Sophie shook out her napkin and laid it over her lap in the candlelit dining room of the Hilo Bay Seafood Cafe. She wished that she’d had time to go home and change into something other than the Security Solutions uniform. Jake had; his dark hair was still damp with comb tracks, and he smelled of the lemony aftershave she’d come to love. A silk button-down in midnight blue enhanced his muscular form and brought out the ring of blue in his remarkable gray eyes.

Those eyes seemed to glow in the candlelight as he handed her a glass of wine. “I took the liberty of ordering you something since you were a little late.”

Sophie nodded, sipping the beverage. “This is good. What is it?”

“A nice little moscato. I notice you like things sweet.”

“And I like how you notice what I like.”

They smiled at each other.

Jake brought his glass of red to chime with Sophie’s in a gentle toast. “To our first official date out in public as a couple.”

Heat suffused Sophie’s chest as she remembered Connor’s barb about Jake being her “booty call.” She thrust the memory away and sipped, mind scrabbling over how to proceed with the conversation.

Mercifully, the waiter arrived to regale them with dinner specials. They ordered, and after he left, Sophie took a hefty sip of wine for courage. “Jake. I have something to tell you.”

“Where you were this afternoon?” Jake quirked a dark brow. His attempt at a humorous tone fell flat; Sophie could hear the grit behind it.

“I was meeting Sheldon Hamilton. We are working on a project.”

“Ah. Our mysterious CEO. That makes sense.”

Sophie wasn’t imagining the way Jake’s shoulders loosened in relief. He didn’t know about the Ghost, didn’t have any reason to be jealous of Hamilton—and that was a good thing.

“Hamilton has been helping me navigate things with my mother. You see, Pim Wat didn’t just reappear in my life to resume a relationship. She had a proposal: that I join her clandestine organization, the Yām Khûmkạn, and provide them with tech support.”

Jake’s eyes widened. “No wonder you’ve been sleeping badly!” He reached over to cover her cold hands with his warm ones. “Ah, God, Sophie. That woman. Such a bitch! You deserve a mom who loves and appreciates you.”

He had no idea how really horrible Pim Wat was. Sophie blinked quick tears away, looking down at their joined hands. Jake’s instant, unstinting compassion undid her—and she was only telling him a piece of the truth. The worm of guilt turned in her guts. She couldn’t swallow past the lump in her throat.

“Come here.” Jake tugged at her hands. “Come sit with me.”

They were in an old-fashioned leatherette booth; she felt silly, but sitting next to him wasn’t impossible. Sophie slid around the booth until she was flush against Jake’s warm, hard bulk, but that wasn’t enough for him.

Jake hauled Sophie into his lap, wedging them in tight behind the curve of the table. He snuggled her close, tucking her under his chin and wrapping his thick arms around her. “I wish I could kick her ass,” he whispered in her ear. “I hate her for hurting you.”

She hid her face in his shirt as Jake kissed her hair and rocked her close. She didn’t deserve the love he showered on her so generously. Thinking about it almost made her burst into tears, and she breathed deep and even to keep from crying openly.

She heard the waiter return. Jake directed the man to leave the plates, and Sophie finally lifted her head when he’d gone. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. Hamilton just gave me the okay.” Such a pale shadow of the truth.

“I’m so glad to finally know what’s been going on with you.” The relief in Jake’s expression almost broke her heart. “Tell me more.”

“We’re working with the CIA. They want me to penetrate the Yām Khûmkạn. Hamilton’s using my job at Security Solutions to protect me from both factions. I’m going into my mother’s organization, but I won’t be alone.”

“I have to hear everything about this. But I’ll be honest.” Jake blew out a breath that tickled her ear. “I was worried it was something worse.”

“Like what?” Sophie eased out of Jake’s lap to sit beside him.

Jake pushed her plate in front of her. “Like…Alika.” Jake had his eyes on his plate now. They ate side by side in silence for a few minutes. Sophie couldn’t taste a thing.

“Alika is still a problem,” Sophie said softly. “I feel terrible about what happened to him. So guilty. And I’m having flashbacks to the explosion almost every night.”

“I thought you were talking to Dr. Wilson today,” Jake said. “That’s where I thought you went this afternoon.”

“I see her tomorrow. I hope she can help me.” Sophie shoved another bite into her mouth and chewed mechanically. “It’s been hard. Keeping so many secrets from you.”

Jake had only taken a few bites of his dinner, but he thrust the plate aside. His gray eyes gleamed silver in the candlelight. “Finally, you’re telling me what I’ve needed to know—what’s really been going on with you. Let’s get out of here.” He gripped her hand, and the touch lit a fire in her belly. “I need to be with you. Alone. Now.”