“You’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?” The question came with a blink that erased the glimmer of attraction he’d spotted a second before.
“Pretty much.” Jagger flashed her an unashamed grin.
Why waste time being humble when he could just as easily tell the truth?
Talia’s golden gaze searched his a beat longer before she pushed the door open a few inches more. “Nice try, but I’m sure your mother has plenty of worse things to worry about when it comes to her baby boy.”
“You’re not wrong.” He chuckled. “That poor woman had her first gray hair before I’d even turned five.”
“Gee, I can’t imagine why.”
Warmth spread through Jagger’s chest from the sliver of humor he found in her tone. “Ah, so shedoeshave a sense of humor.”
Talia’s dark brows dipped inward with what he hoped was a playful glare. “You know, just because I don’t find you as cute and amusing as you find yourself doesn’t mean I’m void of a sense of humor.”
“It’s okay. I get it. But I mean, you may as well just admit it.”
“Admit, what?”
“That you secretly think I’m amusing.” He leaned in closer with a hushed, “And a little cute.”
Talia laughed, only a little. But damn if it wasn’t the most beautiful sound.
“Goodnight, Brooks.” She turned with a smile to open the door more fully. “And don’t forget, we’re meeting to debrief at nine sharp, which means?—”
“I’ll be downstairs in the lobby by eight-thirty.”
“You’d better be. Since it’s your fault my rental’s still parked at your office building’s garage and not in the lot outside.”
“Don’t worry.” He smirked, giving her a two-fingered salute. “I’ll be here, waiting with bells on.”
“Don’t need the bells, Jagger. I just need you.”
Those golden-brown eyes that seemed to suck him in grew wide and round as soon as the words were out. Like him, she’d realized how easily they could be misinterpreted. And with her very next breath, the typically put-together agent rushed to set the record straight.
“For the meeting,” she blurted before the rambling started in. “You know, to recap the mission. Because I have to make sure nothing is missed, and that every T is crossed and every I is dotted. And our statements all have to be aligned so that when the people I answer to start in with their questions, I can?—”
“Take a breath, darlin’.” Jagger let the endearment slip. “I knew what you meant.”
A chagrined smile appeared on lips he was trying desperately not to kiss.
“Right. Okay, well…thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime. And hey, don’t forget. First sign of problems with your head, chest, or anything else, it’s nine-one-one and then me.”
Holding up three fingers as if she were trying to sell him a box of overpriced cookies, Talia crossed her heart with her other hand with a convincing, “Scout’s honor.”
Knowing she needed to get inside and get to bed, Jagger stopped stalling and forced himself to say good-bye.
“Sleep well, Agent Foster.”
“You, too, Brooks.”
She held his stare a moment longer before disappearing behind her door.
Jagger waited to hear the lock engage before heading back down the hall. As he walked, his mind became filled with all sorts of racing thoughts.
The op. Her getting shot. Watching her body jerk and fall.
