Conceal (Omega Sector) Page 7

  Evan wisely made no sound at all.

  “I know this situation isn’t optimal. I know I’m not a good candidate for undercover work. Believe me, I’ve been thinking about that every day for the past eighteen months.”

  Both Cameron and Sawyer began to speak, but she held out her hand to stop them. “However, we don’t have any other options that won’t end up costing other people their lives. So I’m going to do it.” She glanced at Evan. “And hopefully not get both of us killed in the process.”

  Evan nodded with a half smile, still smart enough to keep quiet.

  “You two—” she waved at her brothers “—need to either get behind me on this or completely out of the way. No more trying to point out my shortcomings. I need your support.”

  With that, Juliet turned and walked down the hallway toward her office. She knew she didn’t have to say anything more. Her brothers were hardheaded and often pretty stupid—Cameron’s little stunt was plenty of proof of that—but she knew they loved her. And now that they understood she was serious about this, she knew they would stop their antics and help her and Evan in any way they could.

  Juliet just hoped it would be enough.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Evan watched Juliet walk down the hall.

  “All right. I guess this is really happening,” Cameron muttered. “I didn’t expect her to drop me like that.”

  “Yeah, she’s in top shape. I saw her sparring yesterday. If anything, she’s even more quick and strong than when she was an active agent,” Evan said. It was damn impressive.

  “But she’s not consistent,” Sawyer told him. “Yeah, she took Cameron down, but was just as likely to freeze up and do nothing.”

  “She’ll get her rhythm back. She just needs more time to get used to being an agent again.”

  Sawyer slapped him on the back. “Well, unfortunately, that’s the one thing you don’t have—time.”

  Evan nodded. “Then I better not waste any more of it talking to you guys.”

  Sawyer stopped him. “Evan, you know we only said all that because we want to protect Juliet. I don’t know if she’d survive another—” Sawyer lowered his voice “—incident. Like what happened before.”

  “Nothing like that’s going to happen. I’ll make sure of it.” That was the one thing Evan knew he could promise.

  “If she’s made up her mind, then we want to help any way we can,” Cameron added. “We can clear our schedule, work with you for the next couple of days if you want.”

  Evan shook his head. He knew what needed to be worked on first and foremost with Juliet, and her brothers couldn’t help. “Thanks, guys. I’ll let you know if we need anything. Besides, she’s pretty pissed at you two right now. I think you better steer clear.”

  “Yeah, the demonstration maybe wasn’t such a great idea,” Cameron mumbled.

  “I could’ve told you that if you’d asked me beforehand, dumbass,” Evan declared. “It’s amazing you ever got your gorgeous fiancée to agree to marry someone as stupid as you.”

  “That’s the truth,” Sawyer said in agreement. “I never would’ve done something so dumb.”

  Evan didn’t have much mercy for Sawyer, either, even though they’d been best friends since elementary school. “Yeah, I recall you saying some pretty stupid things to your own fiancée a few months ago, so you can’t talk much either.”

  The Branson brothers began walking down the corridor, grumbling at each other about who was the most stupid when it came to women. Evan turned in the direction of Juliet’s office. One thing was definitely true: they didn’t have much time. They needed a crash course in working together, and it had to begin immediately.

  Because if Lisa Sinclair jerked away every time her loving husband touched her—or flipped him over her shoulder—everyone in Cady’s operation was going to get suspicious real fast.

  She had to learn to let “Bob” touch her, to be around her. To kiss her.

  Seeing that she had withdrawn from even the slightest physical contact with anyone over the past year and a half, undoing it in a little over two days wasn’t going to be easy.

  Plus, Evan wanted to do some surveillance on Cady’s house, at least the outer grounds, before they went in on Wednesday. The more they knew about the location, the better it would be.

  Theoretically.

  Evan tapped on Juliet’s office door. “I come in peace.”

  She looked up from where she sat at her desk. “I know my brothers are your best friends, but they are really idiots sometimes.”

  “No argument here.” Evan sat down in a nearby chair. “But if it helps, they’re on board now. Anything you need or want for this op, just ask them and they’ll get it to you.”

  Juliet nodded. “I know they’re worried about me. I don’t blame them.”

  “You’re going to do fine.” Looking at her now, so comfortable in her office, her color just slightly heightened from the fight with her brother, Evan believed his own words.

  “I noticed when you were telling Dylan what happened that you left out the part where I hurled my guts all over the pavement. That’s not exactly the most confidence-inspiring action.”

  Evan shrugged. “We’ve all lost it a time or two. Throwing up isn’t the worst way someone’s dealt with the stress of an op. Plus, you didn’t do it while we were surrounded by Cady and his men. That’s what counts.”

  “But what if I had, Evan?” Juliet’s posture was hunched, her voice strained. “What if I had lost it right there in the middle of everything?”

  “Then we would’ve dealt with it. Like anything that doesn’t go your way while you’re undercover. We would’ve blamed the guy who grabbed you, or the Avian flu, or told them you were pregnant. But we would’ve come up with something.”

  Juliet didn’t look convinced.

  “We can’t prepare for every possibility in the field. That’s why not everyone is cut out for working undercover. You have to think on your feet and be ready for anything.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know that I’m able to do that anymore. I could barely think at all at the warehouse this morning.”

  “We’ll stick together as much as possible, have each other’s backs. And always, if you don’t know what to say, the best bet is to say as little as possible.”

  Juliet’s grin was wry. “That shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

  “Are you nearly done here? I don’t think we can afford to waste any time. We’re going to need every bit of the days we have before meeting Cady.”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Burgamy all but jumped for joy when I told him I was going back undercover as Lisa Sinclair. Then got this very smug look on his face, like he knew it would happen all along. He had Chantelle clear everything off my plate for the next couple of weeks.”

  “Poor Chantelle. I don’t know how she can bear being that close to Burgamy all the time.”

  Juliet began gathering up papers, straightening her desk. “I won’t waste any more time around here, so you and I can get to work prepping for the op. And I won’t be offended, Evan, if you feel we need to start back at the very beginning. As if I’m fresh out of the academy.” But he could tell she found the thought distasteful.

  “Even if you were straight out of the FBI Academy, you’ve still got good instincts, Jules. You’re just going to need to learn not to panic. You’ve got the skills, we just have to hone them. It’ll all come back.”

  Evan walked over to her desk and helped her collect and stack the files that had to do with Vince Cady. Juliet’s discomfort grew as he got closer to her. Normally he would’ve backed off, given her the space she requested with her nonverbal communication. But not now.

  Physical distance between the two of them was over. Their lives would depend on it.

  Evan never actually touc
hed her, but definitely came near enough to invade her personal space. Juliet didn’t say anything, but shifted away, avoiding eye contact and rocking slightly.

  That sort of behavior was more likely to get them killed while undercover than anything else. She couldn’t cringe every time he was near.

  “Jules.” Evan kept his tone soft, even. “Lisa Sinclair wouldn’t shy away from Bob. He’s her husband. They love each other.”

  She nodded jerkily and stopped sliding farther away. But she was obviously still uncomfortable. Evan moved nearer.

  “It’s just me, Jules,” he said softly into her ear. “I’ve been this close to you a hundred times before.”

  * * *

  JULIET KNEW WHAT Evan said was true. They had been this close countless times before. She had known him since they were teenagers. He’d been running around with her brothers for almost as long as she could remember.

  Evan was never going to hurt her.

  Juliet tried to relax into that knowledge. The presence of such a large man—she came only up to his chin—so close beside her was still unsettling, but this was Evan. It was okay. Juliet took a deep breath and let the fear ease out of her system.

  This is Evan. She repeated it in her head like a mantra.

  They finished stacking the files. Evan helped her put them into her bag.

  “So what’s the plan?” Juliet asked him.

  “When was the last time you fired your weapon?”

  “I’ve kept current. Been at the range at least weekly.”

  “Good, because we don’t have time to mess with that. We’ve got more important things to do, like go grocery shopping.”

  Of all the things Juliet could think of that needed to be done before their next meeting with Cady—memorization of her undercover role, brushing up on hand-to-hand combat, going over details about Cady and his known associates, coming up with a solid overall plan—none involved walking leisurely through a grocery store.

  But that’s where she found herself forty-five minutes later. Strolling through the local grocery store, pushing a cart, Evan right next to her helping her pick out produce.

  As if they were on their fifth date and about to make a romantic meal together.

  And the crazy thing was, for the first time in as long as Juliet could remember, the thought of a romantic meal didn’t make her want to be sick to her stomach.

  Evan didn’t talk to her about the case or Vince Cady. He just talked about normal stuff, as if they were getting to know each other.

  “Fresh strawberry pie is my favorite. Although apple pie with ice cream…I don’t know that anything in the world is much better than that. How about you?”

  Juliet stared at him as he handed her a pint of strawberries to put in their cart. His thumb grazed her hand as he did it. Juliet could swear she could feel where his thumb had touched her skin even after he moved away. “How about me, what?”

  “What’s your favorite kind of pie?” Evan took a small step closer and smiled at her.

  That smile—the one that brought out the dimple in his chin—did something to Juliet’s insides. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Something she hadn’t been sure she’d ever feel again.

  The faintest stirrings of desire.

  She immediately took a step back. “I don’t know. I guess key lime pie is my favorite.”

  Yeah, Evan wanted her to be comfortable with him, but he didn’t want her actually wanting him, she was sure. Plus, she totally couldn’t think about feelings right now. Just surviving the next few days.

  But she couldn’t stop looking at the dimple in his chin.

  Juliet tried to keep everything professional, yet friendly between them as they walked around the store. It was hard, given the way Evan constantly touched her, just briefly, or smiled, or said something funny to make her laugh.

  Eventually they gathered all the food Evan deemed necessary for whatever meal he had planned, then paid and went out to his car. He had insisted she leave hers at Omega.

  “Your house?” he asked her. “It’s closest.”

  Juliet froze in the middle of putting a bag of groceries in the back of his Jeep. Evan couldn’t see her house, not the state it was in right now. “No, let’s go to your town house. That’ll be better. Mine’s a mess.”

  And she wasn’t just talking about a mess, although it was a mess. She was talking about something else.

  He didn’t seem to have any argument with that, and Juliet relaxed. Evan just wouldn’t understand what she’d done in her house. Juliet didn’t even understand it.

  Evan’s town house wasn’t too far from her place, just a couple miles. They both lived north of DC, in College Park, a popular area for young professionals.

  She had been to Evan’s home a few years ago, but never just the two of them together. They pulled into his designated parking spot.

  His home was different than Juliet remembered. Previously it had been more of a bachelor pad, with mismatched furniture, no color on the walls. She’d made fun of Evan and her brothers, about their poor taste in decorating, and the fact that some boxes remained unpacked in the middle of their living rooms. She had called all their places the bachelor death pads. They’d argued that they worked too much to be at home very often, anyway.

  Now Evan’s house couldn’t be any more different. The walls were a deep teal, causing the white trim and molding to stand out brightly. The old couch and folding chairs in his living room had been replaced by a lovely overstuffed sofa and matching armchair, both of which fairly begged you to sit down, get comfortable and watch a movie with a loved one.

  The room appealed to all Juliet’s senses. She walked inside, looking around, amazed. “This is gorgeous. When did you do all this?”

  Evan seemed uncomfortable, although Juliet had no idea why. “A little over a year ago. I thought it was finally time to grow up and stop looking like I was about to move out any second. I hired a decorator to help pick things out, although I did most of the work myself.”

  “Well, it’s unbelievable.” She spun away from him to look at the couch. “I couldn’t have picked out a better color myself. And this sofa? I just want to sink into it and stay there forever.”

  Juliet knew she was gushing, but couldn’t help it. She loved everything about this room. Smiling widely, she turned back to Evan.

  Only to find him looking at her with something akin to agony in his eyes.

  “Evan? What’s wrong?” She rushed to his side. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. Let’s get this stuff into the kitchen.” He blinked and his easy smile slid back into place. Juliet wondered if she had imagined the whole thing.

  The kitchen was just as tastefully decorated as the living room. Evan now had matching appliances and granite countertops. An island rested in the middle of the space, two stools slid neatly underneath.

  “Wow, whoever your decorator was, I want to kiss him or her.”

  “Her. Kimberly’s pretty brilliant.”

  Juliet could hear the admiration Evan had for this woman. Had they been lovers? All of a sudden Juliet wasn’t as enthralled with the colors and textures as she had been a moment ago.

  Were they still lovers now? Juliet had avoided any personal conversations with Evan for a long time. She realized she had no idea what was going on in his life. For all she knew he could be seriously involved with someone. The thought that she was standing here, leaning against some other woman’s kitchen island, did not sit well with her.

  Juliet knew she had no claim on Evan, no say about his intimacy with other women. Because what could she do? It wasn’t as if she could get involved with him, even if he wasn’t dating someone. Men tended not to like it when their woman shied away from them every time they were touched.

  So what did it matter if Evan h
ad a gorgeous interior decorating girlfriend? If the woman didn’t care if Evan went undercover as someone else’s husband, then it was none of Juliet’s business.

  “Does, uh…Kimberly mind you going undercover for long periods?”

  Evan looked up from where he was putting the fruits and vegetables into the refrigerator. “We’re not dating. As a matter of fact, I think you might be more her type than I am.”

  Juliet just nodded, ignoring the fact that she suddenly loved everything about the town house again.

  “Oh. Well, she did a great job in decorating. I love it here. Definitely not a bachelor death pad any longer.”

  Evan stopped and looked at her for a long moment.

  “What?” Juliet finally asked.

  “Nothing,” he said. “Get over here and let’s cook dinner.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  All through the evening, as they cooked, ate and washed dishes, Evan tried to touch Juliet as much as he could. He stayed as close to her as possible, invading her space, even bumping her leg with his under the kitchen island as they ate dinner together.

  She often shied away or flinched, and while something in Evan’s soul shattered each time he saw those little reflexive reactions, he never brought it up. Talking about them wouldn’t do any good.

  It was time to change Juliet’s basic muscle memory. Words weren’t going to get her any more comfortable with being around him. Only being around him would do that.

  Not that it was any hardship for Evan, being this close to Juliet. If he’d had his way he would’ve been this close to Juliet long before now. And would still be long after the case closed.

  Yeah, this was forced intimacy rushed along for the sake of working undercover together. But Evan didn’t mind at all. As a matter of fact, the closeness, the flirtation, just having her around felt totally right to him.

  And her scent. Something about the smell of her hair—not fancy, just clean and fresh—made Evan want to keep her with him for about the next fifty years.