Mac shook her head sadly. “For you.”
It was pretty much a suicide mission for her. She’d accepted that. What Mac wouldn’t accept—or allow—was for this man to be stuck in those same crosshairs with her.
Coop ran a hand through his short, brown hair. “Okay, you’re going to have to explain that one.”
Turning her back on him, Mac walked over to the edge of the porch and leaned on the wooden railing. She looked out at Jake and Olivia’s snow-covered lawn.
It was cold outside, but she didn’t feel it. She didn’t feel much of anything anymore. Guilt could do that to a person.
“I’m working a solo op.” Partial truth.
“The fuck you are,” Coop growled as he stormed toward her. “R.I.S.C. doesn’t do solo ops. Not dangerous ones, anyway.”
R.I.S.C., which stood for Rescue, Intel, Security, and Capture, was the private black-ops security firm she and Coop worked for. They took on jobs in the private sector, but also worked off-the-books ops for Homeland Security.
When Mac opened her mouth to argue the validity of his statement, Coop instantly shut her down.
“I’m talking about more than the occasional solo bodyguard gig, and you know it. Whatever this job is, it has you scared to death. And don’t bother trying to deny it, because I can see it in your eyes.”
She wouldn’t deny it, because it wasn’t only in her eyes. The fear Mac felt weighed heavily on her shoulders.
“You’re right.” She looked back up at him. “I am scared.”
She didn’t want to go back. Had worked so hard to getawayfrom that part of her life. To convince herself it wasn’t real.
Some things are impossible to forget.
Coop studied her a moment, his assessing glance seeing too much. It wasn’t until he took her shoulders between his hands that she even realized—
“Jesus, Mac. You’re shaking like a leaf.” Fear matching her own began to seep into his eyes. “Talk to me, McKenna.Please.”
She hated when he touched her. But only because it made her feel too much. Too safe.
Mac knew better than most that safety was nothing more than an illusion.
His strong grip was oddly gentle, and the way his eyes begged her to let him in made her want to tell him everything. She gave him what little she could.
“This job”—she licked her dry lips—“it has a personal connection. One from my past.”
“Okay.” Coop nodded. “Whatever it is, I can help.”
“You can’t.”
“You have to let me go with you,” he persisted.
Her heart ached. “It’s not about getting permission, Sean.”
“Then let me go with you.”
The desperation in his voice tore through her. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” he growled, his jaw clenching.
“Because I care too much about you!” she blurted before she could stop herself.
Coop blinked, her startling admission taking him off guard. “I care about you, too, Mac.” His deep voice rumbled. The colors in his eyes darkened. “A lot.”
Warmth spread through her. Filled her with a deep, aching want for something she knew could never be.
