out for the health of the team. When it comes to field fitness, I’ve got last word out here.”
She narrowed her eyes, understanding that not-so-subtle threat. “You wouldn’t.”
He stood from the couch, stiffer than he liked from the night on old springs and old stuffing. “I would,” he told her, not rising to her temper. “If I felt it was absolutely necessary. But today...it’s up to you.”
“Even though you’d rather not have me at your back.” She didn’t quite believe him, that was clear enough. Her voice was flat, her mouth was flat, and for the moment her brewing anger overrode the discomfort showing on her brow.
“That’s personal,” he said. “Totally different thing.”
She deflated, rubbing her forehead. “Damn.” She sighed. “If you’re going to be reasonable about it...”
“Professional,” he said. Except for the part of him that still felt the betrayal, and the part of him that didn’t want her on the team at all—and the part of him that wanted her back on his lap. Right now.
A bear of conflict. Never a good thing.
“There’s jerky in my pack,” he said. “That’ll help until we get to breakfast.”
She snorted. “Is it going to taste like that drink you gave me?”
“It’s going to taste salty and pretty damned hot,” he said. “Annorah makes it.”
He saw in her expression the moment she let herself think of the tang of tough meat and spices, the salt on her tongue...a certain longing, and all the primal bear showing through. He lost every bit of ground he’d gained—distancing himself from the state in which he’d woken.
Great. Apparently his body had plenty to say about Mariska, and had no compunction about ignoring his better judgment, or even giving him a break. He reached to the end of the couch and snagged his backpack, tossing it her way even as he headed for the bathroom. “Chow down. I’ll need ten minutes for a shower.”
Or half an hour.
But no cold shower would be long enough.
* * *
“Nick wants us to grab those computer hard drives,” Ian announced over breakfast—a diner just short of fast food where they piled on the protein and fruit. Ruger dug in as heartily as any of them, but it took a scowl at Mariska to make her reach for anything but the raspberries on the fruit plate. Ian eyed her and went on without comment. “We’ll also set up our satellite connection today—while we’re at it, we’ll see if there are any networks active in the area.”
Sandy bit a sausage in half. “Sounds like we should have someone from tech support up here with us.”
Ruger shook his head. “They’re all light-bloods, strictly in-house work. The few who aren’t are out on assignment already.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Ian shrugged. “Any one of us can take out hard drives or find an active network. We don’t have to hack it—we just need to know it’s there.”
“Right,” Mariska agreed. “If there’s anything within range out there, it’s going to be Core. Do you want me to tackle the hard drives?”
Ian gave her another hard once-over—seeing what Ruger saw, perhaps—her subdued nature and lackluster expression. “If you don’t mind, I’d really rather have you run another security sweep of the installation.”
She frowned. “Amulets? But I—”
Ian grinned. “Amulets, no. I’ll do that—outdoors and in. I don’t want to take any chances after yesterday. I’m just asking for regular security stuff.”
Relief brightened Mariska’s expression. “Sure,” she said. “First thing.”
Good. Ruger didn’t need her crowding his every move. He didn’t need her there at all.
Just keep telling yourself that.
Through breakfast, through the ride into the woods...that was exactly what he did. Even as he stood waiting for Ian and his team to inspect the site for new amulets.
But it didn’t quite offset the rise of the sensible inner voice suggesting that while he didn’t in fact need someone watching his back,
She narrowed her eyes, understanding that not-so-subtle threat. “You wouldn’t.”
He stood from the couch, stiffer than he liked from the night on old springs and old stuffing. “I would,” he told her, not rising to her temper. “If I felt it was absolutely necessary. But today...it’s up to you.”
“Even though you’d rather not have me at your back.” She didn’t quite believe him, that was clear enough. Her voice was flat, her mouth was flat, and for the moment her brewing anger overrode the discomfort showing on her brow.
“That’s personal,” he said. “Totally different thing.”
She deflated, rubbing her forehead. “Damn.” She sighed. “If you’re going to be reasonable about it...”
“Professional,” he said. Except for the part of him that still felt the betrayal, and the part of him that didn’t want her on the team at all—and the part of him that wanted her back on his lap. Right now.
A bear of conflict. Never a good thing.
“There’s jerky in my pack,” he said. “That’ll help until we get to breakfast.”
She snorted. “Is it going to taste like that drink you gave me?”
“It’s going to taste salty and pretty damned hot,” he said. “Annorah makes it.”
He saw in her expression the moment she let herself think of the tang of tough meat and spices, the salt on her tongue...a certain longing, and all the primal bear showing through. He lost every bit of ground he’d gained—distancing himself from the state in which he’d woken.
Great. Apparently his body had plenty to say about Mariska, and had no compunction about ignoring his better judgment, or even giving him a break. He reached to the end of the couch and snagged his backpack, tossing it her way even as he headed for the bathroom. “Chow down. I’ll need ten minutes for a shower.”
Or half an hour.
But no cold shower would be long enough.
* * *
“Nick wants us to grab those computer hard drives,” Ian announced over breakfast—a diner just short of fast food where they piled on the protein and fruit. Ruger dug in as heartily as any of them, but it took a scowl at Mariska to make her reach for anything but the raspberries on the fruit plate. Ian eyed her and went on without comment. “We’ll also set up our satellite connection today—while we’re at it, we’ll see if there are any networks active in the area.”
Sandy bit a sausage in half. “Sounds like we should have someone from tech support up here with us.”
Ruger shook his head. “They’re all light-bloods, strictly in-house work. The few who aren’t are out on assignment already.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Ian shrugged. “Any one of us can take out hard drives or find an active network. We don’t have to hack it—we just need to know it’s there.”
“Right,” Mariska agreed. “If there’s anything within range out there, it’s going to be Core. Do you want me to tackle the hard drives?”
Ian gave her another hard once-over—seeing what Ruger saw, perhaps—her subdued nature and lackluster expression. “If you don’t mind, I’d really rather have you run another security sweep of the installation.”
She frowned. “Amulets? But I—”
Ian grinned. “Amulets, no. I’ll do that—outdoors and in. I don’t want to take any chances after yesterday. I’m just asking for regular security stuff.”
Relief brightened Mariska’s expression. “Sure,” she said. “First thing.”
Good. Ruger didn’t need her crowding his every move. He didn’t need her there at all.
Just keep telling yourself that.
Through breakfast, through the ride into the woods...that was exactly what he did. Even as he stood waiting for Ian and his team to inspect the site for new amulets.
But it didn’t quite offset the rise of the sensible inner voice suggesting that while he didn’t in fact need someone watching his back,
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