Page 124 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

“Jake?” Dana clutched the phone tighter. “Jake? What’s wrong? Where are you?”

The line went dead, and she swore loudly. She was about to call him back when a notification lit up her screen. Your driver has canceled your ride.

“Great,” she muttered. She’d purposely waited until her ride arrived at the hotel before leaving her room. It’d taken her less than two minutes to reach the lobby. She couldn’t believe her driver was that impatient.

Dana opened the ride share app as she marched toward the street, ready to request a new ride when someone stepped into her path.

It happened so suddenly she yelped, throwing her hands out reflexively.

Her phone hit the floor as her hands collided with a solid chest. She saw the uniform and service medals first, but the moment the man’s large, scarred hands slipped over hers, all her fears quieted.

Dressed in Army blues, there was no denying Jake Shepard’s presence. But that didn’t stop Dana from not believing her eyes. “You’re here!”

Jake knelt to pick up her phone. She watched him close the ride share app .

“You won’t be needing that,” he said, handing her phone back.

“I don’t understand.” She took a step back to fully drink in the vision in front of her. She blinked rapidly, not entirely sure she wasn’t dreaming. “What are you doing here?”

“I know you have questions. But right now, I’m here to escort you to a wedding.” He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm, guiding her the rest of the way through the lobby. “You said tux,” he added. “I ran out of time. Hope this works.”

It worked alright. Jake Shepard cut a commanding image any day. But in uniform? He was downright devastating.

“You just happened to have this lying around your apartment?”

“No. It was at home,” he said carefully.

Dana’s eyes widened. “Nevada?”

He nodded. Before she could ask him why he’d been there and if everything was okay, he turned abruptly to face her.

His blue eyes drank her in with an intensity that sent her questions scattering.

Jake brushed an errant strand of hair from her cheek and cupped her jaw.

His pained gaze dropped to her lips. Letting his thumb gently brush her lower lip, he spoke.

“There’s something I need to tell you. Lots of things, actually. ”

“Okay,” she managed.

“Can you do something for me?”

“What?”

“Can you give me tonight? Just one night to be us? Then tomorrow we’ll talk.”

Afraid her words would betray her, Dana managed a nod.

Without warning, Jake stepped forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead, his entire body seeming to relax as she leaned into his touch.

For a moment they stood there, breathing each other in.

Jake’s lips pressed to her skin, his hands warm and possessive on her neck.

Then, like someone flipped off the electricity, Jake let go.

He stepped back, his face rigid and devoid of emotion again.

Completely off balance, Dana had no choice but to let him help lead her to the waiting black Escalade.