witnesses?”
Did she sound disappointed that he wouldn’t be with her, or was that just wishful thinking? “Maybe. My commander hasn’t given me an official assignment yet.” But damn, he wanted to be on Taya’s detail. She brought out all his protective urges, true, but it was more than that.
He needed to protect her, personally, and to do everything in his power to ensure she was safe. Hell, after what it had condoned and allowed to be done to her, the government fucking owed her at least that much. And so did he.
He shifted against the wall, fighting the urge to cross the room and sit next to her, put himself between her and anyone else, even his teammates. Which was crazy. They were here to help her.
Shit, maybe he should ask DeLuca for permission to join the detail. His commander might allow it if Nate could back up his request with solid reasons.
Cruz and Vance were both watching him now. Nate caught the white flash of Vance’s teeth against his deep brown skin as he fought a grin. Nate shot him a quelling glare. “What?”
Vance covered his mouth with one big fist, masking his chuckle with a cough. “Nothin’.”
Nate shifted his gaze to Cruz next, whose eyes danced with amusement, and raised his eyebrows in silent demand. Problem?
Cruz merely grinned before turning his attention back to Taya. “Any other questions or concerns on your mind right now?”
She snorted softly. “Well, yeah, but the rest can wait until we know more, I guess.”
“Sounds good. Can I have your phone for a minute?”
Taya entered her passcode and handed it to him. “I’m putting in mine and Vance’s numbers,” he told her, then slid a teasing, sidelong glance in Nate’s direction. “And Schroder’s too, I guess,” he added. “If something comes up, call or text one of us. We’ll contact you the same way.”
“Perfect, thanks,” she said as he handed it back to her.
When a knock sounded on the door, Cruz and Vance both stood. “That’ll be the lawyers,” Cruz said and strode toward the foyer.
Taya shifted in her chair and smoothed her hands over the front of her dress. To Nate she looked suddenly weary. He wished she didn’t have to sit through another meeting with strangers right now, alone.
Voices came from the foyer and Cruz reappeared with three men and one woman dressed in business suits, all carrying briefcases. “Security’s cleared them all,” he told Taya, then nodded at Vance and Nate. “Shall we?”
Taya stood to shake hands with the lawyers, but then her gaze strayed to Nate. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” she said to the group before turning to follow him to the foyer. Nate paused to wait for her as his teammates headed for the door.
Cruz and Vance glanced back at them questioningly, and Vance smoothed over what could have been an awkward moment by saying, “See you both later.” Without another word he opened the door and both men walked out into the hall.
Nate faced Taya and slid his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t be tempted to touch her again. She put on a smile for him. “Sorry we didn’t get to talk longer.”
“It’s okay, this is more important right now,” he said, nodding toward the other room where the prosecution waited.
“Well maybe we’ll get another chance to catch up while I’m here.” Her gaze moved over his face, almost as if she was cataloguing his features. Awareness and longing tingled up his spine. “It was great to see you again, Nathan.”
“You too. And look, what Cruz said is true. If you need anything or want us to check on something or your gut says something doesn’t feel right, contact one of us.” Though he wanted to be the one she reached out to if anything was bothering her.
She nodded. “I will.”
For a moment he stood there, fighting the urge to reach for her, but she ignored his hesitation, stepped forward to close the distance between them and slid her arms around his back. “Thanks for coming to check on
Did she sound disappointed that he wouldn’t be with her, or was that just wishful thinking? “Maybe. My commander hasn’t given me an official assignment yet.” But damn, he wanted to be on Taya’s detail. She brought out all his protective urges, true, but it was more than that.
He needed to protect her, personally, and to do everything in his power to ensure she was safe. Hell, after what it had condoned and allowed to be done to her, the government fucking owed her at least that much. And so did he.
He shifted against the wall, fighting the urge to cross the room and sit next to her, put himself between her and anyone else, even his teammates. Which was crazy. They were here to help her.
Shit, maybe he should ask DeLuca for permission to join the detail. His commander might allow it if Nate could back up his request with solid reasons.
Cruz and Vance were both watching him now. Nate caught the white flash of Vance’s teeth against his deep brown skin as he fought a grin. Nate shot him a quelling glare. “What?”
Vance covered his mouth with one big fist, masking his chuckle with a cough. “Nothin’.”
Nate shifted his gaze to Cruz next, whose eyes danced with amusement, and raised his eyebrows in silent demand. Problem?
Cruz merely grinned before turning his attention back to Taya. “Any other questions or concerns on your mind right now?”
She snorted softly. “Well, yeah, but the rest can wait until we know more, I guess.”
“Sounds good. Can I have your phone for a minute?”
Taya entered her passcode and handed it to him. “I’m putting in mine and Vance’s numbers,” he told her, then slid a teasing, sidelong glance in Nate’s direction. “And Schroder’s too, I guess,” he added. “If something comes up, call or text one of us. We’ll contact you the same way.”
“Perfect, thanks,” she said as he handed it back to her.
When a knock sounded on the door, Cruz and Vance both stood. “That’ll be the lawyers,” Cruz said and strode toward the foyer.
Taya shifted in her chair and smoothed her hands over the front of her dress. To Nate she looked suddenly weary. He wished she didn’t have to sit through another meeting with strangers right now, alone.
Voices came from the foyer and Cruz reappeared with three men and one woman dressed in business suits, all carrying briefcases. “Security’s cleared them all,” he told Taya, then nodded at Vance and Nate. “Shall we?”
Taya stood to shake hands with the lawyers, but then her gaze strayed to Nate. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” she said to the group before turning to follow him to the foyer. Nate paused to wait for her as his teammates headed for the door.
Cruz and Vance glanced back at them questioningly, and Vance smoothed over what could have been an awkward moment by saying, “See you both later.” Without another word he opened the door and both men walked out into the hall.
Nate faced Taya and slid his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t be tempted to touch her again. She put on a smile for him. “Sorry we didn’t get to talk longer.”
“It’s okay, this is more important right now,” he said, nodding toward the other room where the prosecution waited.
“Well maybe we’ll get another chance to catch up while I’m here.” Her gaze moved over his face, almost as if she was cataloguing his features. Awareness and longing tingled up his spine. “It was great to see you again, Nathan.”
“You too. And look, what Cruz said is true. If you need anything or want us to check on something or your gut says something doesn’t feel right, contact one of us.” Though he wanted to be the one she reached out to if anything was bothering her.
She nodded. “I will.”
For a moment he stood there, fighting the urge to reach for her, but she ignored his hesitation, stepped forward to close the distance between them and slid her arms around his back. “Thanks for coming to check on
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