Kade climaxed moments later and hugged her tightly to him as his cock continued to throb within her.
Chapter 28
Early the next day, when Kade reached the station, Miguel waylaid him in the hallway. “Owen.”
Kade ran a hand over his stubbled cheeks. “What’s up, Mikey?”
“I’ve got something you’ll want to hear,” Miguel said as he motioned to his office. Kade followed his ASAC.
After Miguel shut his office door behind them, he motioned to a chair and Kade seated himself. Miguel eased back in his own chair and said, “Thought you might be interested in hearing about the surveillance we set up on Stevens.”
“Yeah?” Kade leaned forward.
“I put a couple of undercover agents on Stevens’s tail last night.” Miguel spun the frog paperweight on his desk. “He had an interesting visitor drop by his ranch, around midnight.”
“Who?”
“Jose Hernandez.” Miguel smiled. “Gordo.”
Satisfaction gripped Kade and he hit his thigh with his fist. “I knew it.”
Miguel held up his hand. “Of course that’s not enough, but it’s a start. We’ve got a helluva lot of work to do.”
“Damn straight,” Kade said, feeling a thread of satisfaction. “We’ll nail that SOB.”
He got to his feet and took his leave from Miguel. Gordo. Yes, that bastard was the key to everything. Daryl Jones, who manned the front desk, waylaid him in the reception area.
“Got a call for you, Kade.”
Kade took the phone. “Owen here.”
“This is Juarez.” The informant’s voice shook. “Meet me at Mario’s at one.”
“Sí, amigo,” Kade replied and hung up.
Kelsey would be at the station to interview Miguel at ten. Kade was tempted to hang around, but he had work to do. He spent the morning tracking down surveillance info on Gordo and Stevens, and worked over a couple of other leads.
At one o’clock sharp Kade arrived at Mario’s Cantina. As soon as he slipped into his customary booth, Juarez appeared and slid onto the seat across from him. The informant smelled of sweat and like he hadn’t taken a bath in days. Something in the man’s eyes made Kade’s gut tighten.
Glancing around the bar, Juarez licked his lips. “Your life is in danger, amigo.”
Kade’s muscles tensed and he leaned forward. “What do you mean?”
Juarez’s eyes shifted from Kade to the bar and back. “El Torero wants you dead. He suspects you know more than you should. He will do anything—take anything from you he can. Kill you. Kill your whole family. Back off, amigo. Hear me. Back off.”
A chill crept over Kade’s skin. Before he could ask Juarez for more information, the informant slid out of the booth and vanished out the front door.
***
When it was time for her to leave for her interview, Kelsey dressed in navy slacks, low heels, and a pink silk blouse, her press badge attached to her belt loop. She smiled and waved good-bye to Sadie and Trent, who were working in the garden, and headed for Douglas.
Due to the increase in the number of Border Patrol agents, the agency had recently built an enormous facility on the outskirts of the Douglas city limits. Kade had explained that the old station, near the county fairgrounds, was originally designed for a staff of only fifty agents.
The new station was sleek, modern, and efficient in appearance, and smelled of paint and new carpet. A man with red hair, freckles, and a million-dollar grin manned the front desk. His ID badge read DARYL JONHS. He reminded Kelsey of a kid she’d had a crush on in the third grade, and she smiled.
“Hello, Mr. Jones.” Kelsey’s voice was smooth and professional as she switched into journalist mode. “My name is Kale C. Nichols, and I’m a reporter with City by the Bay magazine. I have an appointment with Miguel Martinez.”
“Hold a sec.” Daryl dialed the phone. A moment later he said, “He’ll be right up.”
As Kelsey waited for Miguel Martinez, her gaze wandered around the busy station. A picture of the president of the United States graced one wall, next to the American flag. Dirt and scuffs marred the polished linoleum floor, attesting to the volume of human traffic in the building.
Male and female agents walked in and out of the reception area, some clothed in spruce green “rough duty” uniforms, and others wearing jumpsuits of the same color. She noticed agents in shirts and jeans, not unlike Kade. At the thought of him, a nervous tingle spread in her midsection, and she wondered if he was somewhere nearby.
A man in full uniform approached Kelsey. He was her height, clean-shaven, and smelled faintly of aftershave. He had dark brown hair, green eyes, and a deep cleft in his chin. “I’m Miguel Martinez. You must be Ms. Nichols.”
“Agent Martinez.” She extended her hand and smiled. He had a strong grip, and his pleasant, comfortable manner set her at ease.
“Let’s sit in my office,” he said as he turned to walk down the hall. Kelsey followed him through the station, noticing the constant flow of traffic, the hum of conversation.
He closed the door and motioned to a chair, then sat down, his manner relaxed and confident. As she took her seat, she pulled out her laptop and turned it on, wishing she had her cell phone to record.
As always when she interviewed, the outside world slipped away.
After the interview, Martinez had Kelsey sign a waiver form, then took her in one ol the Border Patrol SUVs and drove several miles along the border. She was amazed at the sheer number of vehicles positioned along its length.
Once they completed the drive, Martinez gave her a tour of the station, including the areas where the UDAs were detained and processed. When he took her to the control room, he had the agents shut down visuals on cameras where sensors were located. He explained it was standard procedure as no unauthorized individuals were allowed to see the locations of sensors on the remote desert locations.
When Kelsey concluded the interview with Martinez, he shook her hand and she thanked him, then headed out to the parking lot.
A dull pain throbbed behind Kelsey’s eyes when she slid into Sadie’s SUV. Her stomach churned and she felt as if she would throw up. Kelsey leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. She’d been so nauseated since...
Her eyes flew open and a cold chill swept over her. No. It couldn’t be.
***
Instead of heading back to the ranch, Kelsey drove into Douglas, straight to a grocery store.
By the time Kade finished following up on a few leads and made it back to the office, he was burned out and ready to head home. Not to mention concerned by Juarez’s statement about danger to his family and himself.
“Hey, Owen. Take a call before you book on out of here.” Daryl Jones held up the phone as Kade started to leave the station.
Kade took the receiver and dragged a hand over his hair. “Owen here.”
“We know where you live,” a deep male voice said.
An iron fist clamped Kade’s gut. “Who is this?” He barely had the presence of mind to motion to Daryl to have the call traced.
“We know you live with your mother and stepfather. And you have a handsome young son. He is nine, no?”
Rage filled Kade, a wave so powerful that his entire body shook. “Listen, you son of a bitch, you so much as come near my family and you’re a dead man.”
“Tch—tch. Such anger. Ah, and we must not forget the lovely senorita staying with you.”
Kade clenched his fist. “What the hell do you want?”
“Turn in your resignation by tomorrow morning and walk away, Agent Owen.”
The line went dead.
***
“Oh, my God,” Kelsey whispered while she stared at the blue plus sign on the test stick. “I’m pregnant.”
Kelsey’s head spun and for a moment darkness closed in on her. The stick clattered into the bathroom sink as she grabbed the rim to steady herself. When the feeling passed, she made sure the toilet lid was down and collapsed onto it.
/> If Theresa hadn’t gone through a pregnancy while Kelsey worked at the magazine, she would have had no idea that it was possible to get morning sickness so fast. But Theresa had been ill almost from the moment she’d conceived. And thanks to modern-day tests, it was possible to detect pregnancies within days.
So many feelings surged through Kelsey. Intense joy that she’d never known before filled her, and she almost laughed. She felt giddy and light-headed.
She was going to be a mother. A mother.
It didn’t seem real. A life was growing inside her. She did the math, and realized she would be giving birth in April.
Giving birth. A baby.
She was having Kade’s baby.
The thought filled Kelsey with sheer pleasure. Kade’s baby. Her baby. Their baby.
Did Kade love her... like she loved him?
And there it was. How she’d struggled to deny it.
I love Kade.
What a realization to come to, sitting on the toilet seat in the bathroom, just having found out she was pregnant with his child.
Kade was such a good father. Sadie and Chuck—what would they think about having another grandchild? And Trent. Would he really like to have a kid brother or sister?
Kelsey sighed and pulled the clip out of her hair. She couldn’t deal with it, not at that moment. She needed time to absorb it all. Even if she really was in love with Kade, and even if he did love her, did she want to get married? Hadn’t she already learned her lesson?
More doubt crept in, stealing her joy. She didn’t have the slightest idea what to do as a parent. How could she be a good mother? And could she make it on her own as a single parent?
After a few moments, she got a grip on her emotions, took a deep breath, and forced herself to stand. She knew she would do whatever it took to give her baby the best home possible.
And maybe it would be with Kade.
***
As soon as the line went dead, Kade dialed home. “Mom,” he said when Sadie answered. “Is everyone okay?”
“Fine,” Sadie replied with a question in her voice. “Why?”
Kade ran his hand over his head. “I don’t have time to explain. Is everyone home now? Kelsey, too?”
“We’re all here.”
“Good. Make sure everyone stays inside, and keep the doors locked. Don’t open the door for anyone.”
Sadie hesitated. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll explain when I get there. I’ll see if a unit can get to the ranch and sit out front until I make it.”
After he hung up with Sadie, Kade asked Daryl to radio for an agent to stay at the ranch, and had a quick conversation with Miguel Martinez.
Before Kade left the station, he asked Daryl to book four seats out of Tucson to San Francisco for late that evening. Kade gave him the passengers’ names and his credit card number.
The thirty-minute drive home seemed more like an hour. He pounded the wheel in frustration. Sal radioed in that he’d reached the ranch, and reported that all appeared to be fine.
When Kade drove up to the house, Roxie bounded out to greet him. Sal was sitting inside the cab of an agency green-and-white SUV.
Kade climbed out of his truck and walked up to Sal. “See anything?”
“Nada.” Sal nodded toward the house. “I called from the car and told them to sit tight.”
“Thanks, compadre.”
“Want me to hang around for a while?”
“I don’t expect anything to come down until tomorrow.”
Sal whistled and shook his head. “I don’t have a good feeling about this. Maybe you should do as they said, and resign. For now.”
Kade glared at his friend. “No way in hell I’m going to tuck my tail between my legs.”
Sal glanced around the yard. “Sure you don’t want me to hang around?”
“I’m going to get my family out of here,” Kade said. “Then take care of business tomorrow.”
“I understand.” Sal nodded. “I would do the same. Manana, then.” Kade didn’t wait to watch Sal leave. He hurried to the house and Sadie opened the door at once.
He locked the door behind him. “You all need to get packed.”
Sadie’s face creased with concern. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m sending you to Dara’s.” Kade raked his hand through his hair. “Daryl booked seats out of Tucson to SFO for eight o’clock tonight. That gives you four hours to get packed, drive to Tucson, and get to the airport.”
Sadie frowned. “You still haven’t told me what this is all about.”
“Let’s get Dad,” Kade said, and Sadie hurried to find Chuck and returned with him.
After Kade explained the threat, Chuck nodded. “I think a trip to see your sister’ll do us some good.”
“Where’s Kelsey?” Kade asked.
“She went into the bathroom right before you called,” Sadie replied. “I just heard the shower start up. I haven’t had a chance to tell her anything.”
Kade kicked off his boots. “I’m gonna take a quick shower in your bathroom, while you’re packing. Then I’ll tell Kelsey she needs to get her things together.”
Chapter 29
While thinking about her pregnancy, Kelsey continued to vacillate between joy and sheer terror as she showered. She wasn’t ready to be around anyone, and a shower was as good an excuse as any to have some time to herself. It had the added benefit of relaxing her and helping bring everything into focus.
All she could think of was the baby. Every other thought had dissipated. Would it be a boy or a girl? Should she find out beforehand, or let it be a surprise? Where should she shop for baby clothes and furniture?
She had the overwhelming urge to share her news. To shout it from the rooftops.
Calm down, Kelsey.
After she climbed out of the shower and dried off, she realized she hadn’t thought to grab any clean clothes. She wrapped the towel around her, and cracked open the bathroom door.
From the front room she heard Sadie say, “Come on, Trent. You can help Grandma and Grandpa get things together in our room.”
The boy chattered something about visiting his Aunt Dara, and then Kelsey couldn’t hear them anymore.
Otherwise the coast was clear, so she slipped across the hallway into her room.
Just as she was about to drop the towel to pull on a T-shirt, there was a light knock at the door, and Kade opened it. For a moment he stood in the doorway, drinking her in with his azure eyes. An almost pained expression crossed his face, his desire and need as clear as if he’d told her in words.
She straightened and dropped the T-shirt, her pulse hammering in her throat. “Kade.”
Warmth flushed over her from head to toe, and she couldn’t take her gaze from his.
Easing into the room, he shut the door, never taking his eyes from hers. The lock clicked, and in one long stride he stood inches from her.
He caressed her cheek with his finger, his touch sending shivers throughout her. “Darlin’. What you do to me.”
Then his arms enveloped her. She forgot about the towel and it dropped to her feet as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She couldn’t help herself. He held her tight, his blue shirt and jeans rough against her breasts and thighs, his buckle scraping the delicate skin of her belly. They kissed, his need matching hers with such intensity that she was wild with it.
Hard. Fierce. Demanding.
To hell with everything. She needed him.
“My God,” he whispered against her mouth. His hands cupped her naked hips and he pressed her close to the thrust against his jeans. “You burn me up.”
She brushed her lips over his cheek, softly kissing his stubbled face, leading to his ear. Like hers, his hair was wet and he smelled of soap. He lowered his head and captured her nipple in his mouth. Her knees weakened and she moaned as she melted against him.
“I need you so much.” He moved his tongue to her other nipple and she could barely control
the cries building up in her throat. “Tell me you need me like I need you.”
“Yes, Kade. Now.”
She helped him peel off his clothes, running her hands over his bare chest, his hard thighs. They were unrestrained in their haste, and sank to the rose rug. He grabbed a condom, and it was all she could do not to tell him it wasn’t needed.
Not yet. Wait for the right moment.
He slid into her and she knew he filled her so completely, in every way. Her body, her heart, her soul.
And when she came, it was like it all fused together, and every part of her became one with Kade.
I love him I love him I love him.
When their lovemaking ended, they were both breathing hard, a sheen of perspiration coating their skin. Even then, he didn’t stop kissing her. It was like he couldn’t get enough. He kissed her lips, her cheeks, her ears, her eyebrows, her throat.
“We need to get dressed,” he finally said with obvious reluctance. “Though I would give anything to stay right here with you.”
“Mmmm.” She nuzzled his neck, drinking in his scent. At that moment she knew that even if he didn’t share her love, she would take whatever part of him that he gave her, for however long it would last. “Let’s stay like this. No one would miss us, would they?”
“Temptress.” He rolled away, eased to his feet, and started putting on his boxers. He looked so good to her that she could barely take her eyes off him.
She stood while she fastened her bra and then stepped into clean panties. “Who seduced whom, might I ask?”
With a laugh, Kade pulled on his jeans, watching her dress. “You were naked.”
“I was not.” She sniffed and slid into a pair of shorts. “I was wearing a respectable towel. And you barged in.”
His voice was muffled as he yanked a T-shirt over his head. “You left the door unlocked.” He pulled on his shirt over the T-shirt.
Shaking her head, Kelsey buttoned up her blouse. “I didn’t expect a lecher like you to just waltz in here and seduce me.”
“Lecher, huh?” With a grin he brought Kelsey close and kissed her so long and passionately that her limbs turned to gelatin.
“Wow,” she whispered as she clung to him. It was a few seconds before her legs would hold her up.
Kade: Armed and Dangerous Page 21