She faced Evan. “What is it?”
He furrowed his brow. “You’re an agent. A good one. I get that. Respect it even, but I don’t like you going in before me. So I wanted to tell you to take care. Don’t be a hero or cowboy.”
He looked so forlorn she had to do something to change his mood. She forced a smile. “No worries. Cowboy is Mack’s job on the team.”
She hoped he would laugh. Instead he closed the distance between them in five long strides. “I’m serious here.”
His intensity scared her, and she knew she couldn’t make light of his concern again. “I’m always careful, and I don’t want you to worry.”
“Hard to do after Olin.”
“I’m sure you’ve been on lots of ops since then. Do you worry this much every time?”
He widened his stance. “This is different.”
“How so?”
“You. You’re here. I... Oh, what the heck.” He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her close.
He wove his fingers into her hair, looked deeply into her eyes, and she was a goner. His head descended. She barely had time to register the fact that he was going to kiss her before his lips settled on hers.
Shock traveled through her body, emotions radiating like beams of bright sunshine. Warm. Intense. Spellbinding.
She should step back. Should but couldn’t. Couldn’t get enough of him. Of his touch, the warmth. The joy and intensity.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Put all her feelings from years ago, from the past few days, from everything, into her kiss.
Nothing else mattered right now except Evan.
Nothing.
****
Evan’s heart soared, his pulse roaring as Kiley returned his kiss with a passion he never expected. He was lost. Totally and completely lost. For now and forever. The way he knew it would be when he finally locked lips with her. The woman he found so captivating for so long. Now he’d finally done what he wanted to do all these long years.
“Kiley, come on.” Mack’s deep voice barreled down the hall, hitting Evan like a bullet to the chest.
They were heading into danger, and Evan’s gut clenched. He released Kiley and sucked in air. He noticed her breathing was just as ragged, and she was trying to gain control. It was a heady feeling to know she was feeling the same way, but he didn’t want her distracted on the op, so he took a step back and gave her forehead a gentle kiss. “Let’s get going.”
She clutched his hand for a moment. “You don’t be a cowboy either. We don’t have a bomb suit, so if the place is rigged, we call in the bomb squad.”
He really didn’t need a suit, but if he expected her to be careful, he had to do the same thing. “Understood.”
She spun and charged down the hall as if racing away from him or her feelings. He took several breaths and blew out his emotions. He’d let her get to him. Let her kiss blind him. Nowhe had to be alert. Had to be ready for anything. To protect her if needed. Give his life for her if needed.
When they stepped into the cooler evening air, Mack eyed them from the SUV. Kiley seemed to ignore him and slid into the passenger seat. Evan climbed in back, remembering Kiley’s comment about Mack being the team cowboy.
He didn’t say what was on his mind, and tension permeated the vehicle all the way to the grocery store parking lot where they met with Tacoma SWAT and reviewed logistics. Then in the shadows of the apartment complex, well out of view of the suspects’ apartment, they brought Sean up to speed on the plan.
Kiley locked her gaze on Evan. “Time to scope the door for any charges.”
He nodded and opened the SUV’s rear hatch.
“Mack, you assist Evan. Sean, come with me to check nearby vehicles. I don’t want anyone waiting with an electronic device ready to explode the apartment.” Kiley tossed the strap of a Heckler & Koch MP5 automatic rifle favored by the FBI over her shoulder and strode off with Sean.
Mack popped open a bright red bin. “Everything you’ll need is in here.”
Evan sorted through the tub to gather items, including an endoscopic camera that looked like a black snake with an eye at the end. He would insert it under the door for a good look at the inside framing. He pocketed it and looked up to find Kiley and Sean returning.
