She watched Colin’s jaw tick.
“She left me with a baby,” Maren said. “And I didn’t resent it for a minute. I love Juni more than my own life. But I didn’t know what I was doing. I still don’t know half the time. And Mira knew something was wrong. Sheknew and she just…” Maren covered her eyes with one hand. “I hate that I’m mad at her.”
“I’d be worried if you weren’t.”
She lowered her hand.
He gave her a small smile. “Doesn’t mean you love her less. Actually, I admire you right now. It’s hard to love someone who’s lied to you.”
In the kitchen, Juni scolded Mac for missing a spot. A startled laugh broke out of Maren before she could stop it. It wasn’t much. Barely a sound, really. But it felt good.
Colin glanced toward the kitchen, then back at her. “We’re going to keep digging. Carefully. Elissa’s going slow because she doesn’t want to trip any alarms at NCIS or LRH.”
“Alarms?”
“Digital ones.”
“Right. Of course.” Maren let out a breath. “Because this is my life now.”
“Only for now. Not forever.”
Not forever meant she could go home.
If home even exists anymore.
That thought terrified her. She looked away before Colin could read too much, though she suspected he already had.
“Thank you for telling me,” she said. “Does Kyle know you’re telling me this much?”
Colin’s mouth twitched, but his eyes stayed serious. “Kyle knows I’m coming back to brief you.”
“That isn’t exactly what I asked.”
“No,” he said. “It isn’t.”
They stared at each other.
Then, absurdly, she smiled.He’s got my back.
Colin’s gaze dropped to their hands for half a second.
So did hers. She’d almost forgotten he was gripping her hand like she’d gone overboard and he was pulling her out of the ocean.
He squeezed it, then he let her hand go. The way his fingers brushed across hers as he pulled back sent tingles down her spine. She immediately wanted to grab his hand again just so he could do it again.
No. He needs to keep a professional distance.
Which is deeply annoying right now.
Ugh! Focus.
Easier said than done when her head was swimming, and Colin looked like his head might be as well.
No. Just your overactive imagination.
Juni called out, just in time to break the spell. “Colin, Mac is bad at washing dishes.”
Mac sighed.
