She opened one eye. “If I run off with someone, then I’m not running off alone.”

He wanted to snarl at her. She wasn’t taking him seriously. “You know what I mean.”

“Fine, Tom. I’ll be careful. I won’t even walk Pebbles without an escort.”

“A cop escort,” he insisted. Which eliminated Mike the Groper.

“Fine.” She closed her eye and tugged at the blankets. “I’m going to nap now. You can see yourself out. Tell Mike that I just need some quiet and that I’ll be okay by tomorrow.”

Tom stood uncertainly. “What happens tomorrow?”

Her lips thinned, her expression changing to one of determination. “We’re going out to dinner. Do I need a bodyguard?”

He stood silently, words failing him once again. He watched her swallow, then brace herself before opening her eyes. She stared up at him, brown eyes full of challenge. “Do I need a bodyguard?” she repeated. “Or should I cancel on him? I will if you tell me to.”

Cancel, dammit. Cancel.

But that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.

Neither is Mike the Groper!

But he knew what he needed to say. “Don’t cancel. But don’t leave the house until I can ask Agent Raeburn how we can handle your protection.”

She visibly flinched. “All right,” she murmured. “I look forward to hearing from your boss. If I don’t hear by tomorrow morning, I’ll call him myself.”

It was his turn to flinch. She’d not-so-subtly bypass him, going straight to Raeburn for information. “All right.” He turned to go, but paused, hand on the doorknob, when she called his name. “Yes?”

“Tell Mike that I’ll be down in a few minutes and that I’ll make him supper.”

He nodded once, then left without looking back. Passing her message on to Mike the Groper was harder than he thought it would be, especially when the man became smugly pleased.

“I hadn’t planned to go anywhere,” Mike said. “Don’t worry. She’s safe with me.”

Tom managed not to slam the front door on his way out. He did, however, slam the SUV door when he got in.

Croft shot him a look. He glared back at her, daring her to ask him anything. “She’s fine,” he snapped. “She’s got someone with her for now. I’ll ask Raeburn for a protection detail.”

“He won’t agree,” Croft said very carefully. “She’s not the primary target and he’s down a man with Mercy’s protection detail. Just preparing you.”

“Then I’ll set up drive-bys.” Or I’ll hire someone to guard her. Until then, he’d watch over her himself. Whatever he did, she’d be safe. “I’ll take you back to the field office now.”

“And where will you be?”

“My home computer setup is better than the piece of shit machine they gave me.” He gritted his teeth. “Is there a problem with me working from home?”

“Not at all. I’m going to talk to my tattoo artist friend about the Chicos design.”

Immediately Tom was contrite. “Is it safe? Should I go with you?”