Page 21 of Being Bold (Tactical Operations & Protection (TOP) Security #1)

“Are you all right?” At Bo’s question, she glanced over at him. A line wrinkled his forehead as he studied her.

No. She was most definitely not all right. Didn’t know if she ever would be again. But she needed answers if she wasn’t going to let that send her into a spiral of self-pity. Ignoring the concern etched on his face, she said, “What’s our next move?”

“Sleep,” Yumi answered, but Selene didn’t care for it.

She glared at her friend. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

Bo cleared his throat, as if hoping to break the tension. “You two can have the loft. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Yumi grinned but with a bite. “Or you two”—she pointed a finger at Bo, then Selene—“can sleep in the loft and I’ll take the couch.”

“Yumi!” She couldn’t believe her friend had said that. She tried to give her the evil eye, but Bo’s words broke through her pointed stare.

“That’s not going to happen,” he grumbled in response, and it felt like a sucker punch. Her stomach fell along with her ego.

Geez, tell me how you really feel.

She’d thought he’d almost kissed her again in the truck when he’d gone for the gloves. She could’ve closed the distance between them, but she’d hesitated, unsure he’d reciprocate it. Even though he’d been the one to kiss her to start with, she hadn’t tried to make a move on him.

But it was good to know he found the idea of sharing a bed with her that repulsive. Tears threatened again, and she swallowed hard. She turned away, determined to keep them at bay.

Yumi’s voice softened, like she felt sorry for the shit she’d just stirred up. “Actually, I have to leave.” She blew out a breath. “Gotta be back at Saber Tech in the morning. You two can figure out the sleeping arrangements on your own,” she rushed to add.

With her vision still blurry, Selene jerked back to face Yumi. “What? That can’t be safe! What about those men? There could be more.”

Her friend approached, eyes turning kind as she squeezed Selene’s shoulders. “Mr. Dao still believes my cover. I need to use that while I can. Look, if we want this to end, we have to find the servers where he stores the weaponized AI. Working at Saber Tech allows me to keep looking for them.”

Her anger leeched away into worry. Walking to the door with Yumi, she grabbed her friend’s arm. “Be careful.”

Yumi’s grin had an edge to it. “Always am.” She turned to Bo, her face hardening. “Keep her safe, leatherneck.”

Bo’s eyes squinted, his lips pinching together as he shook his head. Selene wasn’t sure, but she thought that was a term used for Marines. She frowned slightly, wondering if Yumi was aware or had intentionally said it to pick at Bo.

The tension left his face as he grunted and answered, “I will, spook. You find those damn servers.”

She grinned at his rejoinder, clearly pleased he’d made a jab at her before slipping into the cold. Selene latched the door behind Yumi and took her time turning around.

When Bo didn’t say anything, she sighed, then headed toward the fireplace to help him finish stacking the wood.

Of course, as soon as she knelt and reached for the log pile, he dropped beside her. “You don’t have to do that.”

She ignored the strain in his voice as he tried to beat her to the task. “I don’t mind the couch. It’s closer to the fire.”

He shook his head. “No, you’ll take the loft. It’s more comfortable.” He dropped the last log into place with a grunt and a mutter, “I sleep on the couch most nights anyway.”

Despite crouching in front of the roaring fire, a shiver wracked her, and she hugged her arms over her chest. The sweater and jeans she’d put on that Yumi had grabbed from her apartment weren’t as warm as his sweats had been.

Bo noticed, asking, “I don’t, uh, have any hot tea, but if you want a nightcap . . .?”

She was willing to try anything that might send the aching cold from her bones.

Sitting back on her heels, she faced him with a nod.

His eyes were a warm mix of milk and dark chocolate, reflecting the blaze in sparks of fiery color that gleamed among his irises.

Despite his comment about not sharing a bed, his gaze fell to her lips.

She found herself leaning toward him in invitation.

A kiss would undoubtedly warm her up better than any shot of whiskey. She licked her lips.

His eyes drifted back to hers, his face pinching in pain before he cringed away from her and stood. “I’ll get you that drink.”

She nearly winced at his gruff voice. He was clearly determined not to touch her, and she .

. . God, she wanted him to. Right now, she’d love to feel anything other than stressed out.

And what he’d made her feel with one kiss .

. . it was more than she’d experienced before.

That much tightly controlled passion. How it exploded in a fury of emotion.

She wanted more of it—more of him. Rough or not. She didn’t care.

Shaking her head at herself, Selene made a comfortable seat on the floor, sitting as close to the fire as she dared. Because the only warmth she’d find tonight would come from the flames.