“No, I’ll go,” he said.
She studied his face. He was too rugged to be considered classically handsome, but it only made him look better to her. “Are you going to keep your cool?”
He rose, leaned down, and pressed his mouth to her ear. Her stupid heart jolted.
“I was SAS, remember? I’m good at compartmentalizing and doing whatever I need to do to get the mission done.”
She turned her head. Their lips were an inch apart. “The SAS is also good at blowing shit to hell.”
His lips curled. “I promise, no explosions.”
He stalked across the restaurant. Hadley was not surprised to see many female gazes follow him. God, that ass was something. She realized she’d picked upassversusarsefrom Hex. The hacker was a bad influence.
Hadley sipped her water. When she glanced over, Bennett was leaning against the bar, smiling.
And Kitty Wentworth was lapping up the attention.
Hadley’s hand tightened on her glass. She watched Bennett’s smile widen. He poured his charm on the woman.
He was probably practiced at it. Kitty leaned in, practically rubbing her breasts against him. Bennett said something, then reached out and touched Kitty’s bare arm.
God, he didn’t have to go over the top.
Maybe he liked it? Maybe he liked having every woman fawning over him.
Focus on the job, Hadley.
Suddenly, Kitty paused. She stroked Bennett’s arm and pulled out her cell phone.
Ah. Just what they needed.
They needed to get the bug on that phone.
With a wave, Kitty headed toward the ladies’ room.
Hadley rose. She moved toward Bennett.
“Have fun?” There was a bite of acid in her voice, more than she’d intended.
He arched a brow. “I just let her do her thing.”
“It looked like you enjoyed it.”
His gaze narrowed. “I did what I had to.” He leaned in. “Who trashed your trust in mankind? You’re so quick to believe the worst of everyone.”
His words stung. “I believe in reality.”
“Reality is that you’re jealous.”
“Hardly.” She sucked in a breath. Was that what she was feeling?Oh, God.
Bennett leaned in, frustration on his face. “You’re lying to yourself. You hide behind those walls of yours, keeping everyone at a distance, fighting what you’re feeling. Do you ever bloody let go, Hadley? Ever just feel without running it through a hundred filters?”
The arrow hit its target, slashed at her, and she hissed in a breath.
Bennett shook his head. “Fuck. I didn’t mean—”
“I need to get the bug on that phone.” She swept past him.