She hesitated, then walked closer. She had done a lot to make herself unassuming. Walking through the halls of a military facility had her nerves stretched tight. The suit might be the reason. She hated to dress like this, but she knew how the CIA worked.
When she saw him, she fought the gasp. Ian was a handsome man with movie-star looks. Right now, he looked like he’d had the shit beat out of him. He had a black eye and a broken nose, even though it looked like it was healing fine.
“There you are. So, you decided to come in person to mock me.”
She frowned. “No. I wanted to check in on you. Everyone said you were okay, but I wanted to make sure. Why would I mock you?”
He frowned, and, of course, he looked even sexier doing so. How could a man look so sexy all beat up? This was what was wrong with the world.
“Bellows got the drop on me.”
She cocked her head. There, in his voice, she heard the recrimination. She straightened and looked him straight in the eye. Those beautiful blue eyes.
Stop thinking things like that.
“Bellows killed at least nine agents, maybe more. I think it’s no big deal that he got the drop on you. Surviving is the important part.”
His eyes narrowed. “Indeed.”
Dammit, when he got all perturbed and talked like that, his disdain was easy to hear, it got her hot. Mainly because there had to be something wrong with her.
“I have to go.”
“But you just got here.” Sarcasm dripped from his words.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
He opened his mouth, but she shook her head and started backing up. The door opened behind her, and she twisted around, ready to defend Ian. A nurse smiled at her.
“Hello. I’m here to take Mr. Smith’s vitals.”
She was young and smiling, as if she had won some kind of prize. Taking Ian’s vitals was a prize most women would be willing to fight over.
“Make sure you take care of yourself,” she said, hurrying to the door, needing to get out, to be free of this building.
“Sam,” he called out, but she ignored him.
Hurrying to the stairwell, she started her long descent to the first floor. She slipped on a pair of sunglasses, hiding her eyes. Having two different colored eyes tended to attract attention. She hadn’t had time to put her contacts in. With more bravery than she actually had, she strode through the first floor, nodding to a few people she recognized from the CIA. None of them recognized her. Why would they? She didn’t look anything like she had back when she worked with them.
As she stepped out into the sun, she drew in a deep breath of the perfumed air and started to her car. She needed to get out of there before anyone recognized her.
Eden’s head was on his chest, and his arm was wrapped around her. Having her by his side made everything right in his world. He wasn’t sure exactly how this would look, but he wanted to be by her side.
They had time to figure it out. There was a clatter in the hallway, and her head popped up.
“Damn, that’s my parents.”
“What?”
“I know it isn’t ideal. I mean, we just got back together, and we have to see if we can make this work?—”
“There is no seeing. We will make this work.”
She gave him a small smile. “Well, either way, that’s our parents, I think. Even for former CIA assets, they can be kind of…well…Texan.”
“No problem.”
Then he heard an unmistakable voice.
