Page 112 of Lennox Lane

“No, let me finish.”

His voice was stern, but not sharp. Firm, but careful. Like he’d chosen every word before handing it to her, Lane’s hands folded in her lap.

“I know what you saw looked bad,” he said. “I know I should’ve told you I was meeting her before I did it. That part is on me, and I already apologized for it. I’ll apologize again if you need me to, but you didn’t give me a chance to explain,” he continued. “You made a decision about me and my feelings for you, and then you punished me for a version of the story you never let me answer.”

His voice softened. “Lavender.”

The nickname hit worse than her government name would’ve as Lane looked at him.

“I’ve earned some of your anger,” he said. “I know that. I earned your caution too. I hacked you. I interfered. I got scared and acted like a man who didn’t know what to do with a woman who mattered. I’m not pretending I came into this clean, but I’ve been trying,” he said. “And I need you to try with me. If you’re scared, let me know. If you’re mad, cuss me out. If you need distance, say that. But don’t disappear behind a wall and make me fight a ghost version of myself while you go nuclear.”

Lane let out a slow breath, knowing he was right and she hated that. Not because she wanted to be right. Because being wrong meant looking at what she’d done and admitting the hurt hadn’t excused the harm; her feelings had been real. The sight of that woman’s hand on him had ripped through something still tender. But Lennox had deserved more than being blocked, tried, sentenced, and stripped of a custom hood without being allowed to testify.

“You’re right,” she said quietly, turning slightly toward him. “I should’ve let you explain. I saw her and went straight to the worst version of the story because that’s the version I’m used to being handed.”

“I know.”

“That doesn’t make it okay.”

“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed.

“I’m sorry.”

Lennox’s jaw eased, but he didn’t soften completely. “I accept that.”

Lane blinked. “You accept that?” she repeated.

“Yes.” He glanced at her again. “And when we get home, I’m gonna spank you for being a bad girl.”

Lane’s entire body forgot what it had been doing. The air in the SUV changed as a low current slid through the space between them, making the leather seat beneath her feel warmer, and the sound of the engine seem farther away. She turned her head slowly. Lennox still watched the road, but there was a flicker in his eyes she hadn’t seen in this exact shape before. This was controlled.

“I dare you,” Lane instigated.

“Bet,” was all Lennox said.

Her thighs pressed together before she could stop them. His eyes dipped for half a second, then returned to the road. “But only if you still want that when we walk in.”

Damn him. Damn him for the heat. Damn him twice for the care underneath it.

Lane faced forward, heart beating hard enough to annoy her. “You’re very confident for a man whose car spent a week in witness protection.”

She leaned across the console before she could talk herself out of it, her seat belt stretching with the movement. Lennox’s hand gripped the wheel as she pressed her mouth to the side of his neck. He inhaled sharply, making Lane smile against his skin.

“I am sorry,” she whispered near his ear, kissing the spot beneath his jaw. “I should’ve trusted you enough to ask.”

“Yes, you should’ve.”

Her hand slid over his chest, feeling just how muscular he was beneath his shirt. “And you were looking entirely too fine in that restaurant with your little former whatever sitting across from you.”

Her fingers drifted lower, over the hard lines of his stomach, and his breathing changed.

“Lane.”

She smiled. “Yes, Robot?”

“You’re making it hard to drive,” He said, cutting her a look so hot she almost forgot the road existed.

“Sit back,” he said.