“Because I made them a job offer today and I’d hate to rescind it because one of them fucked you.”

“A job offer for what?”

“Smitty and I are starting a business.”

“Something in high-level personal and business security or are you two just going to be bounty hunters?”

Mace straightened up in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Come on, Mace. You’ve wanted to save the world since I’ve known you. I mean, it makes sense. You milk the rich and famous, which will let you help those who normally couldn’t afford you. People cops can’t help. Unless you really are planning on becoming a bounty hunter.”

“I don’t see me being a bounty hunter. Having criminals tied up in my trunk would bother me. Cause really I’d rather shoot them in the head.”

“It certainly will be fun watching you transition back into normal society.” Dez thought about that for a minute. “You know, this could really work for you two. With your family’s connections and Smitty’s charm—you two could make a lot of money.”

“His charm? What about mine?”

She knew he wouldn’t appreciate her burst of hysterical laughter, but who the hell was he kidding? The man’s charm was in his lack of charm.

She cleared her throat again. “Sorry.”

“You never answered my question.”

“About the guys? No, Mace. I never dated them.” She didn’t date at all while in the military. She had too many male friends. She knew what all of them were up to with women, and she made it her mission never to end up on the bad side of that situation. So she worked hard and kept her legs closed for four years. A lonely life, but she got used to it.

“Good.”

“I’m glad I brought you such joy.”

Dez glanced around. She’d put her dogs’ food out and they still hadn’t shown up to eat. “Where the hell are Sig and Sauer?”

“Under the table,” Mace muttered, focusing on his ice cream.

With a frown, she crouched down and looked under her kitchen table. And there they were—cowering.

Poor things.

“At this rate they’re going to starve to death.”

“They’ll get used to me.” Dez chose to ignore that statement and what it implied. Instead, she stood up and finally asked him the question she’d wanted to ask him for a few hours now.

She took another spoonful of ice cream. “Smitty’s like you, too, isn’t he?”

Mace glanced at her. “Why would you say that?”

“Lots of reasons. But mostly because he has a happy spot.”

“Every man has a happy spot. Some of us have several.”

“Not that happy spot.” She glanced down at the rest of her icecream. Already full, she handed it to Mace. The man had a killer appetite. “He has one on the back of his neck. If you scratch it, his leg shakes.”

Mace slammed the bowl down on the countertop. For some unknown reason, she didn’t jump. She did, however, look at him like he’d lost his mind. “Is there something going on between you and Smitty?”

Ah. He had lost his mind. “Of course not. It just feels very comfortable with him. Kind of like with my dogs.” She grabbed Mace’s arm. “Oh my God. Is he a dog?”

“Wolf. And if you want to go out with him, you can, you know.”

“Wha—”

“You know what? I’m lying. No, you can’t.”

Dez stared at Mace. Holy shit, the man is jealous. “First off, I don’t wanna go out with Smitty. He talks too slow. I’d have to kill him. And second, what do you mean I can’t go out with him? I can go out with anybody I want to.”

This had to be the stupidest argument two grown people could have but, clearly, Mace didn’t care. And apparently neither did she.

Mace stepped in front of her. He placed both of his arms on either side of her, the island at her back.

“Let’s get this straight now, woman. You and me—we’re a couple.”

“I didn’t agree to that.”

“Don’t care.”

Dez let out an exasperated sigh and went to run her hands through her hair, but Mace grabbed her wrists.

She tried to pull her arms out of his grasp, but he held tight. “Mace, it doesn’t work that way. We’re not together because you say we are.”

“Yeah, but if we fall in—”

With strength she had no idea she possessed, Dez snatched one arm away and slapped her hand over Mace’s mouth. Hard.

“Don’t. You. Dare.”

Gold eyes stared at her. Few people knew how to read Mace’s eyes. Mostly they simply freaked everybody out. But she always knew Mace’s feelings from what she saw in his eyes. Like right now, she knew she’d hurt him.

“Aw, Mace, don’t be hurt. Please. We’re just not…we just can’t…no.”

Heaving a heavy sigh, Mace took her hand off his mouth and kissed her fingers. He took both her arms and dropped them down by her side as he pulled her close. He lowered his forehead until it touched hers.

“I understand.”

“You do? Really?”

“Yeah. Really.”

Then she heard metal click as Mace stepped away from her. She tugged her arms and realized the son of a bitch had locked her to one of the thick metal supports attached to the kitchen island.

“I understand I need to convince you we’re meant to be together.”