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“Sorry, boss. I’m running late.” He glanced at Wren and winked.

“You were here ten minutes ago. Is there a problem?”

“Nope, just got myself tangled up in something personal. I need to push the mission back an hour.”

“Striker, no!” Wren whispered.

He pressed the mute button. “It’s fine. They expect this of me.”

“Say it was my fault. I don’t want you to cover for me.” She struggled to stand.

“Stay where you are. I’ve got this.” He wasn’t letting Wren get another black mark against her name. He’d screwed up yesterday. This was his way of saying sorry.

“Don’t tell me it’s a woman,” Hunter said.

“You know me. I can’t keep them away.”

Hunter sighed. “I’ll rearrange the slot. This looks bad, Striker. You can’t keep ducking your responsibilities.”

Wren gave a little gasp.

Striker lifted a hand. Hunter was always threatening to put him on a clean-up crew for a month as punishment. It never happened. He was too good a warrior to be dropped.

“Cleo is spitting mad about this,” Hunter said.

“I bet. I’ve already told Wren we’ve pushed things back. Don’t expect to see her for a while, either.”

“I’ll speak to you later.” Hunter cut the link.

Striker turned to face Wren. The concern on her face had his heart skipping a beat. It pained him to see her in distress, but it was better for her if he took the heat on this.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, her fingers clenched so hard around the bedspread that the knuckles were white.

“It was nothing. We’re partners. Sometimes, that means covering for one another when things aren’t going great. And considering you’ve been puked on, almost knocked yourself out, and got found by me in nothing but your underwear, I decided to cut you some slack.”

“I appreciate it. Hunter sounded angry, though. You’re in trouble.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t handled before. He understands me. I don’t always play by the rules, but I get results when he needs them. We’ve worked together for a long time.”

“In the elite squad?” She shifted on the couch and clutched the bedspread tighter around her.

He lifted one shoulder. There was no point in dragging up old memories. “That’s right.”

“You’ve never told me why you left.”

“Change is good. Now, no more questions. We’ve only got an hour until the mission is back on. You shower, I’ll make you coffee, then we get to work.”

She shook her head and opened her mouth to ask, no doubt, more questions.

He beat her to it. “Nope, that’s all you’re getting out of me. Now, unless you want me to suggest I follow you into that shower, get out of here. You look way too cute in just a bedspread for me to resist much longer.”

Her eyes narrowed a fraction, but there was the hint of a smile on her face. “You wouldn’t. I know you better than you think. You make out you’re this good time guy who only plays games, but—”

“That’s all there is to me. I’m all about the good times. I’m as shallow as those petri dishes you’re always staring at.” He strode over and pulled her to her feet. “How are you feeling? That offer to come in the shower stands. Especially if you’re woozy. I could hold you up. Maybe rub your back. I could even rub—”

“No!” Her gentle sigh brushed across his cheek, sending a shiver of desire down his spine. “I am feeling better. Thanks for the help. I’d have really messed up if you hadn’t been here.”

“Occasionally, I do the right thing.” He smacked her on the butt. “Now, shower.”