Page 50 of Sasha’s Secret

“Did I say I wasn’t going to let you help?”

From her smile, she’d clearly drawn an accurate conclusion from what he’d implied. “Good. It’s settled. And while we’re down here, I can help you with something else as well.”

“And what would that be?”

“You said you wanted to take a look at the waterfront. We have a couple of golf carts in the next building—we could go down there now, while I’m right here to answer any questions you might have.”

Now what did he do? Admit he’d been outmaneuvered, that was what. He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, I give in.”

It was worth it when her face lit up with a triumphant smile. “Good choice.” She picked up the gun case and started toward the exit. “Are you going to stay there for the rest of the day, or are you going to haul ass?”

Trying not to laugh, Rocco pinched his lips together and stared at the concrete floor. “I guess I’m hauling ass, ma’am.”

Although, on balance, he’d rather haul Sasha’s ass—onto his lap, so he could kiss her—because her ass did look spectacular in yoga pants. He consoled himself with the thought that later on, he would have the privilege of separating her from them, and getting up close and very—very—personal with the gift beneath that sleek wrapping.

It made sense to let Sasha drive—she knew the quickest way, and he could maintain surveillance on their surroundings without distraction. Apart from the distraction sitting beside him, of course, but he could handle that.

“So, what do you think?” Sasha asked when they arrived at the four-berth dock that dominated the waterfront.

“Could be worse,” he admitted. “Plenty of cameras, with some redundancy regarding coverage, so if one goes down, the area’s still covered. Assuming the guard in the control room monitoring the cameras is alert, not on the take, and doesn’t take a break at the precise moment some lunatic mounts an assault from this location.”

“Frank’s supposed to have two guards on duty watching the cameras at all times,” Sasha informed him. “I make random inspections of the schedules—they’ve checked out, in so far as he’s always got two guys rostered overnight, but…”

“But?”

“I’m not sure I trust what I’m seeing. I’ve been thinking I should start going for random nighttime walks that take me past the security block.”

“Maybe we could do that together,” Rocco suggested. “Trust but verify?”

“Something like that. This time of year, we’d freeze our butts off, though.”

“And we aren’t now?”

Sasha arched an eyebrow at him. “I thought you special forces guys could operate in any conditions.”

“We can. We’re also very good at assessing situations. Do you want to stay out here when I know I’ve seen enough?” he countered.

“Hell, no. What I want right now is a cup of coffee.” She pulled her jacket more tightly around her body to emphasize the point.

“Good idea.”

They returned to the cart, and as they returned to the garage, Sasha broke the easy silence that had accompanied them on the drive back.

“Do you really have to work today?”

Rocco almost groaned. He did not need that kind of encouragement to play hooky. “You know while I’m on assignment, technically I’m working or on call twenty-four seven.”

“Oh, so you were working last night when we were doing this?”

Sasha parked the cart in its space, turned to him, curled her fingers into his jacket and pulled him in for a kiss. When she let him up for air, he rested his forehead against hers.

“Not making this any easier, Morgan,” he murmured.

Her lips curved up in a satisfied smile. “Good. That’s precisely what I was aiming for.”

Rocco was about to retaliate when a cell phone rang—not his, but Sasha’s, and unless he missed his guess, the tune was the one she’d assigned uniquely to her employer.

“Hi, Linzi. What can I do for you?”