Realizing I haven’t said yes, I bob my head rapidly because I’m too emotional to talk.
“Fuck, I thought you were going to turn me down. You don’t think we’re rushing things, right? We can hold off if you want.”
“Sure. Let’s take our time. I think I’m free next week.” I grab the throw, pull it over his back in case my daughter should wake, and show him how much I love him.
Chapter 30
In the darkest of nights, the wolf's howl echoes with hope.~The Big Bad Wolf
Axel
While Gwen makes dinner, I check my work emails. Suddenly, she steps behind me, so I snap the laptop shut.
The snoopy woman drops onto my legs, tilts her head, and raises the lid. “What are you hiding?”
“This.” I let her read the secret I’ve kept from her since arriving back from Iran and hope she won’t be too angry.
When finished, her eyes widen. “Whoa. All this time, you’ve been with the FBI?”
My arms wrap around her waist, and I whoosh out my breath. “All play and no work makes Axel a dull boy.”
“You're a riot. Now ’fess up and don’t leave anything out.” Pursing her lips, she jumps up, pulls out her phone, and points the lens at me. “My lie detector app will beep if you fib even a little.”
“There’s no such thing.”
“Is too.” She laughs, steps on a chair, and holds it high, beyond my reach. “It’s Dr. Jones’ AI prototype, and you can’t have it.”
“I'm hungry.” A sleepy-eyed Abbie walks into the room and crawls into my lap.
Saved by the kid, I kiss her cheek, and do the same to her pink stuffed bunny. “Did you two have a pleasant nap?”
“Yes. Are you two mad?” When she glances back and forth between us, I hug her.
“No, not at all. Your mom is playing keep-away from me. Hey, guess who missed you? C’mere Bear.” My pal’s ears twitch, he stretches, and he nuzzles her tummy.
Jumping off me, she gives man and girl's best friend a toothless grin and skips to the living room. “You be Arthur. You cross the whole jungle to find me. Bun-bun will be…”
As the little girl elaborates on her imaginative theme, Gwen says, “Dinner will be ready in a sec.”
“Don’t think she heard you, sweetheart.” Hoping to make a quick escape, I rise. “Soooo, anyhoo, I should take a shower and-”
She points her wooden spoon at me. “Not so fast, buster. Sit down and spill.”
I lower down into the chair to share the bare minimum. “It’s nothing. Congressman Rhinesmith has been under surveillance and your name came up in his conversations.”
“Honestly, I hope he doesn’t want his bitcoin back.” After staring at my poker face, she clunks me on the head with her weapon of choice.
“Wulf, tell me.”
“Fine, but you did not hear it from me. The Iranians gave Mr. Representative millions of dollars. They want him to deliver what they paid for.”
“Wait a second. The government has the info locked up tight.” She thinks for a moment, and then her jaw drops. “Oh, shit. If they're unable to get the data, they'll need me or Callie. Am I right?”
Swallowing hard, I nod.
“So, all this time, you’ve been undercover, guarding me?”
“Under the covers, on the couch, in the outside shower…” I nibble her neck. “Are you mad?”
