Chapter 34

thirty-four

ALEX

Two hours later, I stuck my head around the living room door. “Is the coast clear?”

Dylan looked up from his laptop and smiled. “Liam’s gone to see Jeremy at the ranger’s house, and Connor’s looking around the property.”

I walked into the room and flopped into one of the overstuffed chairs. “Why do I feel as though I’ve been run over by a bus?”

“Liam talked to you for a while.”

I sighed. “Talking isn’t the word I would’ve chosen. I feel as though I’ve been interrogated.”

“He must be happy that he has more information to work with.”

I shrugged. “He was hoping for more.”

“Don’t take his attitude personally. He can be... intense.”

“He said you’ve worked together before.”

Dylan leaned back in his chair. “On a couple of cases. He’s a good agent. But if you want to show your appreciation for what he’s done, don’t give him chocolate brownies. I don’t think he likes them.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” The slow smile on Dylan’s face made me sigh. If I’d thought living with Dylan would be easy, I was wrong. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted and, at the moment, everything I can’t have.

“Try not to be too hard on him,” Dylan said with a grin. “Under all the cool, calm efficiency, there’s probably a man with a heart of gold.”

“For his sake, I hope so. What would you like for dinner?” The last thing I felt like doing was eating, but cooking was different. If I had something on my mind, I’d bake for hours. The simple act of measuring, mixing, and scraping ingredients into a pan gave my brain a chance to relax.

“There are plenty of leftovers in the kitchen,” Dylan said. “I’m happy to make a sandwich or something else with them.”

“It’s no problem. Cooking helps me to de-stress.” Sitting in front of a computer for hours on end or being harassed by a terrorist group was enough to make anyone crave the simple things in life.

“In that case, I’ll have whatever you’re making.” Dylan closed the lid of his laptop. “Would you like me to help?”

I grinned. “With relieving my stress?”

“With your cooking,” Dylan said dryly. “I can toast bread or grill a variety of options including cheese sandwiches and chicken. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could let me scramble some eggs.”

“I was thinking of making lasagna.”

Dylan bit his bottom lip. “If it comes in a box from the supermarket, I’m your man.”

“No box, but you could still be my man. ”

Dylan threw a cushion at me. “Not funny.”

It wasn’t supposed to be, and he knew it. “Well, if you won’t be my man, I suppose you could help me in the kitchen. But you have to follow my directions.”

Dylan rubbed his hands together. “If we’re making lasagna from scratch, I’ll do whatever you say.”

If I’d known it would be that easy, I would have suggested teaching Dylan how to cook two weeks earlier. “You’re half Italian. How come you don’t know how to make lasagna?”

“I was usually outside with Dad when Mom was baking. When I was older, the crash course she gave me didn’t include lasagna.”

I stood and held out my hand. “Well, from one IT geek to another, welcome on board. I’m sure we’ll create a modern-day masterpiece.”

Dylan wrapped his hand around mine.

The warmth and softness of his skin made goosebumps skitter along my arm. I hoped he enjoyed the cooking lesson because, after this was over, I planned on spending a whole lot of time with him. And if some of that time was in the kitchen, I’d die a happy man.

The sound of a foghorn filled the room. Someone or something had activated one of the security cameras.

Dylan frowned. “It’s probably Jeremy.”

“I hope so.” I rushed across the room and picked up my satellite phone. “It’s not Jeremy. I don’t recognize the SUVs.”

“How many vehicles?”

“Two.”

Dylan pulled out his phone. “I’ll call everyone. We’re going to the ranger’s house. Find your getaway bag and meet me in the garage. ”

I was already heading toward my office—not to grab my getaway bag, but to protect the information on my computer. If any of the data got into the wrong hands, a lot of people’s lives could be in danger.

I quickly logged in and activated Clean Sweep, the program that would wipe all documents, folders, and emails from my computer. In a few minutes, everything would be gone. And if we were lucky, escaping to the ranger’s house would be just as straightforward.