Page 44 of Nails

“If there are no other questions, then you are all dismissed,” Derek said to the team.

As chairs scraped against the floor and the guys began to file out of the room, Riley stood up to follow them because she needed to talk to Nails.But then Russell called out her name, stopping her.

When she turned, he handed her an envelope.

“What’s this?”she asked.

“Everything you’ll need: a new passport, ID, key to your apartment, your employee badge for your cover, and cash.”

Riley opened the envelope and slid out the Florida driver’s license bearing her alias, Riley Taylor.But the moment her eyes landed on the photo, her mouth dropped open in disbelief.

She turned toward Russell, holding up the ID.“What the hell is this?”she asked.

He glanced between her and the picture and then laughed.

“Oh, I forgot to mention that you’re a blonde now.”

“I’m a what?!”

“You heard me.”He glanced at his watch.“You’re scheduled for a full makeover in an hour.”He grinned, giving his shoulder a slight shrug.“Gotta sell the cover, Aiken.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” she groaned as she placed the ID back inside the envelope.

“Afraid not.”

Luckily for Russell, his phone rang, saving him from her wrath.Nobody ever mentioned a makeover.Ugh!

As Russell left the room to take the call, Riley started to pack up her things.She then noticed that Derek was still in the room at the far end of the table, looking at something on his tablet.

She debated whether she should bring up the situation between her and Nails.Part of her wanted to reassure him and make it clear that whatever was going on wouldn’t interfere with the mission.But another part of her hesitated because if she brought it up, it might sound like it already had.

Fuck it, she thought to herself, and pulled on big girl panties.

“Commander Connors?”she addressed him, trying to keep her tone steady.

Derek glanced up, his sharp blue eyes meeting hers.“What can I do for you, Agent Aiken?”

Riley shifted nervously on her feet.“Do you have a moment that we could talk?”

Derek’s eyebrows lifted slightly, and he motioned toward the seat across from him.“Sure.What’s on your mind?”he asked.

Riley took the seat.The room suddenly felt warmer, or maybe it was just her face.

“I just wanted to address the uh…obvious tension in the room earlier,” she said, then cringed inwardly.

Derek tilted his head slightly.His lips twitched like he was holding back a smile.“You mean between you and Nails?”he said bluntly.

She sighed.“Yeah, that.”

He set the tablet down in front of him and leaned back in his chair.He folded his arms across his chest, not in a threatening way, but in that unreadable military way that made her feel like she was being studied.He didn’t say anything, so she continued.

“I wanted to assure you that whatever this is between him and me, it will not interfere with the mission.I value my job, and I’ve worked damn hard to get where I am today.You have my word that my personal feelings, whatever they may be, will not get in the way of what we’re here to do.That is my promise to you.”

There.She said it, though it didn’t make the heat in her cheeks disappear, but it did lift some of the pressure off her chest.

For a long moment, Derek didn’t respond, and Riley felt her nerves prickle again.

But then, to her surprise, his expression softened.“I appreciate you coming forward.Not everyone would’ve done that.”