Page 25 of Shielding Instinct

“Swanky,” she said as she followed him toward the parking lot. “One of the tours Tamika and I were scheduled to take leaves from out front, so we looked into staying at The Palm.” She indicated the Blue Fin sign with a twitch of her hand. “This was more in our budget. But I’m not going to worry about that. I’m just— how is it that such a nice hotel as the Palm has an opening when my hotel is giving reservations away?”

They waited as the automatic door slid wide.

“We made a plan while you were having your scans done,” Hawkeye said.

She blinked at him and lost her balance, stepping awkwardly out to the side and bending at the waist.

Hawkeye Slid his hand around her waist, and she tucked in under his arm, like she’d always belonged there.

“Not to tell you what to do, but in case our support would be helpful, we wanted to be able to offer you something concrete.”

“For a random woman on a plane with an alien pupil? Seems more than would be expected. You’ve already—”

“I told Reaper that we have Avery and Rowan in common. In my short time at Iniquus, I've found out that friends and family are high priorities.”

“No man left behind?” Petra asked.

“In a broad sense, sure. But in a business sense, we work with Rowan and Avery in two different spheres. Trust is paramount in those kinds of relationships. So, while you were at the hospital, we already had backup plans in place.” He didn’t add that had that not been the case, he’d still have found a way to keep her safe.

“We?” She stopped to look up at him.

Hawkeye reached out his hand to steady her. “My team and I.”

Disappointment tried to tug her lips down, and she forced them into a smile of sorts. And Hawkeye wasn’t sure how to read that exchange. But he wanted to kiss her and make whatever he said that troubled her go away.

“That doesn’t answer the question of how there is space for me. You’re not giving up your room, are you?” Petra asked.

“We’ll be in adjoining rooms, the way we discussed at the hospital.”

“With Cooper being the chaperone,” she said. “Okay, I remember that.”

“It’s Iniquus policy that when we’re staying somewhere as a team, we have an extra room.” He fobbed the SUV unlocked and reached for the handle.

“That sounds kind of cloak-and-dagger. What’s the extra room for exactly?”

“Nothing that interesting.” His hand cupping her elbow for balance, Hawkeye waited while she climbed in. He wasn’t sure how unsteady it made her to have her pupils so different. It had to throw off her visual field. “We use it for supplies and staging. Reaper was in the room next to the extra room. The guys shifted things around a bit to leave it open for you. And they took our luggage down with Cooper’s crate. When we get to the hotel, Levi will bring Cooper to me.”

Hawkeye rounded the car and climbed in.

As he pulled his safety belt into place, he had to watch her lips to understand her whisper, “Normally, I’m very good in a crisis.” She cleared her throat and spoke in a natural tone. “I do a good job taking care of myself and everyone around me. I don’t feel like myself. I’m grateful for your help.”

“Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t have the drugs floating through your system. It was karma that put me next toyou on the plane.” He pressed the engine button then flicked on the headlights.

“True about the drugs. Karma, though?”

“What goes around comes around. If you show up for people in a crisis,” he threw the vehicle into reverse, “it stands to reason that when you need someone, the universe moves them neatly into place.”

“You’re saying you’re an instrument of the universe?” She screwed her face up to show that she wasn’t buying that.

“Seems so.” He draped his arm across the seat and looked back over his shoulder as he eased out of the parking spot.

“Not someone named Halo. That seems like it would make more sense.”

He pulled his arm around and shifted into drive. “Seems not.”

“Those thoughts are whirling around in my head. You’re right. Those meds are making me pretty wacka-doodle.” As he rolled out of the parking lot onto the road. Petra leaned forward and put her hands on the dash. “How is it that we’re in an SUV right now?” She lifted the keys from the cupholder and read the name of the rental company.

“Halo brought it to the hospital and handed over the keys while you were getting your brain scanned.”

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