Free Dangerous Times by Moira Callahan

working.”
    “ What?” she asked stunned.
    “ I know I should ask, but I’m not going to. I need to know you’re safe. I need you to be here,” he said.
    “ Okay,” she shrugged.
    His brows went down hard and his eyes narrowed. “Say again?”
    “ I said, okay,” she smiled.
    He looked so confused, baffled even, and suspicious. God love the man, but he had no clue what she felt for him. She really would have to tell him eventually.
    “ Okay,” he nodded, slowly. “Good. Glad we’re on the same page.” He nodded a couple more times before shooting her another wary look. “Why are you being so agreeable?”
    Shrugging she picked up her coffee cup and sipped slowly. “Just one of the mysteries of the universe.” Let him ponder that for a while.

Chapter Ten
     
    “ She just agreed,” Shawn said, pacing around his office.
    “ You figured she’d refuse after your so lovely demand?” Vincent asked.
    Shooting the man a dirty look, completely wasted, really, Shawn sighed. Vincent was lounging on the sofa, booted feet up on the coffee table as he worked on a datapad.
    “ It wasn’t a demand,” he muttered.
    “ No, that’s right, it was pretty much an order.” Vincent nodded.
    Still wasn’t looking at him either, bastard. Shawn started to pace again.
    “ So, what’s the problem?” Vincent asked, his tone distracted.
    And there was the issue. Shawn didn’t know what the problem was. “I don’t know. She agreed way too easily. Way too easily. It’s not like her. She’s independent, which is what I love about her. She doesn’t expect others to help her, but she’s always gracious when they do. She does not take orders or demands well. It’s not her.”
    “ Maybe she gave in for the same reason you spouted your half-assed order.”
    Frowning, he stopped pacing again. “And what exactly would that reason be?”
    Vincent finally lifted his head and shot him a disbelieving look. “Seriously? You honestly don’t see it?”
    “ See what? And I wouldn’t have asked if I’d known the fucking answer,” he snapped.
    “ Maybe she’s in love with you, just like you’re definitely in love with her.”
    Well, that deflated his balloon. Collapsing into a chair, Shawn stared at Vincent, his head spinning at the idea. And yet, it felt right. He was in love with Tamara Phillips. Blinking, he pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m in love with her.”
    “ That’s what I said. And, given the looks she shoots your way, I’m betting it’s mutual. Or she’s just lusting after your body.”
    Glaring at him again, Shawn picked up a pillow from one of the chairs and hurled it at the man.
    Vincent, as sharp as ever, caught it.
    “ You are a grade-A asshole.”
    Grinning, Vincent lobbed the pillow back at him. “Yup, but I’m also right.”
    He was right, not that Shawn would admit it to the cocky fuck. Sighing, he pushed a hand through his hair and tugged on the strands before letting his hands drop to his lap.
    “ Where is the woman in question, anyway? I figured you’d have her glued to your hip.”
    Shrugging, Shawn slouched in the chair. “Rhonda’s keeping watch over her. She had a portrait session to do today. And Rhonda felt a need to have a ‘girl talk’ with her.”
    “ Oh.” Vincent shook his head and cringed. “Dude, that’s never a good thing. Women should never have an undetermined amount of time to just chat. That’s when shit happens and they come up with their evil plots against the male population.”
    Frowning at his friend, Shawn shook his head. “Do you even listen to the shit you spout?”
    “ Of course, I’m fucking brilliant.” Vincent grinned.
    Rolling his eyes, Shawn let his head drop onto the back of the chair. “So, what exactly do they plot during these chats?” Despite himself, he was curious to hear whatever Vincent came up with. He was a conspiracy nut. But, in this case, it was about women instead of the government.
    “ It’s obvious. How you can’t see