As his hand drops, I laugh awkwardly. “Then how did you manage? Because you kind of look like an old man.”
Sawyer laughs, the tone deep and rich. “Didn’t you tell me just the other day that I had a baby face?”
I laugh. “I was being nice.”
He shakes his head. “Well, first off, I was never a spy.”
“Kind of, though, right? You guys did missions and all kinds of secretive stuff.”
“I’m a soldier,” he says. “I followed orders.”
“But you sought information. Cable Guy,” I add, using the code name he was assigned by the rest of his team. My brother is Cap, despite not being an actual Captain, Garrison is Demo thanks to his knack for controlled explosions, Weston is Cowboy, and Ryker is Tank—for obvious reasons. The guy is huge.
Sawyer shrugs. “I still wouldn’t say spy.”
“Do you miss it?” I realize that I haven’t asked him that yet. The guy had his entire world changed less than a year ago, and I never bothered to find out how it affected him. What does that say about me? Or about him that he never let me see if it did?
“Sometimes,” he admits honestly. “I miss the feeling of doing something good. If that makes sense.”
“It does,” I reply.
“Even though things weren’t what they seemed, I always felt like we were acting in the best interests of innocent people.”
“I remember that last mission you guys went on. You came back so beat up.” Now it’s my turn to step forward and run the tips of my fingers along the side of his face. He’d had a cut on his face, slicing right through his dark eyebrow. Both his top and bottom lip were split, and his nose had been broken.
My breath catches when his eyes flutter closed and he leans into my touch.
Why can’t we stay just like this forever?
Sawyer takes a deep breath. “I took a few hits to draw attention from your brother. I’m practically a hero.”
I drop my hand and pull back. “Really?”
He nods. “Guy was working Cap over pretty good, so I did what I do best.”
“Taunted him into taking action against you?” With the pan hot, I distract myself by adding oil to it. Then, before it has the chance to get super-hot, I pour some popcorn in and place a lid over the top.
“Yep.”
“How?”
Sawyer grins. “I told him that I took his sister out. But it was all honorable. Very above board.”
Since the guys rarely—if ever—talk about their missions, this is the first time I’m hearing it. “You did not.”
“Oh, I did.” He grins proudly. “Drew the guy’s attention long enough that Demo was able to drop the ceiling in on us, saving your brother’s face from being permanently rearranged.”
“You really are quite the hero, aren’t you?” I cross my arms.
Sawyer pushes off the counter across from me and moves in close, planting both hands on either side of me. I’m caged in. The counter at my back, his strong body at my front.
Yet I’m so close to tasting freedom.
He leans in even closer. “You know, when you think about it, I really am.” His voice is low now, barely above a growled whisper.
I look up at him, not leaning in and not pulling away. If he kisses me right now—everything changes.
Oh, please kiss me.
