Page 53 of A More Perfect Union

“Have you?”

Zoey caught theslight edge and wished she hadn’t ventured down this road. She reached out ahand and took Rook’s in hers. “Sorry, that came out wrong. I didn’t mean toimply there was anything wrong with what you do. I was only curious.”

“It’s okay. I’m tiredand possibly cranky. Babysitting can do that to a person.”

Of course. Rook hadbeen going nonstop all day. Zoey felt foolish for imagining this evening wouldbe about anything other than bringing Rook up to speed. “You’ve had a longday.” Zoey glanced over at Rook who was opening her mouth to interrupt, butZoey plowed ahead. “Why don’t I fill you in and then drop you off at yourplace? We can go over anything else tomorrow. Okay?”

Rook slid her handonto Zoey’s thigh and gave her a light squeeze. Not overtly sexual, but loadedwith possibility. “Not okay. I am tired and cranky, but seeing you waiting forme at the airport made me forget about everything else and now I’m reallylooking forward to spending the evening with you. Please?”

Zoey heard anundercurrent of desire in Rook’s simple plea that reflected her own. Shecouldn’t possibly say no, and the realization both scared and thrilled her atthe same time.

* * *

Rook watched from thekitchen as Zoey settled onto the couch and hugged one of the pillows to herchest, wishing she were that pillow. “Would you like something to drink?” sheasked. “I’m having coffee, but I have a full bar and there’s still some of thatbeer from last night.” Had it really only been last night since they’d beenhere and she’d been sharing the details of Rory’s death?

“Coffee sounds good.”

Rook poured them eacha cup, grabbed a stack of menus, and walked into the living room. Zoey leanedlengthwise against the arm of the couch with her feet crossed at the ankles,careful to keep her black leather boots from the upholstery. She’d shed thematching leather jacket, but she still looked sleek and sexy in her slim darkjeans and curve-hugging black T-shirt.

“Is that coffee forme?” Zoey asked with a sly grin, sitting up and pointing at one of the cups inRook’s hand.

Rook handed it overand settled onto the couch beside Zoey. “Sorry, I got a little distracted bythe whole biker chick look.” She nodded. “It suits you.”

“You soundsurprised.”

“I am, a little. Imean you seem so all about the rules and regulations, but I’m thinking when youget out on the open road you break sound barriers in that car.”

“Maybe.” Zoey sippedher coffee. “Maybe everything isn’t how it appears on the surface.”

Truth, Rook thought,but it was time to change the subject because she was way too close to testingthe boundaries between them. She handed over the menus. “I know it’s oldschool, but I’d much rather flip through a paper menu than try to readdescriptions on the tiny screen of my phone. What are you in the mood for?”

Zoey brushed throughthem quickly and then handed them back. “Everything sounds great. I trust youto pick something good.”

Their fingers touchedwhen Rook reached to take the menus back. There was that heat again—Rook didn’twant to let go, and food was now the last thing on her mind. “How about this?Why don’t you fill me in about your meeting with Donny Bloomfield and thenwe’ll relax and order dinner?”

“That soundsperfect,” Zoey said. “He came to the office today, and I interviewed him withJack Riley. At first, Donny acted like he had nothing to say, but after wepushed, he started talking. Apparently, he and his friends don’t like Mitchellmuch, but it was Mitchell who turned them on to the Darcy Agency. Slipped anote with the contact information into one of their exams. He never mentionedanother word about it, but according to Donny, after the incident at the Ivy,Mitchell went off on them.” Zoey shook her head. “I guess I could’ve told youall that in the car.”

Rook reached for herhand. “If you’d told me everything before we got here, I have a feeling Iwouldn’t have been able to get you to come in.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

Zoey laced her fingersthrough Rook’s, and Rook prayed for the strength to stay focused. “Did Donnysay anything else?” she asked.

“No, but I thinkafter the way Jack Riley stared him down, he would’ve told us if he knewanything else.”

“Makes sense.” Rooktread carefully with her next question, not wanting to break their connectionby seeming to challenge Zoey’s decisions. “How did Jack end up being there?”

“He was doing me afavor. I’d just cut Dixon out, but I wasn’t smart enough to find a replacementfirst. I’d called him because I wanted to know if he knew anything aboutMitchell having served as a Ranger.”

Rook raised hereyebrows.

“You know because ofthe way he signed off his letter, suicide note, whatever you want to call it,”Zoey said. “‘Rangers lead the way’—it’s the Army Rangers’ official motto.”

“What did he say?”Rook asked, not really following Zoey’s train of thought, probably because shewas way more interested in the press of her hand than business.

“Jack didn’t knowhim. Maybe I’m making too much out of that part of the note. Anyway, since I’dalready involved him, I asked him to help me out with Donny. Jack was theperfect fit, plus I got to find out the story behind how Sharp came to be hisand Addison’s godfather. Did you know that Jack’s dad and General Sharp werepart of the same rapid deployment force that invaded Grenada?”

“I had no idea.”

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