Page 58 of Iron Willed Warrior

So much had changed between Cole and me last night. And yet here I was, going behind his back to contact my former boss even though I had sworn I was done with the FBI.

I tipped my head back against the wall, letting out a groan of frustration.

This was why I should’ve kept my distance from Cole. Kept things strictly professional. Because as soon as I’d gotten close to him, started to really like him on an intimate, I’m-dying-to-kiss-you level, everything had gotten jumbled up in my head.

Before you know it, you’ll be in love with him.Remember how that turned out before?How pathetic would that be?

But Cole was so different from what I’d expected. Every day, he showed me a little more of himself. I liked what I saw.Yet I didn’t know how to deal with his sheer…intensity. His need to care for me and protect me. My natural instinct was to resist, to declare I didn’t need it, but he seemed so genuine.

Somehow, he had figured out that I’d had my heart broken. He had seen that in me. Maybe seen too much.

I realized where I was sitting. On the side of the bed that Cole had slept in last night. Even though his body warmth had fled, it still smelled faintly like him. He’d taken care of me last night when so many men would’ve been selfish. He had actually held my hand until I’d fallen asleep. When was the last time I had slept so deeply and comfortably?

Did we want each other because of the fake relationship? Or did this mean something more? I had no idea.

But maybe Cole was everything he claimed to be. A good man who wouldn’t make promises he had no intention of keeping. The constriction in my chest told me how much I wanted that to be true.

I just didn’t know how to trust it.

I started typing out an update for Stanford. But I didn’t even know what I would write until the words popped up on the screen.

Me:

C and I arrived at the resort yesterday as planned. W is here and we’re proceeding. Can’t risk further daily updates at this time. I’ll be in touch when I can. Love to you and Marie. —B

With that, I switched off the screen and returned the burner to its hiding place.

I would do what I’d promised Cole. Treat this as a Protectors op, relying only on River and the Last Refuge crew for support. Stanford was going to be pissed, but he wasn’t myboss at the moment. Wasn’t my father either. He just had to deal with it. What was he going to do? Fire me?

I didn’t even know if I wanted to return to the FBI after this.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I went back into the room just as Cole was coming through the door. He had a sheen of sweat over his tanned skin. A smile when he saw me. He wore a tee and mesh running shorts, which revealed even more of his legs than his swimming trunks had yesterday. More than I’d seen last night when he’d had on those sweats. It was a good look on him.

I had meant what I’d said last night. The man was incredibly sexy. And to me, the evidence on his body of his military service only added to it.

“Thanks for the latte.” I went onto my toes to kiss him. A peck that quickly turned to something sweeter and deeper. He tasted like salt and black coffee, not a bad combination. Every time I got near Cole, it was difficult to pull away. But seeing the happy grin he gave me afterward was worth it.

“I thought about getting you something more to eat, but I noticed you don’t usually have much breakfast.”

“You noticed, huh?”

He put an arm around my waist. He smelled of sweat, but also fresh air and sun. “I like paying attention to you,” he said. “I have no problem admitting it.”

“Are you also ready to admit you were checking me out within two seconds of us meeting?”

“Oh yeah. Totally checked you out by the side of the road. Guilty as charged.”

“I knew it.”

He looked me up and down, like I was dressed to the nines instead of in my rumpled PJs. “I’m checking you out right now.”

I laughed. “I’ve been checking you out too. Shamelessly.”

This is good, isn’t it? my heart said.See how easy this feels? Before I could start actively swooning, I broke away from him and grabbed my latte. “So what were you up to this morning, aside from coffee?”

“Did a lap around the resort while you got your beauty sleep.” He winked.

“Is it going to be nonstop flirting from now on when we’re alone? I’ve created a monster.”

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