was good like that. She didn't know the team, other than Drew, and didn't have a clue what they did, but they were her guests and she would damn well treat them that way.
She headed up to her room, ignoring the memories of the night before that played on the edges of her mind. She had thirty minutes to pack and get ready before Ty showed up. She needed focus.
Twenty minutes later there was a knock on her door. She opened it, leaned against the frame, and regarded the man in front of her.
Chapter 4
“I'M EARLY,” TY OFFERED. An unrepentant smile played on his lips.
Dani eyed him for a long moment before deciding to let him in. She stepped away and turned back to the room. As she placed her duffel bag on the bed and gathered up the last of her belongings, she heard him enter and close the door.
“So, how'd you get the name Ella?” he asked. The lock on the door clicked into place. Her eyes flickered toward him as he leaned against the wall.
“Danielle Gabriella Williamson.” Turning her back to him, she grabbed a pair of shoes—the very same pair she'd worn to the bar. She didn't look at him as she tossed them into the bag, but she could feel his gaze follow their trajectory as they landed atop the sage green top he'd peeled off of her less than twenty-four hours ago.
Dani reached for a sweater she'd brought and shoved it into the bag, pushing down both the shoes and the shirt. Without a word, she zipped the bag and then reached for her gun and holster which were lying on the side table. She strapped on the holster and removed the gun.
“So,” Ty said from across the room. “How long are you going to ignore what happened last night?”
Once again, she let her eyes flicker to his. His tone was a mixture of curiosity and good-humored mockery. She held her gun up and checked the clip. It wasn't pointed anywhere near him, and the safety was on, but she hoped he got the message.
“Forever?” he prompted.
“Pretty much,” she replied. The crispness in her voice was punctuated by the sound of the clip snapping into place. To her surprise, he said nothing. She slid the gun back into her holster and pulled a zip-up sweatshirt over the t-shirt she'd changed into. She didn't so much need the warmth, but it hid her weapon. Closing her case and grabbing her duffel, she gave him another measured look. And reminded herself that he didn't create the situation any more or less than she did. But she did need to be clear that, from here on out, they were professional associates only. Nothing more. This was the first time she had ever had to deal with this kind of situation and now, on this case, well, the fates really were a bitch.
She allowed herself a smile as she walked toward him. “Although you have to admit it is rather ironic, don't you think?”
He raised a brow in question.
“My guess is that you were out last night looking to release a little tension after hearing the feds were coming to town,” she stopped in front of him and searched his eyes. He didn't bother to answer, so she continued. “I was looking to do the same. The fates must have been laughing when they threw us together.” She meant to close the door on the conversation, but standing there, looking into his eyes, for a moment she slipped back to a few hours earlier. The same eyes that had held hers as they lay tangled in his sheets, catching their breath, held hers now.
The tension in the room was so thick Dani had to remind herself to breathe and, in an instant, it wasn't funny anymore. Her pulse kicked up, but it wasn't out of desire. She'd been in enough situations to recognize her own reaction to fear. Why she was afraid, she didn't know. But now was not the time or place to sort it out. She pushed past him, breaking the contact.
“Ready?” she asked moving toward the door.
“For everything,” he replied.
* * *
He should be more pissed, Ty thought as he followed Dani out of the hotel. He had been irritated less than an hour ago. Her willingness and ability to ignore what had been a pretty incredible night should put a damper on his ego. But somehow it didn't. Or maybe it did, but the