She waited a full minute before giving in to the urge.“Care to share the details?”
“No.”
“Oh, come on, you can’t say stuff like that and not expect me to want to know more.Besides, how else are we going to pass the time?”Okay, that probably wasn’t the best question to ask.A few suggestions immediately sprang to mind that she had no business entertaining.
But she did.
And her body heated a little more.
Navarre’s eyes focused on hers with an intensity that held her in place.His heart thudded, strong and steady, under the weight of her palm.This close, she could make out every line on his face, could see the tiny scar near the corner of his right eye that she’d never noticed before, and a part of her wished he’d make a move because she didn’t have the guts to do it.
Instead, he blinked, and it broke the spell.“I can’t give you details.Those missions were classified.But I can tell you that I was trained to stalk, to hunt, and to evade detection.I was very good at my job, and I’ll use every one of those skills to keep you safe from danger.”
There was such conviction in his voice; he wasn’t just saying it to make her feel better.He was saying it because he truly believed it.He considered it a foregone conclusion.And that confidence gave her hope that they’d make it out of this mess in one piece.
She swallowed hard.“Good to know.”
He took the glow stick from her hand and placed it beneath the blanket, plunging the shelter into darkness.But this time she didn’t feel like a bunny in a burrow.She felt safe, because he was there.
“Try to get some sleep,” he said.“It’s been a long day; you must be exhausted.I’ll wake you before first light.”
That sounded an awful lot like he intended to stay up all night, which was ridiculous.He needed rest too.“You’re going to get some sleep, right?”
There was a pause before he answered.“One of us needs to stay awake in case there’s trouble.I’ll be fine.I’ve gone days without sleep.”
It was all she could do not to roll her eyes.Not that it mattered in the darkness.
“You keep saying these things like they’re a badge of honor.Why do that to yourself when it’s not necessary?”She continued before he could argue.“How about you let me sleep a few hours, and then you sleep for a few?”
“Sure, whatever.”
He’d agreed to that way too quickly.It made her suspicious.“If I go to sleep, will you really wake me up in a few hours, or are you just saying that to shut me up?”
He let out a sigh.“You don’t trust easily, do you?”
“Give me a reason to trust, and I will.”
“And what will that take?”
“Your word is enough.Break it, and I’ll never trust you again.”
Another sigh.“Done.You have my word that I’ll wake you in a few hours so you can take the next shift.Happy?”
“Delighted.”
Chapter 13
Midnightintheemergencyroom was not where Jackson had expected the day to lead him.
He stared straight down at the sterile white tiles because the bright fluorescent lights hurt his eyes.After hours of being poked and prodded, the doctors had finally discharged him, though he’d yet to leave the hospital.Last he’d heard, Rosario was on the third floor getting her broken nose reset.Considering that was the worst of her injuries, she’d gotten off fairly lucky.
The waiting room door swung open, and Austin Flint strode inside, a Styrofoam cup of coffee in each hand.He looked pissed, which was to be expected, given their current situation.
“Don’t get up,” he said, and Jackson planted his ass back onto the cracked vinyl seat.He knew not to mess with the boss when he was in a mood.
Jackson uttered a simple “thanks” when Austin handed him one of the cups.He sampled the coffee—it tasted awful and was only lukewarm, but he needed the caffeine boost so he drank it anyway.“Any word on Garrett?”
“He’s still in surgery.Last I heard it’s going to be awhile before he gets out.”Austin drank a swig of his coffee and grimaced.“Christ, that’s awful.That’s what I get for buying coffee out of a vending machine.”
