“Guess so,” Jethro agreed, his tonemild. Too mild?
* * * *
Jethro could barely think. As a blonde with brown eyes, Gemma was beautiful. As a brunette with red highlights and warm blue eyes? She was fucking gorgeous.
He’d deal with the fact that she held more secrets than he did at a later date. Right now he had to get her to safety. He lifted his phone. “Angus, we’reclear in here.”
A minute later Nari Zhang came through the door, her aim right for Gemma. “Hi. I’m Nari.” She held out a glove-covered hand. When Gemma took it, she pulled her from the sofa. “I’ll help you pack, and we need to hurry.”
“Are you an agent?” Gemma whispered, sounding so bewildered that Jethro wanted to hug her.
“Yes,” Nari said, steering Gemma toward Serena’s bedroom. “I’m the shrink for the unit, but I’m also the best fighter. Do you have a lot to pack?” They disappearedinto the room.
Wolfe finally gave up his impression of a statue and walked toward Jethro, his big, black boots leaving spots of water. “Your woman has some issues.”
“I noticed,” Jethro agreed. He’d never seen a woman more terrified than when he’d broken her locks andwalked inside.
“Her hair is pretty,” Wolfesaid casually.
Jethro nodded. “I don’t know about the why of the wig. Let’s worry about that another day.” His phone dinged and he lifted it to his ear. “Millie? Whatdid you find?”
It was nearly impossible to hear her over the wind. “The outside of the house is clear,” she yelled. “No cameras and no bombs. I’ll do the inside once you geteveryone out.”
“All right. If you see anything, get out,” he said. Bombs weren’t Fletcher’s style, so he wasn’t worried about that. But there very well could be cameras or bugs in the house, and Millie would find them. He leaned back against the wall just as Trudy’s door opened and the little girl toddled out, her blanket in one hand and her thumb in her mouth. Pajamas with unicorns on them covered her tiny body. She looked at Wolfe sleepily and then caught sight of Jethro. “Daddy!” She ran for him.
Shocked, he droppedand caught her.
She snuggled right into his neck with a happy sigh.
He stood, keeping her against his chest, and found Wolfe’s eyebrows raised.
“Got something to tell us?” Wolfe asked.
Jethro didn’t have a reply. He held the little girl aloft, and she went lax against him, already back to sleep. His chest warmed and his instincts went primal with the need to protect her. Just in case they were attacked, he kept one hand free, although Wolfe looked at the ready.
Gemma and Nari returned with suitcases and boxes, Gemma’s eyes widening when she saw her daughter. “Trudy? Come help me pack your things.”
“No,” the little girl said sleepily against Jethro’s jugular. “I wanna stay with Daddy.”
If a woman’s jaw could actually drop, Gemma’sdid. “Wh–what?”
Nari nudged her into Trudy’s room. “It’s normal. She probably sees other daddies at the day care, has spent a little time with Jethro, and just adopted his cuteBritish butt.”
“Cute?”Wolfe mouthed.
Jethro shrugged, careful not to dislodge the child. Maybe Nari was just trying to ease Gemma’s mind. “I am cute,” he whispered.
“Huh,” Wolfe said, eyeing the little girl with no small amount of wariness. “You know what you’re doing with her?”
“No,” Jethro whispered, feeling as if he might break her if he moved.
Wolfe backed away. “Don’t look at me.”
Jethro frowned. “You’re having one of these in a few more months.”
Wolfe shook his head. “I’m having a boy who will be solid. Not little. He’ll be like acement block.”
“You’re having a boy?” Jethro asked.
