Page 35 of The Knight

"I will. And so will the cops. Not to mention the judge we need to sign a warrant so the police can find all the evidence they need at Hass's family home. If we're gonna do this, we have to do it right—even if that means getting closer to the action."

Blake stares at me, something slightly anxious in his eyes. "But they almost killed you the last time you dug into them."

I frown at him, yet again puzzled and irritated by all the vagueness. Who is 'them?'"

He closes his mouth. "Nevermind. You don't need to know."

"Of course." I grit my teeth together, frustration building inside me. "I'd give anything to know the truth, but you'll never tell me. Some kind of love that is."

Yanking the camera strap around my shoulder, I head towards the road, intent on finding a place to hide near the airport hanger and getting the proof I need to take down Hass—and get the hell out of here, for good. I hear footsteps in the leaves behind me, and fume at the fact that Blake is following me.

Whirling around, I yell at him, "Go back! I don't need your help."

"I thought you wanted to be protected." He advances on me instead of backing away, brown eyes intent on my face, his breath fogging in the cold winter air as the sun sets. "You said that you wanted one of us here just in case something happened. Well, I'm here. And I'm not going to let you out of my sight."

"I should've just gone alone." For some reason I'm breathing heavily, even though I haven't done anything at all. My heart is racing, my blood pressure rising, every nerve on end—all because he's standing close to me, moving closer by the second, his mouth saying things I don't understand. "Don't follow me. We'll be more conspicuous together."

Blake frowns, narrowing his eyes at me. "Is this because I said I'm falling in love with you? Do you feel awkward now? Because that's a stupid reason to put your life at risk."

"No, it's—that's not it."

"I can take it back," he says, voice resentful and churlish, sounding nothing like a young man in love. "I don't like you at all. I'm not falling in love with you."

I sigh, shaking my head at him. "You're not very convincing, which sucks because until now, I thought you were definitely wrong about how you felt. But the reason why I don't want you with me has nothing to do with...this." I motion back and forth between us, my fluttering fingers encapsulating everythingthisis, no words for what it could be or isn't. "Someone needs to be lookout in case I'm caught, and if you're next to me you'll just be caught too. More importantly, there's no reason for two of us to go when only one person is needed to operate the camera. I can be quiet, I can go in and out—but not with you breathing down my neck."

"I'm very quiet," he says with a frown. "I get your point, but..."

"But what?"

"I don't like sending you off into danger."

This apparent crush he has on me, fleeting as it will hopefully turn out to be, is going to be a problem. "I need you to let me do this. Whether it's dangerous or not, it's what has to happen."

His nostrils flare and his jaw tightens in frustration. "Fine. But only if you let me dothis."

"Let you do—what!?"

Before I can step back or slap him away, he reaches out, puts his hand on my waist, and draws me close. "A kiss for good luck."

"Luck?"

"And to figure out if what I'm feeling is real." His eyes dance with an uncharacteristic mischief, and I feel like I'm seeing things. "You kissed me last time. This time, I'll kiss you."

Leaning down, he meets my lips in a scorching kiss that shocks and delights me.

It's the storm after the calm.

Energy meeting and clashing in the heavens.

Two statues coming to life.

We kiss with a passion I didn't know I had before now. My hands go limp, the camera strap hanging from my shoulder as I lean towards him and open my mouth to his scorching tongue and lips.

I never knew that so much passion was hiding behind his still, serious face. The way he kisses me is completely different from every interaction we've ever had before. It's passionate, all-consuming, and, most shocking of all, actually sweet.

When he steps back he takes with him my belief that he's nothing but a still statue, along with the breath in my lungs and my ability to stand up straight. I'm practically swaying on my feet—and what's worse, I have to get across the street in just a few seconds, because Hass is getting out of his car and heading towards the plane and its passengers.

"I have to go." Looking up into Blake's brown eyes, I'm suddenly struck by the realization that his hands on my waist are the only thing holding me up and keeping me steady. "You weren't kidding, were you? It wasn't a prank."

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