He tipped back his beer, drinking the entire bottle, his throat moving in a way that was blatantly sexy. Finishing, he set it down and accepted a second one from Malcolm. “Yeah. Since I’m fine and don’t need shrinking, Nari and I talk about fashion, the Kardashians, and sometimes the royal family. I’m betting little Archie will be a fantastic polo player.”
What a smart aleck.
Nari drew a chair over from its perch against the dented yellowed wall and sat. “I took that bet. I’m going to win.”
Okay. Two smart alecks.
Wolfe twisted the cap off the bottle. “Oh, and Dana is moving in with me for a short time while we handle a story that might’ve put her in danger. It’s her story and not a Deep Ops case, and I’ll call you in if we need you. Right now, we don’t. Figured you gossips would like to hear it from me first.”
Nari sat forward. “What kind of story?”
How interesting that Wolfe didn’t mention his own case. Dana cut him a look but didn’t rat him out, as he no doubt trusted her to keep silent. She’d agree for now, but if he didn’t let her in, she wouldn’t cover for him indefinitely with the team. Well, probably. She did feel a sense of loyalty to the guy, considering he’d saved her life from a psycho ex-senator the previous month. “I’m not at liberty to discuss it quite yet,” she said, a little primly.
Force narrowed in on Wolfe. “Does the story explain those ridiculous pants?”
Frankly, they were kind of sexy on the hard-bodied soldier, but Dana didn’t argue.
Wolfe nodded. “Yeah, and get used to them. Dana and I might have to go undercover in a couple of sex clubs for her story. Wait until you see her outfit. Meow, as they say.”
Her jaw dropped open. Plain and simple. She whirled on him, her breath catching. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Tonight was just the beginning.” His eyes gleamed in a way that made her lungs want to stop breathing altogether. “You have another corset, right? If not, we can go shopping. I bet the lady at the leather pants store will give you a deal.”
She swallowed. What had she just gotten herself into? “Forget the corset. Maybe I’ll go full leather and get my own whip this time.”
Wolfe chuckled, the sound low and dark, sliding across her skin. “Not a chance. In this game, we go with our strengths. I’m the dom, baby.”
Everything in Dana flushed hot, head to toe, her body totally betraying her mind. She couldn’t find a word to say, and suddenly her clothes became too tight. She tried to give him a glare, but his face was inscrutable, the look in his eyes one she couldn’t identify but felt in inappropriate places.
Nari pressed her lips together in a terrible attempt to hide a smile. “Well, now. Maybe we will have something to talk about in our sessions, Dana.”
Chapter Four
Wolfe led Dana into his kitchen through the garage, quickly resetting the alarm system he’d installed the previous week. “The code is 1156, and you have to punch it in within twenty seconds of walking into the kitchen, or the noise is frightening.” He gestured her toward the living room. Should he tell her where all the weapons were hidden? “Do you know how to shoot a gun?”
She dropped her folders on the round kitchen table that had come with the quaint house. “I can shoot a shotgun, but I haven’t practiced much with handguns.”
So, no. She didn’t need to know where all the guns were hidden.
“How about knife fighting or hand to hand?” The woman took chances all the time in her job; surely, she’d gotten some training to protect herself.
“Not really. I took a couple of self-defense classes in college, but I’ve never fought with a knife.” Her smile kind of ticked him off.
He crossed his arms and leaned back against the fridge. “When you choose a dangerous type of work, you have a responsibility to look at all the things that could go wrong.” In fact, everyone in every job should look at the dangers around them, for Pete’s sake.
“I’m still standing,” she said, surveying his house. “I like your place.”
The home felt different with her in it. More welcoming and somehow brighter. She’d only been there five minutes, and already the rooms seemed warmer with the sweet smell of orange blossoms hanging in the air. He had to shut down that kind of thinking right now. “When we get the chance, I’ll teach you some knife moves. Also, you should learn how to shoot a gun at some point.”
“Sure. Sounds like fun.” She yawned and covered her mouth with her hand.
Shaking her would be rude, so he tamped down his irritation. He pointed toward the master bedroom. “Why don’t you get some sleep? The room is yours.”
She paused and glanced toward the other bedroom and its closed door. “I’m not sleeping with you, Wolfe. The guest room will be fine.”
He smiled. Man, she was cute. Her blond hair was all ruffled around her shoulders, and her soft green eyes were glazed over and sleepy. She looked as sexy in the worn flannel and jeans as she had in the tight corset. He cleared his throat. “I know. I turned the other bedroom into an office, so I’ll bunk out on the sofa. I end up falling asleep there most nights, anyway.”
A plaintive meow caught his attention as a miniature kitten strutted out of the master bedroom, his damaged ear twitching. He blinked one green and one blue eye, saw Dana, and beelined to rub against her ankle. They were old friends.
She picked up the white fur ball and rubbed him against her cheek. “Hey, Kat. I wondered where you were hiding.”
Lucky cat. Wolfe had rescued him from a park near the office, cleaned him up, and let him pretty much do what he wanted. As he grew, his eyes had gone from all blue to just one blue and one green. It was pretty cool. His food bowl was full, as was his water, so he was content. The little bastard probably would sleep with Dana, so the kitten was one lucky feline.
“He’s almost too big for my jacket pocket, but not quite.” Wolfe’s leather jacket had hand pockets that were wide enough for the kitten to burrow into, if he so wished. Wolfe tossed several case files onto the table next to Dana’s research.
Her phone buzzed from her purse, and she sighed, reaching in to stop the noise.
His patience was close to an end, but he kept his voice mild. “Who is bothering you?”
“Nobody.” She stretched her neck, the movement both stubborn and sexy—an intriguing combination.
Heat ticked down his back. “I could take your phone from you, you know.”
Her eyebrows rose, and challenge filled her intelligent eyes. “But you won’t.”
She was correct. He wouldn’t take her phone because he didn’t have the right to do so. She wasn’t his, and she never would be. “I want to help.”
“If I need help, I’ll ask.” She turned for the bedroom, taking the kitten with her, that sweet butt swaying. “Good night, Wolfe.”
“’Night.” He watched her go, his hands feeling way too empty. When the door shut behind them, he quickly texted information to Brigid so she could track down the two guys in the black truck. As soon as Wolfe took them out, Dana could go back to her safe apartment and his house could go back to being empty and too quiet. Good plan.
Now what?
He looked around the comfortable home, which had come furnished. He’d purchased it from Malcolm when Mal had moved into the house next door with his girlfriend, Pippa, who was an amazing cook. In fact, wasn’t there some leftover apple pie in the fridge? Being Pippa’s neighbor came with definite perks.
He moved