Gwen's eyebrows shoot up. I resist the urge to grab the phone and end the call.
"We're done here," I say.
"No we're not. I still need dinner. Somewhere decent this time. No chains, no base commissary rubbish. You're buying because I'm doing this as a favor."
"You're doing this because the problem's interesting."
"That too. But you're still buying." Keys click one final time. "See you tomorrow, Caine. Dr. Abernathy, pleasure speaking with you. Try not to let him brood too much. He's terrible at it."
The call ends. I look at Gwen, who's trying not to smile.
"She seems delightful," Gwen says.
"She's effective."
"She's also very observant." Gwen moves closer. "She knew about us in under thirty seconds."
"Nox's good at reading people."
"Or you're terrible at hiding how you feel about me."
"That too."
"Dinner we can do." She closes her laptop. "But if she's anything like Sullivan, I'm going to need alcohol."
"She's nothing like Sullivan. Different skill set entirely." I pause. "Though she does have opinions about everything."
"Wonderful. Can't wait."
I coordinate with Rivera via text, getting Nox cleared for base access. Rivera agrees immediately, which tells me she's as concerned about this cyber component as I am.
By the time everything's arranged, it's late. Gwen's yawning, fighting to keep her eyes open.
"Bed," I tell her.
"It's early."
"It's been a long day. We were up until the early hours last night." I pull her up from the couch. "And we have another briefing tomorrow morning."
"Fine. But only because you're being reasonable."
In the bedroom, we strip down to essentials. I slide into bed and she curls against my side immediately, head on my chest, leg thrown over mine.
"This is becoming a habit," she murmurs.
"Good habit or bad habit?"
"Good. Definitely good." She traces patterns on my chest. "Even when people are trying to kill me."
"Especially then." I press a kiss to her hair. "Sleep, Gwen."
"Bossy."
"You love it."
Her breathing evens out within minutes. I lie there in the dark, listening to her sleep, feeling the weight of her against me.
Four years ago, I couldn't have imagined this. Couldn't have imagined letting someone close enough to matter again. But here she is, trusting me to keep her safe, fitting into my life like she was always meant to be here.
