Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

“Duty calls, huh?” He grinned at her. “Guess I can’t blame it on the bosses this time.”

Her heart flipped over. She was so in love with Zy and wanted to tell him how she felt so badly. But if she said the words, he would assume that she wanted to move in with him. He’d expect it, even.

Tessa wasn’t ready for that.

“Pretty much.”

As if to reiterate the fact she needed to get out of bed, her alarm clock went off next, playing a Keith Urban song.

Zy laughed and rolled to his side, pressing a kiss to her lips. “No rest for the wicked, I guess.”

“None. You poor thing.”

“Yeah. I guess we should get up. You want me to make you some tea before I head out?”

It was sweet of him to ask, but… “You’re leaving?”

“I need a shower and a change of clothes.”

“Of course.” If he showed up in what he’d worn yesterday, One-Mile would definitely notice. “I’ll see you at work. Don’t worry about the tea. I got it.”

“All right.” He pressed another kiss to her lips, this one lingering, telling Tessa without a word that he didn’t want to go. “Did I, um…persuade you any?”

To move in with him? “Well, you’re very persuasive; I can’t lie about that. And I’d love for you to persuade me again, any time you want.” She kissed him and cupped his face. “But what you’re asking of me…it’s a big step. I need more time to think.”

His jaw tightened. “It didn’t take you long to let Cash through your door.”

“But that’s just it. Well…first, we weren’t living together romantically. I was giving him an opportunity to be a father to his daughter.” She’d needed the money, too. She still did. Rent was due in four days. She’d probably make it this month, but it would be tight… Next month? She’d have to figure it out then. “And second, I was too impulsive with Cash. Thankfully, when he left it didn’t affect Hallie. Then again, he never paid any attention to her. But you would.”

“Hell yeah. I want us to be a family, Tess.”

She wanted that, too. But she needed to be sure. “Then give me more time.”

“How much?”

“I don’t know.” How long should it take to decide what might end up being the rest of her life? “A week?”

Zy didn’t say that he didn’t like her answer, but it was all over his face.

“It’s not that I don’t want to say yes,” she assured him. “It’s that I want to say yes so much it scares me. And we found out barely twenty-four hours ago that our contracts weren’t going to keep us apart for another…”

“Eight hundred eighty-seven days. I was counting.”

“I was trying not to. Moving in together isn’t something we should do on a whim, and after last night… It was great.” Understatement of the century. “If we take that step, I want to be sure it’s not just for the sex but for the right reasons.”

“I get it.” He sighed. “It’s easier for me to jump in because I only have myself to worry about.”

“Exactly. Hallie and I come as a package deal.”

“I know, baby. I’d love her, too.”

His words melted Tessa’s heart. “We’ll talk about this more tonight.”

“All right.” He groaned and pulled away from her, rising to his feet.

She hustled out of bed and dragged on her pajamas, then dashed to the thermostat to turn up the heater. This January seemed chillier than the last. Or maybe she just felt that way because she hated the cold…and Zy wasn’t next to her anymore.

Before she could make her way to Hallie’s room, he stopped her, now dressed, and pressed another kiss to her lips. “I’ll see you at work.”

She nodded. “I’ll be there by eight.”

“Well, I’m the boss right now, so if you’re a little late, I won’t tell.” He winked.

“But Kimber needs us. Did you hear anything last night?”

Sobering, he shook his head. “I checked my phone a couple of times. Nothing. I’ll make some calls and have an update by the time we meet at the office. Okay? I know she’s your friend, but try not to worry.”

Too late. But she gave him a little smile. “Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”

At three minutes after eight, Tessa slung her sedan into the lot, yanked her keys from the ignition, grabbed her purse, and hopped out of her car. Despite Hallie being a little cranky this morning—she blamed teething—Tessa was surprised she’d almost arrived on time.

As she shoved her keys in her purse, she looked up to find a stranger approaching. Early thirties, wearing casual clothes and a ball cap. Someone from the Oracle team, maybe? It seemed likely that they would incorporate Zy and One-Mile into their tactical planning to rescue Kimber. If the operation required a demolitions expert or a sniper, they were the best.