Page 113 of Target Acquired

Buzz approached. “I get off my deathbed to come save your sorry self, and you didn’t even have the grace to get out of the way and give me a shot.”

“Sorry about that,” Cole said.

Buzz scowled. “Seriously, I didn’t have a shot when Kenzie tackled him and y’all were rolling all over the place.”

“I know, man. It’s all good.”

He shook his head. “Harold Woodruff. Can’t believe it.”

“None of us can.”

Buzz left, and Cole looked at Kenzie, taking in her scuffed appearance, flyaway hair, flashing eyes, and jutting jaw. She’d never looked more beautiful. “Kenzie?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly before she snapped it shut, then stepped up on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. “Let’s talk later.”

THIRTY-ONE

“Let’s talk later?” Kenzie whispered the words as she stepped out of the HQ shower. Really? Let’s talk later?

She was an idiot. The man had said he had fallen in love with her and she—

Yeah, an idiot.

When she walked out of the dressing room thirty minutes later, Cole was waiting. Thankfully, he was alone, but he raised a brow at her. “‘Let’s talk later’?”

She groaned. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology. I want . . . well, not for you to say it if you don’t feel the same, but at least acknowledge that we have something between us. If we do. Or if it’s just one-sided, then—” He bit off the words and shut his eyes. “And I really need you to say something, so I’ll shut up.”

She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Cole, you took me by surprise. I almost wasn’t sure I even heard you correctly and wasn’t sure how to respond.”

“I see.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

“Then help me out here.”

“Okay, since you’ve taken the first brave step and laid your feelings on the line, I guess I can do no less. The long and short of it is, I’ve been in love with you for a long time.” At his swiftly indrawn breath, she smiled and shrugged. “But you’ve always seemed out of my reach. Or league or whatever. And then you were crazy about Tracy, then you were my supervisor, and I couldn’t give the impression that I was flirting or seeking any kind of special treatment.”

He nodded. “I know. I was in the same predicament of being your supervisor and avoiding the appearance of giving you any special treatment. Then I realized my attitude might be encouraging the others to keep you at arm’s length and so . . .” He shrugged. “Well, you know.”

“Yeah.”

“You know, for a while I thought Logan might have been the one targeting you. I didn’t want to think him capable of it, but you and your brothers are so competitive, I have to admit, it crossed my mind.”

“Crossed mine too, but don’t tell him. He’d be so hurt. And mad.”

“I’ll take it to the grave.”

“Not anytime soon, please.”

His eyes softened and dropped to her lips. “No, not anytime soon. I really want to kiss you.”

Heat crept into her cheeks. “And I wouldn’t protest, but not here.”