Paxton’s head shot up from where he was reviewing the documents. “No.”
“Yes! It’s perfect. Maybe I can recover all of the stolen art.”
Paxton felt nerves fire warning signals all through his body. “This isn’t a game, Tinsley. I just came from a shootout with the man who is probably working with this Maurice guy. Just because it’s stolen art and not drugs doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. You’ve done a great job, but now it’s time for you to sit at home and let me do my thing.”
He saw her hands go to her hips as she stopped bouncing from foot to foot. “Excuse me? Did you just tell me to go home and twiddle my thumbs while the men take care of this?”
“Did you miss the part where I just had a shootout and had to kill someone? Plus, if you were at my home, the last thing you’d be doing is twiddling your thumbs.” Crap, he was losing it. She flushed red and Paxton had to take a breath because that came out way too suggestive. “It’s dangerous, Tinsley. I want to protect you. That’s all.”
“That’s not all you want.”
Paxton groaned and Tinsley sputtered.
“That’s not what I meant!” Tinsley’s hands were back on her hips and her face was cherry-red, but she wasn’t backing down. “I meant you don’t think I’m strong enough to pull this off. Well, screw you. I am. I’m not sweet little Tinsley. Well, I am, but I’m so much more than that. I had Maurice Smith eating out of the palm of my hand because everyone thinks of me as you do.”
“I hope not. I don’t know if I could beat them all up,” Paxton muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing. Go on, Tinsley. Tell me, how do I think of you? Be descriptive,” Paxton challenged.
“That I’m not strong enough, that I’m not smart enough, that I’m not tough enough, and that I’m not brave enough. Well, I am. I am set up perfectly for this sting and I’m going to do it. If you don’t let me, I bet Peter will.”
Paxton felt his brow crease as he looked down at Tinsley. “That’s what you think I think of you?”
“You told me so yourself.”
“I admit that’s what I first thought, but it took all of twenty seconds to throw that impression out the window. Tinsley,” Paxton said, stepping close enough to her that she had to tilt her head back to look up at him. He reached out and gently clasped her upper arms, almost willing her to believe him. “The only reason I don’t want you involved is that it’s dangerous. I don’t want anything to hurt you, ever. I think, I know, you’re perfectly capable of pulling this off. You’re one of the smartest people I know. I just couldn’t live with myself if you were hurt in any way.”
Her mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. “Oh.” Then the stubborn look was back. “I still want to do it.”
Paxton’s mind went through all the scenarios until he landed on one he could live with. “Fine, sell the painting. But you just hired a new employee. You won’t be alone for one minute. Deal?”
The bright smile Tinsley showed him warmed his heart. He wanted more—more smiles, more Tinsley. No, what he wanted was his old job in Atlanta. Wasn’t it?
Tinsley watched Paxton leave and immediately went to paint. Emotions swirled like the colors on the canvas. She understood Paxton now. He was like her cousin Ryker. Ryker had changed so much after what happened all those years ago. He didn’t share his thoughts or feelings. Instead he thrived off living in the shadows as someone so tough and powerful that no one dared to cross him. Well, except the family. They still teased him. And they still loved him. And they still waited for that day the old Ryker would come back.
It was the same with Paxton. Underneath that gruff voice and hard stare was a kind heart who wanted to protect the innocent, just like Ryker. Everything made so much more sense now.
Her painting became less chaotic as she smoothed out the rough edges and added just a hint of lightness to the darkness. She stepped back and smiled at herself. She knew what she was dealing with now, and she almost felt sorry for Paxton. Almost.
Day after tomorrow, their adventure would start and she’d find a way to slip in under Paxton’s defenses so she could get to know him. It was a desire that took root in her heart and wasn’t about to let go. She needed to be the one who saw the real Paxton because she had a feeling when she did, it would change their lives.
She’d give Paxton a couple of days to get used to the town and the gallery. Then she’d call Maurice and tell him they had a buyer. It was the perfect plan.
Tinsley took a deep breath and looked at the clock. The sun had set long ago, but she’d been lost in painting. Time ceased to exist. She had a finished painting and, hopefully, with her emotions on the canvas, she had a full night’s sleep ahead of her, too.
“You think it’s a good idea to bring Tinsley in like this?” Paxton asked Peter as he shut down his computer for the night.
“I do. She knows the art business better than anyone. If the thieves look into her, she’s legit, and she’s so sweet no one would guess she’s helping gather evidence to take them down. Plus you’ll be there to keep her safe,” Peter reassured.
Paxton shook his head. Peter wasn’t supposed to let a civilian consultant help. It was Paxton’s last shot at keeping Tinsley out of the operation. “Would you let Karri help in this situation?”
Peter shrugged. “Karri doesn’t know anything about art so I don’t think she’d be very helpful.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, and that makes me curious as to why you equated Tinsley to my long-term, very serious girlfriend.” Peter crossed his arms over his chest and waited for an answer. When Paxton didn’t answer, Peter grinned. “You like her. Unbelievable. I thought you couldn’t stand her.”
“She’s a distraction and I don’t plan to be in Charleston long enough to be distracted.”
Peter snorted. “Sorry, Pax, but you’re not going back to Atlanta. I know you think you will, but the writing is on the wall. You’ve been kicked out of VGTF permanently. This is your life now.”
Paxton muttered a curse word under his breath. He wasn’t going to give up. That promotion should have been his. “It doesn’t make sense. I was closing in on the biggest up-and-coming gang leader on the Eastern seaboard. That promotion was mine.”
“Maybe you pissed off the wrong people.” Peter paused before asking, “Is it really so bad here? You’re not getting shot at . . . well, that often. You have a pretty awesome boss. Plus, now you can have the girl. Think about it. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow to get everything ready for you to take to Shadows Landing. Goodnight.”
Paxton leaned back in his office chair. Was it so bad to be in Charleston? The food was outstanding. The people were laid back. There was no confusion over which Peachtree Street to go down. But he’d built his entire career around being the biggest, baddest undercover agent around. He knew gangs backward and forward. He lived and breathed their way of life, their criminal activities, and their rivalries. He did it all to make the country safer. He enjoyed the intellectual challenge aspect of art crimes, but he wasn’t advancing himself here.