“No, you knew her as a kid. You met her as an adult less than twenty-four hours ago.” Zane tilted back in his chair. “Be careful.”
Luke didn’t seem to share Zane’s concerns. “Go for it. She’s gorgeous. Sweet. Friendly. Faith thinks she’s amazing, and she slid right in with her and Tess.”
Zane dropped his chair back on all four legs. “Like I said, be careful.”
TESSA OPENED THE DOORand stepped into the restaurant first, followed by Emily. Faith held the door and waved Ivy ahead of her.
“You go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.”
I bet you will.Ivy wasn’t fooled. Faith and Tessa were both carrying. They were both trained agents. They were, undoubtedly, more than capable of taking care of themselves.
And clearly, they didn’t think she could.
She wanted to be offended, but the rational side of her brain refused to entertain the concept of her sashaying through a Mexican restaurant and taking down the bad guys if necessary. Sure, she’d taken a few self-defense classes, she had a concealed weapons permit, and she was a very good shot. She even carried her weapon, frequently. Her dad had taught her how to handle a gun and protect herself, and he had begged her to be cautious, especially when she was alone in a city. Which was what she usually was. Alone.
Not being alone was a new experience. One she might grow to like.
Faith was hot on her heels as she entered the restaurant. A sign indicated that the restrooms were at the back, and she headed in that direction. A large group exited the main dining area, and Ivy paused to allow them to pass between her and Emily. As theyskirted by, a hand closed over Ivy’s left bicep and yanked her in the direction of the restrooms.
She glanced up and caught a flash of brown hair, a stubbled cheek, and a broad back in a green T-shirt. The man had her left arm in a tight grip, and the hand that held her squeezed tight and pulled again, but before she could try to get away, another hand, smaller but still strong, closed around her right wrist. Pain shot through her hand and arm as she was pulled in the opposite direction. Faith’s voice boomed into the chaos. “FBI. Let her go.”
The hand on her left arm released before Faith had finished speaking, and Ivy stumbled toward Faith.
“Are you okay?” The question came from Tessa, but Tessa didn’t stop to give her time to answer. She ran toward the door.
Before Ivy could process what was happening, Gil was there. “I’ve got her. Go!” He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. He held her tight as he maneuvered them to the exit, where Emily waited with a man who might be the manager.
“Everything okay, Agent Dixon?” Gil didn’t respond verbally, but something made the manager flinch. “How can I help?”
“Do you have cameras in here?”
“We do.”
“We’ll need the footage. But I have to get these two secured first. I’ll call you. Please tell Lucia she’s getting double the tip when I get back and settle up.” He kept his arm around Ivy’s waist and pressed his free hand to Emily’s back. “Let’s go.”
No one spoke as they exited the restaurant. They quick-marched to Emily’s car, and Gil held up a hand. “Wait.”
His car was parked a few spaces over. He jogged to it, opened the trunk, and returned with what looked to Ivy like a giant selfie stick with a mirror on the end. When he slid it under Emily’s car, Ivy understood. “He’s looking for a bomb?”
Emily met her eyes. “He does this a lot.”
“When your friends nearly get blown up, you learn to be cautious.” Gil’s tone was devoid of humor. “Emily, go straight to my office. I’ll be right behind you. Stay in the car until I get you. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Gil waited until Emily was in her car and the car was running before he led Ivy to his sedan. He repeated the procedure with the mirror, then held the passenger-side door open for Ivy, closing it gently once she was inside. He put the mirror back in his trunk and jogged to the driver’s side. Gil radiated fury and frustration, and Ivy got another glimpse of Gil Dixon, US Secret Service agent. He was a different Gil than Gil Dixon, childhood best friend or Gil Dixon, her first love.
This Gil Dixon wasn’t frightening to her, but he was intense.
She liked intense.
She waited until they were on the road to ask, “Are you okay?”
“AmIokay? I’m not the one who was nearly abducted in broad daylight in a packed restaurant.”
He had a point. But ... “It didn’t feel like I was nearly abducted. It felt like I was in a brief tug-of-war, which Faith won immediately. She’s very forceful, isn’t she? I almost put my hands up and surrendered, and I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Gil’s lips twitched, and the grip he had on the steering wheel loosened by maybe a millimeter.
