“She, actually,” Beckett corrected with a lopsided grin. “And yeah. Shadow’s one of the best in the business. But I can assure you, she doesn’t make it a habit of invading people’s privacy.”
Not the innocent ones, anyway.
The guilty, well…that was another story.
“So let me get this straight. You had your team’s tech guru access the GPS on my phone, so you’d know which hotel I was staying at. Something I’m pretty sure is illegal, by the way. Then you dropped everything to hop on a plane and fly here from Charlotte, all because you were worried about me?”
“That pretty much sums it up, yeah.” Beckett shrugged. “Although hearing you say it out loud makes me realize how stalkerish it probably seems. In fact…” He turned and started for the door. “Just promise me you’re good, and I’ll call for a ride back to the airport and?—”
“Wait!” Evie grabbed hold of his forearm.
His gaze fell to her hand before lifting back up to meet hers. “Why? You need me to stick around and wait for the cops to come by and serve me with a restraining order?”
The lighthearted tease was awarded with the tiniest of grins. “I don’t want to get a restraining order against you, Beckett. And I don’t…” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I don’t need you to leave.”
Thank God.
“No?” One of his brows arched playfully high.
Evie’s dark curls bounced with a shake of her head.
“Whatdoyou need?”
“This.”
She went to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his midsection. It took the span of a single heartbeat to process the fact that Evie wasn’t kicking his ass out. Instead…
She’s hugging me.
Beckett embraced her fully, holding her body flush with his. The woman clearly needed some serious comfort, and he was more than willing to give it.
“You okay?” he asked softly as he tucked her head beneath his chin.
The scent of strawberries enveloped him, and he had to fight the urge to sniff her silken hair.
“I will be.” Evie’s sweet voice was muffled. “But I’m better now that you’re here.”
His eyes fell shut as the tension in his neck and shoulders eased. Beckett rested his cheek on the top of her head, and for the first time since he’d last seen her, Beckett felt as though he could truly breathe.
“Does this mean you aren’t plannin’ on callin’ the cops?” he teased.
Her soft chuckle filled the air around them. “No cops.” Evie pulled away enough to look up at him. “It was really sweet of youto be worried. Although, I still can’t believe you came all this way just to check on me.”
“Like I said, I was worried.”
“But why?” Evie stared up at him as if he were a puzzle she was trying to solve. “I mean, I know we agreed to start seeing each other, but that conversation was just last night, so I?—”
“Darlin’, if you’re asking why I feel the need to protect you in every way I possibly can, I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for that.” Beckett reached up, tucking a few curled tendrils behind her ear. “What Icansay is the thought of you hurting, physically or otherwise, tears into me like nothing ever has before.”
Evie’s gaze shimmered behind a well of unshed tears. “Beckett…”
“But if you don’t want to talk about it, I respect that, too. I just thought you might need to.”
“You have no idea.” She turned and began walking further into the room. “I just opened a bottle of wine. It’s a sweet red from room service. But if you prefer beer or soda or something?—”
“Wine’s fine.” He followed her steps.
“I hope the balcony’s okay. It’s such a nice day, and I thought some fresh air would do me some good.”