Traitorous Attraction by C. J. Miller

might be critical.”
    He was worried about his brother, so Kate ignored the implication that she didn’t know the difference. “Aiden adored you. You were his hero.”
    Connor inclined his head. “He said that?”
    “Yes. He used those words.” Hero. Courageous. Brave. Selfless. Every story Aiden told of his brother echoed those sentiments.
    Connor ran his hand across his jaw. “Funny. I’m no one’s hero. Never have been. Aiden and I have always looked out for each other.”
    That wasn’t the picture Aiden had painted. “He told me you had a difficult childhood.”
    Connor’s back went ramrod straight. She knew immediately she had crossed a line. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tread on a sore subject,” she said.
    “I don’t like to talk about the past. Our childhood has nothing to do with the present,” he said.
    She disagreed. Perhaps Connor had put bad memories behind him, but it still affected him. His problems trusting were deep-seated. “It doesn’t have to do with the mission,” she said, striving for neutral. Aiden had told her that he’d implored his brother not to live alone, not to shut out the world, but Connor didn’t listen. He had his own thoughts and feelings about life and he clung to them.
    “I shouldn’t have said anything. I was just telling you what I knew about Aiden,” Kate said.
    “Aiden’s perspective isn’t always accurate. We’ll get our tickets tomorrow.” He’d moved the conversation along. “I don’t want to let on to anyone about our plans. Let’s see what we can find to eat around here,” Connor said. He slipped his arm around her shoulder in a proprietary gesture. Heat crackled between them. Or was this one-sided? Completely in her head? Kate had never before been this self-doubting about a man. Most of the time, a man’s attention on her was take it or leave it. Whenever she’d had strong chemistry with someone in the past, they had felt the same. With Connor, she didn’t know where she stood. Some moments, it was as if he couldn’t have cared less about her. Other times, they behaved as a united team. The polarity confused her, and confusion wasn’t an emotion she embraced.
    When she tried to shrug him off, he repositioned his arm and pulled her closer. Lowering his face to her ear, he whispered, “Interested people are watching. I want to make it clear to everyone that you are mine. Otherwise, you’ll have visitors.”
    She’d read too much into his casual gesture. Kate turned to look at him. “I think it’s obvious we’re together.”
    “It’s not obvious what our relationship is.”
    “That’s because we don’t know what our relationship is. How can anyone else?” Kate asked, hearing the heat in her voice and throwing some ice on it.
    “I wasn’t aware we had a relationship that needed defining. Our reasons for being together are clear. We have to find my brother and you’re holding the information hostage. I need to keep you, and therefore the information, safe.”
    Kate mentally shook herself. Imagining an innocent touch was a hint of smoldering emotion just below the surface was ridiculous. “You make it sound like I have a choice. You’re not easy to work with. I had to make sure you brought me along.”
    “Now that you’re here, do you regret it?”
    Kate looked around her. She had never been to a place like this and she hoped to never be again. “I don’t regret it. I want to find Aiden. Besides, I have a feeling Rosario isn’t the most difficult part of this trip. The worst is yet to come.”
    Connor laughed and slapped her on the back. “That’s the spirit, Kate. Now you’re thinking like a Sphere agent.”
    * * *
    Their food options were slim. A nearby tavern served meals, the scent of greasy meat and peppers carrying across the street. In the heat, it was borderline nauseating.
    “We’ll try there,” Connor said.
    It was better than eating nothing or foraging in the jungle for food. Crossing to the one-story