They both looked away.
“Better get inside before Jodie wonders what we’re doing out here,” Colin said. “And I’ve got to check in with Kyle and tell him how the day went.” They started for the door. Colin held it open for her with one hand as his other hand gently touched her lower back, sending magical shivers all over her body.
“It’s uncanny how good Nettie is at her job,” Jodie said by way of greeting. “If I hadn’t seen you earlier and you weren’t with Colin, I’d have no idea who you were.” She leaned back and opened a drawer. She took out a couple of boxes and a small bottle of adhesive remover and set them on the counter.
“I know,” Maren said. She tugged carefully at the prosthetics that completely changed her face, then picked up the bottle Nettie had left for her. She’d given her instructions on how to remove everything while she was disguising her. A couple minutes later, Maren had her face back, the prosthetics and wig sitting in their boxes ready to go back to Nettie. Colin had already gone to Kyle’s office, leaving Maren alone with Jodie.
“I’ll call the kennel and let Shane know you’re back,” Jodie said. She hit a button on the phone on her desk and connected with the kennel. “Hey, Alex, tell Shane they’re back for me, please? Thanks.”
Maren stared at the boxes.
“Everything okay?” Jodie asked.
“Yeah. I just can’t believe this is my life now,” Maren told her. “I’m just way too ordinary to be doing all this secret agent stuff. Everyone here seems to have lived some sort of adventurous life,” Maren went on. “And I’m justnormal.”
Jodie grinned. “Yeah, me too. I mean, it’s not like I’m a bodyguard or spy or go on any missions like they all do.”
“Oh, but you’re not normal.” Maren laughed and rolled her eyes. “Wait, I don’t mean it like that. But you’re the glue that holds this place together right now.”
Jodie smiled softly. “Oh, that’s very sweet. I just do my job the best that I can. And it’s a great job, don’t get me wrong. I love it. I kind of like being ordinary.”
Maren lifted an imaginary mug. “Here’s to ordinary.”
Jodie clinked her invisible mug with Maren’s. “Here’s to ordinary.”
The door to the offices opened and Shane emerged, followed by Kevin, and Juni, who was holding Colin’s hand.
He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable with it.
As soon as she saw her, Juni ran to Maren and hugged her.
“Can I stay a little longer?” Juni begged. “Pretzel gets lonely without me.”
“Oh,” Maren said. “I don’t know about that.”
Actually, she was thrilled at the idea that Juni wanted to stay longer, that she wasn’t immediately wanting to cling to Maren or Colin and go home.
Because this is her home and this is her family and she knows it.
Guilt hit again, that she hadn’t tried to find them before.
“It’s not a problem,” Shane said. “You’re just up the road, and we’re happy to drop her off before we head home.”
“Yeah,” Kevin agreed in a serious, way-too-mature-for-his-age tone. “It’s not a problem at all, ma’am.”
Maren grinned at him.What a good kid. She turned her attention back to Shane. “Are you sure?” Maren asked.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Shane said. “Go on. Enjoy a little more grown-up time.”
Grown-up time.
That’s when Maren remembered Mac had the day off.
Oh, shit.
That would leave her and Colin at the safehouse, alone together for the first time since she arrived.
“Great,” she said brightly. “That would be great.”
