Page 55 of Fallen Hero

“What if you—”

“No, Atlanta. You were right with most of what you said. Dead-on right. But not with this. Jason Anderson is mine. He’s the key to my freedom.”

My peace.

“With most of what I said.” I could hear her smile over the phone. “Does that mean you’ve already climbed Mount Mason?”

“Goodbye, Atlanta. Thank you for your help.”

“Wait. Was it good? Did he—”

I pulled my phone away from my ear and disconnected. I didn’t need any help provoking images of Mason or what he could do, which meant I didn’t need my . . . friend asking questions I didn’t have the answers to, though I could guess.

He’d be good.

No, he’d be outstanding.

But Mason wasn’t for me.

And it sucked, because I wanted him to be.

Even if it was just once, I wanted to feel everything Mason had to offer.

Chapter Fourteen

I should’ve been in my room playing it smart. But instead I was out on the balcony, hoping Calista would show.

Hoping for more of Calli and Mase.

The last time I saw her, she’d been in the kitchen making herself a sandwich. Without looking at me, she’d told Pete she’d be in her room going over old intel on Amir Bakir and Ahmad Sindi and she’d pass on dinner.

I didn’t believe her, but I kept my mouth shut and didn’t call her out on it.

I’d waited until Fallon and Pete had left to go pick up the SUV Shep had secured for us to use. They’d do a sweep for trackers and take a drive around the city watching for a tail before they came back.

Calli and I would be alone for hours. Stupidly, I wanted that time with her on our balcony where, as she put it, we could be normal. No work. No evil bad guys to take out. No lies.

I didn’t admit it to her last night, but I needed normal. I wasn’t burned out or tired of my job like she was, but that didn’t mean I didn’t take full advantage of my downtime. The normalcy of working behind the bar of the Dirty Plank, drinking coffee off the back deck of my condo, going to the beach at night and using the rhythm of the waves to clear my head.

As much as I needed normal, Calli craved it, and I wanted to be the one who gave it to her. So there I was playing a dangerous game, waiting for her to show, hoping she was wearing last night’s robe while at the same time hoping she’d found a snowsuit in the closet.

Her sitting in a lounger next to me with those long legs on display was an exercise in control.

Last night, I’d bested the temptation.

Tonight I’d have to dig deep—that was, if she came out and joined me.

Not interested in the view, I had my eyes closed when I heard the whoosh of the slider. With a smile, I opened my eyes but quickly hid my relief she’d come outside.

Her gaze and her feet immediately went to the chaise next to mine. My gaze ate up the view of her bare legs. It was time to dig and find my legendary control.

I gave her a few minutes to settle in before I asked, “Calli and Mase?”

“Yeah,” she said softly.

I lobbed an easy question her way. “Favorite song?”

“I don’t have a favorite, but I have a favorite album. Fleetwood Mac. Rumours.”