“One is too much.”
“Do I look unhealthy?”
Damn that knowing twinkle in his eye. The two idiots weren’t the only cocky guys around.
“Not yet.” She grinned over the edge of her glass teacup. “Might want to keep it that way.” Her eyes flicked up and down his body.
Red rose up his throat and spread into his cheeks.
“You know,” she pushed, wanting to see if that red would spread any farther. “You didn’t have to meet me directly. Like I said, I got what I needed just now. I have to make a report anyway, and it would have gone straight to you.”
“Not straight to me. Let’s just say I wanted to know exactly what I was in for this time, unfiltered.”
“Still upset over being in the dark about the coup?”
“Aren’t you?” he pushed back. “Or, maybe not, considering who you’re partnered with.”
Wow. That stung. Lach never struck her as a jealous guy. Was he? Or just angry?
“Iwasupset, yes. But I was younger then. Naive, I guess. I didn’t know how the world worked?—”
“Didn’t know how, or didn’t accept it?” Fire sparked in his eyes.
“What are you saying?”
He studied her another moment then sighed. “That maybe the CIA suits you just fine now.”
That hurt even more.
“Fine. So let me give you the details and then you can leave like you did the first time.”
What is wrong with me? Stupid of her to poke at him. The smart thing would be to walk away right now, let him wait for her report, and forget he existed like she had for the past two years.
God, maybe he was right. Maybe shewassuited for this life, considering that she’d just lied to herself.
He looked taken aback. His eyes flashed as if he’d just taken a punch to the gut. Lach closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were twin pools of calmness.
“Where’s the meeting? What time?” When she hesitated, he added. “Please, Gina. I want to know if the information you give me is different from what filters down from your report.”
“What’s really going on, Lach?”
He only shook his head. “I’m taking every precaution to keep my guys safe.”
Of course you are. You always have.
He leaned forward. “And to keepyousafe, Sunshine. Now, do you trust me?”
That was easy to answer. She didn’t hesitate. Gina gave Lach the details. She was sure she was breaking protocol, maybe even jeopardizing everything she’d worked for. But she knew he didn’t ask her lightly.
“Thank you,” he said when she finished. Lach looked relieved.
“You really don’t trust us, do you?” she asked.
“Us?”
“The Agency.”
His eyes narrowed. “I will always trustyou, Gina.” His hand darted across the table and grabbed hers. His rough thumb brushed across her fingers. “Always.”
