Running Blind by Cindy Gerard Page A

care of it,” she said evasively.
    â€œYou could have sent someone else.”
    â€œYup. But then I wouldn’t have gotten to see you sweat.”
    She had to get away from him before she blurted out something stupid, like I did it because I was concerned about you. I did it because yesterday made me realize that you’re not the Neanderthal creep I want you to be. I did it because I couldn’t not do it.
    She had her hand on the doorknob and was about to swing it open, when he said her name.
    His soft, tentative tone stopped her cold. And the look on his face when she looked over her shoulder at him almost melted her.
    â€œThank you.”
    He actually looked humble and sincere, and she wondered if she was getting her first glimpse of the real Jamie Cooper.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” she said shakily, and let herself out the door, not liking what she was thinking.
    Why did you do this?
    Because maybe she felt something for this man that she hadn’t let herself feel in a very long time.
    And that scared her half to death.
    â€¢Â Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â Â â€¢
    â€œWhat? Wait. No . . . no. That was scheduled for next week.” Coop tried to contain his annoyance when Nate called him into his office later that day. He hadn’t yet recovered from the Bombshell’s “house call,” where the scent of her perfume and her hands on his bare skin had made him crazy. And now Nate dropped this bomb.
    â€œThe time table’s been stepped up. NSA picked up some cyber-chatter this afternoon. It could be nothing, it could be something, but we need to make sure these particular bases are air-tight secure.”
    With his jaw clenched to keep from saying something he’d regret, Coop picked up the file folder Nate slid across his desk. He flipped it open and scanned the operation orders for routine security checks in Colorado and Utah, then tossed it back onto the desk. “I’m ass-deep in the investigation. You don’t need me for this. Any one of the guys—”
    â€œCould do it,” Nate agreed, cutting him off. “But any one of the guys’ names didn’t come up on the rotation. Isn’t that how you all decided to resolve undesirable assignments? Your name comes up, you go. No substitutions. No bitching.”
    He was right—but damn. “Nate. Come on. You know I need to be working the investigation.”
    â€œLook, I know what’s on the line here. And I know where your heart is. I’m sorry, Coop, it’s out of my hands. But I’ll personally handle things in your absence. You shouldn’t be on the road more than three days—four, tops, if you find problems.”
    Not seeing any way out, he walked stiffly toward the door, cursing his bad luck.
    â€œRemember, you’re to take Burns with you.”
    He spun around in panic. No. Please, God, no.
    â€œHow about I take B.J. instead?” He tried to sound as if his sanity didn’t depend on getting Burns off the detail. After that little Florence Nightingale session an hour ago, he knew he’d end up over his head if he was alone with her. “She’s always done the cyber-threat analysis part of the check.”
    â€œB.J. needs a break from the travel. Besides, it’s time Burns completes her first field assignment.”
    â€œIf I’ve got to do this now, I’d really prefer to take B.J.,” he tried again.
    Nate sat back in his chair, regarding him thoughtfully. “Is there a problem with you and Burns that I need to know about?”
    Shit. If he told Nate there was a problem, he’d assume that Coop didn’t think Rhonda was up to the task, which was not the case and wouldn’t be fair to her. She’d aced every assignment she’d been given.
    â€œNo,” he lied. “There’s no problem.”
    â€œOkay, then. Go let her know. Wheels up at five a.m.”
    It took a conscious effort to