Page 63 of Shadowing You

He groaned. “Sweetheart.”

“What?”

“You’re not helping me focus.”

“What is there to focus on?”

He barked a laugh and reached for her hand. “We have stuff to do today, and what you’re referring to…that’s not on the list.”

“Perhaps it should be.”

“Please stop.” But his body wasn’t listening to his words because he pulled her to her feet and drew her into his arms so fast that she gasped.

She was still catching her breath when he backed her against the wall, wrapping an arm around her and tugging her close. His eyes were burning when they met hers. He cupped her face, and she leaned into his hand, wanting to close her eyes and experience the feeling of him there, but not wanting to miss anything.

She rose to her tiptoes and leaned in, sliding her hand over his shoulder, pulling him close.

He bent his head.

The phone rang on the table.

His exhale was half groan, and he touched his forehead to hers. “That.” His lips were a breath away from hers. “That’s why.”

It took her a moment to remember what they’d been talking about or why they’d wasted any time talking at all. “I thought there was another reason you didn’t want to be with me. Another woman.”

Something flashed in his expression, there and gone before she could name it. “You are the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

The phone rang again, and he stepped back and ran a hand down his face, then turned and grabbed it off the counter.

She leaned against the wall and tried to calm her buzzing skin and jumbled thoughts.

“It’s Michael.” Ethan accepted the call and tapped the speaker icon. “Hey.”

“Car’s ten minutes out.” Michael, as always, didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “You two ready?”

Ten minutes? She hadn’t realized they’d be leaving so soon. That explained what Ethan had wanted to focus on.

He met her eyes. “Yup. We’re ready.”

“It’s a long drive, so I want you moving ASAP. Driver goes by Chin. Your wife there?”

“I’m here.” She shifted to lean her hands on the back of her chair.

“You know the town pretty well?”

“The main road and the area around the hospital. I used to jog the trails.”

“Okay, good. I’ll get you more information as you get closer.”

“What about the supplies we need?” Ethan asked. “Her uniform, my papers?”

“I’m working on it. I want you two in and out of Fuyin today, before Lu Feng catches wind of you. He’s still sniffing around Changsha. That work? You two still good with the plan? If you’re not, you need to tell me now.”

She looked at Ethan, who seemed a little more ruffled than he’d been when he’d stepped out of his bedroom that morning. His eyes were still dark, but not with desire. He looked fierce and frightening and beautiful.

He held her gaze, and she heard again everything he’d said to her that morning. She didn’t blame him for being angry about all of this. If she could fix it any other way, she would.

But there was no other way.