Amy lifted a brow. “Did it sound like one?”
“Well, I’m a guy, so…” Jace tipped his head.
She kissed his cheek. “Movie in an hour or two,” she said, and strode toward the hall.
“Sounds good.” Jace hurried into the kitchen and flipped on the light. He wanted to scan the patio doors and kitchen window, and every other pane of glass attached to the home, but it wasn’t necessary. Amy had been tapped. And Jace had to know if he was too.
He sent a text to Sutton, one that would cue the man to check for any bugs or hacks attached to his cell phone line.
How arethe skies in your neck of the woods?
He staredat his phone while awaiting a reply. Either way, he and Amy would have to leave the house in order to tell Sutton about the bugs. Logan had made one thing clear: It was easy enough to detect someone tapping phone calls. Monitoring texts didn’t leave the same kind of trace.
Jace’s phone let out a buzz.
Nothing but blue,man. You should come out for a swim.
Jace nodded.Sutton’s reply said that he was safe to call him. But had the SUV been tapped as well? He’d done a routine check of the vehicle before they drove to Kassy’s. But perhaps they’d bugged it while they were there. Or more likely since they’d arrived home. Maybe someone was out there right now.
A bloodthirsty rage shot through Jace at the thought. A sudden urge to rip open the front door and bust some lowlife doing dirty work for the scumbags running the show.
That wouldn’t help, he reminded himself. And they wouldn’t berunning the showfor long. At least he and Amy hadn’t discussed any case information on the drive home. But theyhadindicated they were staying in for the night.
An idea came to mind. It would take Amy playing along for a bit. And if he didn’t want to raise suspicion for those monitoring their conversations, Jace would have to get creative. He moved down the hall, eyed the lock on the bathroom doorknob, then gave it a twist to see if it was locked. Yep. But it was one of those ones he could pop open with a toothpick. Already the shower water was running.Perfect. He’d need to move fast before she shut off the water.
After digging through a few cupboards and drawers, Jace found a box of toothpicks. Next he tore a sheet of paper off her notepad and scratched onto it.
Eyes are closed.Don’t say a word. Grab a towel, but leave water running. Need to tell you something.
Soon he was jigglingthe doorknob with the pick in place and twisting it open. Head down and eyes closed as he promised, Jace walked in with one zombie-like arm waving the note to gain her attention.
The air was already humid, the thick steam caressing his face as he stepped over the familiar rug in front of the sink. He heard nothing but the running rush of shower water. That is, until Amy squealed.
Great.With his head down, one hand covering his closed eyes, Jace waved the paper again before holding it still.Please hurry and read this so you don’t think I’m a jerk.
The water shut off. The squeaking clank of shower curtain rings sliding to one side came next, and then the water turned back on. He sensed she was stepping out now and getting a towel. If someone were paying attention, the squeal she’d let out, followed by the disrupted shower stream, might tip them off.There was no covering up his presence, so he’d announce a purpose for it instead.
A small tap came to his arm, which he hoped meant she was covered to her satisfaction.
Jace dropped the note on the counter and opened his eyes. Flushed cheeks, wet lashes, and dripping hair, Amy tucked the corner of her towel beneath her arm.
Jace’s thoughts shot into two different directions: On one end he was anxious to give her instruction, explain that they needed to talk in private. On the other was an urgency to take Amy into his arms and assure her that he would die before he let harm come her way.
The sound on those tapping devices was good. Very good. He’d need to pretend he’d gone in there for a different reason.
“Hi,” he murmured, before bringing a finger to his lips. “I missed you.”
Amy studied him as he lowered his head. Softly, tentatively, she moved a hand up the back of his neck, pressed her warm, damp cheek to his. They stayed in place, held in each other’s arms as the steam swirled around them like a dance.
His emotions, a blend of everything under the sun, magnified under the harsh truth that things could go very wrong. He could miss out on his chance to be with Amy, never experience the depths of his growing love for her. Jace didn’t have to draw up calculations to know that he’d tested fate over the years. At some point, if he kept playing the game, he was sure to lose. Both math and science would agree.Not her though.He wouldnotlose Amy.
Amy slid her cheek along his, back and forth, before planting a kiss to his jaw. Soft and tender. She tipped her head back, eyes more dreamlike than questioning, and came in for a gentle kiss. Short and testing, as if she wasn’t sure he’d respond.
It was all the encouragement he needed.
Jace kissed her back, stronger now. A long, sensual kiss that pulled at the ache in his heart. Asking, with his kiss alone, if she felt the same. Perhaps she’d read the thoughts in his mind. Or simply just realized the type of risk his job imposed. Whatever it was, they’d landed on the same wavelength, and Jace intended to let it ride.
He gave in to a succession of passionate kisses, wondering if the sudden need could ever be quenched. Fire roared hot in his belly as he cupped the enticing curve of her delicate shoulder, a moment before moving his mouth to that spot. He pressed kisses to her there, moved along her throat, then trailed up to the edge of her ear with his lips.
