He searched her warm brown eyes for some inkling as to whether or not she had regrets about the kiss but once again her expression was difficult to read.

He gathered up the rest of his belongings. “The keys are inside with my gear. Want a quick tour?”

She looked torn. Very few people were allowed inside this compound but with her working on the task force he didn’t see the front office complaining. She might not like weapons but he could tell she was interested in how HRT worked. And even if by some remote chance she was somehow involved in being a leak he wasn’t about to show her anything classified or operationally sensitive. He’d keep his eyes on her the whole time.

“Sure.”

They headed up the hill past Cowboy who was eyeing Yael with undisguised interest. Shane introduced them, because not doing so would look like he was staking a claim.

“Ryan Sullivan, this is Yael Brooks. She’s working on the joint task force with me.”

Understanding flickered over Ryan’s features but his eyes didn’t lose their appreciative glint. Ryan considered himself a connoisseur of women. Shane considered him a bigger dog than the K9 sitting patiently at the other man’s feet.

Ryan held out his hand and Yael reluctantly took it even as she cautiously eyed Hugo who was watching them all with his intelligent dark eyes, long pink tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.

“I’m sorry for the loss of your teammate,” Yael said to Cowboy solemnly. She withdrew her hand quickly and Shane noticed she wasn’t a particularly touchy-feely person.

Ryan’s expression immediately turned somber. He nodded firmly. “Appreciate that.”

None of them could really talk about it yet. It hurt too damn much.

“Don’t mind Hugo.” Shane inclined his head toward the dog who was clearly picking up on Yael’s nerves. “Friendliest mutt in the FBI, but don’t tell the bad guys.” Although the dog would bring down the Pope himself should he be given the command.

“Can I pet him?” she asked.

“Sure. He’s protective of his pack. He simply needs to know you’re part of it.” Ryan handed her a dog treat. “Tell him to sit and then give him this. He’ll love you forever.”

Shane didn’t miss the look Ryan shot him when he said those words. Shane rolled his eyes behind Yael’s back. The guy was implying that Shane was smitten which was bullshit. Sure, he liked her, but he was trying to get closer to her for intel, not because of her body.

Leaving Ryan behind, Shane led Yael inside the main building which housed support staff, their lockers and equipment cages. Gold team’s space was packed to the gills with high-end tech and smelled vaguely like a cross between a football locker room and a mechanics workshop.