“Okay,” she agreed nervously.
“Be right there,” Nate told his friend.
After another assessing glance at Gracie, Kole left the room. Nate turned to her, his expression softer than before.
“Gracie, I—”
Not this time, buster. She threw her hand up. “If you’re going to apologize for kissing me again, just save it. Please.”
His brows rose and he shook his head. “No.” He closed the distance he’d put between them and rested his hands on her hips. “I’m not apologizing, Gracie. Not for kissing you, anyway.”
Still skeptical, she waited for him to explain.
“I like you.” One corner of his mouth rose, forming his lips into a hot-as-hell half-smile. “Of course after that kiss, I’m pretty sure you got that.”
“It’s still nice to hear you say it,” she whispered back.
With a silent laugh, Nate admitted. “Yeah, I guess I have been throwing out some pretty big mixed signals lately.”
That was a serious understatement. She was beginning to feel like a batter at home plate, trying to figure out what the hell her coach wanted her to do.
“Alright.” He looked her right in the eye. “Then let me be clear. I like you, Gracie. A lot. And after this is all over, I’d really like to take you out.” He licked his lips. “See what this could turn into.”
Gracie realized Nate was nervous, too. The man had just pulled his gun and chased after a van carrying the two men who’d tried to kidnap her. He’d done so without even blinking an eye, yet,thismade him nervous.
It was absolutely adorable.
“I-I’d like that, too.” Her voice shook.
Okay, so maybe he isn’t the only nervous one.
Giving her that sexy half-smile she was beginning to love, he whispered. “Good.” Then, clearing his throat, he got a little more serious. “The thing is, right now, I need to stay focused on keeping you safe. Which means I can’t be distracted with”—he paused a moment—“whatever’s going on between us.”
“I understand,” she told him truthfully.
He still felt the need to reassure her. “It’s not that I don’t want you, Gracie. Trust me, I do. I just can’t run the risk of you getting hurt because my head’s somewhere else. So, this”—he motioned back and forth between them—“is going to have to wait until we catch the bastards who are after you. I hope you can understand that.”
“I do,” Gracie whispered back. “Really.”
With a gentle hand, he brushed some hair away from her face. A low, growling sound came from his throat as he studied the swollen area.
“I’m going to kill them.”
“What?” Gracie felt her eyes widened. “Nate, no.”
A fierce hatred crossed his face. “They almost took you from me. From Sarah and Kole. Not trying to scare you, sweetheart, I’m just giving you fair warning. Anyone tries to hurt you again, they’re dead.”
“O-okay.” Because, really. How else does one respond to such a statement?
With a smirk, Nate said, “I’d better go get West before he sends Kole back in here to nag us again.”
Minutes later, Nate stayed by Gracie’s side while she gave Detective West her statement. After saying their goodbyes, she took a deep breath and got ready for her meeting with Jake and the others.
With her hand in his, Gracie followed Nate out of Jake’s office. If anyone thought it odd to see the two of them holding hands as they entered the other room, they didn’t say anything.
Nate waited until she sat down in the open chair next to Sarah before taking his own seat to Gracie’s left.
She looked at her sister, whose knowing eyes moved from her, to Nate, and back again. With an almost indiscernible shake of her head, Gracie silently told her now wasn’t the time to talk.
