Page 40 of Code Name: Tank
“I’m not sure which I like better—Piper or darlin’.”
God, I wanted to kiss her again, but if I did that, we’d never get to where I really wanted to take her tonight. “Twenty minutes. Be ready.”
She saluted and went in the direction of her camp. Was it my imagination, or did she have a bit of spring in her step? I know I did.
The walk to Granite Ridge should have cleared my head, but with every step, I thought about the way Dragon—Piper—had responded to my kiss. The memory of her soft moan and the way she’d pressed closer instead of pulling away sent heat through me again.
Twenty minutes. That’s what I’d told her. I couldn’t waste time getting lost in a memory now, not when there was so much more to look forward to.
Once inside, I grabbed a bottle of water and downed half of it, trying to cool the fire still burning through my system. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Piper’s face after we’d broken apart—breathless, lips swollen, her hazel eyes dark with want.
I’d spent a year respecting her boundaries, telling myself that patience was the right approach. Then one moment of pure jealousy had shattered all that control.
The worst part—or maybe the best? I didn’t regret it. Not the kiss, not the way I’d claimed her mouth like I had every right to, not the primal satisfaction when her body melted into mine.
I caught my reflection in the kitchen window—hair disheveled from running my hands through it, shirt wrinkled because, in the midst of an investigation, I didn’t bother with much more than a clean shirt and jeans. I looked again, and this time, I saw a man who’d been thoroughly kissed by a woman he was crazy about.
Because that’s exactly what I was.
My phone buzzed with another text from my mom.Hope you’re taking care of yourself up there in the wilderness. Dad says to tell you the Giants are looking strong this season. He wants to know if you’re making time to watch games. Love you.
Her reminder twisted in my stomach. It had been too long since I’d made time for anything beyond work. But tonight would be different. Yes, we were in the midst of an investigation, but stolen moments were important, even just to talk about something besides defense contractors. I thought about my parents’ thirty-eight-year marriage, the way they’d navigated every challenge together. They’d taught me that love required courage, that the possibility of getting hurt was the price of admission for anything worthwhile.
I’d been in relationships before—a nurse who’d understood my dedication to the job until she didn’t. An intelligence analyst I’d met during a joint operation in Seoul. Both had been good women, but neither had made me feel the way Piper did. Neither had made me want to choose them over everything else.
The woman I was about to meet at her camp—I reminded myself— had gotten under my skin in ways I hadn’t thought possible, made me want things I’d never considered. Made me long to build something lasting with someone who challenged me, who made me better just by being near her.
My lips still tingled with the memory of touching hers, and all I could think was that I wanted more. Except I couldn’t push too hard or too fast. My gut told me if I did, it would scare the shit out of her.
I had ten more minutes until I needed to be at Whisper Point. No more time to waste thinking rather than doing. I moved through my camp, collecting supplies, double-checking I had everything—matches, marshmallows, and sticks to roast them on. My hands were steady as I worked, but my pulse raced.
With five minutes to spare, I hurried out of my camp, slowing my pace so I wasn’t out of breath when I got to hers. I rounded the bend and froze in my tracks. Piper—Dragon—stood on the porch, but she wasn’t alone. Flint took a step forward and, like I had earlier, kissed her.
14
DRAGON
Why in the hell hadn’t I waited inside for Tank to arrive? Why hadn’t I done as much as look out the window when I heard the footsteps of someone approaching? Instead, I’d rushed to open the door, not even putting on the jacket I’d grabbed. And instead of the man who’d kissed me in a way no other ever had, I came face-to-face with Flint.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped.
“I thought we could talk.” He glanced at the jacket over my arm. “Do you want to take a walk?”
“No. Jesus, Flint, I made it clear earlier that I had no interest in hearing anything you have to say outside of what’s necessary to solve this case.”
“There are things I need to tell you. Things I can’t keep from you any longer.”
I shook my head. “Whatever it is, I stopped caring a long time ago.”
“There’s a lot more going on than you know. You’re in danger, Piper. The longer I wait to confide in you, the more your life is at risk.”
“Whatever game you’re playing now won’t work.”
“You and I had something special. We could again.”
I laughed out loud. “You can’t be serious.”
Flint’s eyes bored into mine. “I never stopped loving you.”
