It was, and he did it well. I smiled harder, working to contain all the joy that wanted to bubble out of me. Anton appeared at the doorway to the kitchen. “Boss, we discovered how Sergei got in. He removed one of the loose gable vents and came in through the attic and down the ceiling hatch. We have a plan to prevent this, but we need your approval.”
I could feel Axel’s entire body stiffen. “I’ll be there in a moment.”
Anton disappeared again.
“Do you have to go back to work?” I tried to keep the hopeful and slightly desperate tone out of my voice, but I really wantedto spend some time with Axel. “I could heat up some dinner for us.”
I felt some of the tension ease out of his body. “I have some work left, but I can do it from home tonight. Let me get these guys out of here.”
I fairly danced around the kitchen while I heated up the meal that Jordan had cooked. For good measure, I threw together a salad and put two of Jordan’s samosas into the toaster oven.
Bandit watched me from the edge of the couch, but he kept a close eye on the hallway and the sound of men talking upstairs.
I set two place settings at the island, poured us both glasses of sparkling water, and then set out the steaming food.
Axel appeared in the doorway, his cell phone in his hand. “It smells good.”
I recognized the combination of regret and distraction on his face. “You have to go back to work, don’t you?”
He winced. “This is an emergency, I promise. Something I have to deal with personally, but I’ll be home as soon as I’m done.”
I could sense that he was trying his best, and I was willing to wait for whatever crumbs he could offer. He didn’t have a lot left over at the end of the day, but they were the best crumbs I had ever dined on.
“Just be safe.”
He crossed the room and dropped a lingering kiss on my lips. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Anton is going to stay here until I get back.”
“You know he’s getting your dinner the second you walk out that door.”
“I deserve that.” He gave me a slightly longer kiss. “Hold that thought.”
“I go to bed at eleven.”
“I’ll be home way before that.”
The doorbell chimed,prompting one sharp bark from Bandit, who sat beside me on the couch. I remained seated as Anton got up from the island, one hand on his radio and the other on his gun.
“Stay there,” he warned me with a sideways glance.
A few moments later, I could hear Giselle’s sweet accent from the front door. “I was told to meet Axel here. He just texted me.”
Without thought, I flew off the couch and walked barefoot down the hallway.
“Let her in,” I told Anton.
He looked at me, his eyes wide with concern. “Mila.”
“It’s fine,” I told him.
Then I spoke to her. “When did my husband talk to you?”
Giselle wore a killer dress that showed off her fabulous body. Matching stiletto heels, big hair and most of her cleavage completed the outfit.
She looked alarmed. “Am I in the wrong spot?”
I felt underdressed in my soft pants, bare feet and oversized knit sweater. “I don’t know. Where are you supposed to be?”
But I already knew. Giselle was looking for my husband, and she wasn’t even being subtle about it anymore.
