Mind of Danger (Body of Danger #3) - Sidney Bristol Page 0,11

out of this. Maybe I can talk you into another coffee when it’s done? This one’s pretty good.”

“Be serious, Jo. Please?”

She bit her lip.

Rebuffed even at pseudo-flirting. Awesome.

“I should probably go to bed,” she said. Especially if Elias wasn’t going to drop it.

“Jo...”

She drained the last of her latte, then set the cup on the counter.

Elias placed his hand on her arm. He didn’t grab or hold her. Yet that firm touch was better than an anchor keeping her there. “Marjorie, stop.”

She glanced at his hand, then his face.

The look on his face stopped her. Concern, maybe a touch of torment, lay open there for her to see his worry. “Will you tell me what’s really going on if I make you that coffee?”

Her heart screamed, Yes!

“I don’t know,” she said slowly.

He was very close to her now. Again. And that did things to her insides. Things that were hard to ignore. “I just want to know you’ll be alright.”

A lie was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Not for his peace of mind, not when she knew he’d see through her lie.

“I don’t know what I’ll be allowed to tell you. How’s that?” It was the truth.

His brows rose. “So there’s someone sending you into whatever this is by yourself?”

“Yes.”

Elias shook his head. “I know you’re capable. I know you’re skilled. I’m not trying to... Fuck. I just—it’s hard to not worry. Okay?”

Her heart melted.

This was why she’d always had a soft spot for him.

Jo turned to face him, looking into his deep brown eyes. She’d never forget seeing him after his accident. He’d wrestled with the torment so hard, and all she’d wanted to do was ease his pain. But she couldn’t.

“I know what you mean,” she said. “Honestly? It’s nice knowing someone gives a shit.”

His brow furrowed more, somehow. “Jo...”

He didn’t want to ask her questions she’d have to avoid.

“Let’s stop doing this, okay? You want me to tell you something I can’t. Can we just be two friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time? Please?” She selfishly wanted to enjoy this time. She didn’t want to go to bed and leave things like this. Not when she saw him once every few years.

“Okay.” He nodded and his features relaxed back into the face that was burned into her memory. “Just two friends hanging out. I just—you know you can call me for anything, right? Tonight, tomorrow, next year. I don’t know what you’re doing where you have to go it alone like this. You don’t have to tell me. I’m not going to ask. I will worry though.”

Jo swallowed, or tried to.

One of the reasons she’d gone into undercover was that she had few ties. No significant other. Her family couldn't care less if she were alive or dead. All of her friends were scattered across the country or still in the military.

She wasn’t used to someone caring what she did or how she was. And for it to be Elias? That just made it sting, while also making her want to think about being a little more careful. Because Elias was out here caring about what happened to her.

Jo’s insides wobbled, and she felt something inside of her buckling. She swallowed again and blinked a few times, but the wobbles were still there. For months she’d held it together, but a little time around Elias and suddenly she felt out of control, out of her element.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“No. No, not at all.” She turned and took a step before realizing the only thing in front of her was the dead-end kitchen.

Shit.

“Jo?”

She turned again.

Elias blocked her easy escape. He had that worried look back on his face.

“Stop looking at me like I’m about to fuck up,” she snapped.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“I don’t want an apology.” She pressed her fingers against her temples. Was this a bad idea? Being here with him?

Jo had forgotten the other side of being around Elias. The part where she got flustered and let her feelings for him trip her up.

“Okay.” He backed up a step. “How about I go to bed, give you some space?”

“Fine.”

Elias’s mouth twisted up.

She closed her eyes. “Okay, it’s not fine, I’m just weird. Okay?”

“Is this the kind of thing you want to talk to another woman about?”

“What? No.” The last thing she wanted was some nosey broad in her business.

“Can you tell me what you need? What I should, or can, do for you?”

She laid