The cheerful sound only highlighted Hannah’s torment.
She took the opportunity to study Sam’s profile. His straight nose. His razor-edged jaw. She was struck again by how much he reminded her of theoldSam now that his beard was gone.
Again, the pang of longing and nostalgia was razor-sharp.
Of course, she was careful to keep her thoughts from her face when he swung back to her, his hot breath creating clouds of condensation in the air.
His serious expression told her he was going to ask something personal, something about their relationship and where it was headed.
Since she wasn’t ready tohavethat conversation, she preempted him with, “So what’s the real deal with this place anyway?” She flung her hand back to indicate the factory building looming behind them.
A line appeared between his slashing eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you have a”—she glanced around to make sure they were alone—“supersecret Bat Cave entrance and the ability to lay your hands on just about anything you want. Oh, and you have a direct line to the chief of staff.”
When he opened his mouth, she lifted a hand. “Andyes, I get that Leonard Meadows is Eliza’s father. But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. Another began to twitch beneath his eye.
Sighing heavily, she relented. “Never mind. I’m D.O.D, so I know athat’s classified”—she made air quotes—“face when I see one. Fine. Keep your secrets.”
She canted her head and regarded his shuttered expression. Her heart softened at the look in his eyes. It told her he’d happily share all his secrets if he could. And there was peace in that. Happiness, even.
She couldn’t haveallof him. Not in the way she wanted. But he still cared for her. Still liked her and respected her.
She’d hold onto that. Keep that knowledge close to her heart.
“Just…be careful, okay?” She resisted the urge to reach up and smooth the line that’d formed between his dark eyebrows. “Because something tells me you were probably safer on the job when you were a Marine Raider and had a whole platoon to back you up.”
She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t say anything to naysay her, simply smiled and nodded.
For a while after that, they were quiet, listening to the sounds of the city. A distant siren. The honk of a disgruntled driver. The general hum of millions of people going about their lives.
She went to stomp some sensation back into her frozen feet, then immediately regretted the move when her injured pinky toe reminded her of its presence. Andthatreminded her of her knife wound. The thing still throbbed and burned, even all these hours later.
She must’ve winced because Sam’s expression turned worried, his tone even more so when he asked, “You okay?”
No!she wanted to scream.I went and fell all the way in love with you, you big, wonderful dummy!
Instead, she blew out another breath. “Nothing a hot shower and twenty-four to forty-eight hours in bed won’t solve.”
He nodded his understanding. “How ’bout after you’re ready to crawl out, I take you for that steak dinner I still owe you.”
Tears pricked behind her eyes. There was no more avoiding it. It was time to do what had to be done.
“Let’s chalk all this up to what it was and not try to make it more, Sam.” When he frowned, she clarified. “I mean, welikeeach other, right? We have history together. Throw in fear and danger and adrenaline, and it’s no wonder we fell into bed.”
She was surprised at how steady her voice sounded when her kneecaps were Jell-O.
“But let’s not try to make this more than it was, okay?” she continued. Taking her hand from her pocket, she waved it between them. “You and me? We’re not cut out for the long haul… Are we?”
She hadn’t realized she’d been hanging on to a sliver of hope until he shook his head. His voice was rusty-sounding when he admitted, “I don’t guess so.”
She’d expected that response. Even still, she nearly crumpled into a heap upon hearing it.
“So let’s stop it before it really starts,” she told him, unable to keep the slight quiver from her voice. “While we can still be friends. And before either of us has the chance to hurt the other.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but her taxi zipped next to the curb at that exact moment.
