Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(57)

She sucked in a breath. God. She imagined choosing what she wanted to do. “I always wanted to study archeology.”

He smiled. “I know.” Then his face turned serious. “I’m away sometimes. But knowing that I was coming home to you—”

She kissed him. “I’d be waiting.”

Lachlan went still. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes! I’ll move in with you.”

His smile was huge, and he kissed her again. It was just turning heated when there was a thump on the door.

“Some people work around here, you know.” Blair’s voice. “The director’s waiting.”

“Duty calls,” Lachlan murmured.

“I think I’ll go and check on Lars.” She kissed his jaw.

After they’d changed, Lachlan dropped her off at the lab with a final hard kiss. Rowan went first to check in on Aimee Kowalski, who was currently sedated, but showing signs of improvement. She found Lars sitting with her.

“Hey.” Rowan smiled and hugged him.

He gave her a small smile. “Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”

Lars shrugged. “Hanging in there.” He looked at Aimee. “It’s been good talking with Airman Kowalski.”

Rowan imagined having someone who understood what they’d been through helped. “That’s good.” They talked about innocuous topics for a while.

“They’re going to let me go home soon.” Lars looked at the floor. “I’m not sure I want to go home, or to work, or go back to my research.”

“Take your time.” She placed her hand on his. “There’s no rush, Lars. Time will help heal the wounds.”

He nodded. “What about you?”

“Oh, well, I’m moving to Las Vegas.”

Lars looked surprised. “Really?”

The door opened and Lachlan strode in. He nodded at Lars, then stopped beside Rowan. He tipped her head up and dropped a kiss to her lips.

Shaking off the daze Lachlan’s kisses always seemed to generate, she looked back at Lars. “Ah, I don’t think you two have officially met. Lars, this is Lachlan Hunter, leader of Team 52.”

“Hi.” Lars nodded at Lachlan, a mixture of both understanding and disappointment on his face. Then his gaze moved back to Rowan. “Be happy, Rowan.”

“You, too, Lars.”

Lachlan tugged her up and led her back toward the rec room. All of Team 52 were waiting outside, and several guards flanked the elevator.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“An archeologist we’ve worked with before is bringing in an object.”

Axel appeared. “Hope it’s not one of those Treasure Hunter Security assholes.”

“No,” Lachlan said. “It’s Dr. January James.”

Seth straightened. “Not that witch.”

“Seth—” Lachlan’s voice held a warning.

Rowan watched the super-cool Seth’s cheeks flush with color along his cheekbones. “She’s impossible.”

“You did threaten her,” Blair said. “Her behavior was justified.”

“I was trying to save her from a dangerous piece of ancient technology. She hit me over the head with a metal pole!”

Callie nodded. “Knocked him out cold and left him with a black eye.”

Rowan bit her lip, trying not to laugh. She caught Blair’s gaze, and the other woman burst out laughing. The others all chuckled, and even Smith had a smile on his face.

Seth crossed his arms over his chest.

The elevator doors opened and a petite brunette in khaki cargo pants, with a white shirt tucked into a narrow waist, strode out holding the handle of a metal suitcase.





Chapter Twenty





Seth





Seth Lynch stared at the woman who worked every one of his nerves. As she walked in boldly—like she owned the place—he gritted his teeth.

“Commander Hunter.” Dr. James nodded at Lachlan. She had a smoky voice that would have been sexy on any other woman.

When her gaze met Seth’s, he saw something flare in their hazel depths. He was pretty sure she was fighting not to bare her teeth at him.

“Lynch,” she said.

“James.”

Lachlan cleared his throat. “I hope your flight was okay?”

“Fine, thanks.”

“What have you brought us?” Lachlan waved her into the rec room.

Dr. James hefted the metal case onto one of the tables, spinning the locks sealing it. “I’m currently running a dig in Guatemala, deep in the jungle. Lidar scans have helped us locate thousands of previously undiscovered Mayan ruins belonging to the Mayan Snake Kings.”

“That sounds fascinating,” Rowan said.

Dr. James looked at Rowan. “We haven’t met.”

“Dr. Rowan Schafer, Dr. January James.” Lachlan introduced them.

The women shook hands.

“A pleasure,” Dr. James said. “And yes, the dig is fascinating.”

Seth leaned back against the table, and watched the woman’s face light up as she spoke. He couldn’t argue about her passion for her work. Shame she was a shrew.