were in, and I swear I don’t want to know.”
He took a step back. “I––”
“Also,” I remarked dryly, “fucking someone else’s boyfriend is very poor form.”
“You––”
“And while I’m sure it’s marvelous that you and Brig finally got everything figured out last night, you left casualties in your wake.”
“Croy,” Brig began, moving up beside Eric, putting his hand on the small of the man’s back. “You shouldn’t––”
“Listen, I don’t need to be attacked by the help first thing in the morning, no matter how many liberties you’re allowing him,” I growled at Brig, goading Eric, and only then made the connection that I could get up because Dallas was gone. I didn’t want him to be, I wanted him there, nestled into my shoulder, and his absence made me even more surly. “And I certainly don’t need to be lectured about how I should or should not be performing my job by someone who has woefully fallen down on his.”
“You––”
“Unless, of course, you two haven’t been shacking up behind Astor’s back.”
It was wildly inappropriate, but I didn’t give a damn. He could go right to hell. I was about to have a target on my back, and yes, it was what I’d signed on for, but I certainly didn’t have to hear any kind of crap from the likes of Eric Foster.
“Croy, you––”
“No one got anywhere near you on my watch,” I snarled at Brig, getting up fast, forcing him and Eric to jerk apart as I charged between them, striding quickly to the table where breakfast was spread out. I was only after the coffee.
“Who the hell do you––”
I lifted my hand to shut Eric up, because I still had my gun on me, and I was not opposed to the idea of putting a bullet in his leg to make him stop talking. It was too early for the level of noise.
“Croy,” Brig said gently, clearly wanting to play peacemaker, “I wanted to tell you that all your advice yesterday was very appreciated and really helped prepare me for my conversation with Eric last night.”
Eric looked startled and then pointed at me. “This was who you talked to?”
Brig nodded as someone began whaling on the suite door.
“Jesus!” Eric gasped and then looked at me, glaring now. “You’re not going to draw your gun? I would pull mine, but I had to fly commercial, so I had to leave it at home.” He said the last part so snidely that it took everything in me to put creamer into my coffee, stir, and then take a sip instead of kicking him in the kneecap.
“I don’t know a lot of assassins that knock,” I explained with a smirk.
“Open the fuckin’ door!” Dallas yelled from the hall.
I gave Brig a slight nod.
Rushing across the room, he threw open the door, and Special Agent Dallas Bauer stormed in and over to me, stopping only inches away, clearly furious, if the wild look in his eyes was any indication. On the other hand, his hair was wet, like he’d just gotten out of the shower, and he smelled like bergamot and citrus, with an odd trace of pepper incense. I was a fan. His suit was a disaster, like it had been crumpled in a ball in the back seat of his car, and he wasn’t even wearing a tie. It didn’t matter. All I registered was that he was clean, and that he had a small black backpack slung over his right shoulder. For whatever reason, my mind jumped to he’d packed a bag, he was going to stay with me. It made zero sense, but that was the first thing I thought of.
“Hi,” I said, and I tried not to smile, but it happened anyway.
It must not have been my usual fake, pained one, but something else showing on my face, because I watched as he calmed, took a breath, and stood there in front of me, relaxed but also solid and strong. The temptation to kiss him was nearly overwhelming. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world to lean forward, slip my hand around the side of his neck, draw him close and take the kiss I wanted. Not moving seemed counterintuitive, but I didn’t want to take liberties I hadn’t asked for, or made clear that I craved. So I stood there instead of reaching for him, my entire focus on his lush mouth until those beautiful, full lips of his curled into a crooked grin. Only