Taste (Take It Off #9)(25)
Author: Cambria Hebert

I gave Walsh a sweet smile.

“Fine,” he muttered. He was defeated and he knew it.

Spencer jolted forward, pressing a swift, hard kiss to my mouth before rushing from the room with his phone in hand to presumably make the arrangements.

I pressed my lips together as he went, trying to hold on to the feeling of him on my skin just a little longer. Every eye in the room focused on me.

I lifted my chin and stared back, almost daring them to say something. Gazes averted almost immediately.

I hurried to scoop everything back into my bag, leaving it in a tangled heap at the bottom. I was anxious to get to my mom’s and see Jack. I wanted to hold him. Only then would everything in my world be right.

Seconds later, Spence came in. “They can leave this afternoon.”

“Are you sure about this?” I asked, worrying all over again. I hadn’t expected him to leave so soon.

“Getting Jack out of here is the best thing,” Spencer said. “You will be able to think more clearly without worrying about him, and we can all move around a little more freely without having to worry about his safety. We can get this case solved quicker.”

Well, I was all for ending this nightmare as quick as possible.

“Okay.”

“I need details, Waller,” Robert barked.

“Of course, sir.” He inclined his head.

“I’m going home,” I announced.

No one tried to stop me, and I left before they changed their mind, escaping out into the hallway.

“Bring your mom and Jack to the Smithsonian in two hours,” Spencer said, coming up behind me. “Pack light. Don’t draw attention with bags. Make it look like a fun afternoon. Wait near the bathroom by the back entrance. I’ll find you,” he said, taking my arm gently, and looked at me.

I glanced around, noting we were alone. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

“Yeah, I am.” He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

I nodded. “Okay, then.”

Spencer leaned down. I thought he was going to kiss me. He did, just in an unexpected place. His lips were soft and warm against my forehead when he brushed them there. Then he dropped another one in the same spot. I gripped his biceps, preventing him from pulling back so fast, and tilted back my head so it fell against the wall.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“For what?” I said, thinking he was going to apologize for what happened with Jack.

“For taking this long to do something about the way I feel about you.”

My breath caught. “Spence,” I whispered.

“I know,” he said softly. “My timing sucks. Just know that once this is over and you guys are safe…” His voice trailed off and he kissed my temple. “I’m pursuing you, Elle. And I always —always—get what I want.”

A little shiver raced up my spine and a tiny noise escaped the back of my throat. I felt his smile against my forehead.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” he said, releasing me, and gently steered me toward the stairs.

I walked away in a daze, totally turned on by his words. Being pursued by Spencer was going to be thoroughly exciting.

“Elle?”

I turned when he called out to me.

“Be careful,” he said. It was a small reminder that my life was filled with very big problems.

Problems that needed solving immediately.

14

How did you explain to your mother that you were sending her and your son away because you were being threatened and blackmailed by unknown men to kill the president of the United States?

You didn’t.

You lied.

Well, sort of.

Truth was I wasn’t a good liar. She would smell it from a mile away, and the next thing I knew, I would be blubbering the complete truth to her and putting them in even more danger.

It was the power of the “mom look.” Sometimes I practiced it in the mirror so I could use it on Jack, but it was elusive. I was no good at it.

The best lies are seeded in truth. At least that’s what I heard on TV, so I decided to go with that theory.

“There’s a breech in security at work,” I told her as I cradled Jack on the couch. I just couldn’t seem to put him down since I’d arrived at Mom’s house. “A lot of White House information—personal information—about the employees was taken. The security team there isn’t certain what kind of threat this poses, but it’s making me extremely nervous.”

Mom’s eyes were wide and concerned. “You think that’s what today at the aquarium was about?”

“I don’t know.” I lied and pushed on. “But I’ve arranged for you and Jack to go somewhere and stay for a while.”

“And leave you behind?”

“Yes. So no one will get suspicious. Routine as normal, work as normal.”

“Elle.” I knew that tone. She was going to argue. She was going to shoot down this idea.

I held up my hand. “Mom, please. This is for Jack’s safety. Don’t you want your grandson to be safe?”

He face blanched. I had her. She couldn’t argue with me about Jack, especially not after earlier today. “Where will we go?”

“It’s best if you just go there, see for yourself.” I waited for her to pick up on the fact I had no clue myself, but for once, she didn’t seem to notice.

“How long?”

“I’m not really sure,” I replied truthfully. “Hopefully, only a handful of days.”

She studied me for a long time. I tried to avoid her gaze as much as I could, instead focusing on Jack and tickling his belly. Gah, his little laugh was the best sound on Earth.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to say if she refused or demanded more information. I couldn’t tell her the truth.

“I’ll go pack a bag,” she finally said.

My shoulders slumped in relief. “Something very small and unassuming,” I called after her. Her footsteps faltered but then continued on.

I went through Jack’s diaper bag. He had two changes of clothes, some diapers, and a couple little containers of snacks and some juice boxes. He would be fine until they got where they were going. I prayed it was somewhere they could get some groceries and necessary items. My throat grew thick just thinking about saying good-bye to him and watching him leave without me knowing where he was going.

His little hands fisted in my hair and tugged on the ends, and I smiled, looking down at him. I ran my fingers over his light-brown, feather-soft hair and round, chubby cheeks. His lips were pink and his eyes were hazel with green flecks near the center. He was normal size for his age, but to me he was small. He probably always would be because he was my baby.