“What? You’re going to be my white knight fashionista?”

“I’m your whatever-it-takes-to-keep-you-happy-ista.”

Whatever it took? She should define that so he wasn’t left grasping at assumptions in the proverbial dark.

“I can run out tomorrow morning and pick something out,” she said.

“No sweater sets. Or khaki pants.”

She could hear the smile in his voice. “I don’t always wear that. I just didn’t plan on more than one outfit on my excursion to Louisville.”

“You need something short and tight.”

She laughed. “Making requests?”

“And low cut.”

“Colby!” Her cheeks heated. “I can dress myself, thank you very much.”

“Just letting you know where my mind is. Are you all done with your smiling tears?”

Her nerves tinged. Was all this to make her stop crying? “You don’t have to take me to dinner to make sure I’m not crying on your watch.”

“No you don’t, Mia. No rebuilding those walls.”

“I’m not—”

“The hell you aren’t. I’m taking you out because you like that stuff, and I like you. Simple. Don’t you shrinks know how this stuff works? All that making you happy, makes me happy bullshit?”

“I’m not a shrink.”

“But you are missing the point. On purpose, I’d assume.”

“I don’t have my credit cards or cash. I need to—”

“Cash is in the drawer in the kitchen, next to the surveillance camera you kept eyeing. Cars are in the garage. Take your pick. Keys are on a peg board next to the door.”

“I’m not taking your money.”

“You think I care about coin after dodging bullets with you? But if you’d rather just go to dinner in my mom’s sweats, cool by me, doll. I don’t care. I was just giving you my wish list. As long as you’re there, I wouldn’t notice your clothes.”

“Uh.” What to say to that?

“Tell me when and where you want to go, and I’ll make sure I’m there. Or someone from Titan, for your protective detail. I have to work sometime in the morning, but after that, we’ll do whatever you want.”

“Thank you.” Whatever she wanted? Staying right here was top on her list. Mia leaned up and kissed him. “Do you still have the NOC list?”

“I do. It’s safe.”

“Why do you still have it?”

“I’m only going to give it to my boss. He wasn’t there, and I didn’t stick around.”

“After we get rid of it, I’ll be safe?”

“In theory.”

“Very reassuring. How about in reality?”

He didn’t answer. That was several versions of concerning.

“Colby?” Worst case scenarios would begin forming if he didn’t answer soon. Heck, in the back of her mind, they’d already started.

“In reality, the fuckers will be pissed. They’ll want to do something about it. We’ll make sure they engage Titan, not you, and we’ll all come to an understanding.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means we work out an agreement. You won’t be worth pursuing, because the cost will be too high.”