as they held his. “Or eat.”
He was surprised by that one. “Why wouldn’t I eat?”
“No one ever sees you eat.”
“No one ever sees me shower either. Doesn’t mean I don’t do it.”
A light flush crept across her cheeks, spreading down the smooth skin of her neck that wasn’t hidden by his scarf. Mona grabbed at the cashmere. “Can he turn down the heat? This coat is hot.”
Pierce couldn’t pull his gaze from the pink of her skin. “Luca, can you lower the vents?”
It wouldn’t help. The heat of the car had nothing to do with her sudden warmth. “I can assure you, I eat.” He leaned a little closer. “And I shower. And I sleep. Just like everyone else.”
Mona huffed out a little laugh. “You’re nothing like everyone else.”
The SUV came to a stop.
A second later his door opened, ripping away the bit of her time he’d managed to claim for himself.
It wasn’t enough.
“I will prove I am.” He was a little desperate. A little frantic.
Mona’s brows lifted. “You want to prove to me you’re like everyone else?”
He wanted to prove to her he was like no one else, but admitting that wouldn’t give him what he wanted. “I do.”
“Why?” She seemed genuinely confused.
“It’s important that Intel and I can work together.” His mind was grasping at straws, trying to find the one that would bring her close again. “I need to close the divide between us.”
“Then you should talk to Harlow.” She was so smart. So good at identifying the way things should be. Any other time he would marvel at the ability.
Right now it was fucking up his plans.
“You know everyone. Harlow has just met most of the team. You are the logical choice.”
Tyson cleared his throat.
Pierce ignored him. No one was leaving this car until he knew when she would be his again.
Mona pulled his coat closer. “Fine.”
She didn’t sound convinced, but at least she’d agreed.
“Okay. Good then.” Pierce stepped out of the SUV. This time Mona was immediately behind him, stealing the chance to help her out.
To hold her hand in his.
She was so cautious. It was one of the many things that drew him to her.
But it made luring her in a delicate balance. One he still wasn’t exactly sure how to accomplish.
Mona went straight for the glass doors leading inside, her feet almost at a run along the sidewalk.
“Doesn’t seem like she likes the cold.” Tyson closed the door to the SUV.
“It doesn’t, does it?” Pierce watched through the glass as Mona hurried through the entry and disappeared down the hall.
“She really smack him?”
He glanced at Tyson. “How do you know that?”
Tyson grinned. “Heidi hacked into the security system at GHOST.”
Of course she did.
“Who all knows?” Pierce walked to the front of the main building.
“Pretty much all of Rogue.” Tyson stayed right beside him.
Pierce pulled the door open, holding it wide so Tyson could go in first. “What about Luca?”
“Nobody’s telling Shadow shit right now.” Tyson kept his eyes in front of them instead of turning back toward the front of the building and the single member of Shadow he included in the excursion. “You couldn’t find anyone else to drive you?”
“Luca’s the best defensive driver here.”
It was a fact no one would argue. Even then it was a decision Pierce wavered on right up to the last possible moment. “And he had all of Rogue to keep him in line.” While his trust of Zeke and Shadow in general was on unsteady ground, the full truth of the matter was not that Shadow lacked the ability or desire to do what was needed of them at Alaskan Security.
The issue was where their ultimate allegiance laid when the waters got muddy.
Pierce came to a stop at the door to his office.
The bulk of Intel was scattered around the space.
Lovely. Just what he wanted to deal with right now. “Good morning.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Heidi grinned at him from where she sat in one of the chairs across from his desk.
“Is there something I can do for you?” He crossed the room, moving toward the window that overlooked the back training yards.
“We’re more worried about what we’re supposed to be doing for you.” Harlow skimmed the tips of her fingers across the spines of the books lining the shelves along the walls. She tipped one out. “Why do you have a copy of The Secret Garden?”
“Why wouldn’t I have a copy of The Secret Garden?” Pierce lifted a leaf from the plant sitting in front