Page 40 of Winters Heat

He shrugged, knowing he shouldn’t show her anything in the room. Covert wasn’t covert if others knew what secret weapons were available. But he wanted to distract her. Hell, he wanted to impress her.Again?

“Now this one.” He peeled a microscopic translucent piece of fabric off wax paper and pressed it to her arm. “The material is a bio-agent. Soon as it comes into contact with your skin, it’ll begin to destroy itself. It’s a tracker. If activated, it’s like a homing beacon.”

“I can’t see it anymore.”

“That’s the point. The enemy can’t remove what they don’t see.”

“Oh.” She giggled, inspecting the near invisible patch.

“That’s funny?”

“No. It’s just all I need for work is my DSM-IV, and you need spy equipment.” She shivered. “Why’s it so cold in here?”

“I like my gadgets, guns, and vehicles a precise sixty-six degrees. I work better when it’s chilly. But you both have to be cold. Resuming our tour…” He walked them into the hall and pointed toward the doors. “There’s my room, across from Clara’s nursery.”

Mia paused at the baby’s room and stared at the lilac colored walls and bright white furniture. It was unlike the hardy décor of the rest of the house. Dark furniture. Thick leather. Heavy carpets. The nursery was as bright and carefree as Clara’s smile. It suited the happy baby. He’d made sure that it was perfect for a precious girl. He would’ve made the walls out of cotton candy and hung twinkle, twinkle lights from the ceiling if he could’ve.

“Guest room. Guest room, again. You can stay here, if you want. It’s got a gorgeous view of the lake out back, and it has its own bathroom. There’s a Jacuzzi tub in my room. Feel free to use that if you want. Lots of whirling, jetting bubbles I hear chicks might like.”

“You hear, huh?”

“Yup.”

“Never had one of your lady friends compliment you on it?” She raised an eyebrow. “Or witness for yourself?”

“Sorry to disappoint. You’re the only woman to step foot in this house who’s not a blood relation.”

He studied her for a second. His skin crawled with the need for her to stay with him, in his bedroom, in his bed. He longed to feel her skin against his again, to watch her sleep-heavy eyes flutter closed while she lay naked against him. But after ignoring him all day, he wasn’t nearing that hope without much more serious consideration.

“Okay, then. A hot tub soak sounds amazing. Your house is gorgeous. Colby, thanks for taking care of me through all of this,” she whispered.

He blew out. There it was again, that indescribable emotion that hit him under the collar and deep in the gut. It was a variation on adrenaline, nothing like a headache, and closer to heartburn.

“You need to relax. Do whatever it takes, all right?”

“I will. But I’d be just fine on a couch with some fast food. I hate that I’m burdening your family. I’ll be out of your hair the moment you think it’s safe.”

Mild disappointment pecked at the thought of her not wanting him. Hell, not mild. Not by a click or two. They were short, slicing stabs of irritation. He wanted her jonesing for him like he was sweating for her. Pure need mixed with something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Enjoyment. Or infatuation? Whatever that sensation was, it was more than welcome and had nothing to do with his couch or sending her packing the second the all-clear rang out.

The ring of his cell phone interrupted the cacophony of thoughts. Phone calls were once in a blue moon. Only when it was a member of Titan or his mother. Without missing a beat, Mia reached over and lifted Clara from him, freeing both his hands in an instant. With a quick nod of thanks, he answered the phone in a curt manner that could sand plaster, then walked to a nearby window.

“I’m glad you finally got your ass back home. Took you long enough,” Jared said.

“Really not in the mood for it, boss man. What did you learn about our client?”

“They’re legit and made contact through our CIA friend. That NOC list is heavy-duty. They’ll keep those operatives’ identities safe. You just have to bring it in.”

“Heavy-duty? I could’ve told you it’s hot. I’ll bring it over this afternoon. We have to talk about securing Mia Kensington’s safety. The men after her and that disk are making some risky moves. It’s not going to stop.”

He didn’t want Mia to hear him, and she wasn’t paying attention to him. She had Clara close to her face, pointing out another window. The baby pulled at her hair, and Mia encouraged her in whispers, talking to Clara, tapping on the window to show her a bird. Or tree. Or something.

“Jared, I have to call you back.”

He holstered the phone without waiting for a response and moved to Mia, threaded his fingers into her hair, and pressed his lips to her now agape mouth. She closed her lips onto his, and the intensity shot straight to his groin.

Hell, he couldn’t help himself. His woman and his baby. It looked right. It felt right. Like it might have been if he had a normal life, and he wasn’t a man who went to work strapped to the hilt like a warrior, and she wasn’t a job gone rogue that he’d brought home.

He could kiss her all day long. Her plump lips fulfilled him. The kiss washed away the pining that ate at him when he didn’t touch her. Thank God she kissed him back. He’d be completely messed up in the head if she didn’t.

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