“As long as I don’t have to change them.”
“There is that.” Whenever Amsel pitched that sort of fit, Kyle promptly handed him back.
“Anyway,” Kyle told me, “I’m thinking of investigating a field career with the FBI. Or the CIA.”
My chest pulled tight. “Don’t you think it’s time for another desk job?”
“And let everything I’ve learned go to waste? Be serious, Ari. Agent Price has already given me the rundown on the process. It’ll be a bitch to go through all the background checks, but—”
We both heard the front door slam shut. From this far back in the house.
“Oh, joy,” I deadpanned, jolted. I promptly reached for the baby. Dane wouldn’t yell—quite so loud—with Amsel in my arms.
Kyle jumped to his feet. “I’m out.” He disappeared down the hallway. A wise decision, since he
hadn’t taken my advice and put more clothes on.
I stepped into the hallway, meeting Dane halfway. The expression on his chiseled-to-perfection face said it all. I really was in deep.
He stalked toward me, all dark and brooding. Sexy as hell in a black Armani suit and tie, but that was moot at the moment.
“Smart tactic, bringing my son to try to calm me down.”
“He misses you.”
“He’d be missing you if you’d gotten yourself killed.”
“But I didn’t.” I spoke softly so as to not upset Amsel more since I’d just woke him—or set off Dane further.
“It was much too big a risk to take, Ari. And when I get my hands on Kyle—”
“It wasn’t his idea, Dane. But we agreed we had to do something. When the bodies were found—”
“The FBI would have been on it.”
“When it comes to the society and the network, he was at the bottom of their list, and you know it.” Amsel wiggled in my arms and I handed him over. “Hold your son. You don’t get to often enough.”
“This’ll only work for so long, Ari. He’ll fall asleep, and then you and I are going to have a very lengthy conversation.”
“I’ll get a bottle.” I walked off, a bit concerned about the tension radiating from Dane and the lecture coming my way. I knew he’d be furious that I’d put myself in danger. Yet, in the end, after we talked, I was fairly certain he’d understand why it had been so important to me.
I joined him in the great room and took Amsel from him briefly while he slipped off his jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up his powerful forearms.
Then I gave him the baby again, and the bottle.
All of the tall glass doors were open and the rush of creek water wafted in, along with a cool breeze. The rain fell past the eaves, the fat drops splashing on the leaves that rustled gently. There was a hint of humidity in the air but nothing stifling, since the temperatures remained moderate.
Unfortunately, the flashes of lightning and the crackle of thunder seemed to punctuate Dane’s broody mood. One more thing I found damn sexy about him. Mostly because his intensity was rooted in passion. And love. For me—and now for our son.
I kept quiet while Dane fed Amsel, and admired how striking they were together. Not just in that they resembled each other so much, but the contrast of the tiny baby cradled in such a strong, steady arm. Dane was a mountain of a man to begin with—holding Amsel made him appear even more mammoth. More formidable, because a protective vibe enveloped him.
What called to me was that he was riled over more than his wife being in jeopardy. I was the mother of this incredible little creature, and I knew Dane would tell me I had to stop thinking in terms of just me or just us as a couple. We were a family and I needed to focus on raising Amsel while Dane did what he had to do.
I bit back a sigh. I’d just recently learned this lesson, had been conflicted by it from the time Kyle and I had hatched our full-blown plan to trap Wayne.
Seeing Dane with Amsel, though, and thinking I could have painted myself out of this precious family scenario made it hit closer to home.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know that doesn’t exonerate me, but I couldn’t let the opportunity slip, and I need you to understand that.” I explained everything to him the way I had with Kyle in my office.