Page 5 (1/2)

Steele lived just outside of Nashville, a little less than two hours’ drive away frohold on Kentucky Lake He was a loner, and maybe that hy she liked and respected him so much He didn’t want to be intruded on, so he rarely intruded on his teah away that she wouldn’t be covered up by the teah that forfro the team come to her en route to the eventual location

But now she had a complication she hadn’t envisioned

Cole

Cole lived between Nashville and the KGI co a lot closer to him, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that now He was a distraction she didn’t need

The person sitting next to her in the ot up and headed for the lavatory, and PJ leaned into the , hoping to get an hour nap before they landed in Nashville Out of the corner of her eye she saw Cole also head in the direction of the bathroom from several rows behind her

When the wo next to PJ came out, Cole stopped her and the two spoke a moment Cole turned on that infectious charust, PJ watched as the woman became putty in his hands

She frowned even harder when the woman returned but didn’t stop at her seat and instead continued on Then Cole started back down the aisle without going into the bathrooroaned when he stepped over the person in the aisle seat and plunked down beside PJ

"Oh come on, Cole," PJ rinned "I just told her that we’re traveling together and couldn’t get seat assignments and then offered her my aisle seat a fes back She was happy to accoain, why?"

"Loosen up, Rutherford You’re way too uptight You act like last night was the end of the world"

"Shut up!" she hissed out between her teeth "I’ this conversation with you on a crowded plane"

He turned and leaned in so he was close, and heyou say or do changes that fact, so get over it"

"It doesn’tcouple now"

"Why are you so prickly?" he asked

There was no censure or condemnation, just honest curiosity

"You’ve been standoffish since day one No one can get close to you No one can ask you questions Hell, you know all there is to know about me, Dolphin, Renshaw and Baker Not so much Steele, but then who does? But you act like it’s a cardinal sin for us to know a da about you What happened with SWAT sucks, but do you honestly think the teae you if they knew? Or is it that you don’t trust us because your last teaainst theThey still had twoUnless she wanted to hang out in the craht

He shifted closer to her until his shoulder rested against hers and she could smell him Her soap on him, since he’d used her shower But she used plain soap, so that wasn’t what she was s It was him Clean, delicious male

It was too easy to remember how much time she’d spent up close and personal to all that wonderful male flesh She’d licked him and he’d licked her in return Oh yes, he had

She shivered

"You cold?" he asked "I can adjust your vent"

She shook her head and wondered how she was going to survive the next two hours

CHAPTER 5

WHEN PJ and Cole left the security gate in Nashville, PJ groaned when she saw Dolphin standing a short distance away holding a sign that said PJ in big letters Sive hirinned when he saw both her and Cole and then started in their direction He was the epitoinally from Texas and he had the worn cowboy look doithout actually looking like he was right off the ranch

More often than not he wore jeans with at least half a dozen holes, flip-flops thatto the beach and a T-shirt, usually with a snarky saying Today’s offering was "Heavily armed, easily pissed"

Damn but she wanted that T-shirt

He, like Cole, was a former navy SEAL, and he’d been called Dolphin since BUD/S training, because he swam like one The man was more at-hoills in his rib cage so you here, Cole," Dolphin said with a sly grin

Before PJ could conte to happen!--he responded so casually that she even believed hiates Figured ere going the saether"

Dolphin frowned "You went out of town?"

Cole snorted "I do have a life, you know We were supposed to be up for some extended R and R"

PJ cut in, relieved that Dolphin seemed to accept Cole’s explanation "So what’s up anyway, Dolphin? Steele was as closed mouthed as ever when he called ed as he e "Got me You know him We’ll know all when Steele deems it appropriate Me, I’m just the errand boy sent to provide PJ a ride"

Just then Cole’s phone went off He glanced down and frowned as he read the e

"What’s up?" PJ asked and then realized how nosy she sounded

But Cole didn’t seeot through Steele says we’reat his house, not the compound"

"Oh yeah," Dolphin said "You didn’t know? I figure the world’s co Steele’s inner sanctum? This must be some pretty heavy-duty shit I just hope to hellhim, it’s probably not on any official GPS ed a look Dolphin was being a smart-ass but he wasn’t far off the et the hell where they were going so she could find out what sort of mission they’d been called up on

When they arrived at Dolphin’s truck, he grabbed PJ’s pack before she could toss it in the back herself She cli the front for Cole She only hoped he took the hint She found herself holding her breath as he walked around the other side

To her relief, he climbed in the front just as Dolphin slid behind the wheel

"You get any rest at all, PJ?" Dolphin asked as he glanced in the rearviewshe had not to blush Cole h and a laugh She wanted to stick her knife right through the back of his neck Asshole was enjoying this

"Slept like a baby," she said in a silky voice