Never Gonna Happen - Cynthia Eden Page 0,82
a day in your life. Keep talking.”
“Well, okay. Since you’re here…finally.” She would share all of the ideas she’d had. “I swear, I can’t help but wonder if this whole mess might not be about the spy game at all. Sure, the first text came to you saying that Antony’s cover was blown, but…other than that reference, why are we so sure it’s about spy town?”
“Spy town?”
“You got the text during your big PR launch. You had to leave the launch and rush to my side—which was very nice, by the way. It’s one of the reasons I’m not super pissed at you for leaving me hanging in Winston’s office for so long.”
His hand lifted, as if he’d touch her, but then his fingers clenched.
What was up with that? She wanted him to touch her. Alyssa soldiered on and said, “When you left the PR launch, it caused quite the stir. At least, that’s what seems to have happened on social media.”
“Yeah. But my team had the situation under control. They did their job.”
“Still, when both of the big bosses cut out, that makes the company seem…a little uncertain, doesn’t it? Antony wasn’t there. You rushed away…” She could see he was understanding where this train of thought was leading. “Maybe someone wanted Shark Gaming and Design to appear unstable.”
His gaze seemed to peer right through her. “Antony was shot at while he was on Shark Gaming and Design property.”
“That hit wasn’t aimed at me, not at all. And then the guys who stormed Dex’s safe house? They only arrived after you got there. As in, right after you. The timing was suspicious to me.” Dex’s information had just helped to deepen her worries that this might not be about spy secrets.
“Timing.” He frowned. Reached for the pocket of his jeans, as if he were searching for something.
For the first time, she actually focused on what he was wearing. She’d been so happy to see him a moment before that she hadn’t really taken in all of the details.
Now, she saw that his jeans and sneakers were stained with what looked like soot. He wore an Asheville PD t-shirt that stretched across his powerful chest.
He tapped his front pocket again. “Lost my phone. Probably dropped it at the safe house.”
“I doubt you’ll be getting that back anytime soon. It could be completely destroyed. I’m sure you can get another.” She slipped closer to him. “Most things are replaceable.”
His head lifted. “You’re not.”
Alyssa tensed.
“Not that you’re a thing. You’re not a thing. You’re a person. The most important person in my life. The only one I can’t let down.”
That sounded promising. She put her hands on his chest.
“I’m so wrong for you,” he told her. His voice had gone ragged. “Antony had that part right from the very beginning.”
“No, he didn’t.” She wanted his mouth. She wanted to kiss him and pretend that everything was all right, just for a little while.
“I bring danger with me. You don’t need danger.”
“Did you see me screaming my head off?”
“No. Not even when I had us scaling down the wall.”
“Did you see me abandoning you? Trying to save myself?”
“No. No, dammit, you—”
“I fought for you. You would fight for me. I get that I don’t have super ninja skills, but don’t act like I can’t handle a little bit of danger. Not saying I want us getting shot at every day, but…” She rose onto her tiptoes. “I know what I’m getting with you. I accept any risks.”
Her lips pressed to his. For a moment, his mouth softened beneath hers. His lips started to part—
“No.” His hands closed around hers, and he gently, but very firmly, pushed her back. “I can’t take the chance. I can’t stand the idea that something could happen to you. I have to keep you safe.” Each word was low and guttural. “I’m sorry. I should have kept my hands off you from the beginning. Fucking fantasy.”
“I’m not a fantasy. I’m flesh and blood. So are you. Neither one of us can ever be called perfect, and that’s good. Real life will never be perfect. It’s messy and it’s scary and it’s crazy, and, yes, sometimes, it’s dangerous. But sometimes, real life is all about happiness. There’s so much joy you can’t stand it.” Did he get what she was saying? “I can handle the good and the bad.” With him, for him, she’d handle anything.
His gaze dropped. “What if you get tired of dealing with my bad?”
Her spine