Page 27 of Storm Warning

He rested his hand on her knee. “Is this okay?”

“It’s fine.”

After he sank into sleep again, she began her first search. Hours later, she shut down her laptop. No progress. The people targeting her were good. Very good. She should have been able to follow the money trail. That would be easier if she had a starting point. But the starting point was in the middle of a jungle, and she’d been unconscious for a good while after the three men grabbed her during the mission to free Christopher.

She wasn’t the place to start. Andre was. He noticed she was missing and followed the trail her kidnappers made through the jungle. What else had he noticed and heard? It was time she had a conversation with Andre about her kidnapping. Hopefully, he noticed the right things to give her a starting place.

Since the sun was cresting the horizon, Riley scooted closer to Andre. In his sleep, he sighed and tugged her into his body. His body heat sank into her, helping her to relax against him. Sleep tugged her under, and this time she went willingly.

Male voices in the hall outside the recovery room woke Riley. She opened her eyes and froze. She had been sleeping, really sleeping, in Andre’s arms. How could that happen? Would he be angry with her for invading his space? Worse, what if she’d hurt him? Andre was such a tough man that Riley wouldn’t be surprised if he suffered in silence rather than wake her.

“Good morning.” Andre’s voice rumbled beneath her ear. “Sleep well?”

She gave a slight nod.

“Funny thing. So did I.” He cupped her chin with the palm of his hand and lifted her face to his. “In fact, I’ve never slept better in my life.” Andre’s mouth descended on hers. A long minute later, he broke the kiss. “Hungry?”

“Starving.”

“So am I. Grant came in a few minutes ago and took Christopher to go eat.”

She blinked. How could that happen without her being aware of it? “Why didn’t I hear him?”

Andre smiled. “He was quiet.”

Riley rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. We’re trained to wake at the slightest noise. I should have heard him come in.”

“Your not waking says more about how much you trust me to watch your back than you missing Grant’s entrance.” He looked smug.

Was Andre right? Did she trust him that much? She must. Otherwise, Riley would have been on her feet with a weapon in her hand by the time Grant stepped into the recovery room. “Or maybe I trust our teammates to keep both of us safe,” she teased.

Oh, he didn’t like that one bit. “Not nice, Riley. You’ll have to make that up to me.”

Curious, she tilted her head. “How?”

“I’ll think of something and let you know what the price of my forgiveness is.” He winked.

The ball of ice in her stomach melted at his teasing. Was this how normal relationships developed? If so, she was on board for it.

Following a brisk knock, Brent Maddox opened the door and stepped inside the recovery room. He pulled up short, eyebrows soaring, when he saw Riley in Andre’s arms.

She straightened and would have scrambled off the bed except Andre’s hold tightened. Her gaze flew to his.

“Stay.” Assurance and confidence filled his eyes and his voice. Andre turned to Maddox. “I didn’t expect to see you, sir.”

“If I’m not out on deployment, I always check on operatives injured in the line of duty.” He leaned his back against the door and folded his arms. “How are you, Marsh?”

“Fine, sir.”

Maddox snorted. “Try again, the truth this time.”

“Did you get the license plate of the truck that ran over me a dozen times and took off?”

He chuckled. “That good, huh?”

“That may oversell it.”

“Doc Sorenson says you’re out of commission for a few weeks. Do you agree?”