I stilled. “Dumb?”
“Yeah. I think you’re smart and I know you’re capable. But nobody is immune to a panic attack, and if this helps—” he tightened his hold around me “—then you need to call. We’re in this together, remember?” The play of muscle beneath his shirt felt strong and powerful while his voice remained soft and gentle.
“I know,” I said, and I did. “Before the other night, it’s just been so long since I had an attack. I just haven’t been prepared. Sometimes jumping beneath the desk is the best and quickest move.” The glitter wafted up, and I sneezed. Twice.
“Bless you,” he said. “You’re not shaking any longer.”
“Nope.” I relaxed. “When is it my turn to rescue you?”
His smile was slow and too sexy for my peace of mind. “You rescue me every day. Just by being you.”
Now that was so sweet I could barely think…and nicely in line with the advice I’d given Violet.
“Plus, you have rescued me. Gun and all, remember?” he asked.
I nodded. We weren’t keeping score, but if we were, he was totally ahead in the rescuing department. But I could live with that—he was a modern day protector, after all. “I think I can get up now. Where did you send Oliver and Violet, anyway?”
“I told them I needed holiday decorations for the new office and gave them a credit card.” He frowned. “But I didn’t give them a budget.”
“They’re smart kids and won’t overspend.” I brightened. “Hey. You rented the former spa to use as your office?”
He kissed the top of my nose. “Yeah. Well, to be more exact, I bought the building and then rented the office for our ATF team. It’s all legit and I disclosed all details.”
My heart warmed. “You bought the building?” He wanted to stay in town.
“Yeah. I need to diversify my portfolio.”
He had a portfolio? I had a savings account with less than twenty dollars in it. “Huh,” I said. “That sounds very responsible.”
“That’s me.” His phone vibrated against me, and he dug it out of his front pocket. “Devlin.”
I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth, forcing my body to relax now that the panic attack had abated. Even so, when he stiffened, I stilled.
“Yeah. Got it. Thanks.” He clicked off.
“What?” I asked.
He looked down at me, measuring. “So I didn’t have to drive down there, I had two of the guys from the Portland gang moved up here temporarily so we could interview them and see how we were burned. We have them housed at the Airway Heights Corrections Center in Washington, and Saber brought them over here for interrogation. Pierce is letting us use their station.”
“That’s good.” I moved to get off his lap, but he kept me nicely in place. “How long do you have them?”
“Just two days, and then they go back to Oregon for trial.”
“Oh. You should go, then.”
He stood in one smooth motion, still holding me. Then he set me on my desk. “I don’t think I should leave you.”
I looked up, feeling better. Feeling almost solid again. “I’m good. When the kids get back, we’ll keep the door locked, and while I was planning to venture into Spokane with Bernie, I’ll put that off until tomorrow.”
“What time?”
“Doesn’t matter.” I ran my hands up his arms. “I’ll be fine. Now go do your work.” I couldn’t keep him from his job any longer.
He glanced at his watch. “Either I’m with you, or a uniformed officer is with you until we figure out who just sent the finger.”
I was more interested in the owner of said finger. “It’s good that Pierce has assigned an officer to us during the day, especially since the kids have been around.” I wasn’t a moron and would take backup any chance I got.
Aiden nodded. “Agreed. Speaking of Pierce, I have a call into him but haven’t heard back yet. Are we sure the finger was real?”
