Page 70 of Ghost

“I like her,” Rami added.

Mila let her body relax against Ghost’s.It was as if she’d passed some unspoken test on whether she could be trusted.

August held out her laptop bag and purse.“Sorry we had to go through your things.Everything’s exactly how you had it.”

She slid the strap over her shoulder.“Thank you.”

“No problem.”He crossed his arms and shifted his weight, then directed his stare at Ghost.“When are we moving on Hunter?”

Ghost’s expression darkened, and his hand twitched on her side.“As soon as possible.Let me take Mila to her car.Then I’ll swing by my place.I’ll call you in a couple hours.”

“We’re ready to move when you are,” Rami said.“Taschen has a good lead on where he’s hiding.But we’ll talk more later.I’m sure Mila wants to get home.”

Mila shrunk a little, and her stomach tied itself in knots.Part of her wondered if Ghost didn’t want to divulge information in front of her.These men were obviously tight, macho, and protective of their own.They might be polite, but since she’d tried to kill Ghost, her loyalty might always be questioned.

Not that it mattered, because she and Ghost didn’t have a future past today.His flippant remark about Mexico lingered in her mind, teasing her with possibilities.

The guys said goodbye to her, and Ghost promised again to reach out to them soon.They made their way down the hall.Micha lifted her head from the dog bed, her eyes filled with excitement.

“Bye, girl,” Ghost called.

She lay down her head as if disappointed.

After everything she’d been through with Ghost, she was free to go.She should be elated.Relieved to put distance between her and the eventful moments that had pivoted her career.

But as Backcountry fell away behind her, she felt nothing but sadness.

“You good?”Ghost asked, as they entered the garage.He stowed her laptop bag and purse in the back seat with the bag of new clothes, then opened the passenger door for her.

She fought a smile and a retort about chivalry, instead reveling in these final moments with this strong, guarded alpha.

He shut the door after she got in, and she clicked her seatbelt in place while he rounded the truck and got into the driver’s seat.When they reached the street, she directed him to where she’d left her vehicle, and a few minutes later he pulled to the side of the road behind her Mazda and parked.

“I’m shocked it’s here.”She flung off her seatbelt.

Ghost stretched his arm over the back of her seat.His dark gaze searched her face as his fingertips brushed over her braid.“Look, Mila.I—”

She patted his shoulder and flashed him a reassuring smile despite the weight pulling down her stomach.He was about to give her the “This has been fun but I can’t see you again” spiel, and she didn’t want that to be their last interaction.“It’s okay.You don’t need to make things awkward.Here for a good time not a long time, right?”

He frowned.

She leaned forward and gave him a light peck on his lips.“Take care.”

Tears burned the corners of her eyes as she turned and nearly dove out the door.

Ghost’s fingers hooked around her bicep.“You’re blowing me off?What the fuck, Mila?”

She froze.Her heartbeat rapped against the side of her neck.Slowly, she turned toward him and met his frown, furrowing her brow.“You were about to tell me you couldn’t see me again.”

His scowl deepened.“I was about to tell you I want to see you again if you’re down for it.”

She blinked, shock freezing her to the spot.

“I need to give you my number,” he added.“Is your phone in your bag?”

Disbelief numbed her brain cells.He wanted to see her again.So maybe the remark about Mexico hadn’t been flippant?Excitement blossomed in her belly.She wanted more time with him, whether that involved mind-numbing sex, a cup of coffee, or even just a phone call confirming he was still alive after taking care of Hunter.

Absently, she dug in her bag, her fingers shaking as though this was their first date and she hadn’t just slept with him three times.“It might be dead,” she said, as she pulled out her device and woke the screen.