Page 64 of When He Defends
Chapter Thirteen
“Sex doesn’t change anything. Even great sex.”
– Emerson Marlowe
“Yeah, it does.” – Gray Stone
“Oh, look at that, Emerson.”Gray’s voice was hushed and falsely excited at the same time. An interesting combo. “A limo. One waiting right in front of the FBI office. Who could be inside?”
She’d spotted the limo just seconds ago, right after they’d rounded the corner as they advanced toward the FBI office. They were supposed to meet the others at 0600. A time that was less than fifteen minutes away. They’d stopped for coffee. She hadn’t even batted an eyelash when Gray had rattled off her preferred—and somewhat convoluted—order. He’d been with her before for coffee pickups. So, of course, he’d memorized her order.
He’d just grinned when she’d rattled off his stark request—black coffee. That was all he ever ordered, after all. Black coffee and a blueberry protein muffin.
They hadn’t spoken about the sex. The mind-blowing, give-me-more sex. He’d slept in the bed with her. She knew because she’d woken up once, heart racing from a half-remembered nightmare, and he’d been there. Warm, strong body. An arm around her. She’d felt safe. Safer than she’d felt in years. She’d gone right back to sleep.
When she’d woken again, he’d been out of the bed. Showered and dressed already. Another crisp shirt—pale blue this time. Gray pants. Gray suit coat.
At first, he hadn’t said anything as he stared down at her in the bed. But his eyes had blazed. Then he’d told her to take her time in the shower before he double-timed it out of the bedroom.
He’d made her an omelet. They hadn’t spoken about the previous night. Just made small talk. He’d told her that his mother had taught him how to make omelets years ago. That he could also make some absolutely delicious grits and biscuits that were to die for.
She’d confessed to being a terrible cook. His omelet, by the way, had been heavenly.
The little kitchen routine had felt both foreign and oddly comfortable. Though that made zero sense.
And now…
The limo.
As she watched, the rear door opened. A tall, fit man with silver streaking through his dark hair rose from the back. “Emerson.” His lips curled. A brief hint of warmth. Then, “Your mother would like a word.”
Emerson stopped on the sidewalk. She’d known the confrontation would happen, sooner or later. “If she’d like to talk, then she should just call me, the way most mothers call their adult children. She doesn’t have to show up in her limo, waiting outside of my work.”
Owen Porter’s head inclined toward her. “She does if she suspects you are dodging her.”
“Emerson.” Gray’s delighted voice. “Have you been dodging the senator? How naughty. I approve.”
She would have elbowed him, but Owen chose that moment to advance a step toward her. He motioned with one hand. “Just you, Emerson. We have to hurry, though. She has appointments in town today.”
Of course, she did. Emerson had never thought that her mother had come all the way to Atlanta just to see her. That would be silly.
“Did he say, ‘just you’ right then?” Gray asked. “I’m hoping I misheard.”
“You didn’t mishear,” Emerson replied.
“That’s rather rude of him. Clearly, we are a package deal.” Gray twined his fingers with hers.
She jerked at the movement.
“Partner…” His voice dipped lower. Just for her. “Remember when I said you needed to get used to me touching you? Consider our cover story activated now.”
Only it wasn’t really a cover, was it? Not if they were truly lovers? And they very much were. She still had some faint marks on her body to prove that fact. Plus, she was sore in places that she just wasn’t going to mention to anyone.
But Gray advanced, strolling as casually as you please toward the limo, and his grip tugged her forward.
“An invitation wasn’t extended to you,” Owen informed him. His shoulders had stiffened.
“Owen Porter.” Gray eyed him. “How many years are you going to keep guarding the senator? You’ve been her head of security ever since you left the Navy, yes? Former SEAL. Decorated. I would have thought you’d be looking for a job with more adventure. More of a challenge. But a little digging on youlast night showed that you’d been in this position ever since your discharge papers were approved…that would have been right after Emerson’s father was laid to rest.”
