Page 64 of Out of the Shadows

“Baby,” he murmured, cupping her jaw. “I can’t promise that. But I swear I’ll do everything I can to avoid jumping in front of a bullet again.”

Her stomach dropped. “You jumped in front of a bullet? What the hell is wrong with you? You’renotpersonal security!”

A muttered curse had her glancing to her right. She’d been so wrapped up in Gavin that she’d forgotten where they were. Everyone—her cyber team, Xander, and Wilson—was staring at them with rapt attention.

“Ignore them,” he whispered. “Back to work, everyone,” he added in a louder tone.

Xander chuckled. “Not on your life, Frazier.”

“I know, right?” Abbot chimed in. “I feel like I need popcorn or something.”

Rolling her eyes, Bean turned to her team. “Popcorn? Seriously?”

Gavin dropped a kiss to the top of her head before pulling her to his chest again and wrapping his arms tightly around her. His small gesture melted her insides. The comfort of his embrace went a long way in reassuring her that he was okay. And it wasn’t lost on her that he’d done it in front of their colleagues.

“All right, guys, that’s enough. Witherspoon, you’re on night watch?” Gavin asked, pointing to the monitors that showed the safe house.

“Yup. I mean, it’s not as entertaining as all this”—he waved a hand at them and smirked—“but yeah. I’m on until three, then Tiny will be taking over.”

“If there are any issues with the safe house, let me know ASAP,” Bean said, still snuggled in Gavin’s arms.

“Of course,” Witherspoon replied, shooting her a wink.

“Let’s call it a night, everyone,” Gavin said, finally loosening his hold on her, though he kept one arm around her waist. “Meet back up at zero eight hundred. If you show up a couple hours earlier, I’ll make sure there’s food.”

She glanced at him with narrowed eyes. “Bribing my team, boss man?”

“Maybe.” That one word was teasing and playful, and she saw multiple sets of eyebrows lifting in her peripheral vision. Teasing and playful were two things she rarely saw from Gavin, and she knew it was something her teamneversaw.

Straightening, she smiled, happy that there was still some levity to be found after the intensity of the day. Her gaze landed on the dark-red, dried blood, and her stomach soured.

“Come on,” she said, blowing out a breath. She waved at her team, took Gavin’s hand, and pulled him toward their offices. “You need to get out of that shirt and get cleaned up.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Bean was thankful Gavin didn’t protest when she insisted on driving him home. Taking his SUV, their short drive was mostly silent, her mind whirling and consumed by what could have gone wrong. She knew she was needlessly torturing herself, because Gavin was fine. He was seated beside her. But still, she couldn’t stop her mind from agonizing over every what-if scenario. He’d changed into a Hudson Security polo before they left the office, but the images of his torn and bloody shirt lingered in her mind.

This night could have ended so differently.

Bean glanced over at Gavin in the passenger seat. The dark circles under his tired eyes were emphasized by the moonlight.

He murmured something, but his voice was so low that she wasn’t quite sure she’d heard him. “Sorry, what was that?” she asked.

“Stay with me tonight?”

That’s what she’d thought he’d said. Bringing her attention back to the road, she turned into his driveway before peeking at him again. There was something in his softlyspoken words that tugged at her heart. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—say no to him. Not tonight. “Of course.”

As she pulled up to his garage, he pressed a button on his rearview mirror to open the door. She pulled in, cut the engine, and hurried over to the passenger side.

“I got it, honey,” he murmured as he eased out of his seat.

“Don’t argue with me,” she said, wrapping an arm around his waist.

After unlocking the door, she hurried to the security panel and disengaged the alarm. When she turned, he stood before her. Silent.

Her breath quickened as she took him in. His jaw was clenched, and there was tension in his body, as if he were holding himself back somehow. A glance at his gray eyes showed his pupils were blown. A low rumble emanated from his chest.

She wasn’t sure who moved first, but on her next breath, her back was pressed against the wall, and his body covered every inch of hers. His mouth devoured hers while his hands yanked her jacket off. She frantically tried to undo the buttons of her blouse, but her trembling hands weren’t cooperating.

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