A dossier? What the fuck? “All right.” He set his beer on the table and leaned forward. “Enough easing in, Ellie. What the hell are you doing here?”
She sighed and dropped her feet to the shag carpet, careful not to dislodge the dog. Her shoulders straightened and she lowered her chin in a stubborn motion that wasn’t familiar. “Congratulations. You’ve been transferred from the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Hugh.”
Transferred? He straightened. “Sorry, but I like my job and my life.” It was quiet, methodical, and routine.
“That’s too bad. Because now you work for the Brigade.” She smiled while her eyes remained deadly serious. “Welcome to the first line of defense against any current pandemic Scorpius-induced threats.”
* * * *
Ellie let her words sink in and tried not to stare at the man who still ran through her dreams periodically. It wasn’t fair. It really wasn’t.
Couldn’t he have a slight paunch? Or a receding hairline? Or adult acne?
No. Hugh Johnson had gone from an adorable college kid to a ripped and sexy man. The guy looked like a dark Thor with his thick brown hair and angled jaw, obvious even when covered with a two-day scruff. His eyes, those deep ocean-blue eyes, were still sharp and sexy. Oh, he moved like a good old Southern boy, slow and graceful, but anybody with eyes could see the intelligence in his. Most people didn’t bother to look.
She always had.
When she hadn’t been dreaming of him sweeping her up and declaring undying love. Man, she’d been a moron.
“I’m not leaving my job, Ellie,” he said, his voice a deep rumble with a gentle tone.
That voice. Man, she remembered it. Her abdomen clenched, and tingles danced down her spine. “They sent me in to ease your way,” she explained, only lying a little bit. Okay. She might have volunteered, but still. The plan was good. “The DNDO is part of Homeland Security, which means you can be transferred. You have been. Get on board.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “You’ve gotten a bit bossy, sweetheart.”
He had no idea. She breathed out. “Listen, Hugh. The pandemic is killing people left and right.” The Scorpius bacteria had already killed a hundred thousand people, and it showed no chance of slowing down. “The world is dying, and we’re under a threat.”
“I’m not a biologist, and you know it. The CDC will find a cure,” he countered, not sounding sure.
“I hope so.” She glanced at the full trees outside. “But that’s their job. Ours is to protect the country in the meantime.”
He frowned. “I’m not agreeing, but what’s the Brigade?”
She straightened. “It’s a small force appointed by the president to counter the difficulties we’re about to have, and we need your help. Your expertise as the assistant director of assessments for DNDO.”
He leaned back. “I’m third in line, Ellie. I like it that way. You need the director or the deputy director.”
Actually, the man was twice as smart as the other two. “We want you.”
The words hung in the air. He studied her, looking suddenly…hungry.
She swallowed, her lungs compressing. “We can guarantee the safety of your family. There are places being set up—places the Scorpius bacterium shouldn’t touch.”
He shook his head, the movement measured. “Scorpius is going to touch everywhere, and you should know that.” He finished his beer, his tough-guy neck moving as he swallowed. Then he set the bottle down. “My family has all headed for the hills. We have cabins around Blue Lake, and my folks and brothers are hunkering down.”
She tilted her head. “Yet you stayed here.” Ah. The man wasn’t as oblivious as he appeared. “You knew you’d be needed.”
His chin lowered. “I’ve made assessments regarding nuclear threats for the last five years. Yeah, baby. I knew I’d be needed.”
Tingles exploded along her skin. It was nice when he dropped the good-ole-boy act. Even though it was only partly an act. “Did your dad fight you on closing the tire stores?” She remembered his family had owned several tire stores throughout the South and both of his brothers had gone to work there. Not him. He’d wanted something different. Money be damned.
“No.”
Good. His family had seemed like nice people. “I’m glad,” she murmured.
“What about your mom? How is she?” Hugh asked.
So he remembered a little about her. Even so, her smile felt sad. “She died a few years back. Breast cancer.” Ellie’s only family.
