Rekindled (Titanium Security Series) by Cross Kaylea Page A

intentions because she knew he wanted to try and win her back, she recognized the sincerity of his statement. Alex would protect her no matter what, even at risk to his career, his own life. At his core he was honorable, but more than that, he truly did still care, and it turned her inside out. As Grace digested his words and the force with which he delivered them, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say other than, “Okay.”
    He must have been expecting an argument, because he blinked as though surprised by her answer. His entire body seemed to relax, that constant hum of energy he carried with him dimming a little. “Thank you.”
    She nodded, part of her suddenly wishing there was a way to bridge the gap between them. Standing before her now was the man she’d fallen in love with. Knowing he’d risk everything to ensure her safety slipped past every defense she had.
    Shoving those unsettling thoughts aside, she quickly finished packing and zipped up her suitcase. As soon as she finished, Alex took if from her and opened the door. She followed him down to the lobby with a security guard and through a service access hallway to a hidden exit at the back of the building. He opened the exterior door and stopped to check everything, then stepped outside into the bright, hot sunshine and held the door for her.
    He led her to a black SUV parked close to the building, maybe the same one he’d roared up in yesterday, and opened the trunk to load her bag. After opening her door, he took another look around then checked the vehicle—she assumed for an explosive or tracking device—and finally slid behind the wheel. It surprised her that he didn’t have bodyguards with him, but then she noticed another dark SUV tailing them. She relaxed when Alex looked at it in the rearview mirror calmly and realized it had to be a security detail.
    He shut his door and immediately the big vehicle seemed smaller, his big frame filling the seat. With his shirt sleeves rolled up, she watched the muscles in his tanned forearms flex as he gripped the steering wheel.
    “Where are we going now?” she asked as he fired up the engine.
    “My hotel. The rest of my team’s there, and two more members should be arriving sometime tonight. We’re all staying there under aliases and only checked in two nights ago. We’ll be moving again in the morning, just in case, but you’ll be well-protected there.”
    Things were too tense for her to start asking about trivial things like sleeping arrangements. Though she had to wonder, could she hold back from him if they spent the whole night in his room together? The physical attraction between them had been explosive right from day one, and judging by her body’s reaction to him just being near, it hadn’t lessened one bit. In fact, her body craved him even more now that he’d suddenly reappeared in her life. It remembered what he could do to her with his hands and that muscular body, what he’d shown her about her true sexuality during their short time together in Kenya.
    “I still have to make that meeting,” she said quietly as he drove. There was no way she could miss it. Not only was she a critical part of the team, she’d been at ground zero days after the attack in Syria. Her professional reputation was on the line. If he tried to keep her from going, he’d have a hell of a fight on his hands.
    But he merely nodded, as though resigned to the idea. “I know. We’ll figure something out.”
    Within two days, while he worked around the clock on a critical manhunt and worrying about her security? She glanced over at him, her gaze sweeping over his strong profile. He was as powerful as ever, maybe even more than he had been four years ago. Mombasa had changed him. Hardened him. Somehow that only added to his appeal, and it annoyed the hell out of her. Even now it was impossible to ignore the emotional connection between them.
    When they stopped at a traffic light Alex turned his head and