Page 99 of Temptation
One man reached forward to ring the doorbell again. A very persistent man.
“They’re specialists with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. They work violent crimes.” More than that, though. “They hunt serial killers.”
“Huh. So the cavalry arrived, did it? The big guns came to town in order to save the day?”
Not exactly. Her fingers curled around his wrist. “Be careful with the guy in the gray suit.” The persistent one.
Preston’s head turned toward her.
The doorbell rang again.
“Do not trust Gage Emerick.” That would be a bad mistake. “Watch yourself with him. Don’t lower your guard with him. You say the wrong thing to Gage, and he will use it against you.”
He caught her fingers. Raised them to his mouth. “Angel, be careful. You’re starting to sound as if you care about me.”
“I do.” Soft.
His fingers brushed across her knuckles. “Good.” Grim satisfaction. “Then let’s go chat with your annoying ex and see just what the Feds have to say.” He let her go and headed for the door. “Don’t worry. I’ll try not to kill him for touching you.”
Sloane leapt from the desk chair. “He’s not my ex. There is no world where I dated Gage Emerick.”
Preston stopped near the door. He swung back toward her. “No?”
“He was involved with Lily.”
The doorbell rang again. Because Gage kept pushing the button. Over and over.
“He used her.” Something she would never forgive. FBI Agent Gage Emerick had been on Sloane’s shit-list for quite some time. “He is a total dick. The man literally made his entire career off her profiles.”
Preston’s head cocked to the right as his stare swept to the monitor once more. “I’m surprised.”
By what? The fact that Lily had been involved with the Fed? Gage was physically attractive. Tall. Muscled. Smart, too. He just also happened to be a user. Someone who’d stepped on plenty of people as he worked his way to the top. But Lily had been close to him, once.
Briefly.
“Gage knows how to get what he wants.” That was certainly a true statement. “He’s also dedicated to the job.”
Preston waved one hand. “I meant that I was surprised he was still breathing.” He turned away. “How does Atlas feel about that situation?”
“He’s not a Gage fan.” She scrambled to follow after him. Her hand grabbed his arm as they entered the foyer. “Don’t mention the pregnancy. Or the babies.”
“Not my news to share. Trust me.”
I do.
Then they were eliminating the last bit of distance between them and the main door of the house. Of course, the doorbell rang again before they actually reached the door. Patience had never been a virtue that Gage Emerick possessed.
Preston paused a moment, and she had the feeling that he was just deliberately taking his time and making the Feds wait longer before he swung open the door. And when he sung open the door, he swung it slowly.
Gage flashed his ID. “FBI Agent Gage Emerick,” he began.
“So I’ve heard.” Preston’s flat response.
Gage’s glittering eyes darted to Sloane. What could have been concern softened his face. “You all right, Sloane?” He reached out a hand toward her.
Preston eased his body to the side just enough so that Gage’s hand wound up hitting his arm. Not touching Sloane. “I have her.” There was an undeniable edge of possession in his voice.
The other agent coughed. Cleared his throat. Ahemed.
