Page 24 of Sackett
“You said you’re meeting with your client in the afternoon.What time?”
“Not until three.He couldn’t get off work any earlier.But at least that gives me time to get some sleep before I go get my car then can meet him.”
“How about you let us go get your car?Then you can sleep in or do whatever else you need to do here,” Maverick said before Sackett had a chance to suggest it.
“Are you sure?”She narrowed her eyes at him, as if he’d said something suspicious.Or maybe she was suspicious of why they would take the time to do it.
“Sure.We can go, get the car and bring it back.That will give you time to do whatever you need to, even if it’s just rest and let your feet heal a bit.At the same time, it keeps the guys who took you yesterday from being able to see you and follow you back here.”Maverick shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him if she let them do this or not.
Sackett wasn’t so sure he could have been so nonchalant.And while he didn’t like the idea of leaving her here alone, at least he knew she was safe in her room, and if one of the fuckwads from the commune showed up, they could deal with him.And while they hadn’t seen any of them on their excursion into the compound to rescue Selena, he knew their faces.At least those Gizmo, Savage and Donna thought were most likely involved as the list of names, with photos attached, had been included in the file that had been sent to him and Maverick both while they’d been on the plane.
Selena turned and looked at him.“Do you agree, that you two going for my car is the best idea?”
“I do.I would like for you to stay in the room while we’re gone, but I can’t force you to do that.”
She stared at him for a moment, then watched Maverick a moment longer.Sackett wished he could hear what she was thinking if only because then he’d have at least a little more insight into how her mind worked.As it was, he was working on guess and intuition.While the latter had never steered him wrong, the first often was.
“All right.I’ll give you the key tonight, so you can go when you wake, even if I’m not up yet.You’ve already got my spare key,” she said to Maverick.“Glad I make a habit of getting two in case I misplace one.”
Sackett frowned at that reasoning.Did she routinely leave a key to her room floating around the world where anyone could get it and have access to her?He knew better than to ask, even if he didn’t know her that well.She was not the kind of woman who would take that kind of question well from someone she barely knew.If he wanted to change her habits, to keep her safer, he’d have to know her a hell of a lot better than he did now.
The idea was oddly appealing.
“I do ask that if you leave before I get up, leave me a note with what time you left so I have an idea when you might be back and I’m not constantly looking for you with every noise.”
“No problem.Have you ever been to Boulder before?”Sackett asked, trying to get to know her better and to get her thinking about other things.
“Several times.I actually went to law school here.”
“So you’re really familiar with the area,” Maverick said between bites.
“It’s been a few years, but I am.”
They continued to chat while they ate, both Sackett and Maverick asking questions about Boulder and the area, as well as about Selena.She asked questions about them both and asked Maverick how he’d met Dana, then laughed at the incident that had sent him looking for a way to apologize to their VP’s wife.
Sackett lost track of how long they’d been talking when Selena’s yawn made him realize they’d all finished eating some time ago.He checked the clock, and it was closer to four in the morning than he would have liked.
“You’re beat.Don’t let us keep you up.Go, get some rest.We’ll take care of picking up your car.”
“Oh, that reminds me.My key.”She looked around and found where her briefcase had been set on the small desk like table between the seating area and the kitchenette.She went to it and dug in one pocket for a moment before pulling out a key fob and hold it out.“Here.All the information is on the tag.”She flipped the ring around and showed him the laminated tag that listed the make, model, color and even the license plate.While it made it easy for the rental agency to know which key the car went to, it also made it easy for the assfucks from the commune to know which car to keep an eye on in the garage.
Sackett knew enough to keep that, or that he had any idea they might be watching it, off his face as he held out one hand and let her drop the key into it, her fingertips brushing his palm and sending sparks of desire through him.
Why did such a slight touch affect him so strongly?
She disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.Neither he nor Maverick had said anything yet when a couple of minutes later she opened the other door from the inside.
“I wanted to make sure you have access to the restroom.In case you need it.”
“Thanks, ma’am,” Maverick said before Sackett could form the words.He nodded once showing his agreement.
He picked up the remote and turned on the TV.After taking the time to tune it to one of the twenty-four-hour news stations, he turned to Maverick.
“We need to figure out what we’re going to do.I don’t feel right leaving her here alone tomorrow while nothing has happened to the fuckers who took her in the first place.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you, but I need to get back.I might can do another day, but I can’t stay all week.”
Sackett shook his head.This wasn’t how he’d planned to spend his week.Not that he had anything important or special planned, but that wasn’t the point.Even if he’d had other plans, he would have changed them to make sure the woman sleeping or soon to be, in the next room would stay safe.
