Page 52 of Before and After

I glanced around. It was just the two of us. My half-hard cock was very aware of that.

Focus on the job, Castro. I slid my hand into my pocket and pulled out the tiny listening device. “This is the bug. I need you to plant it under the desk in their room.”

She took it from me, turned it over. “It’s so small.”

“You need to peel the cover off the bottom and stick it to a dry surface. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Go in, clean the room, plant the bug, and get out. I checked and they’re out on the mountain. They’d planned a full day of mountain biking.”

She gave me a decisive nod. “No problem.”

“Here.” I handed over a Bluetooth earpiece. “Wear it. We’ll stay connected and I’ll talk you through it all.”

She took the earpiece. “I can do this, Broody. For Mellody.”

“I know you can.” I covered her hand with mine. “But if anything worries you or goes wrong, you get out. No risks, Allie.”

“I think overprotectiveness must be in your DNA.”

It was. But it seemed to go into overdrive when it came to this woman.

Her finger stroked my wrist. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

I satin my office in front of the laptop. I was following the CCTV feed of Allie moving through the hotel. She was pushing a cartinto the elevator. I switched to the elevator feed. She was alone, fidgeting. Probably from nerves and a little excitement.

“Relax,” I murmured, my own earpiece in my ear.

On the screen, she touched her ear. “Do you even know the meaning of that word? I think you’re the least relaxed person I know.”

She knew me well. “Just take a deep breath.”

“I can’t relax. I’m on an espionage mission.”

I fought back a smile. “To do that well, you need to look normal.”

“Right.” She straightened and her face smoothed out. She looked at the camera, then winked.

I closed my eyes and fought back laughter.

What the hell was this?

I didn’t laugh. Laughter had been me before all my assignments and missions. Before long, hard days slogging through deserts or jungles, dodging gunfire. Before I’d lost people who were like brothers to me.

That me didn’t exist anymore.

Except around Allie.

She wheeled her cart out of the elevator and my muscles tensed. Now she looked serious. I watched her as she headed down the hall towards the ESG’s rooms.

Nerves fizzed through me. Fuck, I didn’t get nervous. I’d already confirmed that the four guys were out on the mountain. I’d checked with Sierra. Our outdoor-activities coordinator didn’t much like the guys, either.

“Entering target location,” Allie murmured.

I couldn’t hold back my chuckle this time.

On screen, Allie paused at the door. “Oh my God, you have a sexy laugh.” Then she gasped. “Forget I said that.” She left the cart in the hall and grabbed a stack of towels. She knocked and announced herself, then knocked again.