Page 62 of August

But where did August fit in the mix? They had chemistry, companionship, electricity. But all those things were heightened because she needed him and Backcountry Protection Services.

There was nothing she could do but wait. See where things went.

The oven timer beeped.

“Smells good in here. Did you—When the hell’d you make muffins?” August’s awestruck tone made her smile.

Maybe she wouldn’t have August forever, but she at least had him for now.

***

August bit into a chunk of blueberry muffin covered in melted butter. Flavor exploded on his tongue and he moaned. “Man, is that lemon in there?”

Gigi gave him a knowing smile. “You’re good.”

August sucked the tasty crumbs off his thumb. “No, you are.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had freshly made baked goods. If Gigi stuck around, he’d have to do double sessions at the gym.

“I’m going to shower.” She stood from the couch, and he watched her return to her bedroom and shut the door.

His mind drifted to the image of Gigi naked under the spray, but he forced his attention to the Radcliffes. With the new information regarding the charitable foundation, it wouldn’t be long before he and the guys learned what exactly the senator was involved with. Telling Gigi that life could be normal in a day or two hadn’t been a stretch.

The thing was, he didn’t know what normal was anymore. In Gigi’s previous version of normal, they hadn’t been together.

Doubt crept in like an eclipse blocking out his happiness. As much as he wanted to believe they could stay in this rhythm they’d found, it was too early to tell. A pang started deep in his chest. He wanted Gigi around him. Every day. The only thing about this whole fucked-up situation that gave him anxiety was the possibility that she wouldn’t want anything to do with him after this.

She’d cut and run before. Who was to say she wouldn’t again, once she didn’t need him? The pang in his chest spread. He massaged the base of his throat, but the tension didn’t ease. He was obsessing. Once this was all fucking done, he’d lay everything on the line.

Ask her out officially? Ask her to move in? Nothing was off the table.

Ring, ring, ring

Snatching up his phone, he saw it was Toth calling. “Hello?”

“Hey. How’s it going there?”

August swung his gaze to the closed bedroom door. “It’s going. Tell me you’ve made headway with the Radcliffes.” If anyone could find dirt on anyone, it was Toth and his connections.

“I made headway with the Radcliffes.”

Some of the tension in August’s chest eased. “And?”

“And it’s all connected. All of it.”

“Tell me more.”

The sound of a car door closing echoed in the background. “I’m heading to the office,” Toth said. “Dana did the groundwork for us and found that the Radcliffes are tied to Val Alvarez. Looks like Roy has been laundering money for the cartel through their charitable organization and Todd was helping.”

“Jesus,” August breathed. Of all the things he’d expected to find, he hadn’t anticipated the connection to the cartel. Not from the senator of all people. “So they have a very personal interest in keeping Todd safe.”

“I’d say. Pretty ballsy of Roy, too, considering the cartel wants Todd dead. The Radcliffes are taking a risk protecting him. Question is, why would they bother? Why not throw Todd to the wolves and avoid the cartel’s wrath?”

“That’s a good question,” August drawled. “And I’m going to ask Roy myself. Got a number for me?”

“Yup. Dana got that, too. I’ll text it to you. Be careful what you say and how long you talk for. We don’t know what resources they have to get to Gigi.”

“Copy that.” August ended the call and a beat later a text from Toth containing a ten-digit number came through. August stood and stalked toward the bedroom. Opening the door, he caught Gigi heading into the bathroom with a change of clothes in her arm.

She stilled. “Everything okay?”

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