“I know what you’re making. I recognize that delicious smell. My nose is like a bloodhound’s.” Nash’s arms slip around my waist and he rests his chin on my shoulder.

I giggle. “Seriously? A bloodhound’s?”

“Yep, I’m not kidding. If a heightened sense of smell was a superpower, I’d be killing it.”

“What do you think I’m making?”

“Empanadas. I could smell them as I came up the front walkway.”

I peer over my shoulder at him. “That’s impressive, but I’m neither confirming or denying if you’re right. And there’s nothing to see here except some salad. So, if you’re looking for a clue, it’s not happening.” I smile as I tear the lettuce into smaller pieces with my fingers. “Want a bite?” Raising a piece to his lips, he nips my fingers when he takes it from me. “Hey, none of that. I need both hands to get the empanadas out of the oven,” I laugh.

“I knew it.” His fingertips teasingly dig into my side and I shriek.

“Sure you did.”

“Do you doubt me, woman? After all I’ve done for you? What do I have to do to prove my worth?” He spins me around and I rest my hands on his chest. “Tell me. Do I need to give my life for you because I’d gladly do it, if it meant keeping you safe?”

I place a finger over his lips. “Don’t.” He opens his mouth to speak and I press my finger more firmly against his masculine lips and shake my head.

His expression changes from teasing to serious when he sees the threat of tears in my eyes.

“Don’t talk about anything happening to you or mention sacrificing yourself for me. I can’t bear to think such thoughts and to do so is to invite tragedy into our lives.”

He kisses my finger and I lower my hand back to his chest. “Zoe, you know that’s not true, don’t you?” He lowers his head, staring deep into my eyes.

“I don’t know any such thing. I worried about something happening to my parents all the time and it did. There’s no way to prove my thoughts didn’t influence the universe in some small way and I won’t take the chance with your life. I can’t lose you. I just got you back.”

“You didn’t have anything to do with what happened to your parents. That was the actions of a bad man and the blame lies solely on him. And I’m not going anywhere ever again. No fucking way.”

“Thank you for dinner. It was the best meal I’ve had since the last time you cooked for me.”

“Am I supposed to feel bad for you? Have you been starving for the past six years?”

His arm wraps around my shoulder, tugging me closer until I’m half reclining on his chest. “I’ve been starved for your company, your food, your gorgeous face, your sexy body, your stubborn streak…”

“Hey. I don’t have a stubborn streak,” I interrupt.

“No, not much. Should I continue with what I missed about you? Or have you heard enough?”

I smile, shifting from my rear to my knees next to him on the couch cushion. “By all means keep going. This is very informative.”

“Your sharp mind, your too high kicks…”

“Hey,” I yell, pouncing on top of him like a playful kitten. “One of these days you’re gonna admit my kicks are awesome.”

“Never. I can’t do it. One of these days, you’ll listen and lower your kicks.”

“That’s debatable.”

Nash rearranges me until I’m sitting sideways across his lap with his arms wrapped around me. I lay my cheek on his chest and the top of my head tucks perfectly beneath his chin. We stay still as I listen to the steady, strong thump of Nash’s heartbeat under my ear. Both of us contentedly enjoying each other’s company.

“You feel wonderful in my arms. I always wanted to watch TV like this with you, but we couldn’t.”

“And now we can.” I grin.

“And now we can,” he repeats. I can hear the smile in his voice.

I glance up at him. “Do you think we’re jumping into this too fast?” It seems right to me, but I’ve never had intense feelings like this before. Nash has owned my heart for all these years and there wasn’t room for anyone else.

“Into...what? What are you referring to?” He smirks.

Bastard. He wants me to say it. Fine. “This relationship. Should we be taking things slower than we are?”

“We’ve waited six years for this to happen. I think we’ve taken things plenty slow.” He chuckles.

“When you say it that way it does put our situation into perspective.”

“I don’t think we should worry about the details. Let’s enjoy being together because every moment we are is a gift. And I’ll let you in on a little secret, but don’t tell anyone.” He crooks his finger for me to lean my ear closer and I do. His breath is warm on my lobe. “I’m planning on spending a lifetime of moments with you. If you don’t think that’s something you’d be interested in then tell me now. Once you’re officially in the Garrison Gang, I’m never letting you go.”

“What does one have to do to be a member of this gang?”

“I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you.”

“Is that so? Well how about you show me instead? Then you’re not breaking any of the rules.” I tap my head and wink.

He flips me to my back on the cushion next to him and hovers over my lips. “I like the way you think.”

“Well this is a switch.” I smile as I stop next to Nash. “What do I owe this surprise to?”

“I figured I’ve never cooked for you, so I should return the favor.” He stirs the scrambled eggs in the frying pan as if he’s made these a thousand times. He’s comfortable in the kitchen, another attractive quality about him. I like that I’m going to get to discover all these facets to Nash I never got to see before. “Not to mention you were out pretty fast last night.”

“Once we finally got to bed you mean,” I remind him how neither of us got much sleep.

“Now that we spent the night together you might not get rid of me. I slept better than I ever do. Having you pressed up against me was better than any sleeping pill I could take.”

Wrapping my arms around his waist from the side, I cuddle into his solid length. “Mhm, I agree. Can we go back to bed now? Do you think anyone will notice if we don’t show up at work?”

His eyebrows furrow at the reminder of our jobs. “What’s got you looking so grim?”

He glances over at me as I step away and lean against the counter studying him. He smiles and shakes his head. All traces of the stony expression are gone. Did I imagine it or is he that good at hiding his emotions? He’s been an agent for a long time and concealing reactions is part of our job. It can mean life or death in some situations. I have no doubt he could school his expression as quick as fingers snapping.

“Are you gonna tell me what’s going on?” I press for more.

He shuts the burner off, placing the spatula down on the counter, before turning to face me. “Come here.” He crooks his finger, his golden eyes glinting with humor. Taking the two steps separating us, I stop when our toes almost touch. He tugs me into his chest and wraps his arms around my back, scooping me up. My legs wrap around his hips as he carries me across the kitchen, depositing me on the table. He stays pressed between my legs and the pressure of his hard cock has me craving something besides eggs.

“Do you trust me?” he questions. What a weird question.

“I do.” I humor him by answering.

“Good, because I’d never do anything that would hurt you. There’s nothing for you to worry about. You reminded me we need to go to work still and I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with you and spend the whole day together. Instead, we’ll be to work in an hour and I probably won’t see you until tonight. It sucks.”

“I’ll miss you too, you big softie, but at least we can be together, tonight. If I get to start and end my day with you, what more could I ask for?”