going to change. Whatever happened, when this weekend was over, she’d be the one walking away. Hopefully with her best friend.
Chapter Two
I n over his head was putting it lightly.
Cade pretended not to notice Avery walking out of Jake’s office and heading for the elevator with Marley as he checked in with the pilot Aegis kept on staff and arranged for their flight to Jamaica. Even after twelve years, one look from those big whiskey-colored eyes was all it took to tie him into knots. The meet-and-greet he’d planned to play smooth and carefree had turned anything but when she’d turned those familiar gems his way.
“Sounds good,” he said into the phone as the elevator doors closed. Breathing easier now that she was out of sight, he focused on the view out the windows behind Marley’s desk. “I want to be wheels up by 1800.”
“Got it,” Alec MacDougal said on the other end of the line. “Call me if the timeline changes.”
“Will do, Mac.”
Cade clicked off the phone and stuffed it in his back pocket, then told himself this wasn’t the stupidest thing he’d ever done. But it sure as shit came close.
He rubbed a hand across his forehead and was steps from the elevator when he heard a voice at his back. “Hold up, Blackwell.”
Shit. Fixing an impassive look on his face, he dropped his hand and turned toward his boss. “Yeah?”
Jake crossed his arms over his chest and eyed him suspiciously from the doorway to his office. “Something I should know about you and the actress?”
Yes. Everything . Cade tucked his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and feigned surprise. “No. Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Just that I’ve never seen you quite so combative with a client. Is there a history here I should be aware of?”
Cade scoffed and looked away. “How would I know an actress?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. You were all over this case when it came in, and I’d have probably assigned you to it even if you hadn’t volunteered because of your background, but now I’m wondering if I should second-guess that decision.”
Classic lying behavior…looking away. Cade’s years with the FBI kicked in. He leveled his gaze on his boss. “In the twelve months I’ve worked for Aegis, have you ever needed to second-guess me?”
“No. That’s why I’m concerned. Do you know her?”
Cade’s jaw clenched. When he’d first caught wind Avery Scott was inquiring about Aegis’s services, he’d volunteered for the job—whatever it was—if for no other reason than curiosity after all these years. But now that he knew what she was up to, there was no way he was handing this over to any of the other guys. He chose his words carefully, so he couldn’t be caught in a lie later…another thing he’d learned working undercover. “Everyone with a TV knows her. I’m not compromised, Jake. There’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”
Jake eyed him like he didn’t believe him, and in the silence that stretched across the room, Cade wondered if he should just come clean. But then he thought of Avery, where she was headed and what kind of trouble she could possibly get herself into, and he knew fessing up wouldn’t do anything but get him kicked off this assignment. Yeah, their relationship was in the past, but no matter where he went or what happened in both their lives, he still cared about her. And if he could make up for a little of the shit he’d caused her all those years ago by keeping her safe now, he’d do it.
So long as Jake went along with this.
“I want you to check in as soon as you get there. If you find anything or need backup, we’ll send another team in to assist.”
Cade released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Another team disguised as a couple at the same swingers club where he was taking his ex-lover? Not likely he was calling in for reinforcements.
He turned for the elevator and punched the call button. Then fought back the wicked burst
Chapter Two
I n over his head was putting it lightly.
Cade pretended not to notice Avery walking out of Jake’s office and heading for the elevator with Marley as he checked in with the pilot Aegis kept on staff and arranged for their flight to Jamaica. Even after twelve years, one look from those big whiskey-colored eyes was all it took to tie him into knots. The meet-and-greet he’d planned to play smooth and carefree had turned anything but when she’d turned those familiar gems his way.
“Sounds good,” he said into the phone as the elevator doors closed. Breathing easier now that she was out of sight, he focused on the view out the windows behind Marley’s desk. “I want to be wheels up by 1800.”
“Got it,” Alec MacDougal said on the other end of the line. “Call me if the timeline changes.”
“Will do, Mac.”
Cade clicked off the phone and stuffed it in his back pocket, then told himself this wasn’t the stupidest thing he’d ever done. But it sure as shit came close.
He rubbed a hand across his forehead and was steps from the elevator when he heard a voice at his back. “Hold up, Blackwell.”
Shit. Fixing an impassive look on his face, he dropped his hand and turned toward his boss. “Yeah?”
Jake crossed his arms over his chest and eyed him suspiciously from the doorway to his office. “Something I should know about you and the actress?”
Yes. Everything . Cade tucked his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and feigned surprise. “No. Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Just that I’ve never seen you quite so combative with a client. Is there a history here I should be aware of?”
Cade scoffed and looked away. “How would I know an actress?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. You were all over this case when it came in, and I’d have probably assigned you to it even if you hadn’t volunteered because of your background, but now I’m wondering if I should second-guess that decision.”
Classic lying behavior…looking away. Cade’s years with the FBI kicked in. He leveled his gaze on his boss. “In the twelve months I’ve worked for Aegis, have you ever needed to second-guess me?”
“No. That’s why I’m concerned. Do you know her?”
Cade’s jaw clenched. When he’d first caught wind Avery Scott was inquiring about Aegis’s services, he’d volunteered for the job—whatever it was—if for no other reason than curiosity after all these years. But now that he knew what she was up to, there was no way he was handing this over to any of the other guys. He chose his words carefully, so he couldn’t be caught in a lie later…another thing he’d learned working undercover. “Everyone with a TV knows her. I’m not compromised, Jake. There’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”
Jake eyed him like he didn’t believe him, and in the silence that stretched across the room, Cade wondered if he should just come clean. But then he thought of Avery, where she was headed and what kind of trouble she could possibly get herself into, and he knew fessing up wouldn’t do anything but get him kicked off this assignment. Yeah, their relationship was in the past, but no matter where he went or what happened in both their lives, he still cared about her. And if he could make up for a little of the shit he’d caused her all those years ago by keeping her safe now, he’d do it.
So long as Jake went along with this.
“I want you to check in as soon as you get there. If you find anything or need backup, we’ll send another team in to assist.”
Cade released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Another team disguised as a couple at the same swingers club where he was taking his ex-lover? Not likely he was calling in for reinforcements.
He turned for the elevator and punched the call button. Then fought back the wicked burst
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