Say I Do (Wilde Ways #10) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,24

if he hated you with every fiber of his being. Just as I was realizing he was hate-glaring at you, I saw his hand reaching for the inside of his tux. That was right before the lights went off. My instincts screamed, and I reacted.”

Dex sucked in a deep breath. “Good reaction.” But Roman as the shooter made no sense to him. The shot was far too risky to make in the dark, especially with Lacey right there. “You didn’t mention this to the lodge’s security team.”

Her delicate eyebrows arched. “Was I supposed to do that? Do you want them knowing this intel or do you have other plans in place?”

He already had other plans in motion, and she obviously knew it.

“You didn’t want another agent for the role I’m playing,” she noted. “That was why you brought me, an outsider, into whatever web this is, but I’m guessing that doesn’t mean other CIA operatives aren’t here.”

Again, she was right. He did have other operatives in position, and they were currently scrambling. They’d be in charge of the investigation, not any locals.

A lock of hair slid over her cheek. He reached out—just as she moved her hand to slide the lock back—and their fingers tangled.

Lacey went still as her gaze held his.

“Thank you for risking yourself to protect me.” Dex had to force the words out. The very fact that she had been in jeopardy…unacceptable. Someone would pay.

“It’s part of the job description,” she told him breezily. “Protect and defend, and it’s why you brought me out here so—”

“No,” he growled when his control snapped. He could actually hear the snap. “Not the job description.” He locked his hands around her and hauled her against him. His mouth crashed into hers as need and fear and lust surged through him.

The need and lust were easy to understand. He wanted Lacey. He thought she was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen. The longer he was with her, the more he wanted her.

The fear—that was different. He wasn’t usually afraid of anything or anyone, but the idea of something happening to her, of her being hurt when she stood right beside him…

Can’t happen. Won’t happen.

Her lips were parted beneath his, and Lacey kissed him back with the same raw need that he felt. The kind of need that made him want to rip away her clothes, forget everything else, and just get lost in her.

The kind of need he didn’t usually feel because he controlled his emotions, not the other way around. But with Lacey, everything was different. She was different.

And he was becoming different the longer he spent with her.

Her hands curled around his shoulders. Her body pressed to his. A soft moan built in her throat and he absolutely wanted—

“Ahem.”

Dex wanted to be alone with her, not dealing with bureaucratic bullshit.

“Mr. Ryan, I must insist on speaking with you again. Multiple witnesses believe that you were the intended target, they put you nearest the location of where the bullet hit, so I just need to go over some safety protocols with you.”

Dex slowly lifted his head and gazed down at Lacey. Her lips were red from his mouth. Her gaze—languid, sensual—held his.

“Charles is waiting for you,” she said softly. Her voice was the best, huskiest temptation ever.

“Charles can fuck off,” he replied. He’d been in the middle of other things.

“Ahem.” That ahem sounded offended. “Sir, it is of the utmost importance that we speak—”

“He’s one of your agents,” Lacey continued without even missing a beat. “So go and give the man his instructions then come back to me.”

She’d tagged Charles? Since when?

Lacey eased away from Dex and glanced over at Charles. “Am I to assume that this area is secure? No one else is lurking in any corridors up here?”

Dex turned his head toward Charles.

“The floor is secure,” Charles agreed. His back was ramrod straight, and the man’s expression was carved into tense lines. Dread practically poured from the fellow.

It should. Charles was on Dex’s payroll, so to speak, and the man should have made sure that no freaking shooters were in that ballroom.

“Let’s have that chat, Charles,” Dex said silkily.

Charles flinched. He turned away.

Instead of immediately following, Dex caught Lacey’s hand in his. “Stay here. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Shouldn’t I go investigate? Talk to the other guests? Find out who the hell is trying to shoot you?”

Not me, love. I’m not sure the bullet was for me. “This is a safe spot.” The safest one