Intercepted Risk (Aegis Group Task Force #5) - Sidney Bristol Page 0,43

face Baruti and Samuel. “I kissed the stuck up asshole, okay? Happy?”

“Oh...” Baruti’s brows rose, and he drew the one word out for ages.

Samuel grinned and smacked Baruti’s shoulder. “I told you.”

“I told you what?” Kelsey snapped.

“Samuel said the only reason you were so prickly was because someone had gotten under your skin,” Baruti said in the most obnoxious sing-song voice.

“Will you both just stop? Please?” She braced a hand on the vanity and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You could be good for him. Loosen that guy up a bit,” Baruti said.

Kelsey dropped her hand and leveled a cold stare at Baruti. “And would that be what’s best for me?”

His smile quickly vanished, and he seemed to consider her question.

“You’ve got a point,” Samuel agreed.

Baruti hooked his thumbs in his pockets and regarded her with a curious expression. “What do you have against him?”

His question felt like a trap. What was he getting at?

“Logan is...serious.” She grabbed the hand towel and busied herself using that. “He’s not the kind of man you scratch an itch with. We kissed, so to him that probably means we’re engaged.”

Kelsey couldn’t help rolling her eyes at that antiquated idea. It fit him though. Logan was just old fashioned like that. Or something.

“You mean he’s the settling down type?” Samuel asked.

Baruti elbowed his partner. “You two have something in common then.”

Samuel frowned and pushed Baruti’s elbow away without further comment.

He did have a point. Both Logan and Samuel were very serious about everything. She’d listened to Baruti rib Samuel about his dating life, or lack of it, enough to get a feel for his personality.

Samuel had worked hard to get where he was. From a lower, middle class Atlanta family all the way to the Academy. Samuel had to work twice as hard to be considered half as good on account of something as silly as skin color. He seemed to put that same thought and consideration into every aspect of life.

It sounded exhausting to her.

On the other hand, if Logan was similar, he could have weighted her and found her wanting. Could be, she wasn’t what he wanted for himself and so he’d decided to move forward as if that possibility hadn’t opened up.

Kelsey wanted that revelation to be comforting to her. She craved the sense of relief it should bring. So why was she so disappointed? What was wrong with her? Deep down did she want Logan for more than this irritating attraction? What if he didn’t feel the same?

Doing nothing hadn’t worked. The kiss only complicated things further. She feared whatever action or inaction she chose would have consequences she wasn’t prepared for.

Was she willing to do nothing and walk away from him despite the deep sense of loss already opening inside of her?

Relationships weren’t her area of expertise. Even her own family hadn’t excelled at them. Was she setting herself up for failure? Or regret?

9.

Friday. Senator Dixon’s Home. Annapolis, Maryland.

Logan was about ready to drag Dixon out of his office, throw him in the back of the Jeep and just go. Whatever the senator’s problems were, they could be figured out once he was secure.

Honestly, staying here was a mistake.

And where the hell was Kelsey and the FBI duo?

Logan glanced over the railing.

They’d been downstairs quite a while.

Were they discussing matters behind his back?

Logan grit his teeth.

Kelsey knew to be careful, but these two were people she trusted. Logan wasn’t certain she would be as cautious given their close relationship. Should he warn her? Remind her?

No.

Kelsey was well aware of the safety precautions they needed to take.

One of the doors opened. It was the woman. Logan didn’t remember which was who, though, he should have.

“The senator is ready for you now,” she said.

Fantastic.

Where were the others?

Footsteps on the stairs had him gritting his teeth. Baruti and Kelsey came up with Samuel following behind. Logan stared at Kelsey’s profile, yet she didn’t glance at him. It was Baruti who caught his eye.

“They’re ready for us,” Logan said.

Baruti grinned. “Perfect.”

Logan gestured at the door.

Kelsey glanced at him then. It was a quick look. So fast he’d have missed it if he weren’t staring at her.

Was it his imagination or did her mask fall for that split second?

Her eyes. The way she looked at him. Every damn time it stirred things inside of him, he’d rather let sleep.

Kelsey stepped into the office. Logan hung back, allowing the other two to enter before him. He needed that moment to breathe. To refocus. This thing