Calculated Reaction, page 4
Ree smiled a knowing smile. “Guess I don’t have to lend you my books after all.” She stilled her tapping and eyed Alexis. She pointed a finger at Alexis’s leg. “I approve of the match, but try not to shoot him. I like the guy. He’s one of the–,” Ree waved a hand in the air, searching for the word, “–good ones.”
“I’m not planning on shooting Dr. Brown. It’s too much paperwork.” Alexis put her hands on her hips. “Also, what did you have up your skirt this evening? You weren’t supposed to be packing.”
Ree looked just a little sheepish. “It was just a knife. Come on, tell me you wouldn’t come a little bit armed if someone got shot on your front porch. Obviously, I didn’t need it because you guys are wonderful.” She gave Alexis another hug. “Well, don’t get into too much trouble with Matt.” She pulled back from the hug and put her hands on her hips. “Actually, you have my permission to get into as much trouble as you want. You know what? Go. Go get into trouble with Matt.”
“No, no, no. None of that, you hopeless romantic. Get out of here and go catch your flight.” Alexis winked and shooed her friend out of the room. It was time to dance with Matt again, but this time, she would be the one leading.
5
Alexis followed the directions Matt provided to a small house with navy siding and white trim, not far from campus. She double-checked the address and knocked on the front door. Matt opened it and nearly masked his surprise that she had actually shown up. He’d taken off his suit jacket and tie but was otherwise still dressed for the wedding. “Hello again, Alex…”
Alexis lifted an eyebrow. “Thompson. But you already know that.” Alexis walked into a small living room with a lit fireplace. If she wasn’t here to work, she might actually call it cozy. Matt’s couches were dark brown leather with soft tan pillows. Large landscape photos hung on each wall. The rest of the room was as neat as the desk in his office. He gestured for Alexis to sit in front of the fire. He was completely non-threatening in his approach, and if she wasn’t an FBI agent, she might even fall for his attempts to make her feel completely at ease.
“Can I get you some decaf?”
“So, Dr. Brown, we’re going with good cop?” she goaded.
“You can call me Matt. I’ll take that as a yes.” While he left to brew coffee, Alexis rose to get a closer look at what Matt kept in his living room. He had a small, built-in bookshelf, filled with a mix of technothrillers and non-fiction about history and engineering. A framed photo of Matt with his parents near a beach that looked a little out of date sat atop it. The photograph hanging above the bookshelf was a gorgeous shot of a sea turtle swimming in bright blue water. It had clearly been taken with a quality underwater camera. She wondered if he had taken it. If he had, he likely was also the photographer for the other images hanging on the walls. One was of a mountain, the other a beach with turquoise water and palm trees. She heard the unmistakable sound of coffee brewing and walked back to the couch. A few moments later, Matt joined her. He steepled his hands and waited. His gestures were relaxed, but he watched her carefully. Considering that she was actively lying to him, his suspicion was understandable.
Alexis looked down at her hands. “It’s complicated.”
“You mentioned that before. And don’t try and tell me you carry a fake ID. You’re clearly older than twenty-one.”
Alexis looked back up at Matt. “Wouldn’t insult you by trying it. First, Ree knows everything.”
Matt raised an eyebrow. “What does Ree know, exactly?”
Alexis took a moment to even out her breathing. “I used a fake last name while I was working in the lab. My parents have had some problems and I was trying to put some distance between me and the trouble they’ve caused. Make myself a little hard to find.” Matt shifted to face her, his suspicion softening to curiosity. Alexis made eye contact with him, bringing tears to her eyes. No weeping or sobbing, just a finely tuned, gentle gathering of liquid at the corners. Her real last name was common enough that there would be no way for Matt to fact check her story. And unfortunately, she had a very clear idea of what some people were capable of. To create a character who was the victim of someone else’s bad choices required almost no imagination.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Are you in danger?”
Alexis shook her head. “I don’t think so. But, they’ve both spent time in prison and I’m not sure they’re very sorry about any of it. I don’t want them contacting me. They didn’t respect my request to leave me alone when I asked the first time, so I moved and changed my name. I don’t want to make a bigger deal about it than it actually is, but I’d like to ask you to keep my secret. I like where I’m at. I don’t want to move again.” She felt a little bad for lying to a nice guy like Matt, who was clearly just looking out for a friend. But selling him on the lie was the only way to make sure Ree’s side job with the Bureau didn’t become public knowledge at the university. It was, unfortunately, necessary.
The coffeemaker beeped and Matt left the room. He returned with two full mugs. He offered her one and she took it, wrapping her hands around the mug. “I have a background in security. If you need some help, let me know.”
Alexis wiped a crocodile tear away with her thumb. “Thank you.”
“And if I talk to Ree, she knows about all this?” Alexis nodded. She fully expected Matt to fact-check her story and would have to send Ree an email with the details she’d need to corroborate later. A long pause followed. Matt studied her carefully, clearly taking time to choose his words. “How old are you, really?”
That, at least, wasn’t classified. Alexis swallowed. “I’m twenty-nine. I told a fib about that too. With everything, I had to finish college a little later than a typical student.”
Matt turned his head, considering. “Twenty-nine? And you said you graduated. So, you’re not a student anymore. That part is also true?”
“I just told you that I’m on the run from my own parents and you’re asking me about my age and university status? Doesn’t my history bother you?”
Matt shrugged, and a grin played at the edge of his mouth. “I’m the son of a Puerto Rican scientist and a Navy Admiral from Jersey. Does that tell you anything about my character?”
Matt waited for her answer and Alexis’s pulse kicked up a fraction. Her plan was to keep him from getting too curious, and instead, he looked amused, interested even, if she wasn’t imagining things. She also wasn’t completely oblivious to her own reaction to him. She’d felt a spark of interest the first time she’d talked to Matt, but the flag he had on his file combined with her undercover work had been enough to force her to keep her distance. Until she managed to talk herself into coming to his house. By herself. She pushed back her attraction and leaned against the couch to put some space between them. Matt had given her an opening she could use to get more information, then she could be on her way. She wasn’t allowed to research him on the FBI systems, but if he was freely admitting what happened in a social situation, that was completely fair game. “I guess I don’t know much about you, outside of the fact you are protective of your friends. Which is…admirable. What did you do before you were a professor here?”
“I served in the Navy.”
Alexis took a sip of her coffee but maintained eye contact. “Did you quit?”
Matt placed his mug on the coffee table. “No. An injury forced me out.”
Alexis gripped her mug a little tighter. “Do you mind if I ask what happened? Or is it something you’d rather not talk about?”
“I don’t mind. The details are classified, but what happened isn’t. I took some shots to my back when I tried to get my buddy to safety.”
Alexis winced and rubbed her upper arm absently. She stopped herself when she remembered that her scar was supposed to be from a rotator cuff injury. “I’m sorry to hear that. So, the bullet wounds put you out?”
“That and the shrapnel from the IED that got my buddy. The SEALs didn’t want me back, even after some pretty major surgeries.” Sadness flashed across his face, then he shifted back into the contentment she was more used to seeing from him. “I went to get my Ph.D. in engineering and started a very rewarding second career. It wasn’t what I expected to happen, but it’s worked out alright.”
All of the disconnected details she’d discovered about Matt began to click neatly into their places. “Wow. I should thank you for everything you’ve done.”
He waved a hand. “No need. You’re welcome to stay, finish your coffee.”
Alexis placed her mug back on the coffee table. “It’s tempting. But I have to drive back, and it’s getting late. I need to get ready for a work trip this week. I should get back home.”
“Of course. Thanks for taking the time to explain your situation to me. Sorry for the misunderstanding. It’s just that, on a small campus like ours, we look out for one another. Old SEAL habit, I guess.” Matt rose from the couch and turned around to offer her a hand. Alexis took it and, instead of stepping away as she rose, she let herself feel the warmth of his closeness for a moment. She met his eyes and swallowed hard. Unless she was sorely mistaken, they were both thinking the exact same thing. They both went completely still, neither willing to move at first.
Finally, she let her hand drop out of his. Matt gave her a sheepish grin. “It’s late, and I’m keeping you up.”
Alexis stretched. “It’s okay. It’s just a few hours to get back home.”
“Look, after the day you’ve had, if you’d rather not drive home, you’re welcome to stay. I have a guest room.” Alexis considered the offer. She wanted to spend more time with him, but it wasn’t because she needed more information. His white button-down shirt had gotten a little rumpled, and somehow that made him look more tempting than when he was in his jacket. He misunderstood the cause of her reluctance to stay. “I’m not suggesting anything else.”
“I really appreciate the offer, but I think I better get going.” Alexis yawned and checked her watch. It was later than she expected. Maybe it was a bad idea to drive home in the ever-present Chicago traffic when she was overtired. Her heart beat a little faster and she fought the urge to smack herself in the forehead. Sure. The only reason she wanted to stay at Matt’s house was because she didn’t want to fight traffic.
“You got it.” Matt gathered up their mugs. “Offer still stands if you change your mind.” Matt took their mugs to the kitchen and Alexis rubbed her arms. She ran a hand down her face and stared into the fireplace. She should leave.
From the kitchen, Matt said, “Do you want a cup of coffee for the ride home?”
Alexis closed her eyes. He couldn’t just be smart and smoking hot, he also had to be considerate. She blew out a breath. “That’d be great, actually.”
* * *
Matt rummaged around in a kitchen cabinet, looking for a mug he could spare for Alexis. The night had taken an unexpected turn. His plan was to shake her down and make sure she wasn’t working with the spy who’d followed Ree back to campus. However, it was clear almost immediately that Alexis wasn’t their problem. She was leaving out some key details, but her eyes were honest. He’d seen the eyes of evil people before – when he was sure someone had a good heart, he was rarely wrong. He’d have Cam run a background check to verify her story in a few days, before Ree and Parker got back from their honeymoon, just to make sure.
While the fresh pot of coffee brewed, Matt tapped a hand against the counter. When the coffeemaker beeped, he finally made a decision. He pulled a sticky note out from a drawer and wrote his phone number on it. He wasn’t in the habit of running away from something good, even if it was unexpected. Matt filled the mug and stuck the sticky note to it. When he returned to the living room, Alexis was staring into the fireplace with her arms crossed.
Alexis turned and met his eyes. Both of them remained frozen for a beat too long. Unless he was dead wrong, she was interested. He should go for it. Matt gave her the mug and Alexis eyed the sticky note. She pulled it off the mug, studied it for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”
“A mug. I made it with my cousin and her daughter at a paint-your-own pottery place. The blue camo was her idea.”
She eyed him and waved the yellow sticky note in the air like a flag. “No, what is this?”
Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “My number. I was going to tell you it was for you to call me if you had trouble on the way home, but really, I’d like to see you again. Socially. I mean, if I didn’t scare you off by asking so many questions.” Alexis closed her eyes and placed the mug on the coffee table. Matt cringed. He’d never been smooth. He was a lot more comfortable keeping an eye on things and moving in when he was sure it was the right time. So it surprised the hell out of him when Alexis approached him with a determined look in her eyes.
She put a hand in his hair. “I shouldn’t be doing this. We shouldn’t.”
Matt’s heart began to pound, and he let his eyes drift closed at her touch. “You haven’t actually done anything y–” It only took Matt a moment to recover from the shock of contact, and he pulled Alexis close, kissing her back gently. It was impossible to tell who was responsible, but soon, they were both tangled up in each other on his couch. A strand of hair fell from her updo and he tucked it behind her ear, planting a kiss on her neck.
Alexis closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his. “Why does this feel so right? I barely know you. It shouldn’t feel so right, right?”
Matt didn’t have an answer, but he also didn’t hold her reservations. “Because your enthusiasm is contagious. You light up a room and anyone who gets to share that feels it.”
Alexis opened her eyes. “Oh, this is so bad.”
“That’s funny, I was thinking just the opposite.” He kissed her again. “Stay. In my guest room. I’m not trying any funny business tonight. I want to see you in the morning. I want you to know this wasn’t impulsive for me.”
She looked at him through half-closed eyes. “Something tells me that you are the opposite of impulsive, Matt Brown. And for the record, I think we’ve already crossed the line into funny business.”
“Trust me, I’m behaving far better than I want to.”
“You’re not the only one.”
Matt nuzzled her neck. “You smell good.”
Alexis chuckled. “After a night of dancing, I doubt that.”
Matt looked into Alexis’s light brown eyes. While he really wanted to continue where they’d left off, something in her was still holding back. He ran a hand down her back. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
Alexis took a longer pause than he’d expected, considering her normally quick-fire responses. “I have a dog. His name is Waffle and he’s the absolute best. Sometimes I like my dog better than I like people. Present company excluded, of course.”
Matt laughed. “High praise indeed. I’d love to have a dog, but I like to travel.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I love to go diving. It’s so quiet, so peaceful, but at the same time, you have to pay attention because it isn’t safe to lose focus. It’s just the right amount of relaxation for me.”
Alexis kissed him on the cheek. “Ah, you did take the picture on the wall. It’s beautiful. Where was that?”
Matt looked up at the image he’d taken of a green sea turtle off the coast of California. He’d spent his fair share of time successfully not dying in that water during his SEAL training, and he’d gone for pleasure dives after he’d finished. “Thanks. It was just off of Coronado beach in San Diego. There were a lot of blurry duds before I got that beauty.”
“What else?”
He grinned. “You’re persistent. I’m a measure twice, cut once kind of guy.”
“Good habit to have in an engineering professor working with rocket fuel. What else?”
Her genuine interest was impossible to resist. He closed his eyes. “I’ve been through more than I’m comfortable talking about. I’ve seen things no one should ever have to see. I’m…I’m working on it.”
Alexis ran a hand through his hair. “It explains why I don’t know more about you, even though we worked in the same lab. You keep your stories at the surface, where you’re more comfortable.”
Matt almost moved backward at the weight of her observation. No one else had realized that about him.
She gave him another kiss, lingering for a moment longer than just a friendly peck. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. My mouth gets ahead of my brain sometimes.”
Matt met her eyes. “I like your mouth.” He pulled her into a hug. They stayed there, both unwilling to move. Something told him that Alexis letting her guard down around him was a big deal. But, it was probably best he didn’t let things get any more out of hand until Cam ran a background check on the enigmatic but irresistible woman on his couch. She rubbed a hand along his back. Someday, maybe he’d let her get close enough to see the scars hiding under his shirt.
Alexis pulled him a little closer. “I like you, Matt Brown. I’m just not sure what to do about it.”
“Ah, and I thought you were just using me for my couch.” Alexis swatted at him and he grinned. “I offered you my spare room, but you insisted on jumping me on my couch. Not that I’m complaining.”
“Me neither.”
Matt shifted to a more comfortable position for them both. He should move, change out of his dress shirt. He tried to slip away, but Alexis held him tight. He looked down at her and grinned. Maybe he could stay here for a few more minutes. Soon, his eyes began to get heavy and before Matt fully realized what was happening, he drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Matt awoke to loud banging on his front door and Alexis jumped up nearly at the same time he did. Three thoughts flashed through his mind, all more or less at the same time – they’d spent the night on his couch, she was perfect, and he needed to find out who was trying to break down the door at nine a.m. He put a hand on her arm. “Give me a second to tell them to go away.” Matt looked through the peephole and groaned. “It’s not going to be that easy. I’ll just be a second.” He slipped out the front door, closing the door behind him and blocking the peephole with his back.
