I smirked in triumph as the lock popped open.

“Where did you learn to pick locks like that?” Amelia questioned, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“Just a skill I picked up from work,” I answered without really thinking about it.

“So, you’re a finance manager who needs to know how to pick locks?” She raised an eyebrow in my direction, her arms folded over her chest. Her feet were planted in the ground, and I had the feeling she wasn’t going to budge until I told her the truth.

“Yep.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Of course you don’t. We both know I’m not really a finance manager. Ask me what the square root of 144 is, and I couldn’t tell you. But ask me to shoot a gun, and I’ll hit my target every single time. Ask me to scale a building… well… I haven’t done that in a while, but I could probably do it. Ask me to take a bullet for you, and I would do it in a heartbeat.”

Amelia was quiet for a moment. “I don’t believe you’re James Bond either.”

“Well, then I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you’ll just have to spend some more time with me and find out who I really am.” I offered her my hand, hoping she would take it.

She hesitated, but eventually, she relented. Her palm felt silky against my own. Her fingers were tiny and delicate.

Together, we walked through the garden’s path. Most of the flowers were curled up in their buds for the night, but there were a few that were dancing in the moonlight, soaking up the silver rays.

In the heart of the garden was a small gazebo. I guided Amelia along the steps and toward the hammock.

She stopped me, her hand on my chest. “I know where this is going, and I don’t know if I’m comfortable with it.”

I nodded my understanding. “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. I’m not that kind of man.” I expected her to pull away from me and demand to go home, but instead, she moved a little closer, both of her hands on my chest. Her proximity made me shiver. I wanted nothing more than to take her into my arms and kiss her – to taste those sweet, sweet lips – but I refrained, unwilling to break her boundaries.

“You’re a mystery, Cruz.”

I chuckled. “How so?”

“I’m used to solving puzzles. It’s what I do whenever I research a crime for my novels. I like to take all of the pieces and figure out exactly how they fit together so that I can properly paint the picture for everyone else. But you’re different. I can’t seem to figure you out. I don’t know if you’re actually a gentleman or just a professional con man trying to steal my heart.”

“I am trying to steal your heart, all right, but I’m no con man.”

“Then tell me what you do for a living.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” she demanded. “Do you not trust me?”

“It’s not that. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit. I can hold my own.”

“Not when it comes to the men I deal with.”

“What are you? Some FBI agent?” she guessed. “Although I can’t really see you doing that.”

“Amelia, please. Don’t push this issue.”

She shook her head. “I can’t just ignore it. I like you. More than I’d like to admit. But I can’t commit myself to this relationship if I don’t even know who you are.”

“Wait… did you just say relationship? As in, you’re open to the idea of having a relationship with me?”

Her cheeks reddened. “Maybe… you are handsome, funny, affectionate…”

I grinned. “And here I was thinking you wanted nothing to do with me and that I was wasting my time by flirting with you.”

“Hey, don’t get a big head just because I said you were handsome.”

“I already have a big head,” I said, motioning to my wild nest of curly hair. “But Amelia, I’m telling the truth when I say I can’t tell you what I do for a living. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You’re hurting me now by not telling me.” She grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me closer. “I’ll kiss you if you tell me.”

“Will you now?”

“Mhm.” She pursed her lips together, trying to tease me.

I tried to keep control of my desires, but she was just too great of a temptation. I couldn’t resist. “I work for VanGuard.”

“No more lies, Cruz.”

“I’m not lying. VanGuard is a legitimate company. Retired veterans who are still willing to use their skills work for the company doing various tasks.”

“Such as?”

“Well, I’m Head of VanGuard’s International Division. That’s why I moved to London. Headquarters is stationed here.”

“I see… so, you’re like some sort of body guard service or something?”

“That’s part of it. That was my old department. Now I work on high-level crimes for people who do not want to get the authorities involved.” I knew that I shouldn’t be telling her any of this, but I just couldn’t stop myself. The promise of her lips on mine was something I couldn’t resist.

“I see…”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re telling the truth?”

“I swear.”

“Do you have proof?”

I sighed. “You’re a hard customer to please. I’m starting to think I’m never going to get that kiss…” I pulled out my wallet, handing her my VanGuard badge. “There.”

She looked it over like a bartender checking for a fake ID.

“Do you believe me now?”

She answered the question by pushing me into the hammock, her eyes wild and her hands wrapped around my wrists, pinning them above my head.

“Amel–” Before I could finish saying her name, she had already kissed me.