Page 72 of Tango
“There’s one way—maybe. Web Safe changes all protocols every few months just to make sure things stay secure. But right now, trash day is on Saturday mornings.”
“Trash day?”
I nod. “The bins are rolled out with bags on top of them before being rolled back into the building. If we can get between the liner and lie flat at the bottom of one of those bins, they’ll walk us right past security checkpoints and straight into the basement.”
“You want me to lie down in the bottom of a trash bin?”
I turn my head and grin over my shoulder at him. “Afraid to get dirty, Mr. Hunt? I assure you those bins are relatively clean.”
His gaze drops to my mouth for just a moment, and my pulse kicks it up a notch. Man, I want to kiss him again.
He shifts his gaze forward once more. “How would you know they’re clean?”
“Because I’ve done it before. Back with Ramiro. It was a game we’d play. Who can get into the building first without using the typical routes.”
“Is Web Safe aware of the vulnerability?”
I shake my head. “The only one who knew was Ramiro. I beat him by fifteen seconds.”
Tucker is silent for a moment, but his arm tightens around my waist as he pulls me closer against him. “Then we’ll give it a try and pray protocols haven’t changed.”
“We’re going to need prayer if we’re going to pull this off.” I continue to lean against his chest, not pulling away even as he loosens his arm. Because this closeness is stirring feelings within me that I’ve waited years to find. The kind of heart-stirring affections toward a man who loves God and respects me that could lead to something more.
Something worthy of a lifetime.
Chapter 25
Tucker
Exhausted, I step toward the edge of the property line and stare down the gravel road. As soon as I’m sure it’s clear, I wave Alice out of the trees. She moves out alongside me, and we begin walking, staying close enough to the edge so that, should I see any trouble, we can disappear into the thin border of trees.
I glance over at her, and my gaze instantly drops to her mouth.
That kiss.
She’d wondered why I couldn’t sleep, and while it is true that I’m not the greatest sleeper, it was really the memory of her lips on mine that had me up most of the night. Everything about Alice calls to me.
Her strength. Kindness. Her love for God. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. My dream woman. The person I would love to spend the rest of my life with.
But the timing is wrong. Or, at least, that’s what I have to keep telling myself. One more taste of Alice, and nothing else will matter. I’ll throw out that promise I made to myself and jump in headfirst. It’ll be Dylan who will pay the price. And he’s suffered enough.
“You said trash days are Saturdays?” I ask, hoping to redirect my focus from what I can’t have to surviving the problem I do have.
“Yes.”
“Which means first thing tomorrow. What time do they put the bins out?”
“Usually about seven in the morning. It’s still a risk, though, Tucker. I want to make that clear. Anything we do here could land us in a lot of trouble. If you’d rather find another way, we can.”
“I’m open to suggestions, but as of now, I’m not finding any. I spent a lot of time trying to get into their systems, but they’re locked down. Our best bet is to get into the server room then get out as quickly as possible.”
A truck pulls around the corner, and since I recognize it, I don’t bother rushing into the trees. Dylan pulls off to the side and climbs out.
“You both okay?” he asks.
“Better now,” I reply, tossing my backpack into the bed of his truck then reaching over to take Alice’s from her.
“Are my parents okay?”
