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The room was dark, with the setting sun long gone into the night. Moonlight bathed them, casting a milky glow across the light carpet.
“When this is over, when you don’t have to protect me, do you still want to see me?” She draped her arm over her face, hiding from his answer. If he said no, the moon would drop from the cloudless sky, leaving it sad and inky.
“Of course I do. I’m not making up the things I say for your benefit,” he said, rubbing her arm.
“You’re making it up for yours?”
He shook his head, coiling his arms around her. “Silly girl. Let me rephrase. Everything I’ve done isforyour benefit, but I’ve never lied to you. We have something special. So let’s play it out one day at a time and see if it works for us. Maybe you’ll hate me on our date. Maybe you’re just using me for the sex.”
“Maybe I am.”
“Well, it wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s happened to me.”
His phone rang from the nightstand. He unwound himself from her and answered. A few short words later, he was back by her side.
“So that was the bad guys calling in their surrender?” She laughed softly.
“You’re cute when you say bad guys. But nope. I have to be at the office at stupid o’clock in the morning.”
“What?”
“Early. I have to head to Titan way earlier than I wanted. So when you wake your adorable head up in the morning, you’ll be all alone. Sorry about that.”
“I suppose now you’ll tell me we have to sleep while in bed.”
They laughed together. The moment was so comfortable and fun.
“Guess so. But there’s an upside. I can vouch these sheets are softer and cleaner than that motel room’s.” He kissed her nose. “Besides, I need my beauty sleep. Hot date tomorrow.”
“Oh, me, too.”
“Must be one lucky bastard.” He gave her another kiss. “Sweet dreams, princess.”
If she had penned all her dreams and wishes and desires, this wouldn’t have made it on to the top one hundred list. It wouldn’t have made it on to the world-is-ending-time-to-make-a-list list. She wasn’t creative enough and didn’t aspire grand enough.
Never would she have envisioned a battle-tried hero offering a fantasy date and calling her princess. Never would that man fall asleep with her in his clutches. Twice. In a row.
Never.
But he was here. And this was happening. It was her unknown dream come true.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The road noise didn’t dull his thoughts. Nope. No luck for that, as they roared and complained along with the whirl of his speeding tires. Winters drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel and picked up his burner phone a dozen times wanting to call Mia.
It was still dark out, and with dawn yet to break, what was the point of disturbing her? He cursed at blameless drivers observing the speed limit as he maneuvered his way to Titan headquarters.
He woke up holding happiness. Her sweet smell still clung to him in his truck, and the last thing he had wanted to do was slip away from the warm bed. If this job didn’t revolve around Mia, he might have told Jared he was taking a vacation. Time like that accumulated. He must have weeks available. When he busted through the door, question numero uno would have to be,Where’s the company handbook?
Surely that existed. Right?
But would it have a section entitled Don’tDothe Job? He had a date withthe jobtonight. A very hot date. No corporate set of rules would change that.
He snarled to no one and pulled into Titan’s secure parking. Before facing the guys, he had to lose the whole just-woke-up-with-a-naked-woman glow. It was too early in the morning for a razzing, and he hadn’t had nearly enough coffee or Dots to ease into his day.
He squeezed his eyes tight, took a deep breath, and walked to the first door. Code entered. Locking mechanism disengaging. Another door. Retina scan. Another door and another, jumping through whatever hoops Parker had going right now. Goddamn security measures. Good thing he appreciated them.
Winters blew through the ops nerve center, straight into the kitchenette, hoping to hell someone had brewed a pot already. Nope. No luck. Not even a leftover box of candy in his stash. Christ, he felt like a chick. Mood swings. Candy cravings. He needed to cut that shit out.