Page 20 of Rhys

Vanessa could still see herself running her hands through those very same waves. Could almostfeelthe locks of silky strands brushing across her fingers.

It was one of her most treasured memories. It was also the saddest. Because that memory…that day…

It was the last time she and Rhys were together like that.

“And it’s legit?” His deep voice pulled her focus back to the present. “There was a pause and then, “You’re sure?” Another pause. “Okay, man. Thanks. Yeah, I’ll look at it before I go to bed. I appreciate you doing this.” Pause. “I will. Just as soon as I know more. Talk soon.”

Ending the call, he set the phone down onto the countertop and turned. Rhys froze, his steely gaze making her pulse rise and her body ache.

After a good, long beat of silence, he greeted her with a raspy, “Hey.”

“Hey.”

Now, see…if this were an episode ofFriends, Chandler Bing would probably say something along the lines of ‘Could thisbeanymore awkward?’

Moving closer, she slowly padded her way toward him. “Who was that?”

“Greyson Frost.”

“Ah, right. The former SEAL.”

Rhys didn’t have time to hide his shock. “How did you…” he started to ask.

But then he must have remembered who and what she was—or what he correctly assumed she was—because the lines on his forehead smoothed and he tipped his head in her direction.

“Right.” Rhys’s expression cooled. “Of course you know who he is. Just like I’m sure you’ve dug into me and every member of my team.”

“Wouldn’t you?” Ignoring the gnawing pain in her shoulder, Vanessa barely held back a grimace as she climbed onto one of three barstools. “I know how Charlie Team operates. You’re telling me you don’t learn everything you can about the people you take on as allies?”

“Is that what I am to you?” He stared back at her pointedly. “An ally?”

Ah, Rhys. Don’t you know? You’re everything to me.

She didn’t dare utter those words aloud. Instead she gave him another truth. “I hope you are. You and the others.”

“Yeah, well…that remains to be seen.”

“So what did Greyson want?” Vanessa ignored the harsh, but albeit justified dig. “He’s the techie of the group, right? I’m assuming you had him check the feed from the museum’s security cameras.”

He kept hold of her gaze a moment longer before shaking his head. “You don’t get to ask questions right now. Not until I’m finished asking mine.”

“Fair enough.” Cradling her left elbow in her right hand, she supported her injured arm and jutted her chin. “I told you I’d share everything I know, and I meant it. So…what is it you want to know?”

“Let’s start with your name. And just so we’re clear, I’m referring to yourrealname given to you by your parents on the day you were born.”

Damn. Even when he was being snippy, the man was a sexy beast.

“Okay.” She couldn’t help but smile. “My real, birth-given name is Vanessa Elizabeth Marsh.”

“Birthday?”

“April twelfth, nineteen ninety-two. And let me save you the trouble of asking. I was born and raised in Beatrice, Nebraska. My parents were Elizabeth and Walter Marsh. My mother was the librarian at my elementary school, and my dad was a conductor with the OL&B Railway. That’s the Omaha, Lincoln, and Beatrice Railway.”

“When we were in Kabul you told me your parents lived in Florida. But now you speak of your parents in the past tense. Are they—”

“Dead?” She nodded. “Yeah. The Florida story was one I made up for my cover.”

“So what happened to them?”

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