Page 85 of Hidden Attraction

He reached the entrance. Gripping the wood, he stepped onto the floor.

Alyssa was sitting with her legs tucked beneath her, wearing jeans and…Christ, she was wearing his Navy sweatshirt, the oversized shape swallowing her, the sleeves pulled up to her elbows.

She jerked her head up. The book in her hand slipped to the floor. Then she was on her feet, rushing toward him.

When her gaze locked on his face, he braced himself for her reaction to his injuries.

Her hand fluttered up but she stopped before touching his cheek. “What happened?” she rasped.

He got pinned down, took a hell of a shellacking before his brothers took control of the situation and he was able to get out of there. But not before a bullet grazed his cheek.

He wasn’t about to tell her that.

With a shrug, he swept his stare over her. “It’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing.”

He stepped closer and caught her hand. She let him clasp it, which flooded him with relief.

And hope.

Tugging her hand lightly, he drew her to the bench. She sat and he scooped her book up, noting the title.

He cocked a brow. “A romance novel?”

A pink flush rose in her cheeks. “I needed an escape. Reading books about tax codes or the growth of lichen wasn’t exactly my first choice.”

The corner of his lips twitched. “The library in Con’s office?”

She nodded, a smile creeping onto her face too. “Sophie has an extensive book collection, but I’m glad she steered me to the romance novels when I told her I was looking for a distraction.”

He paused, staring down at her hand in his. Chafing his thumb along her slender finger, he tried to find some even ground for them both to stand on. He left too soon—they never had a chance to talk aboutthem.

“I was worried you’d be gone when I got here.”

The creases around her eyes relaxed, and her gaze warmed. “Oh, Julian.”

“We only had that one night together.”

She nodded. “Yes. Con suggested I stay here until we find Cypher. It’s hard to stay safe if you’re running around being an ambassador.”

Unable to keep from touching her, he reached out and cradled her face. She leaned into his touch, the action a stroke to his heart.

“Denver warned me.”

She started in surprise. “Warned you about what?”

He dropped his hand and clenched it into a fist, holding on to the memory of the feel of her. “There’s no future in this. You’re an ambassador.”

She dipped her head, focus on her twined hands in her lap. “Not anymore.”

He blinked at her. “What?”

She met his stare again. “I stepped down.”

He sputtered. “Alyssa. Why would you do that? You love your job. You worked your ass off to get your career.”

“I’m pleased that you recognize those things about me, but it was time. Not just because, well…” Her shrug was hardly detectable in the huge sweatshirt she was wearing. “I’m in hiding, and that comes with a whole set of worries for me.”

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