The rest of the group followed suit. As soon as she and Jagger were alone, he picked the conversation right back up where they’d left it.
“Having a history of multiple concussions is even more of a reason to get checked out.” He raked a frustrated hand over the dark scruff and paint covering his jaw. “What happens if you get back to the hotel and you pass out? You could be in the shower, and all of a sudden…bam!”
“Jagger—”
“I’m serious, Natalia. Something could happen even a few hours from now, when we’ve all gone home for the night. And you could just be lying there, unconscious or—” He cut himself short, but she got the gist.
Natalia was alsofinallybeginning to understand the source of the man’s anger. Jagger wasn’t being a jerk, and he wasn’t trying to boss her around. He was upset with her for refusing medical treatment because…
He’s worried.
Not only that, but it was suddenly obvious that Jagger was also blaming himself. Reverse the situation and—as his partner—she’d no doubt be doing the same.
Either way, it was a ridiculous notion, and one she intended to deal with right the heck now.
“I promise to keep my phone next to me all night.” She even held up a palm as a show of good faith. “If I start to feel off in any way, you’re the first person I’ll call.”
“Wrong.” The intriguing man took a step closer. “Something feels off, you call for an ambulance first. Andthenyou call me.”
“Okay, fine.” Even she couldn’t deny that plan made a lot more sense. “Ambulance first, then you.”
“You promise?” Jagger’s dark eyes burrowed into hers.
Did she promise?
What are we, twelve?
With a painful exhale, Natalia let go of his arm and lifted her pinky into the air. “The first sign of trouble, I will call an ambulance. After that, I’ll call you. But?—”
“But what?” Jagger stopped just shy of wrapping his pinky around hers.
She glanced down at their hovering fingers before looking back up into his dark, seeking eyes. “You have to promise me you’ll stop blaming yourself for what happened.”
A flash of guilt let her know she was spot on with her assessment. The crazy, well-meaning man was shouldering what had happened to her as if he’d been the one to pull the trigger.
“You did your job,” she reminded him. “You eliminated the threat.”
Regret poured over him as he glanced down at the spot where the target’s bullet had struck. “Not soon enough.” His throat worked an audible swallow. “If he’d been aiming for your head instead of your chest…”
“Jagger, look at me.” Natalia waited for his gaze to return to hers. “We all knew the risks of the job the minute we signed up. Even me. But the bottom line here is we kept those guns from ever reaching the streets. So maybe stop focusing on what could have happened and take the win while you can.”
The mouthwatering operative held her stare a few pounding heartbeats longer. She was about to lower her hand and give up, but at the last second, his pinky finger wrapped gently around hers.
A gasp rushed to the base of her throat, but she managed to somehow keep it from releasing out into the world. Electricity zinged from her finger, racing like lightning up her arm. From there, it ran across her chest before moving deeper.
Straight into her heart.
“Okay, partner.” Jagger’s lips curved into a smile as he dropped his hand back to his slung rifle. “Whatever you say.”
6
“This wasn’tpart of the deal.”
Jagger slowed to a stop behind Talia as they reached the door to her hotel room. With a crooked grin, he leaned a shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms casually at his chest.
“Come on now, Agent Foster.” His eyes followed her every movement. “Don’t pretend like you don’t love the art of negotiation.”
“Oh, I do.” Her long, dark ponytail swung over one shoulder as her unwavering stare burned into his. “But bullying me isn’t the same thing, and you know it.”
