by C. A. Szarek
He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “Why? Afraid I’ll start calling you Grumpy?”
“Jesus,” she muttered, shaking her head.
“You’re short, but I never would have gone straight to dwarf.”
She glared.
“You need to take a breather and lighten up.” Nate zipped the bag and draped the strap across his torso.
Lee tried to ignore how the extra weight tightened his shirt and outlined his pecs. “Says the guy who lost his friend today.”
His expression sobered as he straightened. “Ouch. Low blow.”
Guilt rushed up and she pushed off the wall by the doorway and moved closer. “Sorry. You’re right.”
Nate reached for her hand, and she couldn’t pull away after just being a jerk. She let him entwine their fingers. “I just want to make the best of our situation. I want to help you catch this asshole.”
She nodded. “I know. Hafta admit, your input will help.”
He smiled and her heart skipped.
Lee had to clear her throat. “Let’s go. Boss said the house is ready.”
“My buddies and I rented a place about forty-five minutes north. A big townhouse with five bedrooms,” he said.
“Sorry you wasted your money. What’s the occasion, anyway?”
“Every January I get together with my friends from Columbia. We swap law war stories, and the married ones complain about their wives.” Nate winked.
Right. He’d gone to Columbia Law. He’d mentioned his annual trip when they’d been together in Texas. How had she forgotten that? “Hope you cancelled.”
He nodded. “I sent emails. Fortunately, they weren’t supposed to arrive until Thursday anyway. I got in early to meet with Angelo. Last week he asked if I could move my flight up. Now I know why.” Nate frowned. “’Lo…was the only local.”
“Did you tell them about him?”
“No. I’m not stupid, Lee. I kept it vague, just that something had come up.”
“Good. They’re not coming anyway?”
“No. But they’ll hear about Angelo on the news.”
“Right. But you won’t be able to take calls.”
Nate sighed.
Lee dropped his hand and glanced around the hotel suite. “Got everything?”
“Just have to grab my suit from the closet, but yeah. Only got this place for one night, so I hadn’t really unpacked. The house wasn’t ready until today.”
She led them out of the door after he’d grabbed a garment bag and slung it over his shoulder. “You should’ve told me you were in town, this place is expensive.” The words were out of Lee’s mouth without thought.
Nate paused, and his smile was wicked. “Yeah. That would’ve happened.”
Her stomach flip-flopped. “You’re probably right. My place is small—not up to your standards, anyway.” She smirked.
“Hey, are you calling me a snob?”
“Never.”
His place was huge. Had to be thirty-five hundred square feet of sprawling two storey. She’d only visited once, because it was about an hour from Antioch. They’d spent most of their tryst at The Covington, the fancy new hotel in the small Texas city.
A vision of them entwined in the big bed made her shiver.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
He stared as if he could read her thoughts, and Lee squirmed.
“Your house is huge is all,” she muttered.
Nate shrugged. “Got it for a steal. It’s more than I need. For now.” He quirked a fair eyebrow, hazel gaze even more intense.
She ignored him, slipping in front of him in the hallway. “Don’t watch my ass.”
He laughed and she couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips, but she wouldn’t turn to look at him.
Couldn’t.
Because if she looked at him, she’d do something colossally stupid, like kiss him.
Chapter Six
“Where are we going, anyway?” Nate asked when his things were tucked safely in his rental. They’d opted to take his car. It wasn’t like the vehicles that belonged to the Bureau, so they could blend in better. Not so obviously law enforcement.
“I’ll drive.”
He rolled his eyes, not the least bit surprised about her assertion. “Um. My car.”
“Do you know where we’re going?” Lee countered.
“I would if you told me. I lived here for several years, remember? I’m familiar with the area.”
“Kids, do you need to be separated?” Her partner’s words were wrapped in amusement, and his moustache twitched.
Lee scowled and snatched the car keys from Nate’s hand. “Just let me drive.”
Nate let it slide and looked at Agent Downs. The large man had his arms crossed over his broad chest and he was observing Lee with one dark eyebrow arched. He reclined into the passenger side of his standard-issue, unmarked, navy blue Dodge Charger. The car screamed ‘I’m a cop car’.
“Let’s get moving. I’ll follow at a distance and keep my eyes peeled. When we get to the place, you can run home to get your things, Dawson. I’m sure Crane and I can last without you for a little bit. I’d say go now, but we need to get you secured, Counsellor.”
They both nodded, then Lee glanced at Nate. “As silly as this might sound, it’s necessary. But you’re familiar with Caselli’s work, so it shouldn’t surprise you.”
“Hey, no argument from me. I get it. Precautions are necessary. I want to make it home alive and well, not in a box.”
She winced, but schooled her expression so fast his stomach flip-flopped. If she cared about what happened to him, could she care about him?
He watched her suck in a breath and exchange a few more words with her partner. When Downs went around to the driver’s side of the Charger, Nate got into his rental’s passenger seat and yanked on the seatbelt.
Lee’s expression was smug when she started the Honda, but she wouldn’t turn his way.
“I think you like to fight,” Nate muttered.
She shot him a look, brows knitted. “What?”
“You argue with me over every little thing. You don’t always have to be in control, you know.”
“Yes, I do. I have to keep you safe.”
“You will.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I trust you, Lee. I feel safe with you.”
Her cheeks flushed and she swallowed.
Nate bit back a groan, wanting to kiss her.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she whispered.
“Like what?”
A horn blared, and they both jumped. Lee cleared her throat and looked away, grabbing the shifter. “Impatient ass.”
Nate chuckled and glanced over his shoulder in time to see Downs gesturing for them to move. The Charger was behind them, waiting for her to back the Accord out.
He chided himself for getting lost in her dark gaze and ordered his heart to calm. He thumped his head back into the headrest and closed his eyes.
“We’re not going far. Just outside the city.”
Nate didn’t answer but lifted his head in time to squint against a clear winter sky as Lee pulled out of the parking garage. He shivered, missing the mild North Texas winter. The temperature was in the thirties, and more snow was due later that night, supposed to fall up into the morning.
“You cold?” Lee asked.
“I’m good. But thanks.” He watched her eyes dart to the rear-view mirror, as well as discreetly to the side mirrors.
She wasn’t checking for traffic—she was absorbing their surroundings. Downs might have mentioned he was in charge of keeping his eyes peeled, but Lee was alert. She flexed her fingers as she turned the wheel, straightening her shoulders and repeating her checks.
Nate couldn’t stop watching her. Gorgeous. Fully in control.
“Do I have something on my face?” Lee murmured. Her jaw tightened.
His little FBI agent didn’t like to be observed.
He smirked. “No. I just haven’t s
een anything so beautiful since I left Texas.”
Lee snorted. “Right. Since when did you become a pick-up line kinda guy?”
Laughing, Nate shook his head. “I’m not. Just stating the truth. You’re gorgeous, Lee Dawson.” And I missed you.
“Are you sure you’re not cold? This is my second winter here, but I’m still not used to it.”
“I’m fine.” Nate let her subject change go. Last thing he wanted to do was argue. “But if you’re cold, turn on the heat.”
A slight nod of her head was all the response he got as she turned right at a traffic light.
They’d only been in the busy traffic of downtown a few minutes before Lee’s eyes darted to the rear-view mirror again. “We’re being followed.”
“Are you sure?” His heart skipped.
“Downs already noticed. Black SUV about three cars back.”
“Caselli standard issue,” Nate breathed.
Lee went left, slipping between a truck and a car. A horn screamed, but she kept manoeuvring the Honda in and out of traffic even after they’d moved out of the city and entered the freeway. His heart didn’t care that she was in complete control. It thundered with every new car she sped by.
“A million miles an hour isn’t going to help,” Nate complained.
“I wanted to lose him in the city.”
“Did you?”
“Not sure. I can’t spot him right now, but Downs kept up.”
“Could it be FBI? Don’t y’all have the same standard-issue black SUVs?”
“Hmm, maybe,” she said without looking his way. “Doubt it. Downs and I were the only two from the team on scene.”
He didn’t answer, just gripped the seat with white-knuckled hands.
“Relax, we’ll be there soon.”
Her voice was calm, and it grounded him, but Nate closed his eyes against the rushing scenery.
“I didn’t know you got car sick. You okay?”
No. “It’s not the car. It’s…everything about this situation. I take a vacation for the first time in months. I even worked through Christmas this past year, much to my mama’s chagrin. Then I see one of the best friends I ever had gunned down. Now someone’s after me? I didn’t even get a good look at the shooter.”
“Nate.”
His name on her lips made his heart thunder for a different reason. He opened his eyes and met her dark gaze.
Lee stayed locked on him longer than she should have before turning her eyes back to the road. “It’ll be okay.”
Nate sighed and relaxed into the chair. Three little words and some of the weight lifted off his chest. He believed her. Trusted her, like he’d said before they’d left the parking garage. “I’m glad I’m with you.”
Although she didn’t answer, the slight upturn of her luscious mouth was enough. For now.
They didn’t talk for the remainder of the drive, but Lee kept checking to see if they’d lost the black SUV. She pursed her lips every time her gaze darted. If she’d spotted something, she didn’t make mention of it.
Like she would, stupid.
After his little soliloquy, she probably thought he couldn’t handle it.
Not very macho of you, Nate Crane.
He snorted.
“You say something?”
“Nope.”
The click of the turn signal filled the car as Lee exited the highway, and Nate took a moment to look around. They were in New Jersey now.
She pulled into a vast parking lot of an apartment complex. Surprise rolled over him as she followed a curve. It narrowed to a road that led behind the first and second rows of buildings.
Lee slowed the Honda, rolling to a stop in front of the biggest building on site. It had three rows of three balconies climbing up the front of the brick façade, as well as sizable enclosed porches on the ground level.
If the backside was the same, it’d have to house at least eighteen apartments. It was farthest from the road, with woods surrounding it. Somehow it seemed secure, and separate from the rest of the place.
“Apartments?”
“The Bureau owns this whole building.”
“Ah. People actually live here?”
“Yes. Undercover agents from time to time, as well as transfers. I stayed here the month before I found my place in the city.”
“But… It’s safe? Secure?”
Lee nodded and Nate stared. If she was irritated by his questions, he couldn’t tell.
“Why is the roof almost…flat?”
“Indoor pool. It’s heated. There’s also some really nice workout equipment up there. Locker rooms, too. You know, the Bureau wants us fit and comfortable.” Amusement rippled across her beautiful face.
Nate had trouble focusing on her sarcasm. “So, it’s not common knowledge who owns the place?”
“Nope. I’m sure it’s a cover of some sort. The government is good at that kinda shit. As far as the rest of the complex is concerned, Building F is just like the rest, just with double the units. C’mon, let’s go.”
When Nate looped his duffel’s strap over his body, Agent Downs came striding across the parking lot. He must’ve parked the Charger in front of the next closest building.
He shook his head and jogged to close the distance to them. Nate and Lee stood by the trunk of the rental car. “I don’t like this,” Clint said, running a big hand through his jarhead-style buzz cut.
“I’m pretty sure we lost them.” Lee crossed her arms over her breasts and Nate tried not to stare.
“I wish I could’ve gotten a better look,” Her partner shook his head.
“Nate made a good point. It could have been a Bureau vehicle.”
Downs frowned. “As much as I’d like to believe that, I don’t buy it. But that at least I can confirm. When I get back to the office I’ll check into it. They were with us for a while before and after you played Nascar.”
Lee smirked.
“So, there’s no guarantee?” Nate asked.
Clint’s pale gaze settled on him. “Right. It was either someone not all that great at tailing, since we lost them so easily, or we weren’t followed at all.”
“Knowing how to tail someone is Caselli one-oh-one,” Lee remarked.
Her partner sighed. “I agree.”
“Just let me know what you find out when you look into the FBI vehicle possibility.” She reached into the backseat without a word and grabbed the garment bag containing Nate’s suit. After folding it to get a better grip, she ignored his protest that he’d carry it.
“I’ll keep you posted. Let’s get Crane inside.” Lee’s partner gestured for them to head into the building.
Lee tugged his jacket when Nate made a go for the elevator, nodding towards the stairwell.
The jog up to the third floor was a blur. Clint and Lee kept him moving his feet—all three of them silent. Both agents looked around, cataloguing every detail, and they ran into no one.
Nate’s skin crawled.
If this place is safe, and the FBI owns it, why are they so twitchy?
They put him between them as they arrived at apartment three-twenty-four. The reality of his situation sank in as he felt the heat coming off Clint Down’s big body at his back.
This is real. Your life is in danger.
Lee faced the door, quickly punching a code into a number pad below the door handle.
She breathed an audible sigh as soon as the three of them spilled into a sizable living room.
“You guys freaked me out more coming up here than the drive in. Worse than the threat of being followed,” Nate admitted. His duffel slipped from his hand to the floor with a thud.
Clint smirked. “Sorry. We didn’t want to run into anyone, FBI or not.”
“Ah.”
“Liv and the team are the only ones who know your location.” Lee unzipped her brown leather bomber jacket, but didn’t slip it off. “The master’s the farthest room down the hall. You take it. I’ll take one of the smaller bedrooms
.”
“Run home and get your things, Dawson.” Her partner spoke before Nate got a chance.
“Good thing is I can keep an eye out on the way back into the city. Maybe determine if we really had a tail.”
Agent Downs nodded. “Sounds good to me.” He looked at Nate. “Get comfortable, Crane, you’ll be here for a while.”
Nate tried not to groan.
* * * *
“So what did you do to my partner?” Agent Downs flipped through channels on the big screen as if he hadn’t just asked an invasive question.
The apartment was fancy—full-sized kitchen with table and chairs, as well as a formal dining room right off it. The living room had two oversized recliners and every video game system known to man to go with the huge television. A teenage boy’s dream.
Nate hadn’t spent much time in the master suite yet, but the attached bathroom was spa style, walk-in shower with three showerheads. It even had a separate Jacuzzi tub. He’d grumbled about taxpayer dollars, and Lee’s partner had chuckled.
Lee had been gone about twenty minutes, but had assured them she wouldn’t be gone more than two hours. She’d even promised to cook dinner.
Nate spared the other man a glance, his stomach fluttering. “What?”
Downs didn’t look at him, but one eyebrow shot up. His posture was relaxed, large frame reclined into the plush maroon couch, long legs stretched out in front of him. He bent one knee and perched his boot on the edge of the coffee table in front of them. Somehow, even though his big body was loose, the FBI agent was still intimidating. “Okay, I’ll sit here and pretend I’m stupid.”
A laugh escaped Nate and he shook his head. “You’re not stupid.”
Pale blue eyes met his gaze. “Then?”
“I’m just surprised you’re asking is all. She sure as hell wouldn’t want me airing her—our—dirty laundry.”
“Ah. So you’re the reason she came back from Texas different?”
“Different?”
The big man sat up, nodding. “Dawson was never talkative, but loner gained a capital L after she came back. Figured it wasn’t case-related. Of course, my tight-lipped partner won’t tell me a damn thing.”