Chapter 324
[ 484 words ]
Chapter 324:
She heard the distinct, heavy sound of combat boots approaching the door from the hallway.
Jarrod was returning. Panic flooded her system. She absolutely could not let him know she had invaded his privacy and found his secret.
Moving with desperate speed, she shoved the photograph back into the hidden compartment and pushed it firmly shut. It clicked back into place, becoming invisible once more.
She stepped quickly away from the desk and scrambled back toward the bed just as the electronic lock chimed.
The heavy steel door swung open. Jarrod stepped into the room, bringing the scent of rain and cold metal with him.
Caroline was standing by the bed, her back rigidly straight, her heart hammering violently against her ribs.
She glanced toward the corner of the room, realizing she had left the plastic water bottle back on the small metallic desk after discovering the hidden compartment, leaving her with nothing to hold to mask her trembling hands.
Jarrod paused in the doorway. His sharp, predatory eyes instantly scanned her posture and the room.
𝖱𝘦а𝗱 o𝘯 a𝗇y 𝖽𝗲𝗏𝘪𝖼𝖾 𝘰𝗇 𝗴а𝗹n𝗼𝗏𝗲𝗅s.с𝘰𝘮
He noticed her slightly elevated breathing and the tense set of her shoulders.
He walked toward her, his voice low and probing, asking if everything was alright and if she was feeling sick again.
Caroline forced her CIA-trained facial muscles to relax, molding her features into a soft, slightly tired expression.
She turned to face him and offered a small, convincing smile. “I just woke up,” she said. “I’m feeling a bit dizzy, that’s all.”
Jarrod accepted the lie, attributing her symptoms to the lingering effects of the fever and the trauma.
He stepped fully into her personal space, his towering frame casting a large shadow over her.
Caroline looked up at his face and noticed a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead from whatever physical exertion he had just returned from.
To mask the frantic, insecure thoughts swirling in her head, she acted on a sudden impulse of feigned intimacy.
She reached up, the oversized sleeve of his shirt falling back as she gently wiped the sweat from his brow with her thumb.
The soft, domestic gesture completely disarmed Jarrod, bypassing all his tactical defenses instantly.
His dark eyes softened. He let out a rough exhale, leaning slightly into her touch.
He wrapped his powerful left arm securely around her waist, anchoring her flush against his solid torso, while his injured right arm remained pinned rigidly against his ribs within its field splint, acting as a static barrier to keep her contained.
Caroline gasped softly at the sudden impact, her bare legs brushing against his rough tactical pants.
Jarrod buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, drawing comfort from her proximity.
“The perimeter’s secure,” he murmured against her skin. “You’re completely safe here with me.”
Caroline wrapped her arms around his broad back and rested her chin heavily on his shoulder.
From this position, her eyes stared directly at the spot on the desk where the hidden compartment was concealed.
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