Mac hid the disappointment she shouldn’t be feeling. Of course he was referring to the job.
“We already talked about that.”
He dropped his hand. “No.”
“No?”
“No. You talked. Itriedto, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“I told you. It’s something I have to do on my own.”
“Because it’s too dangerous.”
Mac nodded. “Yes.”
“All the more reason to have backup.” When she opened her mouth to keep arguing, he cut her off. “When I got shot in Venezuela, you were there. Risked your life to get my ass to that chopper, and then you stayed with me. First in the hospital and again after, at my apartment. Helped me until I was back on my feet.”
“You would’ve done the same for me.”
“Fuck yeah, I would have.” The conviction in his deep voice left her shaken. “I willalwayshave your back, McKenna. Just like I have it now.”
Damn him. When he said things like that, it threatened her resolve. But she couldn’t break. Couldn’t risk him.
“I appreciate the offer, Sean. I really do. But this is different.”
“Because it’s you?” He raised that same, cocky brow.
“Yes,” Mac said matter-of-factly. “I won’t let you risk yourself for me. Not for something so…personal.”
She cared about him. Way more than she should. If something happened to him because of her, she’d never forgive herself.
“Not your choice, Mac.”
Uh, yeah. It was. “I told you. I have to do this alone.”
Rather than argue, Coop lifted one corner of his sexy mouth. “See? Stubborn.”
Mac crossed her arms at her chest. Mainly to keep him from noticing her hard-as-stone nipples trying to poke their way through her satin top.
“Do you have any idea what it would do to me?”—in a sudden change, his voice grew lower. Darker—“if you were hurt or, God forbid, worse?” He swallowed. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you because I wasn’t there to protect you.”
“Look, Sean. I get it. We’re partners, and—”
“Is that all we are?” That heat poured off him now. “Because I think there’s more to us than that. And I think you know it, too.”
Wait…What?
He studied her for a stretch before reaching up and tucking some hair behind her ear. “My timing’s shit, I know. I should’ve said something a hell of a lot sooner, but I thought…” A pained expression fell over him. “I thought there was still plenty of time.”
“For what?” she asked, resenting the ridiculous amount of hopefulness she was feeling.
Coop’s hand cupped the side of her face, his strong, callused fingers caressing her cheek. He kept his piercing gaze locked with hers a half a second before dropping it to her mouth.
“For this.” He kissed her.
Didn’t take his time or go slow. He went right in, taking what he wanted. And she let him.
Holy shit!She was kissing Coop.Coop!And in that moment, there was nothing in the world that could have pulled her away.
