The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(64)

She watched as the gorgeous man fell to pieces inside her.

“You’re amazing,” he whispered in her ear as their bodies parted.

She brushed the back of her hand over his cheek and shifted to her side to get a better look at him, her Man of Steel. “How did we end up here—again?”

He perched his head on his hand and ran his fingers through her long hair, pushing it off her face. “I guess I can’t stay away from you.”





CHAPTER TWENTY




“HOW’D YOUR DATE GO?” KATE leaned against Michael on the porch swing with her legs crossed up over the edge as she eyed the lake. She brought the coffee mug to her lips and glanced over her shoulder, waiting for Michael to respond.

“Horrible. The whole time I was eating dinner, all I could think about was you. And when I went home, and you were gone . . .” He pushed against the ground, giving the swing a little more momentum.

“I thought about you, too,” she admitted.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. “I wish you didn’t go out. Why would you use yourself as bait like that? Why lie to me? Was it really your idea?”

She watched a sailboat pass on the tender morning breeze. Could Dustin be on that boat? Watching them? Until they captured him, she would never be able to breathe easy. She had allowed herself to get caught up in the moment with Michael the night before, but now she had to put her game face back on and focus on the danger at hand.

“Kate?”

She pulled her legs off the railing and set her feet on the ground, resting her cup next to the swing. “Why’d you decide to bring me here?” She was desperate to avoid the truth.

“Because the second I saw you with Ethan, I knew I had to have you all for myself. I want to keep you here for the weekend—keep you safe. Tucked away from all the Ethans and Dustins of the world.”

His honesty was surprising. And refreshing.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. But Kate, if I’m going to keep you safe, I need the truth.”

She stood and faced him. He remained sitting on the swing but brought the rocking motion to a halt. His bare feet pressed against the planks beneath his soles—veins slightly evident there. The man was always so tense—every part of his body.

“If I tell you the truth, will you promise not to flip out?”

“I can’t make that promise.” He cocked his head, his brows furrowing as he studied her.

Her shoulders sank forward. “Jake suggested I go on the date and not tell you.”

He shut his eyes as his lips pulled together. “Go on.”

Sure—and have you kill your best friend. But she knew there was no way Michael would let this go. “He explained to me the danger of letting Dustin remain on the loose for any longer. He told me the big picture. It’s not about me. Dustin is a threat to national security. He’s a danger, and if I can help bring down a traitor—”

“Let me handle Dustin,” he interrupted as his eyes opened. “Your safety should never be sacrificed. That’s non-negotiable for me.” He set his mug down and rose to his feet. His hands swept up to both her cheeks. “If anything happened to you . . .” He shook his head, released her, and took a step back. “I’m going to kill Jake. And Connor,” he grumbled and turned away from her.

“Please, Michael. Jake’s doing what’s right. And Connor was trying to protect me.”

Michael crossed the deck and leaned his forearms over the side railing, looking out onto the greenish water.

“Jake’s a Fed now. He may have to follow the rules, but I don’t give a damn about anything right now but keeping you alive.”

“That’s not true, Michael.” She lowered her forehead against his back and wrapped her arms around his body. “If Dustin gets away and hurts other people, and we could have stopped him . . . you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself. That’s not who you are, and you know it.”

His hand covered hers against his core, and he released a deep breath. “Maybe we can just stay here forever,” he said after a minute.

“Not a bad idea,” she said. Of course, she knew they were pipe dreaming. But she’d give herself one more minute to live in the fantasy world before they had to delve into something much uglier. “Is this another one of your getaways?”

Michael started to turn, so she dropped her hold and stepped back. He leaned against the railing and folded his arms. “After being in the Marines, sometimes I need to be alone. I need a place to silence the—” He looked down, but she reached out and rested her palm on his cheek, and he closed his eyes at the gesture.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Afghanistan. Or Iraq. That’s what I dream about when I get those nightmares.”

The buzzing noise of a distant boat and the soft sounds of the water lapping against the land became white noise as she stared at him.

“My men and I were on a routine mission. We were sent to gather intelligence in the Helmand province in Afghanistan. My platoon usually travels, does some recon, and makes sure that everything is safe before more troops come.” He opened his eyes, and there was so much pain evident there that she could barely stand to look at him. He was hurting so damn bad, and he needed someone so much more than she realized. “It was supposed to be deserted, but our information was inaccurate. I can still smell the smoke. I can still see the debris of the IED explosions all around me. We were sitting ducks. Surrounded. Almost everyone died.”