Kate’s lips pulled in a sideways smile. “Protective instinct for someone special?”
Heat blossomed in Nightshade's cheeks and she shrugged, unsure of how to respond. Caroline had no weapons training. Thank God she hadn't actually hit one of the men. That would've been a lot harder to explain away.
Merc tipped her chin up with a crooked finger. “I like a woman who can hold her own.”
“Then you got the right girl,” she responded, losing herself in him.
Ethan chuckled. “What did I tell you, sweetheart? If anyone can handle Merc, it’s Caroline.”
But she wasn’t Caroline. She was Nightshade.
The spell broken, she glanced away. Cotter, who was standing off to the side, wiped away his tears. How could he possibly hold on to this act, and with such conviction, for so long without a crack? Even a master manipulator like Cotter had to break sometime.Didn’t he?
Unless it wasn’t an act… another chink of ice around Nightshade’s heart cracked.
Nightshade drew in a steadying breath but it did nothing to quell the low rumble rocking her core beliefs. She'd gotten in too deep. She had to get out of here before she said or did something stupid.
Remember your team, dammit.Tom Cotter is responsible for your team’s capture.Except Nightshade was starting to have a hard time reconciling this with the warm, caring man who'd told her he loved her more times in her first day here than Mankel had in her entire life.
“We've got another surprise for you. Why don't you run upstairs and shower? We’re going out on a date.” Merc's deep voice broke into her troubled thoughts.
“A date? As in leaving the house?”
“With Ethan, Aaron, the girls, and me. We'll all be together and I’ve got a security detail already scoping out the restaurant. So if you can ignore the fact that you'll be watched and guarded the entire time, then yeah.” Merc took her hand in his. “Will you go out on a date with me?”
Goosebumps stole across her entire body. A real date. With Merc.
Was she selfish to want this so bad — a date, a memory with him she could cherish forever? “I'd love to.”
His lips stretched into a wide gorgeous smile. “Hurry up, then. I'm hungry.”
Giddy excitement overtook her and the banked desire in his gaze told Nightshade it wasn't just food he wanted.
