Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 128083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“And you love it?”
“I do. It’s hard work, and it’ll likely never make me rich, but I have a handful of loyal employees, and I get to be a part of celebrations and events every single day and . . . yes, I love it.”
“You should be proud.”
“Thanks, Rex. I appreciate that. And you too. You should be proud of what you’ve done with your life. Especially . . . especially after the injustice you suffered.” Her cheeks felt hot. She still felt so damn ashamed when she thought of the part she’d played in that injustice. “I meant it when I said I see you as a hero.”
He met her eyes and gave her a solemn nod. “I’m going to do everything I can to live up to that praise as far as he’s concerned. You have my word on that,” he said as he tipped his chin toward the computer screen, where Cyrus was sitting up in what had become his usual position on the bed.
Cami reached over and put her hand on his, where it was sitting on his thigh. She felt the tremble of electricity that passed from her skin to his, sending a flush through her body. And if the way he tensed was any indication, he’d felt it too. She lifted her hand and brought it away and then leaned in toward the computer, pretending she was getting a closer look, when she was really taking a moment to catch her breath. “Will you tell me more about what you do?” Cami asked. “You work for the military, but in their cyber warfare department?”
He was quiet for a beat. He obviously knew by her question that she’d done a brief Google search on him. It’d been exceptionally brief, actually. She’d only wanted to verify that he did indeed work for the army in some cyber capacity like his T-shirt indicated, before rushing to his house and begging for his help. “I used to. I work for the NSA now in a position that’s not listed anywhere online. They recruited me about five years ago from the army, where I was working in cyber intelligence.”
“Cyber intelligence. And that’s what you still do, but for the NSA?”
“Basically, yes.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
He shot her a quick smile. “In a nutshell, I collect and analyze data that gives insight into the intentions of foreign governments.”
She thought for a moment. When she’d first gone to him for help, she’d asked him if he hacked computers. He’d said something along the lines of “close enough,” and she was pretty sure she could assume that when he “collected data,” that data wasn’t always readily available or freely given.
“Do you like it?”
“I do. It utilizes my talents. I feel . . . purposeful and well placed.”
She looked over at him and studied his strong profile, the masculine lines of his face—her gaze moved down to his throat, over one broad shoulder to his bicep, and then landed on his long-boned fingers, casually resting on the steering wheel, commanding the vehicle with ease. Yes, he did look like a hero, as she’d thought before, but Cami now knew it wasn’t a false facade. In less than forty-eight hours, Rex Lowe had more than earned that title. His heroic tendencies went bone deep. He’d stepped up, for her—but, she knew, mostly for Cyrus, an innocent child locked behind bars. She was tempted to thank him again, but she’d done so much of that; she didn’t want it to start sounding false. She didn’t want her expressions of gratitude to lose meaning.
But I am. Oh, I am. So very, very grateful to the man next to me.
That he was able to help her, but more so that he was willing.
“Speaking of being well placed,” she said. “Where do you actually live?” She let out a small laugh. It seemed ridiculous that she’d just hopped on a plane with the guy, and she had no idea where he called home now. There hadn’t been time to think about it.
“I’ve been nowhere and everywhere for the last five years, working in the field with special units. But I recently took a new job for the NSA, working in a cryptologic center in Colorado, which begins in a couple of months. It’s why I had the extra time off to come deal with my grandfather’s house.”
“Colorado. That’s quite a ways away.”
He nodded. And she didn’t want to think about why that knowledge caused a small catch in her chest, but it did.
She checked back on Cyrus, and a very slight movement caught her attention. She leaned in, observing him. “It looks like he’s working on something with his hand,” she murmured.
“What?” Rex took his eyes off the road for a moment to glance where she was pointing. “I can’t tell.”