Page 13 of Concerto of Crows and Cowards

But the way Max was looking at her in that moment made her feel very feminine. His eyes were dark with desire and took in every inch of her, as if he were committing the sight of her to his memory.

Her fingers spread across his chest and she’d leaned in to kiss him once more when a sharp knock pounded against the door.

“Of course.” Max’s jaw clenched and he closed his eyes to get himself under control. “That’ll be the team. Atticus always has impeccable timing.”

Jade snickered and moved on unsteady legs to lean against the counter and put herself back together. Max looked rakishly disheveled, his hair mussed and his lips swollen from her kisses.

“You look like you’ve been thoroughly debauched,” she said. “If you don’t put yourself back together then Nate is going to call you something a lot worse than Agent Danger. You’ll never live it down.”

“Fine,” he said. “You can answer the door and deal with Atticus. He’s probably not going to be happy about the way things went tonight. Maybe you can soften him up some.”

Jade snorted. “Not likely. There was only one woman who could soften that man up, and it sure as hell isn’t me.”

Max slipped into the bedroom and she grabbed her weapon from the counter and went to the door—you could never be too careful. She checked the camera and opened the door to the team.

“Sorry to interrupt your party,” Atticus said, moving past her and straight to the kitchen. “Some of us would like to get some work done around here.”

“Don’t mind him,” Nate said, following close behind. “You know how antsy he gets when he has to fly. I’ve never met a man who hates to fly as much as he does, yet has to do it so often.”

Nate made himself at home in Max’s kitchen and opened the fridge, grabbing a beer for himself and tossing one to Atticus. “I figured we deserve this since things didn’t exactly go to plan.” Then he looked at Eden. “There’s juice or water for you.”

Eden rolled her eyes and set her laptop on the table. Jade didn’t know Nate’s wife well, but she liked her. And she recognized her skill. Israeli Mossad agents were considered the elite by agencies all over the world.

Eden Kane was an extraordinary woman. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face, showcasing high cheekbones and large dark eyes framed by thick lashes. She was dressed in black and her weapon was still strapped to her thigh.

“I’ll take water,” Eden said. “Though I’d prefer coffee.”

“You’ll be up all night,” Nate said. “And you drink too much caffeine.”

“Which is why I’m drinking water,” she said, eyes narrowing.

“She says I hover,” Nate said, completely unrepentant. “But she overdoes it if I don’t keep an eye on her.”

“Women have been having babies a long time,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I doubt you’ve come up with any new advice since the beginning of time. The body knows what to do. Just trust the process.”

“Easy for you to say,” he said, winking. “Just wait until you can’t see your feet and you’re asking me to tie your shoes.”

“If Eden is anything like Jane was, your opinions are likely to get you kicked in the head the closer she gets to her due date,” Atticus said, looking down at his beer as if he’d just realized it was in his hand.

There was an awkward silence as everyone realized it was the first time he’d spoken of his wife since she’d died. Jade knew better than anyone how big of a step that was, and what Atticus must be feeling in that moment. Someone needed to break the silence and the tension, but everyone seemed frozen. And then Max walked into the room.

“Despite the fact that you probably deserve to be kicked in the head,” Max said, coming into the room now dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt. “This isn’t your first rodeo.”

“Yes, but Stella is eighteen and I’m out of practice,” Nate said, taking a swig of beer. “I’m older and wiser now. And you’re stuck with me, and that includes my hovering. I’ve got to watch out for my best girl.” He winked at Eden and the love between them was so pure and sweet Jade felt the knot in her throat and looked away.

“Maybe we could move on from the mushy stuff and get down to business,” Atticus said. “We’ve got a firestorm on our hands. Or maybe we should just stop and try to hug it out with the bad guys. Y’all tell me. I’m just in charge.”

“I was just asking Jade how she’d gotten pulled into this when you pounded on my door,” Max said.

Jade felt the heat in her cheeks before she could stop herself, remembering what they had been doing when Atticus had knocked at the door.

Max let out a slow breath and ignored the long look Atticus gave him after he watched Jade’s reaction to him. Atticus was protective of Jade, just like all of the team was, but Max didn’t need the subtle warning he saw in Atticus’s gaze. Jade was going to be his. And he’d fight anyone who tried to tell him differently.

He headed to the coffeepot, poured himself a steaming cup, and didn’t bother to add cream or sugar. He needed the kick, and he was hoping the caffeine would take the edge off the pain in his head. The pills he’d taken had eased the headache, but the dull throb was still there. At least it was manageable.

“I’d like to know what happened tonight and why Atticus had to come down from his mountain on high,” Max said.

“Sometimes I like to mingle with the commoners,” Atticus answered dryly.

---