My.
Word.
God, this isn’t funny! I know I asked for a rescue, but really?!
A thousand memories flooded her mind as she looked down at her brother’s best friend. So much for avoiding Michael Martinelli.
He finally seemed to catch his breath but still hadn’t found words yet as he got to his feet. He brushed the dirt and dust from his jeans. His shirt pulled taut against his broad chest. “Dani?”
It was fine. All fine. She had to…play it cool. He was simply an old family friend. She could do this.
“Look at you, Mike. You’ve been working out.” She gave him an appreciative glance. And that wasn’t the only change. A fitted button-down shirt replaced his old anime graphic tees. And no more wide tortoiseshell glasses framing those big brown eyes. His dark hair was long enough on top to see the natural wave to it now. A five-o’clock shadow graced his masculine jaw and neck. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.
So stinking handsome!
She swallowed hard.
“What are you doing here, Dani?” His voice still wheezed a bit.
“I wanted to see if my little time capsule from eighth grade was still up there. Maria was supposed to join me, but she had something come up.”
“Guess I should be glad my sister was busy. No way I could’ve caught both of you. But what are you doing in town? I thought you lived in the DC area.”
“I was in Virginia actually, and then Baltimore.”
“Oh, right. A bank job?”
“Uh, at first I was working for a financial institution. But I switched careers about six months ago.”
“So what are you doing?”
What was she doing? Trying not to spontaneously combust into flames of embarrassment. But since she couldn’t say that out loud, she should try to come across as the new, sophisticated special agent who had her life figured out. “You happen to be looking at the newest FBI agent at the Renegade office.” She gave him a big grin. “I start my job tomorrow.”
Did she look confident? She lifted her chin a little higher.
Michael didn’t seem impressed. If anything, he looked concerned. “Does your family know this? I can’t imagine your parents liking it at all. And your brother didn’t say anything.”
“I haven’t told Josh yet. I want to surprise everyone.” She pointed at him. “Don’t you go and ruin it either. I know my mom is a little overprotective, and there’s no pleasing my father, no matter what I do, so I’m finally doing what I want to do. And…I love it.”
Michael chuckled. “I shouldn’t be surprised by anything you do. Not that I can say anything about switching careers. My dad thought I was crazy leaving med school to become a cop, but it’s worked out so far. Congratulations though. Quantico’s a big deal.”
“Thanks.” She breathed a little easier. He hadn’t laughed at her or keeled over with shock. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. It was kinda nice being adult friends.
She shook off the earlier awkwardness and relaxed into the role she knew.
This was Michael. Her friend. Maria’s brother. Nothing more.
“Not that I wanna rain on your parade, but you do realize Josh and Lily are in the throes of teething with Archer and that Simon has entered his three-nager years, right?” he asked her.
“Teething babies and rambunctious toddlers? I can’t wait.” It was a loud, crazy life, and she was here for it. Now she could really get to know her nephews, spoil them, and become their favorite auntie. That and being close to Maria again were the only things she was actually looking forward to in Renegade.
For a moment, a niggle of doubt crept in. Maybe she shouldn’t have presumed on her brother and sister-in-law’s hospitality. But there was no way she could stay at Mom and Dad’s. Not with the memories haunting her childhood home and disapproval hovering over every move she made. She’d go bonkers within an hour.
Michael shook his head and chuckled. “They’ll be thrilled you’re here.”
Her tiny morsel of doubt evaporated. “Well, who wouldn’t be?”
“But I wouldn’t count on getting much sleep,” he said.
