Page 38 of Love Me Knot

Spatch sounds his electronic whistle. “That’s it for today. Get out of here and get cleaned up. You’ve got work to do upstairs.”

I shuffle to the showers with Sadie and Dani, hiding how sore my body is. “Am I still moving?” I ask the other two.

“I don’t know. Am I?” Dani parrots.

Sadie plants a hand on my shoulder. Ow.

“You did better than me,” she says. “You’re the only one to put Devil on the ground.”

I shiver at the memory of the man with the dark eyes and even darker scowl. “He pulled his punches. He was afraid he’d kill me.”

“Ha!” Sadie scoffs, pointing to a red mark on her arm. “Gunner Murphy didn’t pull shit. You surprised him.”

Shaking my head, I duck beneath the hot spray for a short nap. Afterward, we three dress, pin up our dry, unstyled hair, and walk to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. The men are already seated, having beaten us there. As we pass the group, I glance toward Devil, who tips his chin respectfully. I guess Sadie wasn’t kidding.

After lunch, we join the two big bosses for more details about our Spanish mission. Knot starts the briefing by popping an image on the view screen. “This is a satellite view of our op location.” He points out specific features. “The main house has twenty rooms. We’ll use the salon off the front entry for fake security screenings. We’ll say we’re checking IDs in private so the congressman gets the illusion of privacy.

“To the west is a guest house we’ll use as the operational base. Most of you will mix in with the party guests, and the rest will pose as security.”

“If we need someone for relays between the hosts and security, we can make Skin a server,” Wrench from the SEALs offers.

His team laughs at the man with a model’s face, and Bash says, “You can have Cassanova join him.”

Yeah, those two look like they’re cut from the same cloth.

“Alright. Knock it off,” O’Reilly says, reining the group back in. “Sambi will provide some of his people to fill out the ballroom as well as the caterers, wait staff, and valets. We’ll iron out your specific assignments in the days to come. We do have one job that needs to get started now. I want the congressman’s ride bugged. Since Sambi will provide the car, access won’t be a problem.”

“Delano, that’s where you come in,” the commander announces, speaking to Wrench. “I want you to fix up a recording device that can be remotely controlled. We don’t expect Harding’s team to scan for bugs, but I want to be ready just in case.”

Wrench answers, “I’m on it.”

The commander scours the room until finding his next subject. “Bennett, how are the IDs and personas coming?”

Knot answers the first half of the question. “Birdie has finished the IDs and records. We don’t have physical copies of anything yet, but those will be here within the week.”

“We’ve got our general backgrounds covered,” Jackson tells his boss. “We’ll work our way forward starting today.”

Knot pushes off the table he’d perched on. “Harding’s invitation was hand-delivered yesterday afternoon. Until we hear from him, all this prep work is just academic. That doesn’t mean we can do a half-assed job. You’ve already seen how this has become a life-or-death situation. Plan as if it’ll be your life on the line next time. We’ll get Harding.”

Wrapping up the meeting is Commander O’Reilly. “Fish and Sadie, pick out the security detail and study the plans. Bennett, you and Chelsea get back to work on your covers. The rest of you are dismissed.”

The room clears of everyone except Jackson and me. Not even Birdie stayed behind this time. Jackson stands and lumbers to the spot across from me. His smile is disarming, which sets my teeth on edge. We’ve… Well, I’ve finally settled into this friendship, and a stupid crush is the last thing I need right now.

I don’t want to notice Jackson’s broad shoulders and chest that taper to trim hips. I wish I could ignore his crooked smile, hazel eyes, and dark-blond hair that give him a sexy cowboy surfer look.

“Ready to get started?” he drawls.

He pulls out the chair and sits, and I rise quickly. I can’t be alone with him so close. “Let’s go outside. I could use some exercise.”

Jackson lifts a single brow. “Exercise after the meat grinder your trainer just put us through?”

“Air,” I correct myself. “I could use some air.”

“Then let’s go get some air.”

We’re both quiet as I lead Jackson to the running trail in the woods behind the main building. The day is clear and comfortable, but I hardly notice. I set a leisurely pace on the wooded trail, hoping the movement will mask my nerves.

Jackson doesn’t attempt to command the situation by forcing conversation. After several yards, I’m feeling pretty awkward in the silence. Not to mention, I’ve brought us to the woods, where we’re alone. “How did you get that scar on your neck?”

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