Leah Braemel - Deliberate Deceptions

Why did he keep imagining them together again? She’d divorced him. Moved out. Moved on.

He stomped the fantasy of them getting back together, even for the night, under his heel. “There’s a treadmill in the weight room you can use.”

She stopped at the side of the bed, her fingers trailing over the hand-made quilt. She could probably tell him what type it was-the styles all had names like wedding ring or log cabin, but damned if he could tell one from the other. All that mattered to him was that it would keep her warm. Pity no one made the damned things with a layer of Kevlar. Maybe then he’d sleep easier.

“Where are you sleeping?”

Part of him wanted to answer “I’m sleeping in that bed right beside you, just like your husband should,” but that part of their marriage had ended even before she’d walked out the door. He shoved his emotions aside. If she wanted a business-like relationship, that’s what he’d give her. Tonight. After that the gloves came off.

He stalked to the connecting door and wrenched it open. “I’ll be in here. The rest of the team are scattered about the various floors.”

Her expression didn’t change, her shoulders didn’t relax. Did she wish he were sleeping on a different floor? Maybe he should change rooms with Andy or Troy. Distance between them might make this assignment more bearable.

“There are snipers with infrared goggles on the roof, a small platoon of armed guards patrolling the perimeter of the estate, along with a dozen attack dogs protecting the grounds.” He kept his voice even, flat. Unemotional. The complete opposite of the needs clawing his guts. “The house has the latest in security-infrared and motion detectors. The doors and windows are wired, and of course you’ve noticed the cameras in all the main areas. If you want to leave the room tonight, come get me first and I’ll give the detail a heads-up that you’re on the move.” And accompany her anywhere she went.

“Afraid I might be mistaken for an intruder?” From the amusement in her voice, she wasn’t taking this threat seriously. Damn it. She’d know that despite the precautions they’d taken, there was always a possibility their security could be breached.

“Let me know if you leave the room.” He pointed to the button on the side of the night table. “Until we get you set up with a personal panic button, press this to summon the troops if there’s any trouble. There’s another one in the bathroom, as well as in the closet. Any one of them will set off the alarm and bring the whole team running.”

She nodded her head in approval. Her fingers stroked the damned quilt, though he wondered if she was aware of what she was doing.

“Turn this and it’ll give you access to your panic room.” He turned the center of a rose carved into the mantel. A panel beside the fireplace sprang open revealing a small dark area no bigger than the closet.

She walked closer to examine the tiny room. “Is that a fireman’s pole?”

He nodded, unable to stop focusing on how her lips were parted in amusement, soft and plump, glistening with traces of her lip gloss. Kissable.

Focus on the mission, not your goddamned dick. Damn it, she was his principal. She was in danger and needed him focused on her protection.

Why the hell had he let Sam talk him into accepting this assignment? He should leave, let Troy take over the job; he was staying anyway. Except he couldn’t walk away. Not now. Not when there was a chance she might finally answer his questions.

He struggled to keep his tone even. “It leads to a room in the basement. It has its own air supply, first aid supplies, encrypted radio to head office, a direct line to the local police, as well as enough food and water for a month.”

“Sounds more like a bomb shelter.”

“It’s that as well. There’s a twenty-foot drop straight down, so make sure you’ve got a good grasp on the pole before you step off. Tomorrow we’ll do a practice run.”

He was so cold, so controlled. The struggle to keep her disappointment from showing challenged Lauren. Did he not feel anything for her anymore? Did he have none of the desire, none of the need that had tied them together? The desire that had flared inside her, setting her body aglow as soon as she’d seen him? The need for him hadn’t lessened over the years. If anything, he was more attractive than he’d been before. She’d always found a man with just a hint of silver at his temples sexy.

How could she get him to stay? To listen to her with an open mind?

She took a step closer. Please don’t let him leave. Don’t let him close the door between our rooms and shut me out completely.

She toyed with the buttons of her blouse. She’d left the top two undone out of habit, but now she toyed with the next one, undoing it, then the next. The fabric parted just enough to show the lace of her chemise. He’d always preferred the fantasy of wondering what was beneath, letting his imagination take over. “Thank you for volunteering to guard me. I was surprised when they said you’d be the lead op.”

She had been surprised, she realized. She’d been half expecting them to call the whole thing off. Fear that she’d screw things up even more and lose any chance for a reconciliation set in, leaving her frozen deep into her bones.

“I should go.” His voice was rough but at least he hadn’t moved.

“Please don’t.” She touched his forearm, letting her fingers rest on him. Heat rose through his cotton shirt, warming her. He was leaner than he’d been. Different. Yet the same. “I don’t think I could get to sleep, not after that helicopter ride.”

His gaze dropped to her fingers, a frown creasing his forehead. “I’d forgotten you don’t like riding in helicopters. Was the flight bad?”

“It could have been better.” You could have been with me. “There was a bit of turbulence coming over the hills.” Or were they mountains? She still hadn’t decided. “I haven’t had much to eat. Maybe we could find the kitchen, rustle up a sandwich. Talk.” About so many things she didn’t know where to start. An explanation for why she’d left? For not contacting him? Or even where she’d been and what she’d been doing? Except neither of those were possible thanks to the Brigade’s rigid secrecy agreement.

“I’ll call the kitchen and ask if they can bring something up for you. As for talking…” He scrubbed his face with his hands, breaking her contact with him. “We can talk tomorrow when we’re both fresh.” He made touching him impossible by walking to the door and standing inside his room. “When we’ve both had a chance to sleep on things.”

“Stay. I don’t want to be alone tonight.” Like she’d been for so long.

If she’d had any question he could still love her, the look he gave her removed any doubt. There was no trace of the predator on the hunt he’d had when they were first dating or even five minutes ago, the dominant man determined to win her. This look spoke of the depth of his love and longing. His voice, though controlled, revealed his pain and need even though it was barely above a whisper, husky as if he’d been screaming all night. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I do.” She walked toward him, trying to be quiet, desperate not to give in to the urge to fall at his feet and prove herself to him. If she did, he might react like a wounded animal. One that could turn on her and rip her limb from limb.

No doubts tonight, she told herself, afraid to speak out loud, afraid of breaking whatever force was holding them together. She undid the remaining buttons, tugged her blouse from her slacks and let it drop from her shoulders onto the floor.