He wanted to keep her safely hidden in the house, with Draeger, Tobias and Graeme’s men covering them, watching for any dangers slipping up on them. There, he had his safe egress and means of protecting her that he wouldn’t have anywhere else.
“These glasses are on loan from the Bureau.” As she turned to him, he met her gaze through the dark lenses.
He was impressed. There was nothing to distinguish them from a regular pair of sunglasses.
“Nice,” he answered cautiously. “But you still haven’t answered me.”
She grinned back at him before focusing on the electronic pad she held on her lap.
“The camera built into the lenses themselves has a camera, video and audio. The experimental nanotechnology will follow my eye movements and record and store everything to the e-pad as long as it’s connected.” She tapped the e-pad. “I can do what I do without you standing over my shoulder growling. And you can keep an eye on me and assure yourself I’m safe.”
Looking from the entrance of the police department then back to her, Cullen gave her a mocking chuckle and shook his head.
“You actually believe I’m letting you go in there alone?” Now, wasn’t she just the little optimist? “And stop rolling your eyes at me.”
Those sunglasses didn’t nearly hide her eyes enough to keep his Breed eyesight from detecting the movement.
“I’m a big girl, Cullen,” she drawled. “I can take care of myself. Didn’t you say something similar to Graeme this morning when you learned he was trying to protect you?”
The little arch of a brow over the frame of the lens assured him he hadn’t misheard the sarcasm in her voice.
Trust her to bite his ass with that lecture he’d given Graeme.
“Chelsea—” He counted to ten.
He made it to five.
“Cullen.” She interrupted his count as she said his name in a tone so sweet it could have been candy. “If you go in with me, no one’s going to talk to me. You glare at everyone.”
He was definitely going to end up cracking a molar, his jaw was so tight.
“And there’s not a man in that station who’s going to believe I’ve let you out of my sight long enough to question them about anything after that attack on you the day before yesterday,” he tried to point out. “The world saw me trying to pull you out of that mess. And those men know me.” He pointed his finger to the department in a stabbing motion. “They’ll be suspicious.”
Her laugh had his cock jerking in far too much interest at the challenge he heard in the sound.
“I bet they like me much better,” she informed him with a smirk. “And they’ll be expecting me. Without you.” Tilting the glasses down her nose, she peeked at him over the frames, her brown eyes sparkling mischievously. “Why do you think Ranger always sent me to question the investigating officers whenever the two of you needed statements? Hell, Ranger’s probably sitting on his ass waiting on me to send him my report so he can call you and give his report. No doubt that’s why he hasn’t managed to send it to you yet.”
He was going to kick Ranger’s ass if that actually happened. Not that he doubted Chelsea’s word, because he didn’t. And he knew the reports from the Navajo police were not nearly as in-depth and detailed as they had been when Chelsea was there.
He rubbed his hand over his face, frustration eating at his insides. He didn’t want her going in there alone for several reasons, not the least of which, because he knew most of those men in there too and he knew they were damned perverts.
“So all you have to do is watch the screen while I go do my thing,” she suggested.
Every human and Primal instinct inside him reared its head in pure male jealousy.
“While you do what thing?” he bit out, keeping his expression carefully calm.
Even his fingernails were aching, he was so tense.
Feminine outrage filled the car with the scent of her offended pride now.
“Really, Cullen?” she asked him with a little insulting curl of her lip. “Don’t worry, I promise to keep my pants on. I’m a little shy like that. Especially in public places.”
“Dammit, I didn’t mean to say that.” Patience. He just needed to hold on to his patience. “That attack was too coordinated. We already know there’s a price on your head. The closer I am to you, the more I can help you and keep the third attack from succeeding. You’re making me crazy here, Chelsea.”
“Of course your craziness is all my fault.” She gave a bitter little snort of laughter as she turned forward and breathed in slow and deep. It did nothing to still the scent of her outrage and ire, though.
When she turned back to him and removed the glasses, meeting his gaze with cool brown eyes, in that second he knew that if he went with his instincts and followed her, he would damage a part of the relationship he wanted with her and it might not be repairable.