Page 24 of Midnight’s Captive (Stroke of Midnight #2)

Taryn stood in the shadows near the bar, still watching to make sure everything returned to normal. Or as close to normal as it could be when the patrons had gotten to see the Jack in action. Dani had returned and was helping Jenna manage the apparently never-ending drink orders.

“Well, that was pretty damn spectacular.” The now-familiar voice was close enough that her heart stuttered and warmth flooded her. She wasn’t glad to see him, she told herself sternly. Just a residual high from her victory.

Taryn turned toward Ash.

“How long have you been here?” How the hell had she missed his presence?

“Got here just in time to watch you drop that guy.” At her questioning glance, he added, “I finished inspecting the equipment. You weren’t in your office, so I thought maybe I’d find you in the bar. I definitely did.”

Heat flared in his eyes, warming her blood.

“That the guy who’s been showing up where he shouldn’t be?”

“Yeah.” Her voice came out husky. Had he noticed?

“Since you got rid of him, you still need me to track him?”

Taryn swallowed hard and tried to focus on the conversation. The adrenaline from the fight was still buzzing in her veins. Fight was off the table, but maybe fuc?—

Pull it together, girl! He asked you a question. A business question.

“Yeah, I need to know how he knew to show up here.”

He nodded. “You’ll need to give me the parameters of the search. You want to do that tonight?”

Was she the only one feeling this draw? “Let’s do that tomorrow.” There was no way she’d be able to focus, not with his presence affecting her so completely. So unexpectedly.

“Sounds good.” His gaze traveled along the smooth metal of her arm. “Your hardware is pretty damn impressive.”

She swore she felt his gaze like a touch. Metal couldn’t shiver, could it?

His gray eyes lifted. “So are you.”

Warmth suffused her face and she hoped the dim light of the bar hid it. This man, this damned hacker, brought out the young girl in her, the one who still believed in love and happily ever after, even after all the crap she’d lived through.

Taryn shrugged, reluctant to let him see how much his words affected her. “All part of the job.”

She started to turn away. He put a hand over her modified one. For once, she didn’t threaten bodily harm because he’d touched her without permission. Deep inside, in a place that she didn’t want to examine too closely, she knew he’d intended the move to be comforting, not threatening.

His touch was gentle.

She felt the barest whisper of it. The touch receptors in the metal skin weren’t top of the line. They hadn’t even been near the top when she’d gotten it and she’d always assumed all she felt was the illusion of touch. Now... she wasn’t so sure.

She held his gaze and decided to see where this moment led. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe she was being stupid. Either way, she’d deal with that later.

Instead of making the smart move, she turned her hand over and laced her fingers with his.

Still holding his hand, Taryn flagged down Dani. “You okay?” Her color was good, but Taryn wondered about her nerves.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“If I leave, will you be okay for the rest of the night?”

Dani’s eyes widened. The moment the other woman saw their entwined fingers, her eyes got even wider and she offered Taryn a radiant smile. “Yes, definitely!”

Taryn pinned Dani with her best I’m-your-boss stare, but it had the complete opposite effect of what she wanted.

“Yes! We’ll be fine. We don’t need you at all,” Dani said.

Taryn doubled down on the stare.

Her friend laughed. “Go on, get out of here.”

“If you need me, come get me. No excuses,” Taryn warned her. “Tell Daryl I want security on duty the rest of the night. I don’t think he’s coming back, but just in case.”

Dani nodded.

Taryn tried to ignore her as she turned back to Ash. “Come with me,” she said. Okay, ordered. “Please,” she added.

“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped close. Heat radiated off him and she leaned closer.

Taryn didn’t stop to think or to consider her actions. She tugged on Ash’s hand and dragged him through the employees-only double doors and into the hallway.

People were watching. Her staff was watching.

She didn’t fucking care.