Mac knew nothing about him, and she only had herself to blame for that.She had chosen to keep their fling casual.It was anything but at this point.
The door opened, and Barry stood in the doorway.He had changed as well since she’d seen him on the boat.He wore a black tank top, cargo shorts, and flip flops.“I was beginning to wonder if you were having second thoughts.”
“I called my sister.”
Barry didn’t look upset by her confession.“To make sure I was legit?”
“That and to hear from her own mouth why she sent you.”
“Does this mean you’re ready to trust me?”
“Let’s see what you’ve learned first.”
The corner of Barry’s lips turned up in a smile.“Come on in.”He stood back to let her inside.He closed the door softly behind her as her eyes drank in the small room.
“I can see now why you never invited me to your place.”She said looking around the space.There were photos and files about Miles and equipment she couldn’t begin to identify.There was also a pistol on the nightstand.
Mac turned around to look at him with a million questions on the tip of her tongue but no idea where to start.Barry wouldn’t meet her eye.
“So, what exactly do you do?”she finally asked.That seemed the most important instead of pointing out the obvious: there was a gun in the room.Though she didn’t think he had any intention of using it on her.
Barry’s head cocked to the side as if studying her.“Emma didn’t tell you?”
“She said it’s your story to tell, not hers.So tell me.”
“It’s hard to explain.”Barry walked past her to his desk.
“Try me.”She followed closely behind him.He’s demanded answers from her earlier.Now it was his turn to share.
Barry took a deep breath and looked her square in the eyes.“I work for the government on secret missions.”
“LikeMission Impossiblestuff?”
Barry whispered something under his breath that was too low to hear, but it sounded like ‘at least not compared to Bond.’“Something like that,” he said louder.
Somehow, she could see that.He carried himself like a military man.He’d probably lost his arm in the armed services, but it still didn’t explain his presence.“So was coming here a cover?Are you already looking into Miles?”
“No, nothing like that.Emma asked me to check in on you as a favor.”
“I’m guessing you live in Vegas then.”That was where Emma’s office was.
“Yes.”
So, Emma didn’t hire him as a PI or something.They knew each other, and he’d offered to come here as a favor.“So nothing about our meeting was a coincidence.”
Barry shook his head.“You weren’t supposed to know I was here unless you needed help.You know the rest.”
Yeah, on the boat he’d said he was drawn to her.It was flattering, but a small part of her wondered if it was completely true.If he hadn’t just tried to get close so he could follow her around more easily.“I never asked her for help.I was just venting about Miles.”Mac never would have imagined her sister would send someone to follow her.
“Your sister said you can be a bit headstrong, and she was worried you were going to get yourself in trouble.”
Emma had told her the same thing.“So she sent you to babysit me.”
“Like I said, I volunteered,” he corrected, as if it made a difference.
“To babysit me?”No matter how he phrased it, the end result was still the same.
“Offer assistance or make sure you’re staying out of trouble.”
