Page 25 of Cavern of Silence

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He tightens his arms around me. "I'm relaxed."

I take a deep breath, and his sexy scent infiltrates my cells. "So, what were you saying near the fire pit?"

"When?"

"About not being with the other guys for a year?"

His face falls.

"Sorry, bad topic?"

His jaw clenches, and he avoids my face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

He looks at me again, and so much pain fills his eyes. "It's okay. My wife died. Interpol made me go through a year of easy missions to make sure I was mentally okay."

My gut flips. "Oh. I'm... I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thanks."

I open my mouth to speak, but then shut it.

"Go ahead and ask me whatever it is you were just about to ask."

"What happened?"

"Cancer. She fought it for fifteen years. It was a cycle of remission for a few months or years then new tumors would pop up. Each time left her worse. She finally decided that she didn't want any more treatment." He blinks several times.

I put my hand on his cheek and fight back tears. "I'm so sorry."

He swallows and nods.

"Do you have children?"

"No. The first round took her ovaries. She was only twenty-six at the time, but I guess we waited too long."

"You wanted them?"

"Yeah, we did. Do you have kids? There weren't any listed on your forms."

"No."

"You didn't want them?"

"No, I did. Wasn't in the cards."

I was too busy working to pay for my husband's dream while he screwed my twin sister.

"So..." I swallow the thick lump forming in my throat. "This is the first time back with your team?"

"Yes."

"And you're considering going rogue with me?"

"I'm not considering it. I already told you I will do it."

"You just got back where you want to be after a year?"

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