Page 79 of Line of Resistance

“That’s good news, otherwise I’d have to kick it out of the bed.” He smoothed down her hair, sliding his fingers through the silky strands as he soaked in the moment. It was absolutely fucking perfect.

Almost perfect.

The promise he made earlier was wiggling around in the corner of his mind, refusing to let him fully relax until he did what he gave Eloise his word he would do. “Can I tell you something?”

“Hmm?” Eloise’s voice was sleepy. “Sure.”

He rested his mouth against her hairline, breathing in the soft scent lingering in her freshly washed locks. “I fucking hate cantaloupe.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ELOISE

“YOU’RE KIDDING, RIGHT?” Eloise stared down the line of fully armed men, all staring at her like she was crazy for questioning their plans. “You cannot come into a school like that.”

“We’re just trying to keep you safe.” Nate stood at the front of the pack, looking ridiculously handsome in white tactical gear, messy hair, and the most patient expression she’d ever seen.

That still didn’t mean she was going to let him walk into a building full of children armed to the teeth. “You will scare the shit—” She pressed her lips together, taking a deep breath before continuing. “You will scare the shirts off the kids. They’ll all freak out and it will be horribly disruptive, not to mention complete chaos.”

Nate’s desire to take precautions was understandable. She liked to be prepared just as much as anyone else. Probably a little bit more. But there were limits.

And her limit was scaring the children she was tasked with educating.

“And we definitely don’t need five of you in there. No one is going to sneak in. The only doors that are unlocked during the day are the front set leading into the vestibule connected to the main office. And once they go through those, there’s no way they can go any farther without using the intercom to check in. The next door has to be manually unlocked for them because we screen everyone who comes in the building both by face and by name.” She made a sweeping gesture at the arsenal strapped to Nate’s waist and shoulder. “So we don’t need any of that.”

Nate held her gaze, his expression was stern. “There’s no way I’m letting you go in there without what I need to keep you safe.” He tipped his head toward the men behind him. “Reed and the rest of the guys can stay out here, but I’m coming in and I’m coming in armed.”

Eloise stared him down, fully intending not to give an inch. Nate claimed to like her just as she was and he was going to have to prove it.

But...

What if somehow the men who shot at her car did manage to gain access to the building? Then what?

Would she be able to fight them off with hot coffee and a bad attitude? Honestly, maybe a few, but not many.

Eloise huffed out a frustrated sigh, lifting her eyes to the cloudy sky as the fog from her breath drifted upward. “Fine.” She dropped her gaze to Nate, reaching out to poke at his chest. “You get one gun.” She thought it over for a second. “A small one. One that isn’t easily noticeable.”

Nate nodded. “Deal.” He snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her body flush against his as he pressed a lingering kiss to her mouth. “I like negotiating with you.”

Eloise shoved at his chest, trying to put a little space between them. “There might be parents out here.” She lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders. “I can’t imagine they would appreciate seeing their kids’ principal making out in the parking lot.”

Nate shot her a sexy grin, his voice taking on a playful edge. “I guess we’ll have to make out in your office then.”

She should have realized Nate’s charm wasn’t completely an act. Just the same as her bubbly, optimistic personality wasn’t entirely fake.

“No making out during school hours.” She poked him in the chest again, letting a little more of her other, snarkier, side out. “You have to behave.”

It felt good not to worry about trying to temper her personality. To no longer screen every word and every reaction out of concern it would be taken wrong or misinterpreted or simply be too abrasive. Would she still be too much for some people? Probably, but that was fine. If she was too much they could go find less.

Nate gave her a single finger salute, completely undeterred and unfazed. “Yes, ma’am.”

Eloise pressed her lips and her thighs together, sneaking a peek at the men loitering just out of earshot, waiting for instruction. She leaned in closer, keeping her voice low as she gripped the front of Nate’s coat and pulled him down so she could whisper in his ear. “For the record, I really like thatyes, ma’amshit.”

If he wanted her to be honest about what she didn’t like then he probably also wanted her to be honest about what she did, and she definitely liked his flirtatious ways. Especially now that she knew they were and always had been genuine.

And maybe it was also her way of rewarding him for being the first one to admit a little truth. Admitting he didn’t like cantaloupe wasn’t technically a big deal, but it was a start. And if he’d started, so could she.

Eloise gave him a little smile before spinning away and marching toward the entrance. The doors were currently unlocked since kids were already filing in, so she passed directly into the office with Nate following right behind her.

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