After making a dinner reservation, he modified a couple of security bracelets to block any signal transmissions. It was a quick job and not fully tested, but he expected them to work short-term.
Armed with a brief list of names and faces after digging through classified reports of Kristoff’s death, Jim felt prepared for everything but the “date” itself.
“It’s not a damned date,” he muttered, staring at his closet, but the reservation required more than jeans and a button-down shirt.
He cursed Micky to hell and back because the date idea still rolled around in his head half an hour later when Lorine opened her door. She was an absolute knockout in a low-cut emerald dress that flowed over her curves, and heels that boosted her to nearly his eye level. She’d piled her hair up, so that all he could think about was setting his mouth to the delicate creamy skin at her nape. He’d bet a week’s salary the pendant resting over her heart was a genuine emerald.
The simple bracelet he’d modified would look out of place. He left it in his pocket and convinced himself she’d never leave his sight.
“Can you run in those shoes?” With the tangle of desire and concern in his head, it was the safest phrase he could offer as they moved down the hall.
“Oh, I can hold my own.” She winked at him and kicked up a spiked heel. “At a pinch they are excellent weapons.”
“Good to know,” he said, as they took the elevator to the garage level. “The risk doesn’t bother you?”
He recognized the signs of anticipation. The sparks she gave off weren’t from jewelry or make-up.
“Surprisingly, no. I feel so ready for this.” The elevator opened and she stepped out, glancing around the garage. “Where’s our backup?”
He ignored the sway of her hips. “Probably out there already,” he replied, leading her to the waiting car and opening her door. The only two-seater in Slick Micky’s fleet, the modifications guaranteed a quick getaway if things went bad.
“You’re not claustrophobic, are you?”
“Not a bit.”
“Let’s hope this doesn’t change that.”
He’d known she was strong and brave, just by making the choices that had brought her to Slick Micky’s family. But this was a whole new side of Lorine, a side that made him want more than he knew he could have. Tonight marked the first step in making sure her plans for her son’s future succeeded. With renewed focus on the “mission”, he eased the car out of the garage and into the tunnel.
When they emerged, he smiled at her small gasp. This time of year, the city sparkled with lights and the darkness hid the worst of the decay.
He drove through the city, hoping they’d pick up a tail. As their reservation time neared, he took a detour down Lakeshore Drive, not quite ready to put her on display.
“Anything?”
“No.” His sixth sense wasn’t firing either. He glanced over, his breath catching at the sight of her skirt riding high on her legs. Maybe he was too distracted for his radar to function properly. “We’ll see how dinner goes.”
“You’re sure whoever is after me will find me at a ritzy place downtown?”
“I’m not sure of anything other than someone wants you out of the way so they can get to Zach.” He should tell her he’d brought Zach’s hair. “If we’re dealing with genetic tracking anything is possible.”
“Agreed.”
“The hit on you sounds more old school. Where does Zach go if something happens to you?”
“My parents would raise him. But I’ve already checked with them. They’re safe and they haven’t had any problems. Oh, wow. We’re dining here?”
He grinned, pleased with her reaction as he pulled to a stop at Water Tower Place. Handing the keys to the valet, he felt the first tremor of trouble. Instinctively, he draped his arm across her shoulders as they walked inside. When they were seated, he leaned close. “What’s security like at your parents’ place?”
Her smile was like a fist to the gut. “It would make you drool.”
“If whoever is after Zach knows that detail, they’ll definitely make the grab before he gets there.”
The waiter arrived, took their drink requests and hurried off.
“Why didn’t you just go to your parents when things got rough?”
“Insecurity with a side of paranoia.” She kept her eyes on the menu, but he knew she was aware of everything around her. “Running to my parents felt like an invitation to disaster. Even with their excellent security, it seemed like taking us all out at once would have been relatively easy.” She met his gaze. “Stop frowning. Besides, I’m a grown-up.”
That was true. “But living in obscurity—”
She rolled her eyes. “Might have worked if my uncle hadn’t apparently outsmarted me somehow with Zach’s father. Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.” He knew he’d do anything she asked. Even beyond this evening, beyond her move, keeping his distance felt all wrong.
“For the duration of dinner could we just pretend we’re not doing the worm on the hook thing?”
Her husky voice slid over him and had him wishing they could pretend other things as well. Not trusting himself, he nodded. The resulting smile and happy light in her eyes unlocked a part of him he’d buried during his years of service.
The excellent food and service paled in comparison to the delightful company. Pretend or not, he could get used to nights like this. Beautiful and intelligent, Lorine put him at ease. It was a feeling he hadn’t realized he’d missed. She flirted just enough to draw him out and make him laugh.
To anyone else, they were simply another couple out for a romantic evening. Even with his senses sounding the alarm of imminent trouble, he struggled to remember this moment with her was just a game.
When his sixth sense spiked, he blinked against the image of sunlight flashing off a windshield. In the soft glow of candlelight at the table, he winced and rubbed his burning eyes.
“What is it?”
“Trouble,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Where?”
His instincts said they’d face that image during the move tomorrow, but something was closing in on them right here, right now. “I usually have more warning.” He pushed his cuff back from his watch, but before he could use the comm hidden inside, the alert came through the tag pressed into place behind his ear. “Threat identified and closing in,” Trina said. “We’ll handle it. Get her out. Car is in the alley.”
Jim didn’t like retreating, but Lorine mattered more than his pride. He glanced around. Who was the enemy? How would they attack? “Go to the restroom,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. “I’ll be right behind you, but have a shoe ready in case.”
She nodded as she rose, and strolled through the restaurant as if she didn’t have a care. God, she was good.
“Boss?” Jim spoke into the hidden mic.
The reply of two clicks told him Micky was taking down the threat. Resigned, Jim swiped his card through the reader and added the tip.
As he stood, his knee buckled in response to his sixth sense. The enemy would go for a debilitating blow to his knee first. Too bad he didn’t know precisely when they would strike, but now he would be on the lookout.
Nearing the restrooms, he recognized the heavy thud of a body slamming into a wall. He rushed to the door. “Lorine?”
“Gun!”
He jumped aside just as a soft pop sent a bullet ripping through the door where his knee had been a fraction of a second earlier. His adrenaline pumping, he barreled through the door to rescue Lorine.