It was ridiculous to think long-term. Now that her original mission was completed, she would be leaving Montana soon and returning to D.C. Unless, of course, things changed.
Do you really want to rush back to a city and job you don’t even like?
Plans had a way of changing all the time, so why couldn’t hers?
Oh, God, maybe she was jumping the gun. Imagining things. Possibly catching feelings for a man who wasn’t on the same page. Well, that’s what she needed to find out.You’re not twenty-five anymore,she reminded herself. There wasn’t time to dick around and play games. If Jayson liked her, she wanted to know so they could damn well do something about it.
Chewing her bottom lip, she could admit she’d never been one to pursue a man. She’d always played coy and let him make the first move. But after turning forty, time seemed to speed up. She certainly wasn’t getting any younger and, for the first time in forever, she was so interested in a man that she was willing to take a leap of faith and risk the humiliation of rejection by putting herself out there first.
If he wasn’t interested, then she’d return to D.C. with her tail between her legs and die an old maid with zero prospects. But if he was on the same page…
Her belly fluttered and an arrow of heat shot straight to her core, threatening to incinerate her uterus. She hadn’t slept with a man since Agent Asshole over two years ago. Her hormones were all over the place, and perimenopause was wreaking havoc on her body. Navigating the hormonal changes, mystery aches and pains, and waking up in the middle of the night, hot, uncomfortable and unable to fall back asleep was frustrating.
Sometimes, it also made her insanely horny.
She glanced up and caught Jayson staring at her intently. Her heart sped up as they held each other’s gaze, neither looking away. God, she could drown in his eyes. The shade seemed to change depending on his mood. Sometimes they appeared more green like Emma’s, but only when he was angry. They had snapped green lightning when he’d caught her snooping in his office. But after he’d kissed her, they’d been a warm brown with skeins of molten gold.
And right now? They looked like brown sugar spun with gold and green flecks.
Letting out a soft breath, she wondered what he was thinking. Pressing her lips together, she decided it was probably better that she didn’t know. She crossed her legs and swallowed hard, shifting in her seat. Thinking about how his kiss made her unpredictable hormones perk up and take notice.
Because the silver fox sitting across from her looked ready to pounce. And, damn, she couldn’t deny it—she wanted him to pounce her good.
Chapter ten
Jayson had decided to go for it. Take his shot with the gorgeous FBI agent who had his full and undivided attention.
In the heat of the moment, they’d worked well together. He didn’t discard the significance of that, either. It meant if the going got tough, Sabrina would stick it out. She was a fighter. Unlike Tara.
He couldn’t seem to drag his eyes off her the entire flight home, and he had a feeling it was becoming obvious to everyone onboard. That didn’t stop him, though. Noticing every little detail about her became his newest fascination. From the way the honeyed highlights in her hair glinted, to the beauty mark on her slim neck, to how small her booted feet looked. He also couldn’t miss how she kept slanting glances in his direction, luxuriating in the fire simmering in her golden-brown eyes.
He watched Emma and Sabrina’s interactions closely as well, and by the time the plane landed, they were whispering secrets to each other like long-lost besties. He wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that. Of course, he was glad they were getting along,but a part of him wondered if they were talking about him. And if they were, what exactly were they saying? The last thing he wanted was Emma pushing him onto Sabrina like some kind aggressive salesman. Or worse, a meddling matchmaker. Sure, he trusted his daughter, but sometimes she became a tad too focused when she wanted something. And right now, she really wanted to see him happily dating.
After Lex taxied the plane to a stop and gave the all clear, everyone grabbed their gear and exited. Jayson knew his friends were anxious to get back to their other halves to ease any fears that things had gone sideways on their trip. Phone calls and texts could only go so far, considering some of the trouble they’d gotten into on other missions.
Jayson slapped hands and bumped knuckles with his team, thanking them again. If it weren’t for the Motley Crew and Sabrina, he wasn’t sure what the hell he would’ve done. He also didn’t miss the smirks and knowing looks.
“Have fun tonight,” Chaz murmured before heading to his car.
“Yeah,” Lex added, blue eyes filled with mirth. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Well, considering you’d do anything, I don’t know how to respond to that,” Jayson said dryly.
“Almostanything,” Lex corrected, then sauntered back over to take care of hisSpitfire.
“Dad?” Jayson turned to see Emma approaching. She beckoned for him to lean down. In a low voice, teeming with quiet confidence and excitement, she whispered, “I really like her, Dad. You have my blessing.” Then she stifled a squeal, her nose crinkling adorably.
Her words gave him the reassurance he wanted to hear. But he was still a grown man and could make his own decisions, just as he trusted Emma to make hers. In other words, with or without her approval, he was getting laid.
Well, as long as Sabrina was feeling the chemistry, too. And if she was on the same steamy page, he definitely planned to rock both their worlds. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow night. He didn’t want to rush her, but they both knew their time together was limited.
They climbed into his Tahoe and he listened to Sabrina and Emma chat easily. His daughter wanted to know about her job at the Bureau, if she enjoyed living in D.C., and how long she’d be in Cielo Springs. And bless her heart, Emma asked point blank if Sabrina had a boyfriend waiting for her back home. The answer to that was no.Thank God.Leave it to Emma to get answers to all the things he was wondering about without him having to be overly obvious about it.
Sabrina seemed open and honest, sharing her dislike for the D.C. area and how she wasn’t sure she was cut out to be a field agent. And while her distaste for D.C. didn’t shock him—even he knew you had to be a special kind of intense to like that place—he was definitely caught off guard about her thoughts on her job. Jayson didn’t know where her doubts about being an agent stemmed from, because she’d shown nothing but confidence in Vegas.
He slid her a look, brow furrowing. “You’re an excellent agent. You held those gunmen off until backup came and showed zero hesitation during the op.” Then he gave her the highest compliment one warrior could give another. “If I had to go into battle, I’d want you by my side.”
Her cheeks flushed pink and a beautiful smile lit her entire face at his praise. “Thank you,” she said softly. “That means a lot.”
