Page 18 of Playing With Love

“Never forgot him and I’ve used his advice throughout my career.”

“I didn’t know that,” Tucker piped up.

My gaze journeyed across the room to Tucker.

God, why does it still hurt to look at him?

He must’ve mistook my pain for confusion.

“Not you being in the Army, but you meeting Lenox.”

Of course he knew I’d been in the Army. The sad truth was, he knew most everything about me. We’d spent countless hours getting to know each other.

Until one night ruined everything and I couldn’t pretend anymore.

“You two know each other?” Frank asked.

For a man who was trained law enforcement, Frank had zero situational awareness.

Before I could answer with a simple, ‘yes’ and leave it at that, Tucker answered.

“Liza and I go way back.”

Why did hearing him say that feel like a thousand tiny pinpricks piercing my heart?

Thankfully, Carter didn’t dally making the introductions to the rest of the room.

Jason Walker, Nick Clark, Brady Walker, Dylan Welsh, and Liberty Hayes rounded out the Triple Canopy team.

After we’d taken our seats Jason got straight to it.

“I’ve spoken to your Branch Chief, Shannon O’Conner.”

This wasn’t news I wasn’t aware of. Shannon had called me bright and early to give me the bad news. Tucker was indeed her pick to go undercover with me. She’d consider Frank at my recommendation but she had her reservations.

“Tucker said he briefed you last night,” Jason continued.

“He gave me a very brief summary,” I confirmed.

“Wait,” Frank interjected. “Last night. Why didn’t you call me?”

That was actually a fair question. Why hadn’t I called my partner when Tucker showed and started to discuss the case? Of course I could reason that Frank was pretty much useless, but that wasn’t the real reason. I wanted to be alone with Tucker. As painful as it was, I still craved his attention.

The thought had my heart thudding out of control in my chest and I could practically feel my mental health flying out the window.

“It was more of a catch-up than a business dinner,” Tucker unhelpfully said.

Frank’s gaze darted back and forth between me and Tucker sitting across from us.

“There’s a mindset and how to use the power of positive thinking to manifest change seminar in two weeks. We’ve secured tickets for Tucker and Liza,” Carter explained.

As for me, I sat there silently wondering if there was a way to manifest my way out of this situation. If I wished it hard enough would Tucker vanish from the room? I didn’t know the first thing about manifesting but I did know the last thing I wanted was to attend a lecture on the topic with the only man who I’d ever truly loved. The one person on earth who understood and had accepted me—fully and completely. He wasn’t threatened by my ambition, he matched it. He never thought my assertiveness was too much, or too bossy or overbearing. He respected my position in the field, he valued my input, and he never had a problem showing it. And there was the problem—or rather, my problem—Tucker the DEA agent was a great partner. Tucker the man was a great everything else. I could barely handle being in the same room as him without the threat of my heart pounding out of my chest. I’d never survive working alongside him.

“I thought I was going under with you?” Frank smiled at his almost innuendo. But like most things Frank did, it missed the mark by a mile.

“How many times have you been undercover?” Tucker asked.

His tone was conversational, yet the question was antagonizing. I didn’t see good things. Frank could be a hothead, another one of his traits I wasn’t fond of.