Page 29

Chapter 28

“You two aren’t coming with us.” There was no give in Adalyn’s voice as they reached the two rental vehicles.

Mari was grateful that the Redemption Harbor Security crew had picked up her and Colin for the flight to the hangar where she’d had that weird interaction with Ackerman. Well, they hadn’t taken them to the actual hangar, but another airport about half an hour away. Then they’d rented two vehicles under one of their cover IDs and the RHS crew was going to drive to the hangar and do their thing. Meanwhile, she and Colin were just supposed to sit tight and do nothing.

Which Mari hated. Sure, she wasn’t trained like the others, something she understood and appreciated. But sitting around wasn’t her style.

“Then why’d you even bring us?” Mari leaned against the dark SUV, Colin right next to her.

“We could be assets. Park down the road, be extra eyes for backup,” Colin added. “I saw the drone you packed.”

Adalyn looked between the two of them, raised an eyebrow. Then she looked at the others and they seemed to have a silent conversation before Adalyn turned back to them. “Fine. You can follow, but you’ll have to remain out of sight a couple miles back and fly the drone from there. Battery life is about forty-five minutes for the one we brought.”

“There’s a little turnoff for sightseeing about three quarters of a mile from the airport,” Mari said. She’d been to this airport and about half of the smaller ones in Louisiana over the years. “We could park there.”

It was clear that Adalyn was the official boss of everyone, even though she looked to her crew for their opinions. So Mari was being cautious around her. She and Berlin were friends, and while she thought of Adalyn as a friend, she also knew that the woman didn’t take shit from anyone and would bring down the hammer if she thought it necessary.

“You two will not get out of the SUV except to launch the drone. I know you’re both skilled with them, you especially,” she said, looking at Colin, “but you’re just here to be extra eyes for us.”

“Ha, so you did bring us for a reason.” Mari grinned, unable to stop herself. “You planned this and now you’re acting like you’re doing us a favor. You wanted one of us to fly the drone.”

Adalyn’s expression was dry as she eyed Mari, but her lips twitched. “Don’t get cocky.”

“That’s like asking the sun not to shine,” Colin murmured.

“Hey!”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I like your confidence.” His voice dropped a couple octaves.

Oh . Oh, this was weird and now everyone was watching them. “We’ll follow you guys,” Mari muttered before she jumped into the SUV.

Colin got in the passenger side as she started the engine. “What just happened? Did I say something?”

“No.” She watched as Chance got in the driver’s seat of the other SUV and the rest of the team all slid in with military-type precision. They moved like a unit, like a team clearly used to working together. And she was glad they were on her side.

“Liar.”

She glared at Colin before facing forward and pulling out of the parking lot of the little rental place next to the airport. “Call me a liar again and see what happens.” She hadn’t minded so much before because he’d been right and they’d ended up having incredible sex.

God, so many orgasms. She’d forgive a lot for that.

“Fine, but what just happened? You got all weird when I complimented you.”

“I don’t know. I just don’t want anyone to know…about, well, whatever is going on between us. I like to keep my private life private. No one needs to know who I’m banging.”

“Did you just say…banging?”

“Poor word choice. But you know what I mean.”

“Please enlighten me.” His voice had taken on a tone she’d never heard before and she definitely didn’t like it.

“I just mean I don’t want everyone to know we’re sleeping together. Our business is our business. No one else’s.”

He went silent and that was more unnerving than him busting in on her when she’d been in the shower, all indignant over her trying to blow him off by text. At least then she’d known what he was thinking. She should have just had a conversation with him. Now…she didn’t like this quiet, broody Colin at all.

She cleared her throat, trying to find any semblance of words that didn’t sound stupid. “So you have a lot of experience with drones?” she asked as they turned onto the small two-lane highway with mostly swamp and marsh on either side of them.

“Yep.”

She gritted her teeth at his one-word answer, even as she acknowledged that he might have a right to be frustrated. But she wasn’t feeling super logical right now. Her emotions were all over the place and it was his fault. He’d barged into her life and was all wonderful and giving and this was new territory for her. “Is that what I can expect, one-word answers from you today?”

“I’m surprised you want more from someone who is clearly just your friend with benefits.” Oh, that tone again.

“That’s not what I said!”

“You implied it.”

“No, I didn’t. I simply said I didn’t want everyone up in our business.”

“Are you embarrassed about me?” he demanded.

“What? No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not being ridiculous.” His voice was heated now. Only a few lights guided them as she drove, the darkness out here eerie.

It was so damn dark out here at night, making everything seem eerier. “You’re right, you’re not ridiculous. I just meant I’m not embarrassed. I just like to keep my private life private, that’s all. Sorry, I freaked out.”

He was silent for a long moment, then spoke again. “So…what are we?”

“What do you mean?” She knew exactly what he meant but wanted to delay this conversation—or not have it at all. She slowed as she neared the turnoff for sightseeing, watched as the other SUV continued heading toward the airport in the distance, their lights a bright beacon illuminating the way. Though she was certain they’d cut them the closer they got to the other airport.

“I’d like to take you on a date once all this is over. See where this thing might go.” His voice was strained and so unlike him.

She couldn’t look at him as she parked because eye contact would do her in. She cleared her throat, trying to find the right words even though she didn’t want to discuss this at all. “Can we talk about this later? Once we’re not acting as backup for the people helping us stay alive?” she asked as she put the SUV in park.

“Sure.”

Oh, she did not like that tone either, but there was nothing to do about it. He slid from the vehicle and popped the hatch to get the drone.

Crickets or cicadas chirped loudly, the sound filling the quiet of the vehicle before he shut the hatchback. Then moments later once he’d launched it, he slid back into the passenger seat, controller in hand.

There was a screen built into the middle of the controller and the night vision was stellar. As he guided it in the direction of the nearby airport, she was quiet, letting him work as she replayed their conversation and wondered what the hell was wrong with her.

She knew she was sabotaging this, but was so afraid of screwing up she couldn’t figure out the right thing to say. Or do. God, why was this stuff so easy for some people?

Aviation, she understood. People…were so complicated.