Tessa didn’t put up any resistance as he lowered his head to hers. “How do you feel about kissing in front of our friends?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Who I’m kissing.”
“Me. Only ever me.”
Tessa pulled him closer. “Then I have no objections.”
Based on the smiles on the faces that surrounded them, their friends had no objections either.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER,Jacob stood and cleared his throat. “I need to head home, but before I do, I have an announcement to make.”
Everyone turned toward him. Tessa barely moved from where she sat with her head against Zane’s shoulder, their fingers laced and hands resting on his thigh. Zane pressed a kiss to her head.
“Since we’re all here,” Jacob said, “this seemed like a good time for me to share some news I received earlier today.”
Tessa sat up and gave Zane a questioning look, but he had no answers to give her.
“It turns out that the DC crowd was impressed with our work a few weeks ago. Agent Ledbetter sang your praises and folks were listening.” He turned toward Tessa and Zane. “Special Agent Reed.”
Tessa sat straight and said, “Yes, sir?”
“This happens sometimes, and I’m not gonna lie. I hate it for myself. But something tells me you won’t feel the same way.”
“Sir?”
“Your presence has been requested in DC.”
Tessa’s hand gripped Zane’s thigh. He fought to keep from jumping up and down like a three-year-old who just consumed a swirl of cotton candy. “What?”
“Like I said, you made an impression. They want you in DC where the bigwigs can keep an eye on you. My guess is you’ll be fast-tracked for the PID, but for now they want you in the DC field office.” Jacob crossed his arms. “You can turn it down. No one here would complain if you stayed. But something tells me we’ll be saying goodbye sooner rather than later. Congratulations, Tessa.”
“I thought for sure they’d fire me. Or leave me in Phase 1 forever. Or...”
Jacob shook his head. “We all have a few skeletons in our closet. It takes far more bravery to pull them out and own them than it does to keep them hidden and pray they never come to light. Ledbetter told his superiors they’d be nuts if they didn’t keep you happy, and he somehow got the idea that DC would make you happy.” Jacob turned a fake glare on Zane. “I can’t imagine how he came to that conclusion.”
Tessa squeezed his arm, and Zane turned to her. “You told him I’d want to be in DC?”
Zane’s heart stuttered. “Don’t you?”
“Yes. More than anything.”
“Then?”
She looked down. “I wasn’t sure ifyouwanted me in DC. But I guess you do.”
This woman was going to make him insane. “What will it take to convince you that I love you and I’m never letting you go?”
“Getting me moved to DC is a good start.”
He certainly hoped so. The second part of his plan would begin as soon as she was settled. He hated to admit it, but Ledbetter was a genius.
34
A LITTLE MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS LATER
