Page 15 of Fatal Intent

“My library. We need somewhere quiet and comfortable for this discussion.”

“We should get ready for work, Grant. This discussion can wait.”

“We have to clear the air so I can concentrate when we’re training. If we don’t, I’m liable to do something stupid, which will lead to more training requirements by my sadistic team leader.”

“Seth’s not that bad.”

Grant glared at her. “You don’t know him like I do.”

“Have you spent any time with Iona? Seth is a pushover compared to Artemis’s team leader.”

He shook his head. “Not buying what you’re selling.”

Grant led Rayne down the hall to a cozy room filled with wall-to-wall books. A large leather sofa sat against one wall. An end table with a lamp on top snugged up against one arm of the sofa.

Grant turned the lamp on low and nudged Rayne to sit on the sofa. “Do you want hot tea or hot chocolate to drink?”

Her eyebrows rose. “You drink coffee strong enough to drop a bull elephant in its tracks. Why do you have tea and hot chocolate?”

His face flushed. “You like them. I stashed them in my cabinet for you.”

Okay. That was unexpected and romantic. How could Grant think he wasn’t good enough for her? Not only was he goodenough, so far, he was a dream date. No one else in her life had been so thoughtful except for her mother. Until she wasn’t.

No. Not yet. She still had a little more time before baring her soul. “Hot chocolate, please. Thank you for thinking of me, Grant.”

He lifted her face toward his. “Thoughts of you fill my mind every minute we’re not on deployment.”

With that statement, Rayne fell a little more in love with the handsome operative. She tugged his head down to give him a light kiss.

“I’ll be back soon,” Grant murmured. He returned to the library ten minutes later with two steaming mugs in his hands. After handing one to Rayne, he joined her on the sofa. “What do you think of my library?”

She smiled, the knot in her stomach loosening at the delay in discussing an uncomfortable topic. “I’m impressed. Wish my apartment had an extra bedroom so I could create a library of my own.”

For a few minutes, Rayne relaxed, sipping hot chocolate as she and Grant talked about their training sessions for the day. And then her mug was empty, and she ran out of excuses.

Grant set aside their empty mugs, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and settled her against his side. “Tell me.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“You won’t look at me the same way.”

“How do I look at you now?”

A tear streaked down one cheek. “Like I’m your entire world. I don’t want to lose that.” The last time someone had looked at her that way had been years ago.

“Do you trust me?”

“With my life.”

“Then you know I would never hurt you. Nothing you’ve done will change how I look at you.” Grant turned more toward Rayne and eased her against his chest until her ear rested against his heart. “Talk to me, Rayne.”

“I have a juvenile criminal record.”

“That’s what Sanders and Conner were hinting at?”

She nodded.