“You got me tea?” A slow smile spread across Alexa’s face as she looked down at the mug. Jake pulled back the covers, and slipped next to her in the bed, setting his cup of coffee down on the nightstand next to him.

They’d arrived in Dallas two days after Jake had surprised Alexa in London. It had been her idea to go to the States, and he happily obliged.

“Well, maybe I was a little confident I’d have you over some day.” He trailed his fingers along her jaw, and her body spurred with the simple touch.

His hand fell on his lap and his eyes smoldered with more than desire. She still hadn’t told him how she truly felt, but neither had he. But she knew.

“I can’t believe we’re sitting here like two people without a care in the world. So much has changed.” But that was sort of a lie, right? They still hadn’t broached the subject of the death of Bekas since the base in Italy. “Jake, there’s something I need to ask.” Her throat constricted and she forced out a deep breath.

“Yeah. Anything.”

She placed her cup by the bed and faced him. “Do, you, um—” She looked down at her hands. “Do you hate me for what I made you do? Killing Bekas.”

“First,” Jake began while reaching for her hand, “I could never hate you. And second, I’m a big boy. I made the decision myself. You didn’t make me do anything.”

“Yeah, but you never would have—” Jake was shaking his head, his eyes narrowing on her, so she cut herself off.

“The guy was a psychopathic killer, Alexa. I didn’t exactly kill someone innocent. I can handle what I did—I promise.”

“But are you sure?” She forced herself to focus on his eyes, to read him—to make sure he truly was okay. “I mean, I thought he killed Xander, and so I reacted so quick.”

“It sounds like you’re the one that needs to forgive yourself and move on, Alexa.”

He was right. She’d been beating herself up for weeks.

She finally nodded at him when she realized Jake had the kind of strength inside him that meant he could, in fact, navigate through his feelings about what happened and find the resolve to have acceptance.

And his strength was something she needed. Something she admired and loved.

“How’s Xander and the others?”

She knew he was trying to distract her, and she decided to let him, because in all honestly, she really wanted a moment to be happy.

“Xander’s still recovering, but he’s doing well. Most of my former team members have accepted desk jobs with the government since they’ve lost clearance for undercover operations. But a few can’t handle not being in the action.” Like Matt.

And part of her knew that she should be upset that she was no longer an agent. It had been her life for the last eight years. Who was she without the agency?

But there was another piece of her that was relieved. She loved serving her country, and she knew she wanted to continue to help people in some way, but she also knew that being an agent had held her back in so many ways. Now, she was free to live her life out in the open.

“Well, about that.” Jake scratched the back of his neck and closed an eye for a moment.

“Oh, God.”

He flashed her his dazzling grin, and she lifted her fingers, pushing them through his hair.

His fingers lifted to cover her hand, and he raised it to his mouth and kissed her palm. “How about working together?”

“What do you mean?”

He rested their hands in his lap. “Well, remember how I told you back in London that my friend Connor and his brother sold their family business to start their own company, and—”

“I hardly call a rescue-slash-counterterrorist group a company, but, uh, yeah, I remember.”

“Well, they have a lot of money to spend on the project, and they’re thinking about opening a few locations. I mentioned maybe having one in the U.K.” Jake swallowed. “I was thinking that maybe you and I could join. And if Xander wants in when he’s better—”

“I love you.” It wasn’t how she had planned to say those words for the first time, but she couldn’t hold them back. Her heart was thundering in her chest, and Jake’s eyes glittered with the love he felt right back. He heaved out a breath—was that relief? Had he not known how she felt?

He tightened his grip on her hand. “It’s about damn time,” he said before his lips split into a grin. She relaxed at the sight of his smile. “I love you, too.” He brushed his lips across hers, and she wanted to fall into his arms and stay there forever.

“Are you serious, though?” she asked a little breathlessly as their lips parted. She straightened, her body covered in goose bumps. “You want to live in London and continue to kick ass—with me? And with my mates?” Her heart was hammering in her chest so intensely she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to hear his reply.

“They could use people like you and Xander. And since we can’t exactly work for the government undercover anymore . . .”

Alexa leaned in and slanted her lips over his, cutting him off. He was giving her everything she could ever want. To continue to help, and to do it with her friends and this incredible man at her side. In London, her home. And this job could be on her own terms. No fake identities, no sleazy seductions. Although if Jake wanted to play dress-up, she supposed she’d give it a try.

She pulled away and rushed her fingers over her lips, trying to slow her thoughts for a moment. “But—do you really want to live in London? With me?”

“I thought maybe a few months a year we could come to Dallas, but yeah. I know this is soon, and all. I mean, I can get my own place over there, if you’d prefer.”

“Are you daft? Of course, you’re going to live with me! Well, we need to get a new flat in the city. Maybe outside London would be safer . . .” Her body was trembling, and it was as if she were floating—so light and free. “But.”

“Oh no.” He faked a groan. “There’s a ‘but’?” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Well, I would absolutely love to do this, but first I could really use a bloody holiday. Preferably to some place where my only concern is whether or not to wear clothes that day.”

Jake’s lips parted, and he laughed. He reached for her and gently dragged her naked body up and on top of him. She pressed her hands against his hard chest and stared down at him.

She wet her lips and wriggled against him a little, feeling him stiffen.

“If we’re going on a vacation, I say we shouldn’t have any concerns.” He held her wrists and lowered her until her breasts pressed flush against his chest. Her hands threaded through his hair as he cupped her face, her lips hovering before his. “No clothes, period.”

* * *

Alexa glanced around the room, trying to stifle her laughter. “Did you really take me to a country bar? Or is this a dance club?”

At the center of the room was a wooden dance floor where couples were moving around—doing some sort of country dance, she assumed. Cowboy boots shuffled around the floor, and many of the men and women were wearing straw-colored hats.

The bar area circled the dance floor, separated by a thin black railing.

“I thought I’d teach you to two-step.” Jake flicked his cowboy hat up to give her a better view of his deep brown eyes—eyes she could lose herself in forever. “Maybe someday I’ll get you to wear some boots and a hat. You’d look damn sexy.”

“Someday, but probably not today.” She dragged her gaze down his button-up shirt, where his muscles were evident beneath his sleeves. His dark but well-worn jeans covered his brown boots.

I’m in love with a cowboy. Who would have thought? Her lips split open as her chest and shoulders lifted with a freeing laugh.

“Are you laughing at me?” Jake reached for her hips and lifted her into the air, spinning her around, and she stared down at him, her heart full of more joy than she ever could have dreamed it would be.

He slowly lowered her, and her breasts pressed against his firm chest as she slid down, her palms pressing between them when her heels touched the ground.

“We’ve been through a lot. I think we deserve to let loose a little. Don’t you?” He perked a brow and stepped back, holding his hand out for her.

She stared at his hand, remembering how he made her sizzle with his every touch. She swallowed, feeling a sudden tug in her heart. There was no place she’d rather be right now. Even in a country bar in Dallas where people held onto their belt buckles while they danced.

Because she was here with Jake—with Mr. New Year’s Eve.

She slowly placed her hand inside his, and he gently guided her out to the center of the floor.

Alexa eyed the couples moving around her, nervous that she wouldn’t be able to keep up. Jake pressed a quick kiss to her lips and then grabbed hold of her hands. “You’ve got this,” he said with a wink.

“I don’t know.” She shot him a nervous smile.

“Trust me.” He pulled her into his arms, his hands smoothing down over her bare back, where her shirt was split into a V. “Once you’re in my arms, the moves will come to you.”

“Oh.” She looked up at him. “You’re that good?”

He gripped her hand, pulling their clasped palms up and against his heart. He was quiet for a moment as he stared at her, and then he suddenly stepped back and spun her around. She came to a stop with her back to his chest before he dipped her, his eyes catching hers.

“If I’m with you, I am,” he said in a husky voice, and her body shuddered with a chill that set her skin tingling. “If we’re together, Alexa, nothing can stop us.”

He raised her upright and pulled her into his arms.

“If we’re together?” she teased. But deep inside of her, she knew that tomorrow was going to be so much better now that he was in her life. And although her dad wouldn’t be there to walk her down the aisle when that time came, she knew her dad would’ve been proud.

Jake squinted an eye as a smile tugged at his mouth. “You’re certainly going to make my life a whole hell of a lot more interesting, aren’t you?”

“Mm.” She rolled her tongue over her teeth. “And you wouldn’t want it any other way.”