Page 111 of Lethal Game

But Jason was pulling away, putting some distance between them, giving her a ragged, breathless look that she couldn't decipher.

"We're stopping?" she questioned. "Because I thought we were just getting going."

"We need to talk."

Her gut twisted uneasily. "Those words don't usually mean anything good."

"This time they do," he promised.

"Okay. What are we talking about?"

"First, your father will be released tomorrow. There are contingencies and other restrictions, but he's going home to your mother."

A wave of relief ran through her. "I'm so glad. She misses him so much. Thank you for helping to make that happen."

"His actions played a significant role in the results. And what he will do going forward to help stop similar attacks is also part of the deal."

"No more teaching high school, I guess."

"He's going to work for Homeland Security and the FBI and whatever agencies need his expertise."

"That's great. Is that it? Because you said first…"

"There's a second," he said, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. He handed it to her.

She stared down in confusion, wondering why he'd given her a colorful flyer of a beautiful hotel in Greece. "What's this?"

"The first place I want to go on vacation."

She raised her gaze to his, giving him a questioning look. "But you like to work. You don't take vacations."

"That's going to change. Everything is going to change, Alisa. I don't want to be a workaholic anymore. I don't want to focus only on the job. I want to participate in a relationship with someone I care very much about." He paused. "That's you, by the way."

Her heart skipped a beat. "You want a relationship with me?"

"Yes. You're an amazing woman: courageous, strong, loving, kind, sexy as hell…I can't imagine not being with you, Alisa."

"I've been trying to imagine that for the past two weeks, but it seems unbearable not being able to see you every day. You're an amazing man," she said, echoing his words. "Heroic, honest, and the way you kiss me…"

"That's all you, Alisa. You make me crazy."

"I'm right there with you. I want to go on vacation with you, and I want to have a relationship. I want it all."

"I want it all, too, and Flynn tells me I can have it. He offered me a permanent job with his team. He said his agents can have a work-life balance if they want it. And I want it. But mostly I just want you. I know it's fast. Our connection was forged in fire, in high-stakes drama. I may not seem so exciting in regular life. We can take things as slow as you want. Nothing has to be decided now."

"Are you kidding? I don't want to go slow. I want to go fast. I want to jump because I know you'll jump with me. You'll be there when I need you, and I'll be there when you need me." Happy tears gathered in her eyes as she finally let herself savor the fact that he felt exactly the same way she did. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as you can go. I told Flynn I'm taking a minimumof six weeks off before I start working again, and he was fine with it. So, it's your call."

"I've been on temporary leave since I've been helping my mom rebuild her life. I'll extend it for six weeks. This is going to be so great. Where shall we go?"

"Wherever you want. It doesn't matter to me as long as we're together. Greece was just an idea."

"It doesn't matter to me, either. But let's start here."

"In Greece?"

"The vacation part, yes. That hotel looks awesome. But for the relationship part, I'm thinking here and now." She pulled off her T-shirt, loving the way his eyes lit up with desire.

"That works for me," he said as he unbuttoned his shirt.

She moved toward him. "We're going to be good together, Jason."

He gave her a loving smile. "We already are."