Page 106 of Zero Hour

“I hear you guys saved the day,” she said, a teasing lilt in her voice.

“We had some help.” Then, more seriously, “It was thanks to you, actually. You gave us the lead we needed.”

“I’m just glad I recognized her.” She exhaled. “I still can’t believe Amir went to such lengths to mislead the authorities.”

“Yeah, well, it worked.” His expression darkened. “We all bought it.”

She nodded. “Did you hear? The Waheed brothers confessed, but even they didn’t know about the second attack.”

Pat’s jaw clenched. “Al-Jabiri played them too.”

“They thought the whole thing was just a bluff. A way to keep the government on their toes.”

“All I can say is Al-Jabiri’s lawyer’s gonna have a hell of a time spinning this one.” Pat smirked. “That bastard’s going away for life.”

Jasmine placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Patrick. For saving Ryan. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

“You don’t have to.” His voice was rough.“I was just doing my job.”

But they both knew it was more than that.

She searched his face, hesitating, then smiled.“Still. You’re my hero.”

Something lodged in his throat. A hundred things ran through his mind, but only one felt right. “How about we get out of here?” he murmured.

Her eyes twinkled. “Thought you’d never ask.”

Pat grabbeda random set of car keys from the board in his office, and they slipped out through the back stairwell.

“Where is it?” Jasmine asked as they emerged into the underground garage.

He hit the fob. Headlights flashed two rows back. “There.”

“Great choice,” she said approvingly as they climbed into the sleek black Mercedes.

Pat revved the engine, anxious to get her home. There was so much to say—so much to unpack—but right now, none of it mattered. All he wanted was to be with her.

She put a hand on his thigh—and left it there.

By the time they reached his house, he was so fucking hard he could barely think straight. They barely made it through the door.

Pat kicked it shut behind them, hauling Jasmine against him, crushing her mouth with his.

“I missed you,” he rasped against her lips.

“Not half as much as I missed you.”

Her hands were already under his shirt, pushing it up, desperate to touch his skin. He yanked it over his head and let it drop. She did the same with her blouse, and then her bra.

He sucked in a breath. God, she was beautiful.

Pat slid his hands up her bare back, then down again, gripping her hips. She was here. She was alive. He had to remind himself this was real.

She arched into him, pressing her soft curves against his hard planes.

Then she jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

He groaned, gripping her thighs as he carried her toward the stairs, his pulse pounding in his ears.

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