Shane dragged his gaze away from Yael’s full lower lip and shoved his truck in gear, reminding himself that wasn’t why he was here. He was here because he wanted to gain this woman’s trust. However, her words struck him hard because, occasionally, being devoted to his career was lonely as fuck. Most of the time he didn’t even notice.

He thought about Grace and her fatherless children and suddenly being married to his job didn’t seem so bad. At least if something happened to him, no one outside his immediate family would have their lives shattered.

Thinking about Grace reminded him his best friend had been murdered and his fingers tightened on the wheel. Yael being in the bar tonight felt like fate. The sort of signal from the universe he’d learned never to ignore.

And that was why he was here.

He pulled back on his natural inclination to mock the Marines as he drove past. There was no real malice involved. It was an expected ritual that harkened back to his days in Special Forces. He didn’t think Yael would appreciate the banter though. Women like her didn’t appreciate being treated like a winner’s trophy and he already knew she did not like being the center of attention. She liked to be what she thought was in the shadows, the gray man. But she was too attractive for men not to pay attention. Plus, a guy like him always paid attention to what was lurking in the shadows. Survival 101.

And he couldn’t quite shake a growing suspicion that refused to go away. Evi1Geni-us had known they were coming. Had he simply lured them into a trap? Or had someone inside the taskforce helped him? Shane’s instincts screamed that Yael was hiding something. He didn’t know what, but he didn’t like it.

Shane was absolutely positive no one on HRT had gone rogue, but how was a guy like him supposed to figure out whether or not one computer geek was in league with another?

By hanging out with one. By gaining Yael’s trust.

Which was turning out to be more difficult than he’d anticipated.

Despite the sizzle of attraction, Yael wasn’t giving off vibes that suggested she was looking to hook up. In fact, even though random sparks unexpectedly lit up the air between them, she acted like she’d rather be anywhere but here with him.

Was that because she was worried about what he might find out? Or perhaps she really wasn’t interested and his imagination was in overdrive because his libido had suddenly woken up after a long hiatus.