Page 86 of Covert Mission

“Yeah, I do, but I was talking about coming on this op with me,” he murmured. “You could have sat this one out.”

“Not if I wanted to live with myself. We’re a team, Seth. We watch each other’s backs.”

“Still, I value you and your help.” Another light kiss. “I trust you, and I don’t say that about many people I know.”

She smiled. “Good. I feel the same about you.”

“Although I’d love to steal a few more kisses, we’ve given our observers enough for tonight. The rest of the kisses I want from you will be exchanged in private. I don’t want our relationship to be on display all the time for the nosy neighbors.”

In a house full of operatives on guard all the time, he wanted to kiss her in private? Good luck with that. Teagan very much feared serious kisses would have to wait until they finished this mission. Hopefully, Maddox wouldn’t send Artemis out as soon as this op was complete.

Teagan turned the knob and stepped into the darkened living room. Marsh stood beside the large front window, peering outside. “You had two people watching you while you were on the porch.”

“I saw them. They monitored us as we walked the compound’s perimeter.” Seth locked the front door. “Any trouble while we were out?”

“Nope. Just had two watchers keeping track of our quarters in case we decided we wanted to leave the building as well.”

“So much for trusting their people.” Seth’s lips curved. “My guess is Richardson posted the guards to make sure we didn’t cause trouble.”

“We’re the unknowns in the equation. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t suspicious of our motives.” Marsh glanced at him. “Ready to turn in for the night?”

He nodded. “Come get me if there’s a problem.”

“Yes, sir.”

At the door to the main bedroom, Seth turned Teagan into his arms and kissed her, long and deep. When he finally broke the kiss, his breathing and heart rate were elevated, as was Teagan’s. Man, the handsome detective set off fireworks in her bloodstream. “Sleep well, sweetheart. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Are you planning to run before we hit the training center?”

“I hope to. A light workout tomorrow since we don’t know what’s in store for us.”

“Got a feeling it’s nothing good. I’ll tell Violet about tomorrow morning. You can inform the others about our Dixon PT schedule.”

He chuckled. “You got it.” Seth nudged her toward the bedroom door. “Come get me if you need me.”

Teagan paused and glanced over her shoulder. Guess she hadn’t covered her reaction to what she’d seen and heard in the compound as much as she’d thought. With a slight nod, she turned the knob and went inside.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

SETH TURNED FROMthe kitchen counter to study Teagan’s face as she walked into the room. He set aside his bottle of water and met her halfway. “Rough night?”

Teagan wrinkled her nose. “It shows?”

He cupped her nape. “To me and probably to Violet. I doubt the others will notice.”

“Good. I don’t want to answer a million questions.”

“How about one?”

She stilled, wariness in her eyes. “What’s the question?”

“Do you want our first actual date without an audience to be traditional or something different?”

Teagan grinned, the tension in her body disappearing. “Something different.”

“My choice?”

“Surprise me.” She winked. “But only if I can return the favor and surprise you on our second audience-free date.”

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