Page 199 of Protective Heroes

Caden did a ninety-degree turn on his heel. “I’ll clear the lower level while you two head upstairs. Let’s wrap this up fast.”

With that, Caden peeled off, leaving him alone with Abigail.

“The room on the left is mine.” Abigail followed close on his heels, placing her hand on his lower back as they ascended the stairs.

They reached the landing and he paused. A single window took up the wall space dead ahead; dim lighting broke through the sheer curtain enough for him to see their surroundings. He expected to see plants, family photos, and tables filled with knickknacks that made a home cozy. Maybe even an orange tabby running around. Not Abigail. From the entry all the way up here, there was nothing to signal anyone lived here at all.

“Stay here. I’ll only be a minute.” He gathered her hand in his and gave it a light squeeze.

He kept the lights off as he crossed the threshold into Abigail’s room, checking first the room then the closet space before ushering her in. “Where’s your suitcase? Only pack necessities. Things you can’t live without and that can fit in your suitcase.” He started toward her closet to help.

She stilled him with a light touch on his shoulder.

“It’s fine, Reece. I’ve got this. You’re kinda making me jumpy with all the commando stuff.”

“Sorry, darlin’, we don’t mean to scare you but it’s hard to switch off what’s ingrained for years now.” He turned to the single window in the room directly opposite the bed and pulled the curtain back a few inches to scan the grounds below.

In the limited light, he watched Abigail draw her lower lip into her mouth, her eyes downcast. As if she was assimilating his words.

She tipped her head and threw him a sideways glance. “I understand.”

“We can’t get caught out here in the middle of nowhere, Abigail. It was a bad idea to even come.”

Abigail disappeared into her closet, then reemerged to place the items neatly folded on the corner of her bed. “Doesn’t your team know where we’re at?”

“True. Doesn’t make it a smart move though.”

“I’ll hurry.” He nodded and turned his attention back outside.

Abigail moved closer to his position and reached to flick on the light.

Damn.

He stopped her with a hand less than an inch away from the switch. “No lights. Use this.” He passed her a pen flashlight, and clearly frustrated with him, she let out the sexiest damn sigh that made him smirk.

Thankful she couldn’t see his reaction in the dark room. He didn’t think she would appreciate the humor he found in her little gestures.

Abigail ducked into the bathroom across the hall and he followed. “Whooo, there buddy. I think I can handle this part on my own.” She pressed a hand to his chest. She quickly jerked her hand back and that just made his smile widen. He was getting very fond of making one Abigail Torres exasperated with him. Her eyes lit up from the soft light of the flashlight and he could imagine her face flushed a pretty pink beneath her soft mocha-colored skin. He backed up a pace to put some much-needed distance between him and temptation.

Now sure the fuck wasn’t the time to play Romeo.

“Let’s keep it quick.” He kept his tone down where only she could hear him.

Her brow furrowed. “So you’ve said a hundred times.”

And his nerves still danced on a high wire. They couldn’t get out of here fast enough to suit him.

He turned and stood guard outside the door while she did her thing. Finished, Abigail exited with her toiletries and a duffle bag from a closet inside the bathroom he presumed. Damn, the woman was wicked fast. In the short time in the bathroom she’d managed to change into a snug white T, the ends tucked in the band of low-slung jeans that found every delicious curve the woman possessed. Lord have mercy on his sinful soul.

She turned to look at him over her shoulder, the flashlight focused on the floor. She arched a brow, and for a split second, all he could think about was pressing his lips against hers and tasting her sweet mouth.

Reece cleared his thoughts and strode quickly across the hall to where she stood in front of her door.

“Almost done?”

Before Abigail could answer Caden bounded up the stairs, eating up the distance in less than three seconds, sidearm drawn.

“Get down,” he bellowed, his words blocked out by a car alarm renting through the quiet night milliseconds before an explosion shook the foundation of the house.

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