Page 53 of August

“San Juan Island.” The information sat like glue in her mouth. The memory of staying at the waterfront property off the coast washed over her.

It’d all seemed so innocent then.

“On it,” Taschen said, turning back to his computer before Toth could command him to do so.

“Tell me about their place there,” August said gently.

She picked up her tea and took a sip. “I dunno. Gorgeous. It was on a large property, several acres on the ocean. They had a boat, and, as I mentioned, a plane.” The possibilities lined up in her head like obedient little ducks.

Todd had worked for the senator, had maybe laundered money for him, but would Roy and his wife hide a fugitive? It was too absurd to comprehend.

But also, too absurd to make up.

“We’ve got our starting point,” Ghost said, standing. “Question is if he’s still with them or if they were able to get him out of the country.”

Gigi sucked in a breath of thick air as Toth and Rami started to chat and Ghost reached for a large black bag. “Where can I set up?”

“Dining table,” August instructed.

Within minutes their cozy little paradise had turned into a hub of computers, machines, and devices.

“Come check this out,” Taschen called to August.

Gone was the peaceful, romantic rendezvous. A little shiver of intimidation struck Gigi as she looked from one muscled man to the next.

Any more testosterone in the place and they’d have their own black-ops team.

CHAPTER 17

August needed to be alone with Gigi more than he needed his next breath. Circling his fingers around her wrist, he led her to the bedroom.

They were getting somewhere. The memory Gigi uncovered could end this whole thing quickly. So, as much as it annoyed him that four other men were crowded in what he’d come to think of as Gigi’s and his oasis, he’d deal.

Because the faster this shit came to a close, the faster he could figure out where things were going with Gigi and him—either right down the tubes or down a path they never should’ve strayed from two years go.

“What’s going on?” Her eyes were watchful as she surveyed his face.

He closed the bedroom door and turned to face her, cupping the delicate slope of her jaw in his palm. “Nothing. Just wanted to get you alone for a minute.”

That familiar pretty pink blush colored her cheeks. “Well... that’s nice and all but there’s a room full of your friends out there.”

He lifted a shoulder. “They’re not all my friends. Toth and Rami, sure. Taschen I tolerate,” he added, with a note of amusement. Taschen was annoying as hell sometimes. “And Ghost, I just met him so he doesn’t count.”

Her eyebrow quirked. “Well, you might not have a problem with them hearing a quickie, but I sure do.”

He studied her mouth, the way her lips parted to reveal her even, white front teeth. She drew in a breath of air as if inhaling his scent and, goddamn, it fucked with his head. She fucked with his head. In the best way. “No show,” he drawled out the syllables like an artist with a paint brush. “I want you uninhibited—and I don’t do quickies.”

She dragged her tongue across her bottom lip, taunting him to take it between his teeth. “Good to know.”

Her matter-of-fact answer made him grin. Smoothing the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone, he fought the urge to kiss her. If he gave in to temptation, there’d definitely be something for his friends to hear, and there sure as hell wouldn’t be anything quick about it. “I think you gave us some helpful information.”

She tilted her head to the side ever so slightly, making her long, luscious locks curl all the way down to her elbow. “I hope so. I’m not sure how I feel about all this.”

“Don’t feel. Just do.” Christ, was he even talking about the same thing she was?

Just keep moving forward with her. Don’t stop to think about the bolt of lightning in your chest every time she looks at you. Don’t acknowledge the blinding desire that consumes you when you kiss her. Don’t focus on the fact that you couldn’t survive her walking out again...

“That’s good advice. I think.” She placed her palm on his sternum, her hand small and feather-like. “It’s possible we won’t find him. You know that, right?”

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