“You know my abuela was psychic.” She ran a hand through her hair. “My mom had the gift too.”
“It was eerie how she knew things.” He chuckled. “I never lied to her. She had a way of seeing right through a person.”
“My abilities must be on the fritz. A voice was telling me Lawrence might be withholding something, and I eventually acted on it. I should have gotten that feeling about him the first day I met him.”
“You always liked to see the best in people. It’s an endearing quality.”
“It’s a stupid quality.”
“No it’s not. You’ve learned a good lesson. Trust your gut. Mine has saved me on many occasions.”
She looked at him, and her eyes softened a bit. “Would you like something to eat? Charisma had the lobster Caesar, and I have Buffalo chicken with a blue cheese dressing.”
“Sounds delicious.” He took his coat off and placed it on a chair.
“There’s drinks in the break room. What’s your poison?”
“A nice bottle of Riesling, but a water will do.”
“One bottle of Pierre water coming up.”
He relaxed a little. She hadn’t thrown him out, that was a good sign. He looked around the office, thinking how much it screamed Theresa. Everything was neat and pristine; not even a magazine was out of place on the coffee table in front of the couch. Finally his eyes locked on the map behind her desk. He moved closer to it to see where she’d stuck the pins on the map.
He swallowed hard when he realized all the pin marks were on the places he’d sent her the packages. The trinkets he’d sent her were displayed around the office. The cuckoo clock he’d sent her from Germany was on the wall. The sparkly feather headdress he’d picked up at the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro sat on her credenza. The didgeridoo instrument he’d got in Australia was sitting in the corner. She didn’t know, but she’d been keeping track of him for years. The agency wouldn’t think it was amusing if they ever found out. So far he’d managed to keep her existence to a minimum in his files. She was merely a part of his past and posed no security risk for anything she may know because she was just as in the dark as his family.
He longed to tell her about the places he’d visited in his own words, not hiding behind journal entries. He’d even thought about sharing some adventures with her too. But how could he do that? How could he find a way to spend time with her without his two worlds colliding? Theresa was shrewd, and he’d never been good at fooling her. The blissful ignorance that lay between them now, he believed, was self-imposed. He heard her coming back, so he moved back to the other side of the desk and took a seat.
“Here’s your water.” She placed the bottle on the desk, then reached into the bag for another fork. “This must be a record for you. What has it been, ten days? You must be champing at the bit to leave.”
“Everyone seems to think there’s something horribly wrong with me staying put.” He opened the lid of the lobster Caesar salad. “I missed home.”
“It’s surprising.” She shrugged. “How have you been? How’s the wound?”
“Much better. Thanks again for helping me that night.”
“You’re welcome.” She forked some salad into her mouth. “Harassed any more innocent people?”
“No. I’ve just been spending time with my family," he smiled. “This a great office space. I like the color scheme."
“Yes. Your sister is a decorating genius. She decorated this entire office.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Two years. The old place was getting a little cramped since business picked up. I have a lot of rich clients from the sports world, thanks to Charisma and Morgan. The company was getting bigger, and I wanted something fancier than the strip mall space.”
“Well you’ve certainly done a great job, and it’s a testament to your business savvy. Not many travel agencies survived the boom of do-it-yourself online travel. I always knew you could do whatever you put your mind to.”
“Thanks. I’ve been blessed to keep this company afloat.”
He motioned to the sketch lying in front of a travel ad board on an easel labeled new home office. “Charisma’s going to do a room in your house too?”
“Thanks to my revised estimate. I can do a few things that will make the place standout.”
Trevor ate his salad and listened as Theresa went on about her plans for the house. It was a good house and had a solid frame, but there were a few things she wanted to do to make it her own. She wanted to change the layout of the backyard and expand her deck. He’d seen a landscaper working in the yard the other day.
“You want to go on an adventure with me?” he asked.
“To where? When?”
“Anywhere you want to go. We could leave tomorrow.”
He looked into her eyes; she was thinking it over. She was right next door, yet he felt so far away from her. He needed to be alone with her. No family or dates to interrupt them.
“No, I can’t.” She shook her head. “I’m really going to be busy getting some things ready for the cruise. Your grandmother’s seniors group is a handful. I have to meet with them again to go over last-minute details like making sure everyone has their proper identification, medical summaries, and emergency contact info and review the itinerary one more time.”
He was disappointed but not really surprised. It had been an idea that had suddenly come to him.
“What if we made plans for when I return?” she said after a moment. “I’ll only be gone for seven days. Will you still be around?”
“I’ll still be in town.”
“Cool. We can go to the autumn festival at the Hayworth farm.”
“They still do that?”
“Yes, but it’s become a lot fancier since we were last there together. They have hayrides, a giant corn maze, and apple picking. They even have a pumpkin pie baking contest. And we can get pumpkins to carve.”
“I’d like that.”
The phone buzzed. It was Gilda. “Theresa, your two o’clock is here.”
“I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She stabbed at the button. “I still see some clients, especially the ones who’ve been with me since back in the day when I used to work out of my apartment.”
“I’m sure they appreciate that extra touch.” He gathered the food containers and placed them in the bistro bag. “Listen, I’ll be going out of town for a few days, but I will be remaining in the country. If you don’t see me around, I didn’t bail. I just have some things to wrap up for my last work assignment.”
“Oh, so you’re just going to work headquarters?”
“Yes.” He glanced at the box. “Are you going to finish looking through that?”
“As soon as I kick my client out.” She laughed. “It may sound silly, but I look forward to these boxes. There’s something about them that’s whimsical and romantic.”
“What do you like the most?”
“I’d say the food recommendations. I am a foodie in the worst way. I over-indulge all the time.” Her hands instinctively went to her stomach and butt.
“I never had any complaints. In fact, I always thought you were perfect.”
She laughed. “You always did have great taste.”
“Someone at Fantasy Locales Travel must think you’re pretty special.” He slipped on his coat. “Don’t forget we have a date for the autumn festival when you get back.”
“I won’t.”
“And I know it goes without saying, but keep an eye on my grandmother. I don’t want her overexerting herself.”
“Of course. I’ll take good care of her.”
He moved closer to her. He wanted to kiss her, but he’d settle for the trusting smile instead. It meant something to her that he’d be around when she came back from her tour. But then that sweet look faded.
“Trevor?”
“Yes?”
“How did you know that package was sent from Fantasy Locales Travel?”
Damn. Sh
e never missed a thing.
He tapped the open box flap. “Address is in the corner.”
“Oh.”
“It was nice having lunch with you, Reese.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
Trevor took a step back, but Theresa grabbed the lapels of his coat and pulled him back to her for a kiss on the lips. Trevor parted her lips with his tongue and went in for the kill. Time stood still as he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her flush against him. This wasn’t some awkward first kiss from a stranger, this was Reese, the only woman he’d truly loved.
“You promise you’ll be here when I get back?” she asked quietly when their kiss ended.
“Damn right. We have a date.”
“Good. Now get out. I have work to do.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He walked out of her office in such a stupor he almost crashed into the potted plant in the hallway.
He’d wanted to kiss her first, but in the end he was glad she initiated it. It made him feel good that she’d been wanting to kiss him too. Well, he wanted to do more than that, like locking her office door and both of them getting naked for the rest of the afternoon. More importantly, they had a date and he intended to keep it.
CHAPTER SIX
Trevor sat in the last row of the King Street Trolley, taking in the scenic shops and restaurants. Old Town Alexandria had a rich history and architecture mixed with a trendy charm he’d come to love. It was just the kind of romantic place you’d visit when you wanted to spend a cozy weekend shopping in unique boutiques and dining at fine restaurants with someone special. It would be a perfect place to bring Theresa. But for now, he needed to settle some business with his superiors.
He got off the trolley at the final stop, the Potomac River waterfront. Then he took a short walk toward the dock and purchased a ticket for the ferry at the booth.
“Round trip ticket for the ferry please.” He handed the attendant two twenty-dollar bills.
“Here’s your change. Have a good day.”
“Thank you.”
He boarded the ship and took a seat in the back. It was a cool day for taking a boat ride up the Potomac, but he was inclined to get the meeting over with. The vessel was essentially empty with the exception of a few tourists.
A man wearing a black overcoat sat next to him. It was his boss Rutledge.
“What happened in Paris?”
“I made a judgment call. Who knows what the Gregorian brothers would have done to Jack Stanton’s daughter.”
“That wasn’t your mission. Stanton and his private army had control of things. All you had to do was lie low for a few days while they came up with an extraction plan. You could have passed on any information you overheard.”
“And stand by while they did who-knows-what to her?”
“They’re ex-military, the best of the best. Hell, he’s pilfered some of our best intelligence people to work in the private sector.”
“He does offer an attractive package. You get to do something useful without being in danger twenty-four hours a day.”
Rutledge gave him a look. “Did he offer you a job?”
“He offered me gratitude for saving his daughter.”
“I can’t believe this,” Rutledge huffed. “The point is that it would have got this done and the Gregorians and their operation would be finished instead of hiding underground.”
“I take it you’re still mad I went rogue. It was worth it. I saved a life.”
“One life. You forget about the greater good. Sure, you saved the girl but blew the chance to stop any future activities by these scum bags. They’re not selling fireworks around the globe. They’re selling dangerous weapons to the highest bidder and trafficking people.”
“She was someone in need of help. The women who survive human trafficking don’t fare much better than the ones who end up dead. Trauma like that can haunt you and make you crazy. Those innocent women aren’t conditioned for torture and cruelty like they teach us at the academy. They’re not little soldiers.”
Ever since Alexis was born, he’d been seeing the world with crueler eyes. What if it were his sister, one of his cousins, or heaven forbid, his niece who had been abducted?
“You’ve been dropping breadcrumbs for several months all over the globe so you’d get on their radar only to have you blow it because of your impromptu rescue. You know how much this cowboy move has set us back?”
“I’d do it all over again.” He stared out at the Lincoln Memorial. When he’d decided to fight for his country via the intelligence community, he’d had a clear cut perspective. It was about keeping people safe. Sure the ends justified the means, but he couldn’t turn a blind eye when he was that close to retrieving Shannon and removing her from any further harm.
“I’ve managed to convince the powers that be to overlook you blowing the op. Before this you had an exemplary record. We may have a way to salvage your cover. But I need you to go back right away.”
“How? I’ve been compromised. There’s no yarn spinning in the world that could convince them that I’m not working for somebody.”
“You underestimate the power of a simple lie. We’ve cooked up something that could pass for muster. You saw an opportunity to save the girl to ransom her for yourself.”
“You really think they’ll believe that? And even if I did, stealing their multi-million dollar ransom won’t sit well with them. What could you possibly fabricate to make them trust me again?” Trevor looked at Rutledge. That cold, blank stare meant they were working on a more dangerous plan. Like gambling on his life. He let out a dry laugh. “You want to use me as bait.”
“Bait’s a strong word.” He shrugged. “But they’d be motivated to find you after you screwed them over.”
“But this time I may end up with more than a flesh wound.”
“I have faith in your ability to talk your way into and out of things.”
“Is that all that matters to you?”
“It’s why we’re in business kid. I think you’re forgetting it.”
“I’m afraid of forgetting how to be human.”
“When I recruited you, I knew there was something special about you. It might be your overwhelming sense of doing the right thing.”
“Family trait.” Trevor watched as the ferry pulled up to the Georgetown dock. The restaurants were filled, and people were walking about. “I’m on leave. I’ve earned it. I haven’t had time off in years.”
Rutledge stood. “I hear you loud and clear. You’re burned out.”
“It’s more than that. I’ve got some things to mull over before I make any decisions about my future with the agency. Maybe being compromised is a wake-up call.”
“In this day and age, it’s nice that our little piece of the counter-espionage pie hasn’t been uncovered. We still have the luxury of moving about unseen without our faces plastered everywhere. I’d like to believe national security is a little better thanks to the cloak and dagger games people like you have to play. I know it’s cost you a lot. But face it kid, retirement in suburbia is not for you. I’d give you three months before you went stir-crazy. Don’t insert yourself back into their lives and have it only be temporary. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone involved. Especially Theresa.”
“You keep Theresa’s name out of your mouth.” His jaw ticked. “I’ve been thinking it’s time to get out.”
“Take it from me. I have two failed marriages to prove that people in the intelligence community don’t make great spouses. Being secretive and deceitful is our trade craft.” He nodded. “Think about it.”
“You might not like my answer after I'm done thinking.”
But Rutledge didn’t look as if he’d go through with it. “I’ll be in touch.”
Trevor watched as Rutledge disembarked the boat and blended in with the crowd. It angered him that he’d mentioned Theresa. If he hadn’t made a near-fatal mistake years ago, the agency would’ve been none the wiser about ho
w much he cared for her. But it was his hubris as a young agent who thought he’d be able to lead a double life without ramifications that accidentally brought her into his spy world.
He remained seated. He was going back to Old Town Alexandria to visit his cousin Charles. He needed to share his thoughts with someone who at least knew what he really did for a living and understood the delicate balance he needed to maintain to keep their family safe.
* * *
Theresa sat on the floor helping Alexis arrange the furniture in her doll house, while Trina and Charisma helped their grandmother with her bags. They’d be leaving tomorrow morning for the cruise port in Baltimore, but you’d think they were shipping off to war. While Trevor asked questions and looked worried, the rest of the grandkids were more clandestine in keeping tabs on their grandmother’s vacation plans. They’d helped her pack but were secretly double-checking and adding things they thought she’d need.
She was still reeling from her talk with Trevor in her office. He was going to wait for her to return so they could go on their date. She had to admit there was a renewed sense of purpose in him. She wondered if it had anything to do with his recent injury. As much as she wanted to move past his mysterious wound, she was dying to know what had happened to him. Was he in some kind of danger? The last thing she wanted was for something to happen to him, especially since the old feelings were rushing back. She didn’t want to lose him just when she was on the verge of letting him into her life again. But maybe that was a good reason not to let him in again. She’d always said she hated to be lied to, and when was Trevor ever straight with her? She didn’t believe his moped accident excuse, and how could she love someone she didn’t trust?
Trina gave her a strange look. “Theresa, you’re all ready to go?”
“Yes. I’m an old pro at packing. I have two suitcases and a tote bag.”
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