He gave her another reason, and it was true enough. “Tessa, they’re going to be freaked out. Given the delicate nature of where and how you woke up that day, it could be awkward for everyone if you tell that story in mixed company.”
She shuddered under his hands. “Okay. Tonight, then.”
“The truth will set you free, Princess.”
“Even if I remembered details, Zane, which I don’t, it would be my word against theirs. And based on where we’ve seen this Janus symbol, it’s safe to assume that the person who was with me that night has a lot to lose if I were to go public with an accusation.”
“I’m not saying you have to go public. But within our circle of friends, the truth will free you from some of the shame and guilt you’re still fighting to release. And this Janus symbol is something we can investigate.”
“Not now. It’s waited this long. It can wait until the president is back in DC. I won’t pull resources for this.”
Zane wanted to argue, but her point was valid. “I can’t disagree, but when this is over, I think we need to consider talking to Sabrina. She’s an expert at finding photos and video. She might be able to find what we need.”
“I’ll consider it.” Tessa pulled away from his hand. “I can’t help but feel like this will never truly go away. That I’ll spend my entire life wondering if the man who won’t quit looking at me in a restaurant is doing so because he finds me attractive or because he once drugged my drink and hauled me off to a hotel room, then left before anything happened.”
Tessa’s words punched through Zane. “Just for the record, anytime a man won’t quit looking at you, feel free to start saying things about your superhot Secret Service agent boyfriend who protects the president and considers your continued health and safety to be his highest priority.”
“Is that what you are?” Tessa turned her head and looked up at him.
“I think it’s a good place to start.” Zane brushed a thumb across her cheek. “Is that okay with you?”
Tessa shrugged. “Yes. But I think there should be a word for someone who is more.”
“We have words for that.”
“Oh?”
“Sure. There’s fiancé, which generally leads to husband.”
“True. But I’ve known people who are engaged or married who don’t have the same kind of connection we have.”
She was killing him. Was she going to profess her love while they were in her cubicle? Hardly the most romantic locale.
She leaned into his touch. “Soul mate sounds too... romance novel.”
He chuckled. “True, but I think if I walked around introducing you as the pulse of my heart, we would get a few weird looks.”
“Probably.”
“And I’m guessing you might object if I said something like, ‘This is Special Agent Tessa Reed. She’s mine.’”
She surprised him with a small shrug. “So long as you know that goes both ways.”
Before he could explore that intriguing concept further, her phone rang and the day took off at breakneck speed.
Between final meetings with local law enforcement, driving the motorcade route four times, and checking in with the local trauma center to be sure the appropriate medical staff were on standby, Zane barely saw Tessa until late afternoon.
“I’m going to see Bruce,” he told her when he caught her in the conference room. “Want to come with me?”
“I would, but I’m waiting on a phone call about the flight plans for tomorrow, and I’m waiting for someone in Carrington to update me about Craig.”
“Okay. I’ll touch base with you after I see him.”
“Sounds good.”
“HOW DO YOU PLANTO FIX THIS?”A disturbing trace of anger laced the voice on the secure line.
“We’ve discussed this. Stop calling me and let me do my job.”
