Part of me doesn’t care. I’m in no danger with him, and my body knows it, even if my mind won’t catch up.
Owen eyes the drink before his eyes meet mine. There’s another unspoken question in the furrow of his brow.
“Despite Evan’s very inappropriate statement, you are welcome to stay if you want,” I say “I can promise you won’t be bored with these two, but I can’t promise you won’t be hit on and almost convinced to go home with them by the end of the night.”
“Hey, I’ll be good!” Evan sounds almost offended, but his teasing tone gives him away.
Owen’s smile grows until the dimple is visible, and he’s only looking at me. My stomach instantly drops.
“How do you know they can be convincing?”
It’s definitely not the question I was expecting.
Evan beats me to a response. “Because we almost convinced her to come home with us one night. Funny story, actually—”
I cut him off. “You did not almost convince me, and you are men’s men, through and through. You never would have actually taken me home. Plus,this is a highly unprofessional conversation we’re having in front of my boss.”
Evan and Jax both laugh, but it's Evan who responds. “First, you could do with being a little less professional, Barbie. And two, have you seen yourself? I may not be into women, but I’d make an exception for you any day.”
I almost choke on the sip I’d just taken and glance at Jax, who appears to be finding all of this far too entertaining.
“Are you gonna help me out?” I ask Jax.
He takes a sip of his own drink. “No. There’s a reason I love him.”
Chucking, I take another long drink from my cup. “You two are insufferable.”
“But that’s why you love us,” Evan says.
I sigh. “Perhaps.” I almost jump when I remember Owen is standing next to me. “Are you sure you don’t have somewhere more important to be? This will only get worse as they drink more.”
Owen smiles, and it’s only for me. “I don’t have anywhere to be, Miss Riley.” His voice is so deep; it seems to vibrate through my entire body.
I turn back to Evan, who winks at me, and I down the rest of my drink.
Wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm, I pace outside the bar, wanting to be back inside laughing with three beautiful men. But I’m eager to figure out if Eagan’s found anything about Owen.
“He’s still looking,” Ella says, and my heart sinks. I should have known it might take a while, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.
I must be silent for too long because she asks, “How’s the trial stuff going?” Her voice is careful, like she’s talking to a small child that might throw a tantrum if provoked.
She wouldn’t be wrong about that.
I sigh. “There are so many holes in my memory. Between the chaos and blood loss, I can’t seem to piece together anything substantial. I’m afraid my testimony won’t help me.”
“What about Gray? Have you spoken to him?”
“We talked about it one time. We compared notes, and he filled in some of the holes, but it still doesn’t make sense. He agrees we missed critical intel.”
“Is he worried about the trial?”
“I can’t tell. It’s mostly on me. I was the lead. He was tech and communications. None of what happened was his fault. He even tried to warn me off before everything went to shit. In fact, most of my statement will be in defense of him. He did nothing wrong.”
“You did nothing wrong either, Nova. I hope you know that. I’ve read all the reports. No one saw it coming.”
“We’re the CIA for fucks’ sake. How did we not see that coming? Another thing that bothers me is that they knew I was in that market. Theyknew.”
“A trap just for you? Seems excessive to have twenty gunmen in a public market to only take you out.”
