Authors: Catherine Mann
“What
makes
you
think
I
knew
about
that?”
He
raised
an
eyebrow.
“I
expect
honesty
from
you,
damn
it,
or
you
can
take
your
pretty
little
ass
and
Cha
Cha
Red
lipstick
right
out
that
door.”
She
bristled
at
his
tone
and
word
choice,
but
then
one
of
those
Catholic
school
nuns,
maybe
Sister Magdalena
Gail,
told
her
the
man
had
reason
to
doubt,
reason
to
feel
betrayed.
“Okay,
I
knew.
But
I’m
also smart
enough
to
know
we’re
all
a
little
off
in
some
way.
And
everyone
has
a
skeleton
in
their
closet.
And
I, of
all
people,
understand
the
miraculous
capabilities
of
medicine,
so
quite
frankly,
it
didn’t
factor
largely
into my
evaluation
of
you
and
your
loyalties
in
the
research
facility.” He
stayed
silent,
staring
into
her
eyes
and
making
her
long
to
fidget.
Matt
may
well
have
missed
his
calling as
a
CIA
interrogator.
The
man
had
piercing
eyes
and
patience
down
to
a
fine
art.
Something
shifted
in
his gaze,
signifying
he’d
reached
a
decision
of
some
sort.
Not
that
he
seemed
inclined
to
share.
“You’re
allowed free
rein
to
walk
around
this
compound?”
She
shrugged
one
shoulder,
her
breasts
moving
in
sync.
“Apparently
so.”
She
twirled
on
one
spike
heel
with amazing
balance.
“Do
you
like
the
outfit?”
They’d
talked
a
long
time
after
the
movie,
about
insignificant
things,
both
passing
the
time,
reluctant
to
end the
evening.
So
the
next
night
they’d
had
a
glass
of
wine
and
a
walk.
He’d
taken
her
to
her
door,
intent
on leaving…then
unable
to
do
so.
“I
would
be
a
eunuch
to
say
otherwise.
Hell,
we
were
three
seconds
from
getting
naked
when
the
door
burst open.”
“Good
thing
they
didn’t
come
three
seconds
later.”
He
didn’t
even
crack
a
smile.
He
simply
stayed
still,
leaving
those
last
few
inches
between
them.
“What
do you
want
from
me
now?”
“To
be
your
friend.
To
be
more
if
you’re
still
interested,
and
I
think
you
are.”
“You
would
be
wrong.
I
don’t
do
friendships
or
relationships.”
“Then
why
haven’t
you
asked
me
to
leave?”
She
pushed
ahead
before
he
could
argue.
“That
only
leaves affairs.
Are
those
taboo
as
well?”
His
eyes
widened,
but
he
didn’t
back
away
or
show
her
the
door.
“You
sure
do
get
straight
to
the
point.”
“You
really
think
we
can
simply
be
acquaintances
now?”
Her
body
was
on
fire
simply
from
sharing
the same
room
with
him
and
they
hadn’t
even
touched.
“I
would
hope
we
can,”
he
answered,
surprising
the
spit
out
of
her.
“I
would
miss
very
much
the
talks
we’ve had,
even
sharing
ideas
and
theories
about
our
work.”
“That
sounds
a
lot
like
friendship
to
me.
Perhaps
you’ve
been
deluding
yourself
in
spite
of
that
lofty
IQ
of yours.”
Still,
she
had
to
press.
“And
what
about
the
times
we
don’t
talk?”
“This
isn’t
the
time
or
place
for
that,
there
are
guards
only
a
few
feet
away.”
“There
is
a
time
and
place?
Outside
the
reaches
of
these
military
people?”
“Maybe.”
For
the
first
time
he
softened
his
stance,
giving
her
a
glimpse
of
the
man
she’d
known
these
past months.
“I’ve
had
a
helluva
shock
today,
Felicia,
and
I
need
some
time
to
think.”
“I
can
understand
that.”
Even
as
she
wanted
to
say,
to
heck
with
reasonable
decisions.
He
still
didn’t
move
but
his
green
eyes
took
on
that
sleepy,
sexy
look
that
made
her
wobble
on
her
heels.
“But
I
promise
you’ll
be
the
first
to
know
what
I
decide.” CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
BOBBY
COMPLETEDhis
brief
with
General
Renshaw
and
the
rest
of
the
investigative
team
with
about two
ounces
of
energy
left.
After
the
near
misses
in
flight
and
the
hell
of
watching
Gracie
stride
into
harm’s way,
well,
he
was
officially
done
for
the
day.
He
wanted
to
track
down
Gracie,
check
on
her.
Nothing
more.
He
was
committed
to
keeping
his
distance until
he
sorted
out
his
head.
God,
he
wanted
to
sleep.
Just
as
he
rarely
stayed
still,
he
liked
whitenoiselike jungle
noise
around
him
when
he
slept.
Maybe
a
byproduct
of
growing
up
in
the
city.
If
he
could
hear things,
he
knew
what
was
going
on.
The
silences
were
often
more
fearsome
because
they
usually
foretold
a
surprise
of
some
sort.
What
was
he
doing
thinking
about
that?
He
didn’t
want
to
remember
those
days.
He
was
all
about
the
here and
now,
no
whining
about
the
past.
And
right
now,
after
those
close
calls
in
the
air
and
her
dangerous
foray into
the
university
retreat
and
outside
their
military
compound,
he
wanted
his
eyes
full
of
Gracie.
Striding
through
the
tent
camp
full
of
snores
of
sleeping
soldiers
and
crew
members,
Bobby
damn
near stumbled
over
Vegas
sitting
at
the
base
of
a
tree
with
his
cell
phone
clutched
in
his
fist.
The
flight
engineer simply
stared
at
the
portable
phone.
Not
talking.
Not
moving.
Damn.
Didn’t
look
like
Vegas’s
last
call
home
had
gone
well.
Bobby
wanted
to
walk
past
and
see
Gracie,
whose
tent
was
only
ten
or
so
yards
away,
but
hell’s
bells,
he couldn’t
leave
a
crew
member
in
turmoil
like
this.
“Dude,
you
okay?”
“Does
it
look
like
I’m
okay?”
Vegas
said
softly,
leaving
off
the
“sir,”
which
showed
just
how
upset
the
man must
be
if
he
forgot.
“Guess
not.”
Bobby
crouched
down
beside
him,
pulled
out
his
knife
and
started
carving
on
a
stray
thick stick
while
waiting
for
the
guy
to
spill
all.
And
waited.
How
could
anybody
sit
still
for
that
long?
Halfway
through
carving
a
bird,
Bobby
figured
the
guy
might
need
some
prodding.
“Something
I
can
do
for you?”
“Yeah.”
Vegas
finally
looked
up
and
stuffed
the
cell
phone
in
his
pocket.
“You
can
loan
me
your
truck when
we
get
home.”
“Uh,
sure.”
Bobby
shaved
the
knife
along
the
progressively
smooth
hunk
of
wood
for
another
thirteen swipes.
“Mind
if
I
ask
why?”
Finally,
Vegas
looked
up
from
between
his
knees,
his
eyes
expressionless,
almost
dead.
“I
need
to
move
my crap
out
of
my
house
on
base
by
the
end
of
the
month.”
Damn.
He
was
afraid
of
that.
Shane
O’Riley’s
family
troubles
were
common
knowledge.
Ten
to
eleven months
on
the
road
wreaked
hell
on
any
marriage.
It
was
tough
to
pick
sides,
because
the
whole
situation sucked
for
everyone.
“Sherry
packed
up
the
kids
and
left.
I
can’t
stay
in
base
housing
if
I
don’t
have
a
family.” Bobby
wanted
to
offer
hope
for
Vegas
and,
yeah,
maybe
for
himself
as
well
because
he
couldn’t
ignore these
mixedup
feelings
for
Gracie.
How
could
a
woman
kick
a
guy
like
Vegas
to
the
curb
when
he
had
all the
steady,
stable
qualities
Bobby
always
figured
went
over
big
with
the
ladies?
If
Vegas
couldn’t
make
it work,
then
what
did
that
say
for
Bobby’s
chances?
Suddenly
way
too
invested
in
Vegas’s
marriage,
Bobby
searched
for
options.
Solutions.
There
had
to
be something.
“Hey,
listen,
you
two
have
been
through
rough
patches
before.
You’ll
go
home,
buy
her
flowers and
some
candy,
romance
her.”
Steady
guys
knew
how
to
keep
their
focus
together
long
enough
to
make
the
big
gestures.
“Not
this
time.”
Bobby
opted
for
a
suggestion
that
even
gave
him
the
hives.
“Have
you
considered
marriage
counseling?”
“Already
tried
it.
No
luck.”
Vegas
shook
his
head.
The
flight
engineer,
so
competent
at
keeping
the
CV22
running
smoothly,
looked
totally
lost
now.
“Divorce papers
are
already
in
the
works.
This
has
actually
been
a
long
time
coming.
She
was
just
staying
in
the
house while
I
was
gone
to
save
money
so
we
could
afford
this
move.” Flowers
and
candy
definitely
seemed
like
a
lost
cause
if
even
counseling
hadn’t
helped.
How
did
one
work CPR
on
a
marriage
sunk
deep
into
codered
mode?
Bobby
clapped
him
on
the
back,
pretty
damn
sure
he
was
the
worst
guy
in
the
camp
to
be
offering
advice.
“Dude,
I
am
more
sorry
than
I
can
say.
Maybe
we
can
get
the
squadron
commander
to
work
the
schedules so
your
stateside
time
coincides
with
your
kids’
vacations.”
“The
kids
aren’t
mine.”
Huh?
“What?”
Vegas
shook
his
head.
“They
were
adopted
during
her
first
marriage.
Even
though
we
married
when
the girls
were
one
and
three,
I’ve
got
no
legal
rights
to
two
amazing
kids
I’ve
brought
up
as
my
own
for
the
past seven
years.
The
best
I
can
hope
for
are
whatever
scraps
Sherry
chooses
to
throw
my
way
to
see
my
girls.” Vegas’s
head
thunked
back
against
the
tree
trunk.
“Man,
Sherry’s
fucking
ripping
my
heart
out
with
this.” Bobby’s
chest
went
tight
with
sympathy
as
he
sheathed
his
knife
back
in
his
boot.
He
could
see
both
sides
of the
hellish
story.
Shane
O’Riley’s
wife
was
under
intense
pressure,
not
only
taking
care
of
the
kids
alone most
of
the
time
but
also
worrying
about
the
man
she
loved
until
that
love
dimmed.
Bobby
rested
his
elbows
on
his
knees,
bird
carving
cradled
in
his
hands.
Just
what
he
needed.
Another reminder
why
he
shouldn’t
dig
in
any
deeper
with
Gracie.
As
a
Reservist,
she
understood
his
world
well,
but with
their
two
jobs—hell,
three
if
he
counted
her
copprofiler
career
as
well—would
they
be
destined
to
a few
dates
every
nine
months
at
best?
He
couldn’t
give
up
his
wings.
He
owed
too
much
to
the
Lieutenant
Colonel
who’d
had
faith
in
him.
He owed
his
grandma.
And
he
owed
all
the
people
he’d
hurt
before
he’d
found
his
way.
The
Air
Force
was
his
redemption.
Without
it,
he
was
nothing,
had
nothing
to
offer
anyone.
Because
of
his past,
he’d
never
planned
on
marriage
or
family.
And
his
crazyass
self
didn’t
even
know
what
to
do
with
those
very
normal
dreams.
His
best
bet?
Steer
clear of
temptation,
because
he
would
never
forgive
himself
if
he
hurt
Gracie.
LATER
THAT
NIGHT,
Felicia
followed
Matt
along
the
trail
out
of
the
camp
with
some
reservation.
He’d said
he
wanted
to
continue
their
conversation
away
from
the
camp
full
of
nosy
people,
and
heaven
knows she
wanted
to
speak
with
him
as
well.
Security
was
better
than
ever
after
Gracie’s
encounter.
They
had
a spark
between
them
beyond
friendship.
She
couldn’t
bear
to
think
the
subterfuge
of
her
job
may
have
cost her
a
chance
with
this
man.
When
he’d
said
he
wanted
to
see
her,
she’d
spiffed
up,
sticking
with
what
she’d
been
wearing
when
taken—
a
skintight
red
dress
and
spiky
heels.
Now
nerves
tapdanced
double
time.
She
hadn’t
done
this
since
her smarmy
ex.
And
sex
with
him
near
the
end
hadn’t
been
all
that
great.
Even
with
a
full
moon
overhead
and
a
sky
packed
with
stars,
the
jungle
canopy
blocked
most
light.
She could
only
hold
on
to
Matt’s
arm,
pick
her
way
through
the
dark
and
pray
she
didn’t
step
on—
Ew.
She’d
worked
with
the
International
Atomic
Energy
Agency
for
over
ten
years
now,
much
of
that
time
spent in
labs
or
at
a
desk.
She’d
only
been
out
in
the
field
twice
before
and
they’d
been
in
far
more
glamorous settings.
Shortterms
stints
at
a
conference
in
eastern
Europe
and
once
in
Beijing.
But
never
anything
remotely
roughing
it
like
now.
She
didn’t
even
have
her
ionic
hair
diffuser
and
cashmere robe,
for
heaven’s
sake.
At
least
she
and
Matt
both
had
been
given
the
okay
to
freely
roam
the
compound and
beyond.
Relief
shuddered
through
her
over
the
affirmation
she’d
been
right
to
trust
Matt.
He
hadn’t
turned
to
the other
side.
And
about
her
job
longterm?
She’d
done
her
best
here,
sent
detailed
reports
right
up
to
the
time
somebody apparently
closed
down
all
communications.
She
just
hoped
the
info
she’d
given
in
debrief
would
be
enough to
help
combat
whatever
the
local
terrorist
cell
had
in
the
works
for
the
upcoming
election.
Seeing
Jiang
and
Rurik
taken
together
had
stirred
her
instincts,
and
so
not
in
a
good
way,
although
their romantic
connection
couldn’t
be
denied
by
anybody
who
spent
four
seconds
watching
the
way
they
looked at
each
other.
Still,
she
had
her
suspicions,
ones
she’d
passed
on
to
the
powers
that
be.
She
could
do
no
more
than
that now.
At
least
if
theywere
undercover
for
the
other
side,
the
couple
now
was
firmly
in
U.S.
control
and
very much
going
to
stay
there
until
their
background
checks
were
complete.
She
shivered.
“I
may
be
a
super
secretagent
spy,
but
I
have
to
admit,
trekking
much
deeper
in
this
jungle gives
me
the
heebiejeebies.”
“How
so?”
Matt
asked,
holding
firm
to
her
hand
as
he
led
her
deeper
into
the
dark
terrain.
“I’m
not
much
of
a
fan
of
snakes,
especially
the
big,
fat
poisonous
or
hungry
kind.
I
read
this
article
about
a snake
trying
to
eat
an
alligator.
I’m
smaller
than
an
alligator.” Matt
gave
her
hand
a
reassuring
squeeze
while
stepping
over
a
downed,
rotting
tree
that
housed
God
only knows
how
much
vermin
life.
“You’re
a
helluva
lot
feistier.
I
have
faith
you’d
give
that
snake
his
walking papers
by
fighting
your
way
free
with
those
needlespike
heels.” He’d
noticed
her
shoes?
Cool.
“Thanks.
I
think.”
“You’re
most
welcome.”
He
continued
down
the
circuitous
path
farther
and
farther
from
the
tent
camp.
“I don’t
want
to
sound
like
an
egomaniac,
but
it’s
rare
for
me
to
find
a
woman
I
can
talk
to
who
doesn’t
bore me
shitless
within
ten
minutes.”
“You
should
really
clean
up
your
language.”
There,
that
should
pacify
Sister
Esther
Regina,
who
was
still dogging
her
thoughts.
Matt
slowed
to
a
stop.
“Clean
up
my
language?
See
what
I
mean?
There
you
go,
surprising
me
again.
That’s not
the
logical
response
to
what
I
said.”
“What
gives
you
a
corner
on
the
market
as
to
what’s
logical?”
She
hitched
her
hands
on
her
hips.
“From where
I’m
standing,
my
response
makes
total
sense.
I’m
a
woman
with
tender
sensibilities
brought
up
with
a Catholicschool
education.
I
prefer
that
you
not
curse
in
my
presence,
please.”
“Do
you
go
around
correcting
everyone?”
He
leaned
a
shoulder
against
a
tree,
too
far
from
the
camp
to
see any
of
the
tents
anymore.
“Of
course
not.
That
would
be
rude.”
She
sniffed,
then
admitted,
“Only
people
I’m,
uh,
close
to.” A
smile
spread
wide
over
his
face.
“Now
this
is
getting
interesting.” She
couldn’t
miss
the
sexual
intent
in
his
eyes.
Had
he
finally
reached
his
decision
where
she
was concerned?
“You
barely
knew
my
name
last
week.”
“I
lied.”
He’d
lied?
Way
cool!
Now,
back
to
one
subject.
She
needed
to
justify?
Yeah,
actually
she
did.
“We’re
both
very
much
adults.”
“Are
you
calling
me
a
COG?”
What?
“COG?”
“Creepy
Old
Guy,
one
who
happens
to
be
losing
his
hair.”
“Not
even
a
chance.”
The
man
was
so
rangy
sexy,
smart
and
strong
he
made
her
curls
spring
to
life.
And she
adored
the
way
he
trimmed
his
hair
short.
No
combover
in
sight.
Pure
masculinity,
aging
with
a
grace and
wisdom
she
found
so
much
more
enticing
than
some
twentyfiveyearold
boy
toy.
“So
you’re
attracted
to
me,
secretagent
lady.”
His
dark
eyes
were
almost
black,
his
pupils
totally
dilated
in the
dark.