Keeping her gaze fixed on Nick, she called Dispatch and asked them to recall her squad to Hamilton’s address.

“Yes, ma’am,” the dispatcher said after a short pause, during which Sam had no doubt the woman was wondering why Sam was issuing orders while suspended. Luckily she didn’t ask so Sam didn’t have to tell her to mind her own business. She slapped the phone closed and stashed it in her pocket.

“I know it’s a lot to ask.”

“Yeah, it is. The guy was running from the threat of murder, so you brought him here.”

“I wanted to keep him safe!”

“By endangering us?”

“There’s no danger to us with the Secret Service all over this place.”

“So now my detail is convenient to you when most of the time you hate it?”

“Are you fighting with me because I said no to having sex with you tonight?”

“Are you seriously asking me that?”

“No, I guess I’m not.” She went to him, flattening her hands on his chest. “I know it’s an awful lot to ask, and I’m sorry I brought him here. He was so damned scared. Freddie and I both saw it, and I didn’t know where else to take him that Hamilton couldn’t get at him.”

“This whole thing is fucking crazy. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do, but now I’ve got a homicide to contend with, and it’s going to be the hottest case we’ve had in years.”

“Which is saying something,” he muttered. “I don’t want him alone with Scotty.”

“Okay.”

“One night, Samantha, and then he’s out of here. Are we clear?”

“Yes, thank you. I agree that I need to figure out something else for him, and I’ll take care of that as fast as I can. I promise.”

“I want to bring Brant in on what’s going on. He can’t protect us if he doesn’t know.”

She hesitated as she considered that. It was her natural tendency to keep things to herself, but Nick was right. Brant couldn’t do his job without all the information, and since Brant’s job was to protect the two most important people in her life, she nodded. “Fair enough.” She went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you. I’m sorry I brought this situation into our home, and I’m sorry I had to say no to you for the first time ever.”

His lips curved into a small, sexy smile. “You’ll make it up to me.” He leaned in close to brush his lips against her ear. “On your back, with your legs on my shoulders, your ass red from my hand and—”

“Stop it,” she said, shivering from the desire that instantly heated her core. “Right now. I’ve got to go to work.”