Page 41 of Run

“We’re not a couple.”

“We’ve kissed and we’re in bed together,” she said through an evil grin. “Face it, you find me irresistible. It’s Angel and Buffy all over again. He couldn’t resist his attraction to her, and it pulled him out of the shadows and into her heart. Admit it—you find me irresistible.”

“Go to sleep, woman,” David grumbled. “We’re not a couple. We’ll never be a couple. Let it go.”

“Hmm, I don’t see you rushing to get out of bed and away from me. I wonder why that is… Oh yeah. You’re hot for me.”

“I’m comfortable and tired. I’ll deal with your delusions tomorrow.”

“It’s already tomorrow.” She snuggled closer, breathing him in.

“Go to sleep,” he ordered again.

As she felt sleep take her under, Elle could have sworn she heard him say, “Who the hell are Buffy and Angel?”

17

The coward was gone when Elle woke the next morning. Typical. So much for being the big, fearless spy. As if ignoring what was between them would make it go away. One way or another, he’d have to face the fact he was crazy about her. And if he couldn’t do it on his own, she’d just have to hit him over the head with the truth until he got it.

“Why are men so dumb?” she asked Megan and Dimitri when she walked into the kitchen. The rest of the team were elsewhere; otherwise, she’d have included them too because, honestly, she really wanted to know.

“Tiny brains.” Megan waved her cereal spoon for emphasis. “Also, what gray matter they do have is floating around in a sea of testosterone. Makes it hard for them to process anything that isn’t football, aggression, or sex.”

“Hey!” Dimitri swiveled in his seat to glare at his wife. “Do you even know how offensive that is?”

“Fine.” Megan put down the spoon and folded her arms over her black T-shirt emblazoned with a white skull. “What are the three main things that occupy your mind? Let me see—football games or fantasy football league, planning missions or taking part in dangerous missions, and jumping me whenever you can or thinking about ways to jump me when you can’t. Am I wrong?”

He stared at her for a moment before his shoulders slumped and he turned to Elle. “I can’t argue with that. I wish I could, but I can’t.”

Megan smiled smugly at Elle. “I rest my case.”

“Okay…” Elle made herself a massive mug of coffee. “Here’s a better question, Dimitri. Why are men so scared of relationships?”

“Wait? Was that Callum shouting for me? Sorry, gotta go.” Dimitri pushed back his chair and practically ran from the room.

“Seems the expert’s too scared to answer,” Megan said with a wry smile. “Problems with your spy?”

“He’s an idiot.” Elle sat down at the table, facing Megan. “He says we can’t have a relationship because…actually, I don’t know why. There was something about it being a bad idea. It was too vague to be anything other than an excuse. Maybe I misread the spark between us.”

“Well, if you did, we all did. Because…” Megan mimed touching something and being burned. “Hot,” she said when Elle stared at her blankly.

“Why would it be a bad idea? I’m a catch.” She waved a hand. “Not right now, obviously. I mean, when there aren’t people out to question, capture, or kill me. When things are quiet, I am awesome to be around. I’m funny. I know lots of cool facts. I can get you free movie downloads. And I’m fantastic in bed. What’s not to love?”

“I’ll get something to eat later,” Ryan said from the doorway, where he stood frozen with a horrified expression on his face. “I’ll come back when you aren’t talking about sex.” He disappeared. Almost as fast as Dimitri had done.

“Men,” Elle grumbled.

“Maybe the complications that make it a bad idea for you two to get together are something so gruesome he can’t even talk about it,” Megan said. “Like he’s dying from something. Or he’s really your brother. Or he’s already signed up to become a monk.”

Elle considered Megan’s theories for a second before shaking her head. “Naw, he’s just a pathetic coward. One who keeps giving off mixed signals. They’re giving me whiplash. He doesn’t want to be with me, but he rushed right here to protect me. He doesn’t want to get naked, but it’s okay to flirt. He thinks a relationship is a bad idea, but he hasn’t been able to keep away from me for years. Then there are the handcuffs. What man brings fluffy pink handcuffs to the bedroom of a woman he isn’t interested in? Huh?”

“Nope,” a voice said from the door, and they turned to see Harvard pivot and walk away.

Rachel strode into the room instead. “Why are you talking about relationships when it would be smarter to talk about ways to keep you from getting sliced and diced by your father? Have I taught you nothing? I didn’t get to be CEO of a major pharmaceutical company by sitting around chatting about boys with my friends. Woman up. Get the job done. Prove you’re the superior sex.Thenthe man will fall at your feet and beg you to take him on. Now, somebody make me a coffee.” She took a seat at the table, dressed in a pristine Prada pantsuit and sporting a perfect manicure and expertly styled hair.

Elle looked down at the Princess Leia nightshirt Julia had bought her to sleep in, but she’d decided it should be worn during the day, when people could better appreciate it. Unlike Rachel, Elle hadn’t even brushed her hair yet that morning, and she couldn’t remember ever having her nails done. Typing would have ruined a manicure anyway. It was as if Rachel came from a completely different planet. One where clothes were pressed and makeup flawless. On Elle’s planet, makeup didn’t exist, and clothes were only bought if they didn’t require pressing.

“I don’t even know where to start with that little speech,” Elle said to Megan.