little scary. My insides went squishy anyway. “Let’s talk about this. I handled Barensky pretty well, and your cover is still in place, as much as it was, anyway.” I really didn’t like how in the dark we were about Barensky’s knowledge.
“This isn’t about you or what you did. Kurt is gone because of what he did.” Aiden took another bite of the food. “He left you alone with a terrorist, Angel. That’s unacceptable.”
I treaded carefully and tried to find reason. “We thought I was perfectly safe in my office.”
“You were wrong.”
“Maybe not. I do have a gun in my drawer, you know,” I reminded him. When he didn’t answer, I tried again. “If Kurt had been there, what would’ve been different? I assume he wouldn’t have tried to interfere and blow your cover.”
Aiden finished his wine and turned to his water. “Probably not, but he would’ve been there if needed, which was his fucking job.”
Eesh. Aiden swearing around me wasn’t a good sign. I knew Kurt wasn’t dead, but there was a decent chance he was out in the petunias gasping for breath. “Aiden, you work dangerous jobs and you have to be used to this. Why are you so upset?”
He looked at me for several long moments. “The only people I’ve really cared about in my life were my grandparents and now you. I know we’ve talked about when I helped save you as a kid and how that moment changed us both, but that’s not it. I’m not still back in that mode wanting to keep you safe because I did once before.”
I took another drink of wine and let him talk.
“It’s hard enough making sure you survive your job, and under no circumstances will I allow my job to put you in danger. You’re mine. Right in there with my grandparents, right inside me, and you have to stay safe.” He stood and placed his plate in the sink, the muscles down his back looking tense. He turned around, bare-chested and mouth wateringly intense. “That’s the only way I can explain it.”
That was probably the sweetest thing I’d ever heard, and he hadn’t meant it to be sweet at all. My heart felt like it swelled and attacked my lungs. If I were a cartoon character, hearts would be streaming from my eyes. I carried my dishes to the sink and tried to think of the right thing to say.
He drew me against him, wrapping his arms around my waist. I rested my head against his chest and listened to the steady thrum of his heart before he spoke again. “I don’t want to stand around and explore feelings all night, and I’ve explained the best I can. I’ll give up anybody or anything to keep you safe, and that includes my job. I wish you’d remember that next time you find yourself in a dangerous situation.”
“But—” I started.
“I know this one wasn’t your fault, and you handled the entire situation perfectly. Better than a trained agent would have. That doesn’t negate the reality that you’re on Barensky’s radar, and he likes to blow beautiful things up. Right now, we’re going to continue as planned, and never again will one of my jobs be this close to home. If things go sideways, and I say you’re getting out of town, you’re doing it. Period.”
Ah. Bossy Aiden was back. At least I knew how to handle him, unlike Deadly Silent Aiden. I leaned back and kissed his whiskered jaw. “How about you do your job, put away the bad guy, and we can relax at the lake for a couple of days?”
“Good plan.” He kissed me softly on the lips. “Can we go to sleep now? This talking is exhausting.”
Chapter 27
I dressed in casual slacks, a teal colored blouse, and tan flats for work and planned to get there early before everyone else. There was so much paperwork to do that I was tempted to wear jeans, but I also had some client meetings and needed to look like a lawyer.
As I was rushing to the door, my phone rang and I snatched it off the counter. “Hello?”
“Anna? It’s Thelma and Georgiana,” yelled a high pitched voice.
I winced. “I can hear you. The phone lines are good between here and London.” My friends were currently in London trying to meet the Queen, and my bet was on them.
“Oh.” Thelma lowered her voice. “Okay. We were on the internets and saw the articles about you. Do you need