“Can’t say I’ve heard that one.”
She leaned toward him. “Wait, are you blushing?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the kitchen sink to his right. “It is not every day a woman tells me to smile more, I’m not sure what’s happening.”
“Just go with it. That’s what I do.”
Elias shook his head. His cheeks had taken on a reddish hue that made him both masculine and adorable.
She held up a hand. “Okay, that’s what I do most of the time.”
He glanced around, looking everywhere but at her. “I want to tell you to smile, but I’m afraid you’d kick my ass.”
She squinted a bit, as if considering. “Hm, I think I’d let you.”
His gaze slid to hers. “Yeah?”
She grinned. It was impossible not to. “What am I going to do with you?”
Her imagination supplied several suggestions.
He grinned back at her. “Apparently make me into your coffee bitch.”
“Do you need an apron, too?”
“Hey now.”
She laughed, though her mind was quick to supply her with a mental picture of Elias in an apron and nothing else. Great. Because she needed more things to torture herself with.
“Okay. Okay.” She held up her hands. “I’m going to crash now.”
Might as well end on a high note.
She turned, not sure where she was going, but away from Elias was a start.
“Jo? Wait.”
His big, warm hand wrapped around hers. Startled, she froze and stared down at their joined hands. Her fingers twitched, instinct making them want to curl around his.
“Sorry.” He let go of her and nodded toward the short hall. “I just, um, you should take one of the big rooms.”
She wished she could peel back the layers and understand him better. If she could go back in time, she’d have reached out. She’d have stopped being a chicken and overthinking things because she had unrequited feelings.
“Okay. Thanks,” she said.
Elias hooked his thumbs into his pockets and remained where he was. There was no move to come to her, touch her or stop her from walking away. Her heart wanted more, but she couldn’t force it.
Besides, if something was going to happen between them, wouldn’t it have started by now?
She grabbed her backpack from where she’d left it hanging off one of the barstools.
“Night,” she said over her shoulder and struck off toward the fabled larger rooms.
Jo couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing something. That there was this thing she should have done, or be doing.
It had to be the lack of sleep messing with her. Her emotions were all over the place thanks to the adrenaline of the car chase. That had to be it.
A full belly, a shower and sleep would make her right again.
Jo went into the second room and closed the door behind her.
“Wow...”
Elias had not lied.
The carpet was thick, plush and a pale gray. Different from the hardwoods in the rest of the condo. Whoever had decorated the place had an eye for magazine chic. Everything was soft grays and fuzzy whites with a few chrome accents. Cool and comforting.
A king sized bed dominated the floor space and a large TV hung on the wall. She had a private bathroom and balcony access.
“I could live in here,” she mumbled to herself.
She reached up and pulled the elastic out of her hair. It felt good to run her fingers through it. Next, her boots and socks came off.
The carpet was simply heavenly between her toes.
This was the life she’d never have. But it would be nice for a night.
Elias’s grin came to mind.
Yeah, that was a pipe dream. She’d settle for the tangible luxuries.
She stripped off her long sleeve shirt then went to investigate the bathroom.
“Holy mother of...”
Jo stood in the doorway and stared at the soaker tub, the shower that could fit five, the vanity...
She made up her mind right then and there she was going to fall asleep in that tub. It seemed like a crime not to. If she couldn’t have the man fantasy, she’d take the tub instead.
4.
Wednesday. Aegis Group Safe House, Seattle, Washington.
Elias groaned and turned to face the ovens. He let his head fall forward against the cool glass.
What the hell was wrong with him?
For some reason, he kept drawing things out. Deep down he knew it was because he wanted to bask in Jo’s presence a little while longer. It was nice to pretend they were two normal people just hanging out. In reality, she needed rest. And probably time to line up whatever it was she was doing here in Seattle.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
It was done.
She was off to bed and he would... probably be up most of the night pacing. He couldn’t help it. With no idea what she was up to, he was bound to worry. It wasn’t even specific to Jo. Whenever a client had a particularly tough case and things were dangerous, Elias often sat up waiting for some kind of news. He was grateful Zain never questioned Elias’ hours or use of the bunk room. Hell, some weeks he barely went home for a change of clothes.
Most of the guys who worked at Aegis Group had their own demons. They couldn’t always help each other defeat them, but not having to explain odd hours or habits relieved a great deal of stress.
Then again, Elias could get out of it altogether if he picked a different occupation.
No.
He wouldn’t do it; no matter what his brain said would be the smartest thing for him. His heart wouldn’t let him. He might have been kicked out of the military for his injuries, but that hadn’t stopped the driving force that sent him into the Army. He still wanted to help people. And if that meant losing a little sleep, so be it.
At least the condo had cable. He could stay in what he called the gatehouse room, a tiny bedroom just off the front door, set up with the building security feeds and play guard dog while whatever new movie was on played in the background.
He turned to survey the kitchen, then spotted Jo’s cell phone still on the charging dock.
“Shit,” he muttered.
He checked that it was fully charged, then unplugged the device. It was impossible not to notice the utter lack of notifications as the screen bloomed to life. Not a one.
Wasn’t there anyone out there checking up on her?
“Jo?” he called out.
No answer.
Elias crossed to the hall. She’d taken one of the middle rooms; it was the only one with the door closed. He tapped on the door and tilted his head to listen for movement inside.
“Hey, Jo? Sorry, but you forgot your phone. Jo?”
Still no answer.
He grimaced and shoved his knee-jerk concern down deep. She’d been in there for a few minutes. Nothing bad had happened to her. It was just his overactive imagination.
“Jo?” He tapped on the door once more. “I’m going to—”
The door swung open and Jo stood there, her hair free to hang around her shoulders and swaddled in one of the fluffy robes kept in the closet of each room.
“Oh, uh, sorry. You forgot this.” He thrust the phone at her and averted his gaze.
“I’m in a robe, dumb ass. Nothing you haven’t seen before.”