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Like Nick, yet different.
Alive. Warm. Magnetic.
“Sounds like a plan,” he said, grinning.
“Yeah.” She swallowed hard and forced a smile in return. “A plan.”
3
“So, where are we going?” Natalie asked.
Kyle didn’t glance over, his attention focused on the busy intersection they were getting ready to cross. Looking at her wouldn’t help anything anyway. It would only make him want things he had no business wanting. After all, she’d been his brother’s wife—it would be a betrayal of Nick to pursue anything with her. Not to mention he didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her. Excuses aside, she’d chosen loyalty to the CIA over loyalty to her husband, and that was something he wouldn’t soon forgive.
Looking at Natalie spelled nothing but trouble. “C’mon.” He waggled his fingers once the light turned green. “Before it changes again.”
She gave a sharp snort. “Are you always this bossy?”
“Well, seeing as how I’m the boss, yes.”
“You are notmyboss.”
“I meant my team.” They stepped up onto the curb on the opposite side of the street and veered left. They were on Broadway, near Nashville’s famous Music Row, the sidewalks thick with country music fans from around the globe. To make sure they stayed together, Kyle grabbed Natalie’s hand, ignoring the jolt of awareness that zinged up his arm from their point of contact.
She tried to pull away, but he laced his fingers through hers and refused to let go.
“What are you doing?” she hissed under her breath.
“Protecting my asset. You want to get lost in this chaos?”
“Oh, so now I’m an asset?” Her tone took on a slight edge. “How flattering.”
“There are worse things I could call you.” He risked glancing back at Natalie, giving her an annoyed stare. She wasn’t wearing all black, as he’d originally thought. Nope. Her jeans were black, yes, as were her sneakers. But her shirt was more of a dark charcoal color, with a pink rhinestone heart adorning the center of her chest. The fact that the heart had a jagged crack down the middle and drops of scarlet crystal blood dripping from it made him smile.
That was his Natalie—always more naughty than nice. His steps fumbled.
My Natalie? Aw, hell no.
Kyle shook his head and sighed. Maybe the guys had been right and he shouldn’t have taken on this mission alone. Maybe he should have kept his team close—or, for once, left this mission in someone else’s capable hands.
He quickened his pace, tugging her behind him. Self-doubt wasn’t his usual territory, and he wasn’t planning on getting familiar with the terrain now. Coffee. He needed coffee. And food. Preferably something deep-fried and artery-clogging and covered in grits.
About half a block later, he stopped in front of a bright red building with big glass doors. The sign above the place read “Auntie B’s,”and the delicious smells of fried onions and fresh-baked bread made Kyle’s stomach growl. He shifted the messenger bag on his shoulder and looked at Natalie. “You hungry?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I guess I could eat.”
“Good.” Kyle opened the door for her, then stopped at the hostess station. He pulled off his aviator shades and tucked them into the neck of his sweater. A young lady wearing a white button-down shirt and black vest gave him an appreciative look and a smile.
“Hey, y’all,” she drawled. She couldn’t have been more than early twenties. Cute as a button, but definitely not his groove. He preferred women closer to his own age and, well, a bit edgier. More tart than sweet. “Welcome to Auntie B’s. May I get y’all seated?”
“That would be great.” Kyle placed a hand on Natalie’s lower back, urging her in front of him.
As Natalie followed the hostess, he walked behind, unable to stop himself from admiring the sway of Natalie’s hips as she walked, the way her tight jeans hugged the curves of her body.
The place was pleasant, with a gleaming checkerboard floor. Chatter filled the air, and morning sunshine streamed in through the front windows.
Natalie chose her seat at the table, and he sat across from her. He placed his messenger bag on the floor near his feet, and the hostess handed them menus before departing.
For the first time in a very long time, Kyle felt…normal.For this one moment, he wasn’t dodging enemy fire, he wasn’t gunning for the bad guy, he wasn’t protecting life and limb and his beloved brothers-in-arms. He was just sitting down for a meal with a beautiful woman. If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend the past six years hadn’t happened.
