done her research on A.J., too. Too many glasses of wine one lonely night when she still lived in Charlotte, and her fingers had hit the keys. She’d been tempted to bypass the rules and check from her work computer, but she’d told herself that’d be stalker-ish. Of course, that was before she’d been offered the position at Headquarters. Before she realized her life would change forever once she moved to D.C.
My assignment, damn it. “I have to work,” she blurted, mostly as a reminder for herself.
A.J. was a distraction, but this specific distraction came to the rescue tonight, and he was in her kitchen, eying her as if he’d had a few fantasies of his own about her.
Ana doubted any of his revolved around him as a naked cowboy.
But what she needed to do was get answers from him about what the hell had gone down tonight. No panic-cleaning. No ogling his denim backside with the most perfect glutes she’d ever seen.
No naked cowboys.
Okay, every girl deserved a naked cowboy in her fantasies, right?
I’ve officially lost my mind.
“The nondescript clothes. Black hat, shirt, and sneakers. You were on a stakeout. In a psychopathic stalker kind of way or a work kind of way?” she asked after finally getting her head back on straight.
His eyes became thin slits. She could see his internal struggle about how much truth to share by the slight twinge of his lips.
A tentative step closer had her only inches away again. “You were at an FBI section chief’s house tonight,” she added when he’d stayed quiet. “So, even though part of me would prefer you were stalking me to find a way into my pants”—did I just admit that?—“I’m assuming you’re here for work.”
A.J.’s brows shot straight up. He made a whistling sound and tugged at the material of his black Under Armor tee. “Shooo. It just might be hotter than holding a firecracker at both ends in here,” he drawled.
“AC repairman comes tomorrow.” It was unusually hot for D.C. Maybe she could blame the heat wave for her brain fritzing out around A.J.?
“And are you trying to distract me to keep from answering my question?” The man was good, she’d give him that. “Your sexy smile and that swagger of yours won’t disarm me.” At least she hoped they wouldn’t, not again.
“So, you think I got a sexy smile and, uh, swagger, huh?”
She hissed and turned toward the counter, unable to maintain a straight face when that was exactly what she should’ve been doing. “Why were you spying on me? I know you weren’t watching Porter. We only just learned he was missing. And you were at that bachelor party and—”
“Come again?” At the touch of his hand on her arm, she slowly faced him. “How do you know where I was? Sounds to me like you may have been doing the spying.”
Her eyes fell to his light grasp on her upper arm. Why didn’t she want him to let go? Why did she want him to pull her against his chest, wrap his strong arms around her, and make everything okay?
She’d never relied on anyone in her life. Not for safety. Or for love.
“Adriana Bennett, the President’s daughter-in-law. We hang out.” She hoped she didn’t get Adriana in trouble. It was the last thing she wanted for one of her only friends in the city.
He immediately released her and stepped back like she was literally too hot to handle. Eyes moved to the floor. Betrayal cutting across his face.
“She didn’t tell Knox. I didn’t want anyone knowing I was in town. Not yet.” She wet her lips, drawing strength to continue, even though there were more pressing matters to deal with. “We bumped into each other when I moved here. I asked her not to tell anyone about me.”
That had his attention. His light green eyes found her face, stopping on her lips before slowly skating over her features. “Why not?” He inched closer, his chest lifting with a deep breath.
“I-I don’t know.” Yes, I do.
“Yes, you do.” So, he was an Avenger and a mind reader. Since when was she so easy to read? “Anastasia.” There it was again. The swarm of butterflies taking flight in her stomach. The way he said her name, allowing each letter to somehow take form, to stand on its own, lust entangled in his tone.
Her hand went to the counter. Now she was the one bracing for impact.