Page 34 of Protection for Nichole

Jesse threw back his head, laughter spilling out. “We did set unrealistic expectations on that vacation.”

“Yeah, neither of us is the stay-out-late partying type.”

“I enjoyed staying up dancing with you until the sun rose. But I’m just not that guy here at home.”

She ran her hand over his pecs and then up to his shoulders. “I like who you are.”

“Good, because I really like you.”

Nichole moved to straddle his lap. “So you’re good with me heading out to clean out my apartment and get my stuff from Chicago? I can maybe find a small storage place here if I need to.”

“What about a car? Will you be driving it back here?”

Her lips twisted up to the side. “I don’t have a car. I was never home enough to justify the expense or the trouble.”

“You might need one out here.”

She shrugged. “If I need one, I’ll get one. So far, I’m happy not having one.”

“Want to go to the beach on Saturday? The gang is getting together for volleyball.”

Hesitancy hit as she thought of Apple. She must have made a face because Jesse took both her hands in his.

“Listen, I know what Apple said was harsh and wrong. You should never have to put up with it, but he will come around once he gets to know you better.”

She didn’t want to fight with one of Jesse’s friends, but the next time he brought it up, she was going to tell him flat out he was wrong. “I just don’t want there to be any problems.”

“There won’t be. Once he sees that you are on our side, he’ll be cool.”

She cupped Jesse’s cheeks and made sure to hold his gaze. “I’m not on anyone’s side. I report the truth, but I’m not here to go looking into stuff about the SEALs. If I found out that you all were killing children at the beach, I’d report on that.”

He rolled his eyes. “If we were doing that, I’d report us.”

“I respect your job and you. I respect you enough not to ask you secrets, and not expect you to talk about your job. I’m interested in your wellbeing and whether you’re enjoying your work. But I don’t want to know the details.”

“That’s exactly what I told them. That you aren’t here to dig.”

“I’m not.” She dropped her hands. “I will admit I’m naturally curious, and I’m hellaciously observant. I pick things up. That’s how I get the stories I do. Like when talking to a guy who has been suspected of cheating, they always have a tell. I can get the information out of them. They don’t like it, but they will tell me.”

“That’s kind of frightening.”

Her eyebrows cocked up. “What?”

“That you wield that power. And yeah, it’s a power. I mean, we’re good at interrogation?—”

She snorted a laugh, and he looked hurt. “I’m not doubting your power of interrogation, but if you’re wearing a gun and your battle gear, of course, you’re intimidating enough for people to talk.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, there’s that. But we’re also just good at it.”

“I bet. I think mine is more persuasion instead of intimidation.”

“Speaking of persuasion, do you have anything you’re working on now?”

He looked adorable asking the question. She could see the worry in his face. She didn’t want to leave any more than he wanted her to.

She shook her head. “No, not yet. I’ve been looking at stuff, but nothing has popped for me. I’m still writing my weekly articles, but I’m going to need a big article soon to get an injection of money.”

“What were you thinking about?”

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