Pulling the car into the parking lot of the unassuming apartment complex, I cut the engine and remained in the driver’s seat for a moment. Emily looked all too enthused about the cruddy little building, and I felt a pit of dread forming in my stomach. I didn’t want her trip to the States to be disappointing, but it wasn’t really supposed to be my priority to show her a good time.

She fidgeted at my side, and I breathed a sigh before unfastening my seatbelt and stepping out of the car. She was quick to follow, lurching out of the passenger side of the SUV with a grin on her face.

“This is the place?” she asked, much more exuberant than the situation called for.

I offered her a smile, circling around the car to offer her my arm.

“Yep, this is it. Home sweet home, for a while,” I said carefully.

She squealed with delight, all but dragging me towards the front entrance of the building. I tried to refrain from laughing, internally cringing at how open I’d been with the girl. She was my prisoner when it came down to it, and I was slowly realizing that the fantasies I’d been having about her would have to remain just that.

I’d not intended to take her first kiss, and for all the banter we’d lobbed back and forth about it, I felt immeasurably guilty.

“What are you waiting for? I have no idea where I’m going; lead the way,” she eagerly requested—well, more like demanded.

I shook off my negative thoughts, focusing on leading my cheery captive to her new cage, as it were. We strode arm in arm through the complex, with Emily oohing and ahhing somewhat strangely every time we passed something of interest.

“All right, this should be it,” I laughed, unlocking the door and pushing my way inside.

Emily nearly bowled me over trying to get past me to get a look at the interior. Once inside, she stood in the middle of the small living area, examining the room with an intent expression.

“Is it everything you hoped for?” I asked, prepared for her disappointed pout or disgust-wrinkled nose.

“It’s quaint! It’s perfect,” she sighed dreamily, walking towards the ripped sofa and sitting delicately on the middle cushion.

“This is the most uncomfortable sofa I’ve ever sat on,” she said, as if it were the happiest experience of her life. “Can you believe it? The floor of my old apartment was more comfortable than this,” she continued, patting the seat next to her.

I might have found her actions borderline insane if I didn’t know how sheltered her life had been prior to that moment. As it stood, I resigned myself to sitting in squalor beside her.

“There’s a spring poking my ass,” I declared, and she laughed, winking slyly at me.

“Wanna switch? I could use a good poke,” she all but purred, and I outright guffawed in response.

“Easy, tiger. You gotta learn to walk before signing up for a marathon,” I said, feeling a bit flustered at the expression she was facing me with.

It looked as if she would like nothing more than to eat me alive, and I realized I would have to rein the situation in a bit. As much as I’d have liked to screw her on that sad excuse for a sofa, I had to keep the mission in mind. Strange how all I’d fantasized about was essentially being spread before me, but I was forced to resist for the sake of my job. For her sake, as well, truth be told.

As much as I lusted for the girl, I was certain that she was too innocent to take a one-night stand at face value. Especially when we’d be forced to stay together until I turned her in to the FBI.

“So, about that poking…” she began, and I swallowed a retort, instead rising from the sofa and gesturing to my seat.

“Help yourself. I’m going to make some dinner for the two of us. Just don’t expect anything too fancy; I don’t know when the last time they stocked this place was,” I said in a rush, walking briskly into the kitchenette.

There weren’t too many amenities in the place, but as I rummaged through the cabinets, I figured I could throw together a pot of mac and cheese. It was just the boxed junk that kids love, but I had to admit it was a guilty pleasure of mine. If I couldn’t enjoy one guilty pleasure, all the better to replace it with something a bit more acceptable.

“Do you need any help?” Emily asked from the entry to the kitchen, leaning across the bar that partially separated it from the living room.

I forced my eyes away from her breasts, which she seemed so keen on having displayed. I wasn’t a fool by any means; I knew when someone was trying to seduce me. It was simply a matter of resisting her charms, and thank God that I was a stronger man than most. She certainly knew how to work what charms she had, and it was all I could do not to sweep her up in another stolen kiss.

“No, I’ve got it. You can come and sit, though. It shouldn’t take long,” I offered, pouring the noodles into the pot to boil.

She watched with obvious fascination, blessedly distracted from her innocent little surge of hormones for the time being. Her eyes were alight with delight, and I tried to ignore the little tingles of arousal rushing through me. She was so adorable it almost felt sinful to be so attracted to her. I managed to get it under control, focusing on the task of cooking.

Draining the excess water from the noodles, I poured in the powdery cheese sauce and stirred dutifully. The smell was tantalizing, even if the visual probably wasn’t nearly as extravagant as she was used to. I grabbed two bowls from the cupboard, scooping a heaping helping of macaroni into each of them.

She actually trembled with excitement when I placed her bowl in front of her, pressing a fork into her hand.

“This…is dinner?” she asked hesitantly.

“Yup. Eat up, buttercup,” I said, digging into my own bowl.

She hesitated for a moment, then dipped her fork into the bowl. Her lips parted, and I found myself watching with baited breath as she took the first bite. A low rumble of pleasure thrummed from her throat, and another surge of arousal shot through me.

“It’s so good,” she mumbled, eagerly taking another bite, then another. I watched in fascination as she polished off the whole bowl, resting her hand on her stomach with a content smile. “That’s quite possibly the best meal I’ve ever had,” she said, grinning goofily.

“You act like you’ve never had mac and cheese before,” I teased, and she smiled a bit strangely.

“Nothing like this,” she replied, staring longingly at my bowl. Realizing I wasn’t all that hungry, I handed her over the second helping. It wasn’t like I could resist those puppy dog eyes, even if I wanted to.

“I can’t believe you can say this old cruddy box of macaroni is the best meal you’ve ever had,” I chuckled.

She paused in the middle of taking another bite, swallowing what was in her mouth and giggling.

“It’s my first meal as a free woman. Don’t you think that deserves to be celebrated?” she asked.

My heart nearly broke in two, and I certainly wasn’t about to tell her that she wasn’t free—not by any means. I simply nodded, sitting opposite her at the table and watching her eat. If she was self-conscious, she gave no indication, simply humming along and enjoying her meal.

“You’ve never had stuff like this? Not even as a kid?” I asked, resting my elbow on the table.

“My dad always saw that every meal was eaten at or catered by some five-star establishment. I’ve eaten food prepared by some of the best chefs in the country, but…it was all handed to me. There was no joy in it,” she mumbled.

I nodded slowly, realizing that her life had been lived in a bubble, similar but completely unlike the one I knew in West Virginia. I couldn’t exactly blame her for wanting to escape. Who could? The girl never even had mac and cheese out of a cardboard box!

“My dad was strict, too. I’ve mentioned him—a real sour sort of guy. He wanted me to take over the convenience store he ran in town, but I wanted more than that life could give me, ya know?” I confessed, the words spilling past my lips unbidden.

She nodded, reaching out to grip my free hand in her own.

“So, you joined the military to get away? Would you say you’re happy with the way your life is turning out?” she asked gently, as if she almost knew the answer.

I laughed somewhat bitterly, giving her hand a squeeze in spite of myself.

“It’s… I’ve seen a lot of things in my lifetime. Different countries, the majority of the United States…but I’ve never really had someone to share it with. I’ve never had a meaningful relationship in my life, parents aside. As much as my dad pushed me, I knew he did it with love. I’ve started to think love isn’t in the cards for a guy like me,” I continued, feeling strangely vulnerable under her attentive gaze.

“I’m sure that’s not true, Owen. Any woman would be lucky…” she trailed off, looking almost pained.

I knew, in that moment, that the girl had it bad for me, and truth be told, I was beginning to feel a little something more than lust myself. I also knew it was foolish to allow Emily to get so close to me, to puncture my personal bubble.

That was the thing about living in a bubble—you thought you were safe until you realized how fragile your foundation really was. Emily’s affection cut me to the bone because, God, did I want to show her that same tenderness.

The reality of the situation was that I’d have to turn her in to the feds in a short matter of time. I would likely never see her again, and while I’d have the comfort of a job well done, I couldn’t help feeling as if I was missing out on something more—something better.

“Well, I’ll get these washed up while you explore the place some more. You should check out your room, you know,” I muttered, taking the bowls to the sink.

I felt her eyes on me for a long moment until she sighed and obligingly shuffled away. Once she’d disappeared, I found myself immediately missing her presence.

Christ, I was in trouble.