The shock of the day was doing a number on my head and my heart and all I wanted to do was crawl into Nick’s arms and stay there until I felt safe. But tonight, we would stay in separate rooms. And tomorrow, we would go our separate ways. I held it together for five more minutes, until he walked with me to the elevator, then to my room on the third floor.
At my door, he pointed to a black box. “Press your right-hand pointer finger here. That will unlock your door.”
I followed his instructions. A green light flashed on the box. I turned the doorknob and opened the door.
Nick pulled the door closed again and reached across me to press the box. A red light flashed. “This has been programmed for you alone. You’d be safe in this building with no locks whatsoever, but this should give you extra peace of mind that no one will disturb your privacy.”
“Thank you.” The last thing I wanted to do was put another barrier between us, but I had no choice.
I unlocked the door again, stepped into the room, and closed the door behind me. I lurched across the open area of an efficiency-style apartment and collapsed on the couch, too tired to find the bedroom. Then I burst into tears. I pulled a thick blanket over myself but I couldn’t stop shivering. I cried until I gave in to exhaustion and fell into the blissful oblivion of sleep.
By the time Nick knocked on my door at five p.m., I’d been awake for nearly an hour. I’d showered and wrapped myself in a thick white robe, dried my hair, and pressed cold washcloths over my eyes until the puffiness had subsided. I pulled open the door to find Kat and another very beautiful, very pregnant woman standing in the hall.
“Hi Cara,” Kat said. “This is Savannah, Ben’s wife. Savvy, meet Cara, our temporary guest.”
Savannah grinned. “And the reason Nick is scowling less than usual, if I had to guess.”
I felt myself blush, which seemed to add to her misunderstanding of our relationship. Or more precisely, to her understanding of our previous one.
“We have options for you,” Savannah said, holding up dress bags. “You’re right, Kat, she’s much too tall to wear anything of Cami’s.”
“Kyle’s significant other,” Kat said. “She’s what.” she asked Savannah, “five two?”
“Maybe, if she’s wearing two-inch heels.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Kat said. “I left Lang in charge of the caterers, so I’d better make sure he hasn’t bitten any of them.”
Kat headed toward the elevator. Savannah held up the bags and raised her eyebrows in a question.
I stepped aside. “Um, you can bring those in, I guess.”
“I also brought my make-up bag if you’re interested,” Savannah said.
“I could use some good cover-up,” I admitted.
Savannah hung the dresses on a hook inside the door and turned to face me. “Ben mentioned you went through something traumatic earlier today. As someone with a similar perspective, I can sympathize, if you need to talk about it.”
I wasn’t sure I was ready for that yet. “Can I get you anything? The mini fridge is stocked.” I glanced at her bulging belly. “There’s juice, and flavored water. I can make tea. Decaf, I guess?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. And you don’t have to deflect. No pressure. I was just offering. But I am going to pressure you to wear the royal blue dress I brought because it’s going to be stunning with your eyes.” She unzipped the bag to reveal a beautiful, sleeveless blue gown with a plunging neckline. She handed it to me.
I carried it into the bathroom, hung my robe on a towel hook, and slid the dress over my head. I opened the door and called to Savannah. “What do you think?”
She joined me nodded approvingly in the mirror. “Wow! That’ll put a smile on Nick’s face.” She held up her make-up bag. “May I?”
I nodded and sat on the edge of the tub. “Nick’s not a fan of the holidays. He has his reasons.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Really? Huh. Could’ve fooled me. I assumed he was beating himself up over you being in danger earlier.”
“He shouldn’t. It was my fault. I accidentally blew his cover. I’ve already told him, I take full responsibility.”
“Sweetie, it doesn’t matter what you told him.” Savannah had finished applying concealer and foundation, and now pulled eyeshadow and mascara out of her make-up bag. “Trust me, Nick was blaming himself the second things went to shit. That’s how he is. That’s how Ben is. It’s how all these guys are, including Kat, and Ben’s sister, Mai, who is my bestie and also a HEAT agent. They’re protectors. It’s in their DNA. It’s why they do what they do.”
A real-life hero. That’s what I’d called Nick, and I’d meant it. The world needed protectors like him and Logan and Kat and their team.
There was another knock at my door.
“Perfect timing.” Savannah stepped back and observed her handiwork with a smile. “That will be your date.” She pointed to shoes she’d carried into the bathroom. “Slip into those while I get the door.
