Page 57 of Last Chance

Sawyer got out while he could, not breathing until he closed the door behind himself. The knot in his gut relaxed slightly now that he was out of Brent’s office with his head still attached.

“That bad, huh?” Brent’s assistant smiled at him.

“I’m lucky to survive relatively unscathed.”

“Caught him on a good day.”

He chuckled. “Where’s Janie?”

“I took her to the small conference room where she wouldn’t be disturbed.” Her eyes twinkled. “And where she wouldn’t hear your conversation with Brent.”

“I appreciate you sparing my reputation with the client.” He walked down the hall to the conference room and paused in the doorway when he heard Janie laughing.

“Everything all right?” Brody asked as he exited the elevator.

“Barely.”

“What happened?”

Sawyer recounted events since he and Janie left the safe house early this morning.

His team leader flinched. “You’re lucky.”

“I heard that from Brent a few minutes ago, along with several other things.”

Brody moved closer. “Got something to tell me, Sawyer?”

“It’s Janie.”

“What about her?”

“She’s getting under my skin without even trying,” he muttered.

“That’s usually the way it works, my friend. Will Brent allow you to stay on Janie’s security detail?”

“He better,” Janie said. She stood in the doorway, her gaze locked on Sawyer. “I’ll insist that he stay on as my personal bodyguard. I don’t trust many people in this situation, but I trust Sawyer and the rest of your team.”

“Good to know,” Brody said. He squeezed Sawyer’s shoulder. “Let me know when you’re ready to go. I’m taking the next watch shift.”

“Copy that.”

As his team leader passed, he whispered, “Good luck.”

He might need it. Maybe he really was losing his situational awareness when Janie was around. He did not know that she was standing in the doorway behind him. “Should I apologize?”

She held out her hand. When he clasped it with his own, Janie drew him into the conference room with her and closed the door. “I don’t want an apology, Sawyer. In fact, I’m relieved.”

“Why?”

“It’s good to know I’m not in this boat by myself.”

Stunned, Sawyer stared at her. “You’re serious?”

“Oh, yes. I’ve been trying to figure out where the lines between reality and fantasy were drawn. Everything seemed real to me. I know you said the only time you lie is in the course of your work, but I’m your mission right now. I didn’t know if what I was feeling for you was one sided or if perhaps the interest went both ways.”

Thank God. “Definitely both ways. I shouldn’t, though.”

“Why not?”

---