Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(54)



Her sister was smart, with the exception of her marriage to Jay Maxwell. “The only thing I regret is that she didn’t meet you. Heather would have liked you.”

“What about you?”

Rowan twisted in her seat. “What do you mean?” she hedged.

“How do you feel about me, sweetheart?”

Her free hand clenched the door handle. “You first.”

“Fair enough. I’m crazy about you, Rowan Scott. I’ve called you my girlfriend for the past twenty-four hours. I like the label and if feels right to me. I’d like for the label to be real. I know I’m asking a lot, Rowan, given the circumstances we’re in and my job. I’m asking you to give us a chance as a couple anyway. Will you take the risk?”

With him driving, Rowan couldn’t unbuckle her seat belt, leap into his arms, and kiss him senseless. For such a smart man, Brent Maddox didn’t know how to read her. “I wouldn’t want to make you a liar.”

Brent’s head whipped her direction. “You’re serious? You’ll agree to an exclusive relationship while we see where this is going?”

A soft laugh escaped. “Brent, I’m crazy about you, too. Dating you won’t be a hardship, believe me.”

“Despite knowing what I do for a living and the danger in being associated with me?”

Rowan decided it was time to own up to her feelings. “You’re worth every risk. I’ve been hoping for months you would ask me out. If you had waited much longer, I would have asked you myself.”

“Thank goodness,” he muttered. “Didn’t want to make a fool of myself assuming you felt the same as I did.”

“You don’t have to wonder any more, Brent. The answer is yes.” Enough mush for now. Time to refocus on the job at hand. “So what’s the plan for breaking into Heather’s house?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a big house. With only two of us, it will take forever to look in all the potential hiding places.”

“We’ll start with the obvious rooms. I’ll take Jay’s office. If he hid records at home, it’s likely to be in there. You check the places where Heather kept things she didn’t want Jay to find.”

Well, that was easy enough. Heather’s bedroom and Alexa’s room or the playroom. Another separation Jay insisted on. He didn’t like anyone to know a child lived in the house, so he insisted all the toys be kept in the playroom. Personally, Rowan couldn’t wait until Alexa’s toys were strewn all over the apartment. She would know her niece was safe.

Brent parked on the street behind Heather’s place, in the shadow of a large tree. His black SUV wouldn’t be seen easily. He shut off the engine, captured her chin with the palm of his hand, and kissed her thoroughly. When he drew back, he said, “Thank you for taking that leap with me.”

Rowan dragged him back for another deep kiss. “I’m looking forward to our first date.”

He smiled. “Me, too. Be thinking about what you want to do.”

“After all this excitement, I’m thinking something normal like dinner and a movie.” She paused. “What about Alexa? I can’t leave her so soon.”

“I can take you both out, or I’ll bring in dinner and we’ll watch a movie in your living room or mine. My two ladies are a package deal.”

Those words melted her heart. Brent Maddox was a keeper with a heart of gold.

They walked through an unfenced yard to the back edge of Heather’s place. Rowan stared at the fence looming in front of her, then glanced around for something to climb on. Despite her height, Rowan wasn’t tall enough to make the leap up and over. She needed a chair or bench.

“Here,” Brent murmured as he knelt in front of her, hands cupped for Rowan’s foot. “Bend your knees when you drop to the ground to absorb the impact.”

Okay, then. That worked. A boost from her handsome boyfriend was good. Brent quickly lifted her. Rowan grasped the fence and hauled herself over the top. She landed with a soft thump. Nice. Bending her knees muted the sound and absorbed the impact.

She turned in time to see Brent leap up, grab the top of the fence, and clear it almost in one motion. His landing was nearly soundless. She wondered if he might teach her to do that, but decided once she had Alexa back, the breaking-and-entering portion of her life would be over.

Brent clasped her hand and led her to the back door, scanning the area as they crossed the yard. He nudged her against the wall of the house and crouched in front of the knob, a small black bag in his hand. With quick, sure movements, Brent pulled out thin tools and went to work on the lock. Lock picks.

She had to smile at his skill. More military training? She suspected he’d picked up many interesting, less-than-legal skills in his time with the SEALs. Seconds later, he stood and eased the door open. After motioning for her to wait, he slipped into the darkened interior.

When he returned, Brent signaled for her to follow him inside.

The belongings in the house were still jumbled. Cleaning this place would be a huge undertaking. Just the idea of having to sort and box Heather’s and Jay’s stuff made her stomach knot in dread. She wouldn’t have a problem dealing with Jay’s belongings. Sorting Heather’s things, though, would hurt, reinforcing the truth her sister was gone. Rowan would need a box of tissues at hand.

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