Page 47 of Wrecked

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Half an hour later, we’re all seated at the dining room table in the penthouse—Shane, Beth, Jake, Lia, Mack, and me.

Shane looks to Jake. “Where’s he at now?”

Jake checks the latest surveillance report from his team on his tablet. “He’s on a bus heading back home.”

Shane nods, obviously mollified. “Good. Mack, I want a heightened security presence at the bookstore for the foreseeable future. Make them plainclothes—I don’t want to scare the customers. Beth, I don’t suppose I can talk you into staying home until this thing with Kline is resolved.”

Beth gives him a look. “I am not staying home. I have Sam. I’ll be fine.”

Shane turns his attention to me. “Thank you, Sam. Good work today.”

“I can’t really take the credit,” I say. “I was just following protocol. And it’s my fault the reporter got a picture of Beth. I confiscated the data card in his camera, but he must have gotten a picture with his phone when I wasn’t looking.”

“No one blames you for that,” Beth says. She’s sitting across the table from me.

The foyer door flies open, and in stalks Cooper, looking livid. “What the hell happened? I just got word Kline was in the bookstore.” His gaze goes right to Beth. “Are you okay, honey?”

“I’m fine,” she says. “Sam took me to the safe room.”

Cooper’s gaze shifts to me, and for a moment, he studies me. “You okay?”

I nod, but don’t say anything.

“Where’s Kline now?” Cooper asks Jake.

“On his way home. Don’t worry. We’ve got eyes on him 24/7.”

Cooper looks satisfied with the current state of events. Then his hard gaze returns to me. He nods toward the kitchen door. “Sam, come help me with something in the kitchen.” It’s not a request.

I’m shocked that he called me out in front of everyone.

“It’s okay, go ahead,” Shane says, excusing me from the team meeting.

I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I get up and follow Cooper into the kitchen. They’ve got to be wondering what the hell is going on. As far as they all know, Cooper and I are little more than strangers.

As soon as I step into the kitchen, Cooper closes the door behind us and turns on me. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I told you, I’m fine! What are you doing? We’re in the middle of a team meeting.” As someone who claims he wants to keep his private life private, Cooper’s not doing a very good job of it.

Cooper seems agitated. “Jesus, Sam, when I got word that Kline was in Clancy’s, I about lost it. I knew you’d be there with Beth. All I could think about was one of you getting hurt.”

“Beth and I were perfectly fine in the safe room. Shane and Jake arrived before Kline got there, with backup. We were never in any danger.” I reach for the door handle. “I’ve got to get back to the debriefing.”

Cooper throws his arm out and stops me. “Sam.” He steps in close, too close, and his heated gaze scans my face. “I—” He grabs hold of my hand and leads me out the other kitchen door. “Come with me.”

He leads me down the hallway to his room, one I remember very well. Once we’re inside, he closes the door and backs me up against it.

“Sam.” He cups my left cheek and leans in, his gaze locked on my mouth.

I know what he wants. He wants to kiss me. And if he does, we’ll be right back where we started, and that’s not good enough.

I press a hand to his chest. “No.”

For a moment, he pauses, letting me hold him back. He takes hold of my hand and stares at the fading bruises encircling my wrist. “What happened here? Who did this to you?”

“Seriously? You did, Cooper. When you pinned my wrists to the mattress.”