Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(104)

“I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

“After we’ve all gotten some sleep,” Leese agreed. “You’ve had a pretty momentous day.”

Cat held silent for a few moments, then whispered brokenly, “I thought Tesh was going to hurt you and it almost killed me. I knew I had to do something to stop him.”

She’d done something all right. She’d attacked a madman. Jumped from a moving van. Then hoisted a flash drive from a dead body with police looking on. “You’re amazing. And reckless.”

“I couldn’t risk you,” Cat whispered.

Because she loved him? She’d said so, but her timing had sucked and now Leese wanted to hear it again. “We’ll talk about that after you’re rested.” Never again would he let her put him first. If she thought risking him was bad, she should try it from his perspective.

He’d died a thousand times while trying to get to her. And all the while he’d known how twisted Tesh was, what he might do to Cat, what he probably was doing.

The flash drive contained all the information they needed to expose both Tesh and Senator Platt as the perverted, sick fucks they were. Sahara’s PI had quickly located Tesh’s mother, and soon they’d have the evidence from the safe-deposit box too.

Law officials were all over it because sometime after midnight the senator was found dead in his home, poisoned by the ice in his routine nightcap. A staff member close to the senator, but apparently loyal to Tesh, had prepared the drink.

The plan to commit the murder was laid out in notes contained in the flash drive, otherwise the world might have never known that Platt hadn’t died of natural causes.

When Cat dozed off, Leese let out a tense breath. He’d soon have her in his home, and if all went as planned, she’d want to stay with him.

Forever.

*

AS SUNSHINE SPILLED into the quiet bedroom, Leese nuzzled against Cat’s neck and stirred her awake. He loved the scent of her skin, the taste of her mouth, the warmth of her small body snuggled to his.

He loved going to bed with her each night and waking up with her each morning.

He loved her, period.

For far too long they’d been under nonstop interrogation. Valentine’s Day had come and gone, along with much of March, and spring was fast approaching. There’d been very little downtime, and no opportunity for a romantic dinner out. But he’d given Cat the few Valentine’s Day gifts he’d picked up back when Miles had stayed with her.

She’d loved the unique, handmade Andamooka Opal necklace. Once she put it on, she didn’t take it off. The bright splashes of color in the gem matched her quirky, fun and beautiful personality. He’d also bought her a new knit hat, mittens and a scarf, and a new cell phone with a long-term plan.

She hadn’t remarked on the implied expectation, but had accepted when he insisted.

In return she’d given him a small painting, and then, because she said she hadn’t had an opportunity to shop, she gave him a lap dance.

They were the best Valentine’s Day gifts ever. One memory stayed on his office wall, the other he stored away as the hottest experience of his life.

It was the first holiday that Leese had celebrated in a long while. He knew it would always be the most memorable.

Things with Platt and Tesh weren’t yet settled, but they were well on their way. Because Leese and Cat told the truth, as did Sahara and Justice, there could be no cover-up of the senator’s evil conduct. The world had a right to know.

And Georgia Bell deserved justice.

Leese didn’t want to think about that right now though. He wanted to concentrate on the fact that he and Cat finally had a few days free. His house was a good distance from hers, but Cat was still with him, and if all his plans worked out, they’d have a lifetime together.

There was nothing he wanted more.

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

As Cat stretched, making a small, throaty sound, Leese gently touched her ribs. She’d recovered from the assault, and no longer flinched in pain. Only faint bruises remained, though he’d forever remember them.

He, too, had healed from the bullet graze. Then, to get things settled, he’d taken a hiatus from work. Soon, however, he’d return to the agency, probably next week. Before then, he wanted to cement things with Cat.

Resting on his forearms over her, Leese murmured, “Open your eyes, Cat.”

Her thick lashes slowly lifted. “Mmm?” She yawned widely, stretched again, then smiled up at him with soft affection. “Someone,” she teased, “kept me up too late last night.”

Last night had been amazing. Every time with her was better than the last. How that was possible he didn’t know, but it was still true. “Complaining?”

“Praising,” she corrected as she looped her arms around his neck.

Smoothing back her beautiful hair, Leese kissed her lips, then whispered, “Stay put. I’ll bring you coffee in bed.”

“Oh, nice. I’ll just run to the bathroom, then crawl back under the covers.”

She was so incredibly cute.

And she was his.

“Sounds like a plan.” He kissed her again, then said, “Be right back.”

In the kitchen, he made the coffee, readied two cups and retrieved the small wrapped package he’d hidden behind the bread box, along with everything else he needed.