Page 6 of The Fixer

Lyndsey pointed to the monitor, forcing herself to focus. “What you’re looking at is a simulation of how nanobots interact with damaged tissue. These bots are programmed to identify and repair cells at a microscopic level, essentially accelerating the body’s natural healing process.”

Jake leaned in, his brow furrowing as he studied the screen. “And you’re saying these things can fix injuries from the inside out?”

“That’s the goal,” Lyndsey said. “They’re still in the testing phase, but if they work the way I’ve designed them, they could revolutionize medicine. Imagine someone with spinal damage being able to walk again, or internal bleeding being stopped before it becomes fatal.”

Jake’s gaze shifted from the screen to her, his eyes filled with a new kind of intensity. “And that’s why people are willing to kill for it.”

Lyndsey nodded, the weight of his words settling over her. “If this technology falls into the wrong hands, it could be weaponized. I can’t let that happen.”

“You won’t,” Jake said, his voice firm. “Not while I’m here.”

The conviction in his tone sent another shiver through her, and she hated how much it affected her. She turned back to the screen, trying to regain her composure. “Anyway, that’s the gist of it. Cutting-edge science, lots of potential, and plenty of danger to keep things interesting.”

Jake’s lips quirked. “Sounds a lot like you.”

She glanced at him sharply, her eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”

“Smart, determined, and dangerous,” Jake said, his voice dropping a notch. “It’s a good combination.”

Lyndsey’s breath caught, her pulse racing. It would have been nice if he’d added gorgeous or at least attractive, but apparently, she wasn’t his type, which was fine. No man was ever going to strap her to some medieval torture contraption and run some kind of electrical wand over her body. The naked blonde on the X seemed to enjoy it, but Lyndsey couldn’t see the allure. Samantha said being a submissive allowed her to give up control and just focus on what she was feeling.I don’t have time for that.

Instead of saying anything like that, she responded with, “I think you’re confusing me with the nanobots.”

“Not a chance,” Jake replied, his gaze unwavering.

She turned to focus on him.What the hell did he mean by that?She could feel a kind of tension—maybe sexual on her part, maybe not—mounting between them until it was almost unbearable. The air seemed ripe with things not said and unacknowledged thoughts and feelings. Lyndsey stood abruptly, shaking her head and hands. Needing to put some distance between them, she made a mug of tea.

“I need to check the calibrations,” she said, though her voice betrayed her nervousness.

Jake didn’t move, his presence as steady as ever. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

And therein lies the problem.

The words hung in the air, their meaning deeper than the surface implied. Lyndsey swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly as she adjusted the equipment.

Jake might not be going anywhere, but she wasn’t sure how much longer she could handle having him this close without itaffecting her ability to focus. She really didn’t have time for this. She was so close to a breakthrough.

Lyndsey stood by the window, staring out at the dark expanse of the lake. The reflection of the moon danced on the water’s surface, but her thoughts were far from serene. She held a mug of tea in her hands, though the warmth did little to ease the anxiety coiling in her chest.

Behind her, Jake moved through the cottage with his usual grace, checking locks, monitoring his equipment, always vigilant. He was a force to be reckoned with and his presence was becoming impossible to ignore. It filled the space, charged the air.

“You know,” Lyndsey said without turning, “I’ve never had someone care this much about my safety. It’s...unsettling.”

Jake’s deep voice answered from somewhere near the door. “It’s not about caring. It’s about the job.”

She turned to face him, her lips curving into a small, skeptical smile. “So you’re saying you don’t care whether I live or die?”

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes locking onto hers. “I didn’t say that.”

Lyndsey felt her heart skip a beat. She hated how easily he could unsettle her with just a look. “You’re good at what you do,” she admitted reluctantly. “I guess I can’t fault you for being thorough.”

“Thorough is the reason you’re still alive,” Jake said evenly. “You’ve been targeted twice already. I don’t plan on giving them a third shot.”

The reminder sent a chill through her, and she wrapped her hands tighter around the mug. “But why? Why go to all this trouble? If someone wanted my research, wouldn’t it make more sense to keep me alive until I finished it?”

Jake’s expression hardened. He pushed off the wall and walked toward her, his steps slow and deliberate. “That’s what bothers me. They’re not just trying to scare you, Lyndsey. They’re trying to eliminate you.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” she said, her voice rising with frustration. “What’s the point of killing me if they need the research?”

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