Page 83 of Armed ’N’ Ready

Could a sniper really be out there, lying in wait to take Joe out?

Taking a deep breath, she got behind Nick and Saxon just as he pushed open the heavy glass door. Cox fell in step behind her, and she was quickly flanked by the other two agents. Hot, blustery summer air swirled all around her, a stark contrast to the air-conditioned interior of the federal building.

An American flag whipped back and forth on a tall metal pole in the center of the courtyard, making loud snapping noises. Banging metal had her looking up and behind her to see an empty window-washer cage hanging against the side of the building, swaying back and forth in the gusty winds.

As they made their way down the short flight of stairs from the building to the curb, a blue sedan pulled up and parked. Peering around the breadth of Nick’s shoulders, she glimpsed a blond-haired man get out of the driver’s seat. She held her breath until she could positively identify him.

Joe.

“Andi!” He walked briskly to where she was effectively sandwiched between Nick and Agent Cox. When Saxon lowered his head and growled, Joe froze.

She squeezed between Nick and one of the agents, then threw herself into Joe’s waiting arms. Only then did she realize he had a backpack slung over his shoulder. He held her tightly as she clung to him, grateful he was alive and here and safe. She held back the litany of expletives she had planned for later.

Behind her, Nick cursed, and she knew why. She’d disobeyed his order to remain within the protective circle of federal agents.

“Unknown subjects approaching,” a voice said over the radio. Matt’s voice.

“Save the teary reunion for later,” Nick ordered in a harsh tone, gently pulling Andi from Joe’s embrace. “Get inside. Both of you. Now.” He and the agents encircled them and ushered them hastily up the stairs and into the building.

As pre-planned, building guards passed Joe and his backpack through the magnetometer.

“All clear,” Matt came back over the radio. “Just a couple of kids playing hooky.”

Nick clicked the mic. “Copy that. I’ll keep you posted.”

At the elevator bank, a man in a dark suit—one she didn’t recognize—held an elevator for them. Nick and Saxon stepped aside, indicating she and Joe, along with Cox and AUSA Bennett should enter first. Nick looked both ways down the hallway before he and Saxon got in. The remaining two agents guarded the elevator as the doors closed.

Cox pressed the button for the third floor, and as the elevator began a slow ascent, a wave of relief washed over her. Joe had actually turned himself in, and no one had gotten hurt in the process.

The elevator was silent, save for the sounds of breathing—panting, on Saxon’s part. She hoped Nick had a water bowl for him upstairs.

Joe’s hand clasped hers, although his touch didn’t elicit anything close to passion. Nothing he could say or do would ever change the fact that she was in love with someone else. But Joe was her friend, and since he needed her support, she squeezed his hand.

Nick took that moment to glance over his shoulder. His gaze dropped to where her and Joe’s hands were tightly clasped. His jaw tightened, and he turned back to face the elevator doors.

Not for the first time, she wondered what was with the jealous behavior. Aside from sex, he’d never wanted her. The answer was suddenly obvious. It was a turf war, and she was the turf. She’d made love with both men. Nick knew that. Joe didn’t, so he’d thought nothing of holding her hand in front of everyone. She could only surmise that Nick felt some latent masculine possessiveness over her body. One he had no claim to. Not anymore.

Even though she was still angry with Joe, she held his hand tighter. He needed her support more than Nick needed his ego stroked.

The elevator came to a stop, and a moment later the doors opened. Nick held up his hand as he and Saxon entered the hallway. Man and dog looked both ways down the corridor before Nick indicated they should step out of the elevator.

She and Joe followed AUSA Bennett and Special Agent Cox down the long hallway. Even if she couldn’t hear Saxon padding behind her, or the footfalls of Nick’s boots, she would have known he was there. It wasn’t quite rage or animosity radiating off him. More like annoyance, and she felt the heat of his gaze penetrating her dress, her skin, straight to her heart—a heart that betrayed her again by beating out a steady staccato at his nearness.

When they entered Conference Room A, the same one in which she’d witnessed Nick being heartily congratulated over duping her ass, he shut the door behind him then went to the sink at the far end of the room and ran a small bowl of water for Saxon.

AUSA Bennett sat at the head of the long table, with Cox to his right. Bennett indicated Joe should sit to his left, with her next to Joe. She caught Nick eyeing them as Joe sat and re-clasped her hand in his.

Saxon pranced in place, his attention fixated on the water bowl that Nick set on the floor against the wall. As Saxon drank, Nick unstrapped the dog’s body armor. Saxon’s coat was matted down by sweat, making her realize she still wore Nick’s Kevlar vest.

“How ’bout I get that off you?”

Nick pulled her chair from the table so she could stand. He tugged open the Velcro straps, briskly and efficiently removing the vest, although one of his hands lingered at her waist—the side facing Joe, who, she noticed, flicked his gaze back and forth between her and Nick.

“Better?” Nick asked.

She nodded and sat. Yeah, except for the fact that every time he touched her, her heart broke a little more. “Thank you.”

He set the vest on the floor behind their chairs, then took the seat to her left. She noticed that he rolled his chair back a few inches so that he could better observe Joe.