She turned and almost snapped at him but the look in his eyes stopped her. Anger was better than the deep sadness she felt. Each time they were together it felt so good and right and it hurt so much more to leave him. But it was pain she would willingly suffer time and time again, just to feel Lachlan’s arms around her. It was the only time she ever felt safe.
Lachlan’s eyes were full of longing as if she were already far away. “This won’t be forever.”
Gina closed her eyes. She felt his arms encircle her, his warmth envelop her and she almost lost her resolve. Just when her career was about to take her away from him for who knew how long, he was sounding like he wanted to leave the Teams.
“I wish you could have gotten here sooner, Lach. There’s so much we need to talk about.”
He pulled away and looked down at her. His thumb brushed her cheek. “What is it, Sunshine?”
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text.
“That’s Jeremy checking on me. I’m already running late.”
She felt Lachlan stiffen at Jeremy’s name. “He meeting you at the airport? Is that why you don’t want me driving you?”
She nodded. This was not how she wanted to break the news. “We’re going undercover together the second I get to the airport.”
He looked stricken. “Where are you going?”
“You know I can’t tell you. Or for how long. Even I don’t know that.” She kissed him and placed both hands on his cheeks. “I love you. This doesn’t change that fact at all. It doesn’t changeus.”
Lachlan swallowed and nodded. “I know. But, you won’t be able to get away, will you?” He already knew the answer but she confirmed it with a nod.
“Then tell them about us,” he said.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head almost violently.
“Why not?” he raised his voice. “Gina, they don’townyou. They can’t stop you from falling in love, having friends, getting married?—”
Gina’s eyes snapped open and her gaze locked onto his. “Married?”
He nodded. “I told you, this won’t go on forever. I’m only going along with the sneaking around for your sake. I don’t understand why you won’t tell them about us.”
“Because you’re mine, not theirs.” There, she’d said it. “And, you’re free. If I told the Agency we were together, they’d stick a microscope up your ass. You’d be under surveillance, your loyalty questioned constantly. If you had any debt, it would be seen as a way you could be exploited by our enemies. And that’s justourside, Lach. Those are the friendlies. Speaking of enemies, if I were burned, my enemies wouldn’t just go after me. You’d be in the crosshairs, too. They could kidnap you as a way to get to me. Why the hell are you smiling like that, Soup?”
“Because you’re talking about me like I’m a bashful little flower. I’m a SEAL, Gina. I think I could avoid capture. I have so far.”
She suppressed a shiver and thoughtYeah, Lach, you have so far. But maybe not against the man I’m about to face.
But to tell him that would only worry him.
What we have here is a standoff.
“I don’t like the look on your face, Sunshine.”
She smiled and tried to make it look convincing. “I need to go. I love you.”
She watched him bite back his reply and it killed her. “Why can’t you believe in me?”
That hit like a sucker punch. “I do. But you need to trust me.”
“Like I’ve always said, Gina. I trust you. I just don’t trust the Agency.” He lifted her chin and stared deeply into her eyes. “And I hate what they’re doing to you.”
She shook her chin out of his grasp. “What’s that?”
“Stealing your light.”
THIRTEEN
