Renee was still finishing her dessert when Kade ended his phone call. “What’s the plan?”
“The Saint Squad wants to put Barrett under surveillance for a week. They have a couple CIA employees who can track him inside the headquarters building.” Kade took one more bite before standing and carrying his bowl to the sink.
“I can give them some insight into his routine. You know, when he gets in, what time he normally has lunch, that sort of thing.”
“Actually, that would help a lot.” Kade turned on the water and slid his bowl beneath the spray. “Why don’t you go ahead and put that into the database for them.”
“I’ll take care of it after we clean up.” She took her bowl to the counter and began putting the leftover hot fudge away.
He shifted to look at her. “You can do it now. I’ll finish up.”
“Okay.” She wiped off the kitchen table before sitting in front of her laptop.
While she waited for the database to load, she watched Kade standing at the sink washing their dishes. She had to admit it was odd having someone to help with such simple household chores. In foster care, she had run the gamut of being treated like a guest with no responsibilities to being expected to do all the housework. Thankfully, her last foster home had fallen between the two.
Turning her attention back to the task at hand, she typed in the basic schedule for Anthony. Thinking it might be useful, she then proceeded to add the schedules for the other people who worked in her office.
She finished and looked up as Kade was drying his hands, the kitchen now tidy, the counters gleaming. “What should I work on now?”
“I think we should call it quits for the night.” Kade folded the dish towel and hung it over the cabinet door. “Do you want to watch a movie?”
“A movie?” Renee repeated.
“Yeah.” His shoulders jerked up. “It’s Saturday night. Isn’t that something people still do when they go out on dates?”
Warmth started in her chest and spread through her. She pushed away from the table and managed to say, “Are you asking me on a date?”
“We had dinner together. We had dessert. Seems to me we’re already on a date.”
“We’ve had lots of meals together.”
“True.” He crossed to her, and the intensity in his eyes made her heartbeat quicken. “But before today, I didn’t know what it felt like to do this.”
He reached out and rested his hands on her waist, holding her in place as he leaned forward for a kiss.
Renee’s eyes fluttered closed, and she was swept away by the sensations rushing through her. A thousand tiny pulses of pleasure danced over her skin, multiplying when her arms wrapped around his neck and he pulled her closer.
He tasted of the Orient, smelled like the darkness of night. Everything about him was a mystery, yet in this moment, she felt she could see into his very soul.
She thought of the loss he had endured, of the losses she had suffered. Was it their lack of family that created this connection between them, or was it simply their close proximity over the past few days?
She pulled back, breathless and suddenly very aware that she was alone with him in his home, a situation she had always strictly avoided in the past.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she murmured.
“I disagree.” He covered her mouth again, the depth of his kiss making her head spin.
She let herself fall for several delicious moments before she straightened her back and put her hand on his chest. “I’m serious.” She leaned back to ensure enough distance for her eyes to be able to meet his. “We’re practically living together.”
“You can take ‘practically’ out of that sentence,” he said dryly. “We are living together.”
“My point is that I’m not the kind of girl who spends time in a man’s apartment, and I certainly wouldn’t choose to live with a man.”
“Ever?”
She rolled her eyes, exasperated. “I mean, I’m not going to live with a man I’m not married to.”
“Too late.”
She stepped clear of his embrace and folded her arms across her chest. “Are you trying to be difficult?”
“Good question.” He mirrored her stance. “Yeah, probably.”
“We need to set some boundaries.”
“I’m not a fan of boundaries.”
Another exasperated sigh escaped her. “Look, this isn’t easy for me. I haven’t been attracted to anyone in a long time, and as I already told you, I’ve never dated anyone I’ve worked with before.”
Kade studied her for a long moment. “What exactly are you proposing?”
“I don’t know.” She met his gaze and offered him the truth in the simplest way she could. “You’re a distraction I’m not sure either of us can afford.”
“Honey, if you think I’m a distraction, you should go look in the mirror.” She opened her mouth to explain herself better, but he held his hand up to stop her. “This thing between us is a distraction. Got it.” He edged closer and took her hand in his. “How about this. When we’re working, we’re working. When we’re done for the day, we can spend time together as two people who are attracted to each other.”
“It’s not just that,” Renee began, not sure how or where to draw the line between them.
“And I’ll sleep on the couch and respect your space when our date is over.”
Renee let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Sounds reasonable.”
He reached out and ran a fingertip along her jaw. “But if you think I’m not going to kiss you good night, we might have a problem.”
His touch brought goose bumps to her skin, and his dry tone brought a smile to her lips. “Then I guess we don’t have a problem.” She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. “At least for now.”
His eyebrows drew together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ignoring his question, she motioned to the television screen opposite the couch. “What movie should we watch?”
He eyed her suspiciously, his fingers linking with hers. “I haven’t had a girlfriend in a long time. I hope you aren’t already planning on breaking up with me.”
“First a date, and now I’m your girlfriend.” Delight and humor pulsed through her, and she fought to keep both out of her voice. “You work fast.”
“Only on the things that matter.” He linked his hands around her waist. “You matter.”
She swallowed hard. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she whispered, “So do you.”
* * *
Wildflowers clutched in one hand, Kade finished his morning sweep of the campsite. He thought of his date with Renee last night, the way she had snuggled into him while they’d watched a movie and their lingering kiss good night at his bedroom door. He was charmed by the way she’d blushed when she closed the door between them.
What was he doing letting himself fall for this woman? He looked down at the flowers, wild irises the color of sunshine bunched with blooms in white, purple, and orange. They were silly, really. A woman like Renee deserved better, maybe some cool-yellow tulips or a bouquet of red roses. He nearly tossed what he had into the brush as he headed back to his rig, but deciding it was the thought that counted, he continued forward, feeling ridiculous and uncertain.
When he entered the trailer, Renee stood at the kitchen counter, a plate of pancakes at her elbow. The perfect Sunday breakfast. She turned to face him, her expression instantly brightening.
“I know they’re not much, but they made me think of you.” Kade held the flowers out.
“Thank you.” She took the offering, the smile remaining in place as she reached up to kiss him. “That was so thoughtful.”
“You know, you’re the first person who’s ever called me that,” Kade told her.
“Somehow I find that hard to believe.” She moved to the kitchen cupboard. “Do you have a vase anywhere?”
“Sorry. That’s not something I’ve ever had need of.”
“That’s okay.” She retrieved a pitcher from the top shelf and filled it with water. After arranging the flowers in it, she set it on the counter. “What do you think?”
Something warmed inside him, and he grasped to find words. What did he think? He thought Renee was the most beautiful woman he had ever known. Somehow he doubted she would believe such a declaration after barely a week together. “I think breakfast smells good. Is it ready?”
“Yeah. I just need to get the syrup.”
“Jam for me.” Kade saw her eyebrows lift. “Hey, it’s how I always ate them when I was a kid.”
“Where did you grow up?”
Kade didn’t answer and was annoyed that he wanted to. “What do you want to drink?”
The expression on her face didn’t hide her understanding or her frustration that he had avoided her question. Her silence stretched out, and he found he didn’t like it when questions went unanswered when he was the one asking. He set two glasses on the counter and forced himself to face her emotions head-on. “Renee, I’m not trying to be difficult. You’re asking questions I don’t answer for anyone.”
“I’m not just anyone. I’m part of the guardian program now, even if it is in a support role.”
“I’ve told you I don’t talk about my past with them either, and I don’t ask about theirs. It’s a matter of survival.”
“After yesterday, it seems to me that my survival is in as much jeopardy as yours.” She picked up the pancakes and carried them to the table.
“It won’t always be that way.”
“Are you sure?” Her voice held an edge.
Kade understood her frustration. He shared it. Taking the milk from the refrigerator, he poured a glass for each of them. “These things can take time, but we will get it sorted out.”
“I don’t know how many more days I can stand staying locked up in here, staring at computer screens.” She sat at the table.
“You stared at computer screens before when you went to work.”
“Yeah, but then I could at least go out for walks and work out every day. Daylight wasn’t always filtered through skylights, and I didn’t have to worry about someone trying to end my life.”
Recognizing the root of the problem, Kade circled to stand behind her and put both hands on her shoulders to massage away the tightness centered there. “I know this is hard. I remember those early days when I was in hiding, always expecting someone was waiting for me to step outside, never sure I was safe.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “That was seven years ago, and I’m still here. I’m going to make sure we can talk about the hard times when we’re seven years into our future.” He gave her shoulders one last squeeze before taking his seat.
When he could see her face again, there were tears swimming in her eyes. Surprised by them, both because she had seemed to be doing so well last night and because he wanted to smooth them away, he said, “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
“I know I’ve only known you for a week, but is it even possible for us to have a future?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. Before you, I never met anyone who made me consider the question.” He put his hand on hers. “Eat your breakfast, and afterward, we’ll go for a walk. I think we need to take the day off and recharge.”
She gave him a small nod. Seeing that she still hadn’t quite pulled herself out of whatever mood she’d fallen into, he gave her a piece of himself he hadn’t shared in years. “Russia. I grew up in Russia.”