hours.”
“So that big, beautiful house of yours is empty right now?” A few hours...the idea was exhilarating. It was terrifying, too. They’d both demonstrated their ability to stomp on the brakes when clothes started to come off. They’d both shown their hesitation with letting the other in. Trust was a funny thing, fleeting and so easily broken.
“It is. What are you implying?” The flirtation in her voice was sending electricity straight to his groin. She knew damn well what he was suggesting.
“Just want to know whether or not I’ll be able to get a parking spot in your driveway. That’s all.”
“Oh, okay.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. She slapped his thigh with the back of her hand. “Drive the car, Sullivan. We’ve got dresses to pick out.”
