“Doesit make me extra impressive ifIcan?”It’sthat low, husky voice again, and my hormones or neural transmitters— or whatever is responsible for this pattering heart, breathlessness, and tingling nervesI’mfeeling— are standing up and clapping.Moreso, because he’s leaning in a bit closer to me.
“Youdo have some rather impressive traits,”Ibreathe. “I’llgive you that.”
“Likewhat?”
Iglance down at his mouth. “Likethe way you use those lips.”
Withhis eyes still on mine, he says in a voice that sends thrills up my spine, “Ifeel likeIhaven’t used them nearly enough.”
“I’mgoing to have to agree with you on that.Iam twenty-six, and you’ve only used them on me twice.”
“Weshould rectify that.”
Heslides a hand around to my back, and then he shows me the ways he can magically use those lips.Ashis lips move against mine,Ican tell how relieved he is that we are here and thatI’msafe.It’slike he’s showing through a kiss how muchImatter to him, and it is so very intoxicating.
CHAPTER28
MY HISTORY: IT’S CLASSIFIED
MACKENZIE
Iam leaning with my back against the couch, lightheaded from all the kissing, asJacetraces a finger from my jawline, down my neck, across my shoulders, down my arm, along every finger on my right hand, and then back up again, leaving a trail of electrifying tingles.AndIam soaking it in like my entire being runs on electricity.
Nowthat my brain has all this new information aboutJace, it’s been rewriting everythingIknow about him and about everythingI’veexperienced with him since that night on a disastrous blind date.AndI’mleft with so many questions. “Youasked me once whyIchose to work in physical therapy.Doyou remember?”
Hegrimaces and scratches his forehead.
“Oh!You’reembarrassed at the memory of your answer.Good!Becauseyou gave about the vaguest one possible.”
Hegoes back to skimming his fingers along my arm. “Inmy defense, no one has ever asked me that question before.”
“You’rea spy,Jace”—
“Intelligenceoperative.”
— “you’re trained to come up with responses on the fly.”
“Butyou were so near me thatIwas struggling to think straight.”
Ichuckle. “Okay,I’llallow that defense.Butonly this one time.Andonly if you answer the question about your actual job— what made you want to be a spy?”Hethrows me a look, soIamend. “Intelligenceoperative.”AndIonly can amend it because he recently said it.Dothey ever actually call them that in movies?
“That’sa tough question.”
Ican tell it is by the way the expression on his face changed.Thechange is slight, but it tells me there is a lot beneath the surface. “Doyou want to tell me?It’sokay if you don’t.”
“No,Iwant you to know.”Oneside of his lips pulls up into a smile, and in a less serious voice, he says, “Plus,Ihear that my defense of my earlier business solutions answer is only accepted ifItell you.”
Ichuckle, but my eyes are back on him, and nowI’meven more dying to know his answer sinceIget the impression that he doesn’t give it often.Ifeel honored that he’s willing to tell me.
Hestays quiet for a long moment.Thenhe takes a long, slow breath as if preparing himself.Whenhe lets it out, he says, “Whenwe were kids,Charliewas kidnapped.”
Igasp.Apart of me knew that his answer could go back to his childhood— a lot of people’s eventual careers are rooted in something that happened in childhood.ButIdefinitely didn’t expect that answer.
“Shewas three;Iwas six.Iknow you hate vague answers”— he shoots me a look— “but the details are classified, soI’mgoing to have to be vague about some of it.”Hepauses a moment, like he’s choosing his words carefully. “Mydad was the director of theCSA, and our home address and information about our family was leaked to an extremist group.Mysiblings andIwere at a park, just playing like normal kids and not paying that much attention when she was taken.Itwas the scariest twenty-four hours of any of our lives.”
Irealize that my hand is still over my mouth from whenIgasped, andIlet it drop. “Oh,Jace.Thatmust have been so hard.I’mso sorry.”
Hereaches out and gives my hand a squeeze, then keeps holding it. “Asyou can imagine, a child of the director of one of our nation’s intelligence agencies getting kidnapped is kind of a big deal.Alot of agencies worked together with my dad and theCSAto getCharliefound and brought home safely.
