Chapter 6
six
. . .
Mia
I stand over him in the living room and watch him sleep for another moment, but it’s not ethical to let him go on like this: he’s snoring like a chainsaw.
Even if I could have fallen asleep for a few minutes after last night, no I couldn’t.
I should have let him sleep in the bed, but we wouldn’t have gotten any sleep then, either. And he’s already too close to me. I can’t let this, us, happen again. Not now, when we’re so close to wrapping the case.
Hopefully Harvey thinks Armin is dead, and turns his attention elsewhere, but I can’t bet on it.
I wonder if I was the target, too, if he saw me sneak onto the catamaran.
If so, we’re going to need to change the strategy of the investigation.
If I’m the enemy again now, Harvey’s not going to blab into my breasts the way we need him to.
I have to meet with my team lead ASAP, no doubt about that. I brace myself for the argument that’s sure to erupt. I’m going to have to pretend it’s a client. And then Armin’s going to want to follow me, despite the attempted murder.
Even more because of it.
I swat at his bare feet. “You’re snoring.”
Armin chokes himself awake, splayed on a couch that wasn’t built to accommodate a man of his size, one knee up in the air, his foot dangling off the edge.
“I wouldn’t if you were with me,” he mumbles, and reaches for me, groggy, smiling slow at the sight of me. It melts my heart, as usual, and I hate him for it. I back out of his reach.
“I’ve got to go. There’s coffee in the kitchen. Help yourself to whatever you can find in the fridge.”
“Where are you going? I’ll go with you.”
“You can’t. It’s a…client.”
His eyes bulge wide, nostrils flare, and then he’s on his feet, straight-backed. “You can’t,” he blurts. “It’s not safe.” He lays his big hands on my shoulders. He keeps his touch soft. He’s always gentle with me. Unless I beg him not to be.
“Like hell I can’t.”
“They’re paying me to guard you.”
“You’re paying them to pay you to guard me.” I see him regret his honesty. He’s always been above board with me. I’ve always used it against him.
“I’ll keep my distance. I won’t get out of the car. Mia, just let me stay near you. They could have killed you last night.”
“Sure. Or they were trying to kill you. And I would have been collateral damage. Maybe you’re the real danger.”
His face collapses. I’m beating down every delicate nerve of his I can to get the upper hand, and I hate myself for it.
I step into him and wrap my arms around his middle, and all the stress leaves his face, replaced by lust. My face flushes, and the heat in my belly screams. I want him, too.
But I can’t. I have work to do.
“Listen, I’ll be back as soon as I can. Stay here. Make yourself comfortable. Harvey thinks you're dead. Maybe he thinks I am too. This is as safe as it gets. Don’t ruin it by showing your face in public.”
“You either,” he says. “Stay with me.”
He wraps both arms around me, all the way, and presses me against his chest. His heart beats hard, thrums against my cheek. I want to stay there forever.
But I push him away, and flee the apartment before he can say another word.