came up with a plan that should work. You two will execute it perfectly.”
“For the record, I object.” Zy looked distinctly displeased. “Tessa shouldn’t be mixed up in this.”
“If this plan gets me any closer to Hallie, that’s exactly where I need to be.” Tessa hadn’t imagined Zy would allow someone without his kind of experience near the danger, but she’d do her best to help the operation. “I’m glad you relented.”
“Only because I’ve got to stay here.” Trees pulled at the back of his neck. “I’m going to grab some shut-eye. It’s damn near five a.m. You two should do the same. ’Night.”
Trees disappeared into the master bedroom, leaving her alone with Zy. “Tell me the plan. I’d like some input. She’s my daughter, and I don’t want to risk her—”
“I would never risk Hallie, but we need more information. Let’s start with Cash.”
Her eyes widened. “But if he’s in on this—”
“I have ways of making him talk…and making sure he can’t talk to anyone else before we rescue Hallie.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Whatever you think about me, at least believe I’m capable of that.”
Tessa didn’t argue. “I don’t doubt you. What’s next?”
“Sleep.”
When she opened her mouth to protest that they didn’t have time, Zy countered her softly. “Just a couple of hours, baby. I doubt Cash is awake at this hour. And if this goes down as fast as I think it’s going to, we’ll need some z’s to stay alert and on our feet.”
Tessa couldn’t deny she was exhausted, but she doubted she’d sleep. Still, if Zy shutting his eyes would mean the difference between saving Hallie and not, she didn’t want to regret that she hadn’t let him rest. “All right.”
“Come with me.” He stood and held out his hand.
She frowned at it. “I don’t think we should sleep together.”
He grabbed her arm, hauling her to her feet. “I mean literally sleep, baby. Nothing else. You’re distraught, and I’m exhausted.”
“All right. I’ll try.” She grabbed her phone from the table and let him whisk her away.
He led her to a bedroom at the end of the hall, beside another closed door. Inside stood three walls of hard-core computer equipment—and one small futon.
“You can have the bed. I’ll crash on the sofa.” She backed out of the room.
“It’s like a rock, and it’s getting cold enough that Trees will let his guard dog into the house. He’ll sleep on that sucker.”
And, by process of elimination, there was nowhere else to lay her head. Tessa pressed her lips together. If this was the bed Trees had available, complaining wouldn’t change it. At least Zy had somewhere to rest.
“Fine.”
He didn’t speak again, just started dropping his clothes without an ounce of self-consciousness. When his shirt came off, exposing every ripped, inked, golden inch of his torso, she bit her lip. And when she remembered just how good he always made her feel, an involuntary rush of heat flooded her.
Tessa chastised herself. Yes, he was hot and damn good in bed. No denying that. But they were over. She blamed herself more than him, but they’d both made mistakes. She’d kept secrets. He’d kept secrets. Wishing otherwise changed nothing. All that mattered now was that she had help in rescuing her baby. If there was anything left to salvage between her and Zy, it would have to wait until her daughter came back home…one way or the other.
“I’m going to change into my pajamas. Be right back.”
“Sure. Whatever makes you comfortable.”
She nodded, then wordlessly slipped into the bathroom down the hall and changed.
Back in the bedroom, Zy had flattened the futon and thrown a couple of big quilts over it. He lifted the corner to invite her in. Tessa dashed under the covers, hating to admit that she probably would have done nothing but shiver miserably on the sofa. Zy had no obligation to her, but he was graciously keeping her warm. She didn’t expect to sleep, but at least she wouldn’t have to add being half-frozen to her list of problems.
She settled onto the surprisingly comfortable mattress. Since he’d only found one king-size pillow for them to share, Tessa backed against him until her head found memory foam. Zy spooned her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She stiffened, trying not to notice how instantly he warmed her or how perfectly they fit together.
He tightened his arm around her. “Baby, we can do this easy or hard. I know you have a lot