During the day, she could be on the base. He would find a way to get clearance for her to come with him, or they would start working from his house most of the time.
This mission might be the most important one he’d ever taken on. Saving Garnet was worth everything. If the terrorists got hold of her again, he had little doubt that she wouldn’t survive.
“Do you think they’ll find me?”
He glanced at Garnet and was caught by the worry in her eyes. He wished he could tell her she would always be safe, but he wasn’t sure. Anything could happen.
“I don’t know. But I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. We’ll figure out who is after you and take them down.”
She bit her lip, and he swore she was going to say something else, but she closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder. Warmth spread through him. This was more than he’d felt for any other woman he’d ever dated.
He would keep his emotions in check for now. The mission came first. After they’d figured out who was behind her abduction and the plot to destroy DC, maybe then he could explore a relationship with her. She may not want to be in a relationship with him. His job had crazy hours. The responsibilities foisted on him overwhelmed most. He could handle his work, but could he add a relationship into the mix?
Garnet liked beingclose to Brady. His warmth made her feel protected. Maybe she was delusional to think that no one could get to her as long as Brady was by her side. She didn’t know what they would do about him going to work or her working, but they would figure it out.
The flight didn’t last long, and they were back at his place fairly fast. When they entered his house, awkwardness twisted through her. She wasn’t sure what made her feel so weird, but maybe it was being alone with him after everything that had happened, especially the almost kiss. That shouldn’t have happened, and she was having trouble pushing it from her mind.
“You must be tired,” Brady said.
She yawned, proving him right, then laughed. “A little.”
“You should get to bed.”
“You’re going to sleep, right?”
“Yes.”
“Really, because I swear you’re lying.”
His lips tipped up to one side, and he rolled his eyes. “You know me too well.”
“Maybe I do. But you need sleep.”
“I need to keep you safe.”
She hated suggesting this, not because she didn’t want it, but because she didn’t want him to freak out over the suggestion. “This may sound weird, but I think it might help.”
His eyebrows rose, and his lips thinned. “What?”
“You have a king-sized bed. What if I sleep on the other side of the bed? I promise I won’t try anything. I just?—”
“Stop.”
For a moment, she thought he was angry because his expression went blank. She’d pushed too hard.
“That makes the most sense. You can sleep on the side away from the door. We’ll block the door, making it impossible for anyone to get in. The alarm, in addition to you being in my room, is the most secure arrangement.”
“Good.” Her stomach twisted as a new worry took hold. What if she’d read him totally wrong, and he didn’t want her? She wasn’t going to do anything while in his bed, but he might have been totally disgusted by her suggestion.
She wasn’t great at reading what guys wanted. Recognizing flirting was hard, and knowing when a guy wanted to go out with her was nearly impossible. There were moments she thought she knew what Brady wanted, but then there were times like this where she had no idea if he was interested in her at all.
Bean hadto force himself not to pull Garnet into his arms and deliver the kiss he so wanted to share with her. She would be in his bed, but not for the reasons he wanted her there.
What would she do if he told her he wanted to kiss her? He could hold it together tonight, and every night after this for as long as he had to. Garnet would be safe in his bed. He would make sure of it.
He sent a text to Chase, who suggested that Stanley come over in the morning while Bean showered. That made sense, so he texted Stanley and got a confirmation text in minutes. He was set for bed, except he would be in bed with Garnet, and that was almost too much.
The sound of her breathing after she drifted off made his balls pull up tight. He forced himself not to think of her as he fought for sleep. At some point, he drifted off and woke to his alarm.
