Page 70 of Holiday Hostage
“Ah, that’s my secret.” He tapped his forehead. “I’m really a master strategist. I just never use my powers for good.”
“Liar.” Tarron scooted in behind me.
He set one hand on my waist and reached over my head, plucking the lighter from the overhead cabinet. “I found a candle you might like. Thought I’d light it to celebrate the new year.”
New Year’s.
That was the only thing that kept putting a hitch in my heart during our time together.
Dad hadn’t heard from me in over a week. I missed him, even as I hated knowing my time with Tarron and the others was drawing to a close.
Tarron kissed the side of my neck, and a flutter lit in my belly.
Those light caresses were telling in a way I tried not to fall for.
The more they did that, the more I felt like I’d changed from being a high-value asset to an invaluable addition to their family.
I loved it.
I loved them.
But could I keep them? Would they remain interested in me once this was over and they returned to their lives?
I stirred the cocoa into the milk mixture and added a healthy dose of sugar to even out the bitterness. “Which mission has been your favorite since leaving the Rangers?” I held up a hand. “And you can’t say this one.”
Reed snapped his fingers. “Dang it. You caught me before I could say it.” He wrapped both arms around me. “But this one really is my favorite. You’ve been incredible with the whole situation. And it’s not like we have sex with every woman we work with. This is special, Payton.You’respecial.”
I loved how he said that, how he included me in their world.
“You make me feel special. I’m grateful for that. There’s no reason to bitch and moan about the situation. We can’t change the weather. All we can do is make the best of the situation.”
The four of us shared a look.
Their former commander would come for us.
He might have tracked us already, though that would take a feat of skill that rivaled Reed’s. Not impossible, he’d stated, but not easy to pull off.
Then again, if their commander did any digging outside of Reed’s career, he’d discover that his dad owned this cabin.
It wouldn’t be too far of a leap for Jack to decide to check the place out.
Reed had told us all this last night, putting the four of us on edge to the point that we’d slept in the living room, our gazes constantly skipping to the windows.
“So, favorite mission?” I didn’t want to think about Jack or what happened next.
I wanted to drink hot chocolate and enjoy their company.
The hot chocolate bubbled in a low boil, and I turned the stove off, continuing to stir it as I added a sprinkle of espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavor.
Maverick moved from the other side of the counter to the cabinet.
He took down four mugs and lined them up on the counter beside me.
One hand grazed the small of my back and trailed upward to my shoulders.
He lingered there, his fingers massaging the back of my neck until I relaxed enough to lower my shoulders.
His words were a low rumble in the small space. “There was a mission once where we were supposed to infiltrate a compound to save a little girl.”
