The constant humming noise and the vibration beneath Alexa’s feet was like a serenade when one was sleepy, making it even easier to drift off into the night. And the soothing, turbulence-free ride was what she needed right now.

She’d been unwilling to sit next to Xander on the plane, and so she had swapped with Randall. But that presented a new problem. She was now shoulder to shoulder with Jake.

She reached for the glass of wine—well, the plastic cup of wine—that the flight attendant had given her a few moments ago and swallowed the chardonnay. It wasn’t the best in the world, but it would suffice.

In seven days or less, the @Anarchy case might be over. She only hoped it would end without any further bloodshed unless that blood came from the men of @Anarchy.

Alexa set her cup down and casually glanced over at Jake. He was looking out the small window, his eyes focused on the plane wing as white puffs parted around it. He had dyed his hair dark—an espresso brown color, and he was growing his stubble into a beard. When he exited the bathroom earlier, black framed reading glasses perched on his nose, she almost hadn’t recognized him.

His new look was part sexy mountain man and part nerdy teacher. He’d been garnering glances from the flight attendants and even from the mom who’d been walking up and down the aisle, trying to soothe her crying baby. Alexa could understand the stares—Jake was sinfully hot.

He stretched his long legs out in front of him and shifted his broad shoulders against the seat, arching his back against the pillow that created a wedge between the lashings on his back and the not-so pliant airplane seat. She bet that it was going to be a long flight for him.

They had only spoken a few words here and there since the meeting at the police station. She wasn’t sure what his mood was about her right now.

She couldn’t help but remember the first time they had met. He’d offered her a glass of champagne after his eyes found hers from across the room moments before.

When he had smiled at her, his face lit up. His gorgeous dimples making her speechless.

“Alexa?”

“Hm?” She blinked and tipped up her chin to meet his deep brown eyes.

“You nervous at all?”

Her fingers brushed across her collarbone and slid down the front of her black cashmere sweater. “I always get a little nervous when I go on—” Alexa stopped herself—she had almost forgotten she was on a plane full of civilians. “Yeah, I am.” For more reasons than one.

Tomorrow wasn’t bloody well guaranteed.

She thought about Jason Holms, the two-faced bastard and ex-boyfriend she would be working with in Barcelona. He wasn’t the reason for her lack of a love life—he hadn’t stolen her ability to love. No, but he stole her ability to trust. Still, the agency held the strongest claim on her life. As long as she was buried in undercover operations and bouncing around the globe, she would never get the opportunity to know if she were even capable of trusting a man again.

Jake’s arm was draped over the armrest, his fingers curved over the end, clenching tightly. His muscular biceps rippled strength beneath his long-sleeved, brown cotton shirt. What she wouldn’t give for another week of bliss with Jake, like the one they’d shared last year. She’d damn near sell her soul if it meant spending even one day wrapped up in those arms.

“I’m not nervous,” he said with a calm ease, an almost impassive look on his face.

Jake’s words pulled her right out of her head, and her gaze snapped back up to his face. “You’re not?” she asked with disbelief.

“I’m not sure what to make of that, either.” He raised his arm and rested a fist against his lips—lips she suddenly had the fighting need to kiss. “How can I not be nervous about what we’re going to do?” he asked in a low voice.

She glanced around at the plane full of passengers, and at that mom who came walking by again, bouncing her baby, wrapped in a soft blue blanket, in her arms.

It wasn’t safe to talk too much. “I think you’re settling back into your life. The pieces are fitting together more and more as you remember. And this is becoming natural to you, this life.”

“But you’ve got nerves. So, shouldn’t I?”

But she always got nervous, even when she was confident about a mission. “We’re all different.” Her arm went over the armrest, and she touched his leg, trying to reassure him, but it also produced a tingling sensation in her fingers.

“Alexa.” The vein in his neck throbbed, and she watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. He touched her wrist, shifting it back to her lap. A feeling of rejection sputtered through her, and she looked away.

But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him raising the armrest.

He reached for her hand and brought it back to his thigh, where he laced his fingers with hers. Then he shut his eyes and tilted his head back. She stared at their intertwined hands as if she were studying a work of art—trying to interpret its meaning.

And then she, too, shut her eyes. Some things were better left alone.

* * *

“That is completely cliché.” Alexa folded her arms and eyed Xander, noting the mischievous look in his eyes. What the hell was he trying to pull—salvaging her love life while also taking down terrorists? Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time Xander had tried to play matchmaker. “I am not rooming with Jake.” She looked over as the man in question leaned against a white column in the hotel lobby. Jake’s gaze was on her, his eyes questioning.

She shook her head and looked back at Xander. “Why can’t you and I be the honeymoon couple?”

“I thought you hated me right now.”

“Shit. I do.” She bit her lip. “But still—”

Xander tapped the small envelope against his jeaned thigh—inside it were the two keycards for the honeymoon suite. “What are you afraid of? There are two separate rooms in the suite. Two beds.”

“I’m not afraid of anything, but—”

“Good. It’s settled.” He handed her the envelope. “Randall and I are checking into Reza’s hotel across the street.” The team didn’t want Jake in the same hotel with Reza. They had to assume that Reza knew what Jake looked like, and they weren’t sure if his disguise would hold up under scrutiny.

“Are you and Randall sharing a room?” She squinted at him as a smile met her lips.

“No, but—”

“Bloody hypocrite.” She shook her head. “Fine. What’s the plan?”

Xander looked at the large face on his wristwatch. “It’s late. Randall and I will meet with the other Americans who are arriving here in a few hours.”

“And Jason? When does that arsehole get here? Who is escorting him?”

“Matt was going to come, but he’s heading to Istanbul to meet with Tenley and John, instead. Our informant, Berat, is missing.”

“That’s not good.” Alexa wasn’t sure how much more bad news she could tolerate.

“Christ, I know.”

“Tell me you have some positive news. Like, did Sam find anything out?” Xander had called HQ before they checked in and this was the first update she was getting. “How were the diagnostic tests on our servers?”

“No news, yet.” He released a deep, frustrated breath. “I’m getting a bad feeling, Alexa.”

She was, too, but the fact that Xander was willing to admit how bad things seemed made her even more worried.

“Anyways, Seth is heading here in the morning with Jason.” Alexa remembered that Laney had originally planned to assign Seth to Jake’s case before they discovered the explosion was related to @Anarchy.

“Matt really approves working with Jason?” she asked in surprise.

“It wasn’t his call—Laney’s orders.” Xander touched her elbow and urged her farther off to the side of the lobby where no one was standing. “We need Jason’s help, Alexa. I hate saying that. You know I do. I despise the bastard, but he’s the absolute best hacker we’ve ever encountered. If we’re going to have a chance at this, we need him.”

Jason should never have been allowed to consult with MI6. He should have been locked up in a maximum-security prison.

“I need a drink.” She glanced back at Jake.

“Get some rest. I’ll come to your room in the morning before we meet up with the crew at my place.” Xander patted her on the shoulder and started for the sliding doors of the hotel entrance.

She fidgeted with the envelope in her hand before striding across the lobby and over to Jake. There was a small duffel bag by his feet—they’d done some last-minute shopping at the airport in Chicago during their layover. They hadn’t had time to go back to Jake’s ranch, which meant that he didn’t have medication to treat his wounds. They’d have to stop at a pharmacy at some point.

“I need a shower and something strong to drink,” she said. Thoughts of Jason hovered above her like a dark, ominous rain cloud.

“We still sharing a room?” He reached for the bag, and she could have sworn he was hiding a smile.

“Yeah. You good with that?”

He lifted his brows. “As long as you are.”

She looked past his shoulder and at the boutique that was off to the side of the lobby. “Here’s your key.” She handed it to him. “I’m going to get us something to wear that’s a bit nicer than jeans.”

“Why do we need to look nice?” He cocked his head to the side.

“We’re close to the boardwalk.” She shrugged. “We can grab a bite to eat and have a drink.”

“Is it safe to leave the hotel . . . with Reza so close?”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how to blend in.”

Jake raised a brow. “Blend in. You?”

She slapped at his pecs, and then quickly retracted her arm. “And you’re rocking a new look, too. So, we’ll be good, yeah?” She could feel a sudden heat emanating from Jake, and she wondered what was going on in his head.

He cleared his throat. “Well, maybe I should at least pick out my own clothes.”

She dragged her gaze up and down the length of his body. “I’ve got it covered.” She winked, trying to ignore the small lump of fear that was beginning to unfurl within her.

But she was a good actress, at least. For one night, she could pretend that everything was okay.

“I’ll be up in twenty minutes. Why don’t you hop in the shower?” She started to turn toward the shop, but he caught her by the wrist.

“Nothing too stuffy,” he said as his eyes met hers.

She laughed. “I know.”

Alexa could feel his eyes on her as she went into the store. Her fingers danced across the fabric of a red silk dress that hung beautifully on a mannequin. She’d worn a similar dress on the night she’d first met Jake.

But it wasn’t exactly New Year’s Eve anymore, was it? Still, she wanted to look nice. She might never see Jake again after the case was over. Maybe they could make the most of the little time they had . . . as they had last year.

A stabbing pain of regret wrapped its way around her throat. What if he remembered how things really ended between them? Would he hate her for holding back the truth?

She pushed the worry aside as she stopped in front of another mannequin wearing the perfect outfit. She was determined to enjoy this night because she had to become Agent Ryan again in the morning.

And when the sun kissed the sky, and the folds of darkness fell away—she’d have to face Jason.

But tonight, she could be the woman Jake had kissed on New Year’s Eve.