Lila

The night dragged on with little new information, and a lot of arguing about the best ways to find out what they needed to know. Chris got more and more agitated, and Tank became more silent. There was a moment where Lila feared the brothers would come to blows again, but Tank stood up and they both backed off. Which led into a tense, muttered conversation between Dane and Chris about why Tank was there. Lila looked at the older man and gave an awkward smile. He shrugged and went back to picking at his nails.

​​

By two in the morning Lila was beginning to droop—she was tense about having forgotten those intel notes. And all the warmth she'd seen in Dane for the past day was gone. He hadn't snapped at her, or been rude, exactly. But he was just…hollow.

She hated seeing him that way. But was beginning to understand it was a self-defense for him. A wall he put up to stay untouched by what he was hearing, or fearing.

She wondered at what point he'd bring it down completely.

At three in the morning, with Tank snoozing on the couch, and the brothers both tapping on their laptops, Lila couldn't think of a single other thing she could do to help until they saw the morning news. "I'm going to go home and nap," she said, pushing out her chair. "Dane, I'll get that report to you, then come back after the seven o'clock news."

Dane grunted, but as she turned he caught her eye and gave a short nod.

She gathered up her things and headed for the door—having to remind herself to go through Reception. Not the closet.

Definitely not.

*****

Twenty minutes later she cursed at the screen again. She'd tried every way she could imagine to find those unique intelligence reports, but she hadn't found a single one! Now she looked like a fool.

She gave up when the system started warning her that it would lock her down if she didn't enter valid information. With a heavy sigh she pulled her phone out and texted Dane.

I'M SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT

HAPPENED. I CAN'T FIND

ANY OF THOSE REPORTS

It only took him a minute to text back.

NOT SURPRISED. YOU CAN SET

NOTIFICATIONS ON RECORDS.

WE TRACK ACCESS. JUST IN CASE.

She growled at the screen then threw her phone on the bed—and immediately had to dive after it when it buzzed again.

I TOLD YOU, STOP APOLOGIZING.

She snorted and shook her head, then texted back,

NOT SORRY THEN.

She fell asleep waiting to see if he'd reply.

******

The morning news offered nothing new, and Lila was beyond frustrated when she headed back to the Penthouse to tell Dane…what? That she had nothing? Could do nothing? There had to be something.

Reception waved her through. She greeted Josh, the security guard, as she passed, then knocked on the door.

When Dane opened the door in plaid pants and a soft t-shirt her chest literally ached. He was divine to look at. Assuming the others were still there, she didn't say anything, but pushed through the door, already explaining why she came empty handed.

"I'm really sorry, Dane, but I don't see how I can be any help until we know which way the wind is blowing for the publicity. I'm hesitant to make any recommendations—but we also don't want to wait too long, because that will look suspicious in itself…" she trailed off as she scanned the Penthouse and realized they were alone. She turned on her heel and found him leaned against the pillar next to the kitchen smiling. His eyes were shadowed by dark bruises from lack of sleep. His hair fell over his forehead, and his cheeks were unshaven.

He was heavenly.

She looked a silent question at him and he nodded. "No one's here," he said. "I sent them home at six and told them not to come back until lunch." Then he raised an eyebrow and smiled, the soft, adoring smile he'd had for her yesterday.

All at once she was sucked back into that little love-nest. Those precious hours when they'd been alone and uninterrupted. She looked around, but found no evidence that he was lying. "We're…alone?"

He nodded and started towards her, his eyes fixed on her and walking with that predatory roll she'd only seen a couple times before. It made her stomach trill.

But when he reached her he stopped. "Are you okay?" he asked, frowning.

"I'm fine. Why?"

"You look…tense."

She snorted. "Dane, a woman died. I've had three hours sleep. And I had to lie to people who work in security. It hasn't been the most relaxed twelve hours."

He pretended to pout and closed the gap between them, hands at her waist and pulling her in. "Do you want some breakfast? I was about to make an omelette."

She shook her head and put a hand to his gorgeous face. "What I'd like is a kiss," she said breathlessly.

"Happy to help." And he did.

Lila didn't realize she was holding her breath, until his lips traced hers for the third time and he started nudging his way down her jaw to her neck and she sucked in a breath when he hit that spot under her ear.

Unable to resist, she licked the rough line of his neck and heard him mutter a curse. Then he returned to her mouth and she curled her arms around his neck as he leaned her backwards.

"Good morning," he whispered huskily against her lips a few minutes later.

"You're such a pessimist," she joked. "I would have called it a great morning, but okay."

He chuckled but didn't stop kissing her, instead walking her backwards slowly until they were almost at the kitchen, where he lifted her onto the stool again.

She was starting to love that stool. When he stepped between her knees and pulled her sweater aside to suck on her shoulder, she tipped her head back and sighed. "How much time do we have?" she asked, sliding her hands under his soft t-shirt.

"Not enough," he growled. "John's calling me in a few minutes."

"Darn, I—"

"Shhhh, I have a problem," he whispered, his tongue tracing the edge of her ear.

"What's that?"

"I have a new employee who's a real problem. Trying to make her comfortable. Do you have any advice?"

Lila giggled like she was twelve again and would have blushed, but Dane snorted into her neck. "Employee relations aren't really my area of expertise," she breathed, leaning further back as his kisses became more insistent. She pulled her legs up to hook around his waist and he growled. "But I find my boss is a little tense, too. Do you have any suggestions?"

Dane pulled far enough back to look at her, his eyes black and intense, but a wicked grin on his face that made her heart race even faster. His hair fell over his eyes as he looked down at her. "I recommend laundry. Every day." Then he took her mouth again.

"Clean clothes are very important," she gasped a moment later.

He chuckled and she could feel the rumble of his chest under her hands.

She wondered if there was a more beautiful feeling in the world?

*****

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