He looked at Janie. “If Dr. O’Neill agrees to help, you and I will pay her a visit.”
“I was really hoping you’d let us break for lunch soon.” Draven rolled himself away from the table and shot to his feet. “My stomach’s been growling since before I got here.”
“Mine, too.” Gwen joined him in standing.
As the team began filing out of the conference room one-by-one, Emmett looked to Janie, who’d also risen to her feet. “You hungry?”
“Not really.” She sighed. “But I know I should probably eat something, anyway.”
“I’ll order us some food. What sounds good to you?”
“Whatever you want. I’m not a picky eater.”
“Janie . . .”
Blue eyes that still held the same slivers of guilt and remorse met his once again. “I’m not trying to be difficult, Emmett. Seriously, I can eat just about anything.” Her shoulder lifted in a casual shrug. “Besides, you’re the one who lives in this city. Where do you and your teammates like to go?”
It was a fair question, but like her, he wasn’t picky. Plus, he wanted to at least have some idea of what her favorites were. She’d had a hell of a night, and the news of Amy’s death had made the morning rough for her, too.
Most people would think a dangerous pursuit of justice in the name of a woman they barely knew was a stupid choice to make. Not Emmett. After all, he and his teammates had spent their entire adult lives risking themselves for strangers in need.
What the woman needs is food, jackass.
“Come on.” He stepped past Janie. “I have a bunch of take-out menus in my office. You can look them over, see if anything jumps out at you, and we’ll go from there.”
The level of concern he felt at the thought of her being even a tiny bit hungry was much stronger than it should have been. But as he led the beautiful brunette to his office down the hall, Emmett realized he despised any concept that wouldn’t bring the woman behind him complete joy.
Hunger. Thirst. Worry. Pain.
Just thinking about Janie suffering in any way left his protective instincts firing on all cylinders. His jaw clenched when that last thought drove through his mind. And though Emmett couldn’t explain the visceral reaction he had where she was concerned, he couldn’t wait to find the bastard who’d left her bruised and make the bastard pay.
While he was at it, he also found himself looking forward to uncovering the truth about the intern’s murder. Despite the fact that, if the White House really was involved, Echo Team may wind up being a one-and-done team.
But Emmett didn’t get to where he was by shying away or being afraid to ruffle political feathers. Murder was murder, and he wasn’t about to let Janie become their next victim.
These pricks—whoever they turned out to be—had already gotten too close. They wouldn’t get a second chance. Not while he was still breathing.
Emmett may not be able to act on his attraction tothe mouthwatering journalist. But he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Janie scanned the handful of small, framed photographs positioned on the bookshelves lining one wall of Emmett’s office. He was at his desk, forced to place their lunch orders over the phone because the restaurant’s online system was down.
While he took care of the food, she kept herself busy, trying to learn more about the man she’d hired. There wasn’t much, just a few hints into the intriguing man’s past. Like his time in service with the United States Marines.
Younger Emmett was quite handsome, but he didn’t hold a candle to the current version. She did wish she could see him smile like he was in a few of the pictures. The ones where his younger self had his arms outstretched around the shoulders of the men serving by his side.
“Order’s in.” His deep voice filled the otherwise silent space. “Food will be here in twenty.”
She turned away from the pictures and offered him a smile and a sincere, “Thank you.”
He rounded the edge of his desk before coming over to where she stood. Sliding his strong hands into his pockets, Emmett glanced at the pictures on the shelf behind her and lifted his lips into a grin. “Checking out my glory days, I see.”
Janie tried her best not to think about how close she’d been to kissing those same lips that morning. “Youlook so young in that one.” She turned and pointed to a four-by-six frame on her right.
“I’d just turned nineteen.” His smile grew a bit more. “I’d just graduated from basic.”
“Nineteen? You were just ababy.”
A deep chuckle shook his broad shoulders. “Tell that to my drill sergeant.”