Silence. “Not a good idea. Not for a little while.”

She drew a deep breath. “Okay, then let me get this straight. You obviously don’t believe the personal danger to me is very great, but you’re not willing to take the slightest chance that Bohdan or one of his men might decide that I’m worth using to draw you into a trap. Which means you’re leaving me here surrounded by MacDuff’s guards and going after the bastard on your own. Is that correct?”

“You know it is,” he said wryly. “You have no problem reading me. And it’s the most efficient and safest way to handle it, Jane.”

“Maybe. I’m sure MI6 and MacDuff and you are in complete agreement about treating me like one of those big-eyed Russian nesting dolls you stack whichever way you want, leaving me out of any decisions. How dare you? I think it sucks, Caleb.”

“Yes, it does. I knew you’d react like this. I can’t help it. I won’t risk it. I didn’t expect this assignment to involve you in any way. It was just going to be in and out. But it didn’t turn out that way.” He added, “And you could tell me not to take any more assignments if you think I’m not being fair. I’d listen to you.”

“How can I do that?” she asked fiercely. “You’re the Hunter. Joe has been a detective for years and Eve would never tell him that he shouldn’t take any risk he has to take.”

“We both know that the missions I tend to accept are a bit more intense than the usual assignment. It’s not quite the same thing.”

“Maybe not. But I accepted that I wouldn’t be living an ordinary life with you. It was my choice. I won’t back down because I’m scared some asshole might target you. I’ll just find a way to get around it. You’re stuck with me, dammit.”

He chuckled. “Whatever you say. Whew, thank God.” He added lightly, “I was getting a little uneasy. I recall that you were very adamant about marriage vows being in our near future, but you haven’t mentioned it lately.”

“I decided that I’d give you a chance to get used to the idea. Everyone knows what a lousy childhood and upbringing you had. Family has always been important to me. I’ve never wanted you to think marriage and family would be just another burden.”

“I believe I could suffer through it. I was beginning to think I was being jilted.”

She was silent a moment. “Funny you should mention that wedding. MacDuff asked me about it, too.”

“What did you say?”

“That sometimes things change. And that the whole world seems to have changed lately.”

“And is that how you feel?”

“Perhaps.” She added, “Like I said, sometimes.”