He had no idea how long he kissed her, but at some point, his mind reengaged and reined him in. He pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers. He wasn’t ready to look at her. Wasn’t ready for what he would see in her eyes. Would it be surprise? Confusion? Fear? Or something else? Maybe the same something else warring inside him that he couldn’t define.
Regardless of what had happened between them, he was still Secret Service. She was still FBI. They still had careers that would soon diverge and take them away from each other.
Nothing had changed.
But nothing would ever be the same.
Faith sat back in her seat, and he mimicked her. “Luke?”
He finally looked at her. “Yes?”
Her bemused smile eased some of the tension. “That was ... I mean ... wow.”
They were on the same page there. Wow was an understatement.
She breathed out a sigh. “I’m not sure what we do now.”
“Me neither.” It wasn’t romantic, but it was the truth.
They sat in silence, both of them staring through the rain, which had lessened enough that Luke could make out the door to Hope’s office.
“We should get inside.” Faith sounded like going inside was the last thing she wanted to do. But if they didn’t go inside, there would be more kissing. Luke knew it, and he was pretty sure Faith knew it too.
“Yeah.”
“Can you grab the umbrella behind my seat?”
“Sure.” While he reached behind her seat, she flipped the visor mirror open and ran a finger under her lips. She snapped it closed as he handed her the umbrella. He couldn’t resist teasing her a little. “Your lipstick is fine. How’s mine?”
To his relief, she laughed and inspected his face. “Um ... may I?” She stretched a tentative hand toward him.
Oh boy. This was how things started a few minutes ago. She rubbed her thumb across his cheek where she’d kissed him. “You’re good.”
Luke winked. “Hope will never know?”
Faith dropped her head, but he could see her grin. “I don’t know how she does it, but she’ll know.” She didn’t give Luke a chance to comment but fluffed out her umbrella and grabbed the door handle. “On three?”
“On three.” He settled his hood over his head.
“One, two, three.” They both climbed out. Faith opened theumbrella and held it high for Luke as he joined her. They huddled close as they skirted puddles and were laughing when they reached the door. Luke held it for Faith as she shook the umbrella and scurried inside. She dropped the umbrella into a corner, and he pulled off his raincoat and hung it on a coatrack.
“There you are.” Hope came around the corner, face drawn in concern. “I was getting worried.”
Guilt pierced him. What could he say? “Sorry, Hope, but I was making out with your sister in the parking lot” didn’t seem like an appropriate response.
“I didn’t think the rain would ever let up. I’m glad you got in when you did. Follow me.” Hope turned back to the hall she’d come from.
Luke caught Faith’s eye, and she was biting down on her lip in what had to be an effort not to laugh. She shook herself slightly, and he could see the professional persona reemerge as she followed Hope. He was confident that he could get himself together as quickly as she had.
They entered a cozy area, more a sitting room than a conference room, filled with sofas and chairs and a low coffee table, designed to put people at ease. The spacing in the room had to have been intentional, as it was also roomy enough for Hope to maneuver without bumping into anything.
A small woman sat in a wingback, sipping from a teacup. She set it on a saucer and stood when they entered.
“Mrs. Lin,” Hope said, handling the introductions. “This is my sister, Special Agent Faith Malone of the FBI.” Faith stepped forward and shook the woman’s hand. “And Special Agent Luke Powell of the United States Secret Service.” Luke gave a small bow as he took Mrs. Lin’s hand. It was warm from the tea, the skin wrinkled and rough in a few places. She had the hands of awoman who had worked hard her entire life, and as she gave him a tremulous smile, her fear was palpable.
They sat, and Hope picked up a legal pad from the coffee table. “Mrs. Lin, you are under no obligation to speak to these federal agents.”
Mrs. Lin picked up her tea and took a sip. “Hope, I’m not afraid ofthem.”
