“What does that have to do with anything?”
“She is not your friend.”
It took all my resolve not to flinch. “What?”
“There is no reason for you to be here, getting involved.”
“No reason?” I snapped, my handle on my anger slipping. “How can you say that?”
He didn’t waver. “You are not involved in this, Imogen.”
“I am,” I countered.
“Then uninvolve yourself.”
“It’s too late for that!” I yelled.
“God fuckingdamnit!” he yelled right back at me. “I don’t want you anywhere near this. Don’t you understand that?”
My mouth shut with a surprised click.
“The way cases like this typically turn out—” His jaw tightened, locking down the rest of his words.
And I suddenly realized where all his anger was coming from.
Cade was afraid.
Afraid this case was going to end badly.
Afraid Rory wasn’t coming home.
And he didn’t want me anywhere near the fallout of that if it happened.
“Cade…”
“I can’t protect you if this goes sideways,” he said without looking at me. His voice was tight. “And I can’t do my job effectively if I’m not thinking clearly.”
“But—”
He finally looked back at me. His eyes were burning. “A seven-year-old kid is out there, lost, scared, likely in the hands of someone he shouldn’t have ever crossed paths with. These first forty-eight hours are critical if he’s even got a chance in hell at coming home.”
“I understand that,” I told him. “But?—”
“I need my head clear.”
I stared at him. “Okay.”
“When you’re near me, my head isn’t clear, Imogen.” He swallowed, the apple of his throat bobbing harshly. “When I’m thinking about you, I’m not thinking about all the shit I need to be thinking about tonight.”
“I’m not trying to distract you!”
“You don’t have to try.”
I wasn’t sure whether that was an insult or a compliment. We faced off for a few long moments, until the air of the copy room was brimming with so much tension, I could hardly breathe around it.
Eventually, Cade’s expression softened. As did his tone when he murmured, “Come here, Imogen.”
Since he seemed — marginally — calmer, I did as he said. As soon as I was within arm’s reach, his hand shot out, tagged me around the back of the neck, and he hauled me against his chest. I did my best to keep stiff as his arms closed around me. He was breathing harder than usual. His mouth hit my temple, and he pressed a kiss to it.