“Okay,” I said, looking out the window. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.”

I glanced over at him. His transformation from angry, volatile boss to gentle, content neighbor—possibly more—had been gradual, so I hadn’t noticed until we were side by side, the morning sun highlighting the calm in his eyes. We rode the rest of the way to the Bureau in comfortable silence.

The next time Thomas spoke was to the guard at the security gate.

“Agent Maddox,” Agent Trevino said, taking our badges. He leaned down to identify me and smirked.

“Hi, Mig,” Thomas said. “How’s the family?”

“All fine. Nice of you to drive Agent Lindy to work this morning.”

Thomas took back his badge. “We live in the same building.”

“Mmhmm,” Trevino said, sitting back before pressing the button to open the gate.

Thomas drove through and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Trevino,” Thomas said, resting his elbow on the bottom of the window and touching his lips with his fingers.

I frowned. Anytime anything came into contact with his lips, a mixture of depression and jealousy swirled inside me. It was an awful feeling, and I wondered when it would stop. “Am I a running joke?”

Thomas looked over at me and switched his driving hand. Then, my hand was in his, and he squeezed.

“No. Why would you think that?”

“What is so amusing?”

Thomas pulled into the parking garage and put the gear into park. He turned back the key, and the engine silenced. “Me. He’s laughing at me. I don’t bring people to work. I don’t smile when I check in, and I damn sure don’t ask him about his family. He knows it’s…he knows. Things have been different since you came here.”

“Why is that?” I stared at him, my eyes begging him to say the words.

Admittedly, I was too proud and stubborn to break my vow to the Bureau without insurance. Coffee, odd jobs around my condo, even his hand in mine weren’t enough. I was okay with being second to his job. When we were both committed to the Bureau, it somehow canceled the other out. But I wouldn’t come in third.

His cell phone rang, and when he noticed the name on the display, his entire demeanor changed. His eyebrows pulled in, and he sighed.

“Hey,” Thomas said, his face tight. He let go of my hand and looked away. “I told you I would. I, uh…” He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. “I can’t. My flight doesn’t land until an hour prior to Trav’s arrival at the hotel. Okay…tell me what?”