“Yeah, they’d figure it out.” She pointed to an alligator lazily floating in the murky water. “How big do you think that one is? All I see is snout and eyes.”
“Based on that, I’d say about eight feet.”
“Didn’t you worry about them climbing up on land and eating you last night in your sleep?”
“No.” His chest vibrated as he chuckled. “But for the record, you leave them alone, they won’t bother you.”
“I don’t know that I believe that.”
He pressed his lips on her neck. “You should know that your brother and I did rock, paper, scissors as to who went in to check on you girls. I lost.”
She glanced over her shoulder, catching his gaze. “Ischeck oncode for getting a little action? Or is that you being polite?”
“Does it matter? Because I flipping lost, and I’d rather be inside getting a treat.”
“You’re a pig.”
“I’m a man sitting with a beautiful woman between my legs who smells like sunshine and watermelon. I can’t think straight.” He cupped her chin, brushing his mouth over hers in a hot, wet, sloppy kiss.
“Is that all I am… a treat?”
“No.” He traced her jawline. “I’m sorry if my male humor?—”
She pressed her finger over his lips. “I wasn’t looking for an apology. But I am curious as to what this is. A trip down memory lane? A short fling? Closure?” She honestly hadn’t come out here to ask such a deep question. Her brother and Riven deserved a little privacy. Some space to just be. And she’d wanted to stretch her legs, watch the sun spread over the lush scenery, and spend a moment with Patch.
Her life wasn’t hers right now, and she had no idea what would happen next. But both Patch and McGuire were right. She had to do something. She couldn’t let a shadow rogue organization like Black Ledger muscle its way into the 73—into the CIA and all facets of the government and military. That meant seeing this through.
After that, she wasn’t sure she wanted to continue with her role. She was burnt out and ready for… she had no idea. But it wasn’t the 73. It wasn’t the CIA. It wasn’t running missions for whatever branch needed her to do the dirty work.
Deep down, she knew she was done with that.
“What do you want it to be?” he asked softly.
“Do not avoid the tough questions by deflecting them back on me.” She cocked a brow and glared. This had been a dance they’d done before, and she wasn’t about to do it again. If this meant nothing but a good time, she could handle that. She could handle anything as long as it was the truth.
She was tired of all the lies, regardless of where they came from.
“I hate it when you do that,” she mumbled.
“Yeah, I know.” He reached for his tin cup and took a few big gulps. How he handled scalding hot liquids, she couldn’t fathom. “The only thing I can tell you for sure, it’s none of the things you listed. At least not for me,” he said, his gaze boring into her like a rocket reaching for the sky.
Her heart dropped to her toes. The air in her lungs stopped at her throat as she tried to exhale. When she tried to breathe in, nothing happened. Not even a gasp. Of all the things he could have said, she hadn’t expected that. Though, it wasn’t really an answer either and she’d be damned if she wasn’t getting more clarification. She pounded her chest. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“You know how crazy I make you when I start asking a bunch of weird random questions to get to a point, but it doesn’t make much sense while I’m trying to get there?”
She groaned. “We’re gonna play that game?”
“Kind of.” He nodded. “Have you ever been in love?”
“Seriously? I ask you what’s going on with us, and you ask me that?”
“Just answer the question.” He sighed.
“Okay. Yeah, I’ve been in love.” She twisted her body, turning, sitting cross-legged, facing him. She lifted a blade of grass, fiddling with it.
“What happened?”
“Does it matter?”
