Unconditional Surrender

by Desiree Holt

  “Yeah.” He grinned. “Come on. Let’s hit the Riverwalk.”

  Chapter Seven

  Kari sat back in her chair and sipped the icy-cold margarita. A soft breeze brushed against her skin and ruffled the hem of her skirt. Slade had convinced her to sit at one of the outside tables rather than inside the restaurant. She didn’t want to tell him how very exposed this made her feel, so she’d forced a smile and let the server lead them to a table right at the edge of the narrow body of water. Shops and restaurants lined the stone walkway on both riversides. The stores were heavy on Texas and Spanish items, although there were some exclusive dress shops sprinkled in. Windows were filled with a kaleidoscope of displays and ancient trees lined the street like sentinels guarding the treasures.

  The narrow walk for foot traffic ran between the two rows of tables and the restaurant itself. The crowds on the path were so thick she was surprised people didn’t keep bumping into them. A wrought-iron fence separated the outside eating area from the water, where ducks bobbed playfully. All the tables sat under canvas umbrellas of vibrant, colorful stripes and mariachi music filled the air. Under ideal circumstances she would be completely relaxed, enjoying the ambience and the company of the man across from her. But it was hard not to look at every passing stranger—and there were tons of them—and wonder if one of them was him. If he’d found her.

  She knew it was the residual fear gripping her. In the three months since she’d been in San Antonio, there hadn’t been any hint of her stalker. Nothing to make her believe he’d somehow found out where she’d gone to and followed her. She reminded herself that Ross Delahunt had assured her they’d had no one out of the ordinary back in Chicago asking about her or anyone showing unusual interest.

  Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that whoever this was, he was far from finished with her.

  She did her best not to look over her shoulder every minute or scan the crowds around them. She didn’t know if it was Slade’s commanding presence or the excellent margaritas but the tension that almost always gripped her eased at last until she found herself actually enjoying herself. The people she worked with had been right when they’d kept recommending she get out more. The margaritas were crisply chilled with just the right bite of tequila. It all combined to ease the tension that had become a part of who she was.

  She stared over the rim of her glass at her companion. She thought she could probably look at him forever, with his tall warrior’s body and the dark hair she still itched to run her fingers through. The eyes that darkened to almost black when they were making love. When he was buried deep inside her. The smile that turned his face from a hard mask to one of warmth. Although he was every inch the alpha male, from his posture to his constant air of readiness, he was easy to be with, an unexpected bonus.

  As the drinks worked their magic and she slowly relaxed, he coaxed her into conversations about movies they liked and hated. Television shows. Even whether a chocolate bar was better with nuts or without. When he told her he ate them with nuts because they had nutritional value, she burst out laughing.

  “Why can’t you just say because you like them better?”

  He gave her a mock stern look. “My body is a temple and I must worship at it. Nuts are beneficial.”

  That set off another fit of laughing. “And the chocolate?”

  He wrinkled his forehead. “I think that’s supposed to soothe my jangled nerves.”

  She tossed a tortilla chip at him. “You are so full of it.”

  Kari was surprised to realize she could be so relaxed with him, so at ease. The tension slowly slipped from her body, allowing her to breathe and smile.

  “This is nice,” she told him.

  He lifted his eyebrows. “This what?”

  “Sitting here like this.” She gestured with her hand. “Having lunch. Talking, about everything and nothing.”

  “Don’t you usually do something like this?”

  She shrugged. “Not usually.” Not since something evil seeped into my life.

  The Riverwalk itself was filled with Saturday crowds, the usual mixture of residents, convention-goers and tourists. The river itself wasn’t more than a few feet wide, meandering through downtown San Antonio with cobblestone walkways on either side. Bright awnings and signs combined with live music and the sightseeing boats that cruised slowly up and down the river lent a festive air to the entire environment. Kari was sorry she’d waited so long to enjoy it but glad that her first visit was with Slade. If they didn’t have anything beyond these ten days, at least she’d have a mental memory book to hold tight.

  Just as she found herself relaxing even more, someone jostled her elbow.

  “Oh, sorry.”

  She looked up to see a man staring down at her. He was tall, nearly as tall as Slade, with hazel eyes and close-cropped brown hair sprinkled with gray. Without realizing it she hitched her chair a little closer to the railing and away from the man.

  “You know, you remind me of someone.” He studied her face, looking for—what?

  “I don’t believe we know each other.” Kari was proud of the fact that she kept her voice calm.

  He shook his head. “No, you’re right. I was mistaken. I just thought— Sorry to bother you.”

  He moved away, heading down the walkway and under one of the bridge arches. Kari clenched her fists in her lap as she stared after him, willing her heart rate to slow down. He hadn’t looked familiar to her at all, but then she didn’t know if her stalker was someone she knew or a complete stranger who’d seen her around the courtrooms or anywhere else in Chicago and had become fixated with her.

  Oh, please, don’t let whoever it is have found me out and followed me here.

  “Kari?” Slade’s deep voice cut into her thoughts. “You okay?”

  She blinked and forced a smile. “Yes, fine. That man just startled me.”

  “For a minute there he acted as if he knew you?”

  She shook her head. “He was mistaken. People tell me I have a very common face.”

  He laughed. “I wouldn’t say it’s common at all. Anyway, that’s the one problem with eating outside like this. People don’t pay attention to where they walk and on the weekends the walkways are jammed.”

  “It’s okay,” she assured him. “Like I said, he just surprised me for a minute.”

  “I thought you said we could play by ourselves today, Dad.”

  Kari stared at the man who’d stopped at their table. Not another one. Please. Then she realized the tall, tan, muscular blond man looked familiar.

  “You following us around?” Slade joked. “I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.” He turned to Kari. “Kari Malone, meet Beau Williams. You might remember him from the party. He was one of my so-called friends who thought it would be fun to hassle me.”

  She realized the words might be a little harsh but the tone was relaxed and joking, so she smiled at the man.

  “Nice to meet you again.”

  “Same here. I’m glad to see the old man found someone with class for a change.”

  Kari felt heat creep up her cheeks but Slade just winked at her. She looked at the woman with Beau. Tall, with cornflower blonde hair in a ponytail, clear hazel eyes and a dimple when she smiled that Kari would kill for.

  “Kari, this is Megan Welles,” Beau said.

  “Nice to meet you, Megan.”

  “Slade met her at the party.”

  “Sure did.” Slade winked at her. “How’s the asshole doing these days?”

  Megan threw back her head and laughed. “Being his usual asshole self. Thanks to both of you for jumping in the way you did.” She turned to Kari. “Barry is someone you never want to meet. He’s a sports attorney but one who gives the profession a bad name. Beau and Slade were treated to his obnoxious personality when we met.” She shifted to glance at Slade again. “I’m really sorry for that.”

  He shrugged. “No biggie”

  “Besides,” Beau added,
“if not for that we might never have met.”

  She grinned at him. “There is that.”

  Kari saw the unmistakable flash of heat between them and thought, Uh-huh. Beau looks like he could be a ladies’ man, but I think this lady has a fire that’s consuming him.

  “How about joining us?” Kari looked from one to the other. “Have you eaten yet?” She turned to Slade. “I guess I should have asked if you’re okay with this.”

  “Listen,” Beau began, “we don’t want to horn in—”

  Slade held up a hand. “We’d love to have you join us. Please. Sit down.”

  They shuffled the chairs around and everyone settled in their seats. The waiter took their order for more margaritas and brought more baskets of tortilla chips and bowls of salsa.

  Kari thought how nice it was just sitting there, making small talk, enjoying herself for the first time since forever. She enjoyed hearing about Megan’s job and some of the funny things that had happened. As a sports reporter she had entry to a world filled with colorful bigger-than-life characters. She told them about locker room interviews, arriving at the home of one athlete to be greeted by the man himself at the door, nude. And the time she’d been interviewing an athlete and his wife and they’d been interrupted by a police raid…on the wrong address. She explained she did a variety of pieces, everything from personal feature interviews to investigative stories on what was good and bad with professional sports.

  Kari assumed the two had spent the night together. They had that kind of electricity between them that people got when they fell into bed together for the first time and had outstanding sex.

  Then she was jolted by the thought that she and Slade might be in the same boat. Was there sexual tension in the air? Slade’s deep voice broke into her thoughts.

  “You okay? You look a little strange.”

  Get it together, girl.

  “No, no. I’m fine. I think maybe hungry, though.” She picked up the menu in front of her. “Let’s order before I eat the basket the chips came in.”

  It amazed her how easy the atmosphere was at the table, any sexual tension aside. She liked both Megan and Beau and hoped that at least while Beau was here the two of them could enjoy each other. Despite the fact that she wanted alone time with Slade, she actually felt a little regret when they finished their meal.

  “Okay.” Slade pushed his chair back and stood. “I think we’re getting out of here. I’m glad we ran into you.”

  “Yeah,” Beau agreed. “Same goes.”

  Megan pulled a business card from her purse and handed it to Kari. “I’d love it if you’d call me sometime.” She winked. “We could get together and rake these guys over the coals.”

  “Hey!” Beau frowned. “Wait a minute here.”

  “Just kidding. But really, Kari, I’d love it.”

  “Me too. I’ve only been here a short time and haven’t taken time to meet too many people.” She handed her card over to Megan.

  “Beau, you okay for transportation?” Slade asked.

  Beau looked at Megan who nodded. “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “We’ll be getting along then. Nice to meet you, Megan. Keep a short leash on this guy.”

  Megan laughed and slipped her hand into Beau’s as they walked away.

  “That was nice.” Kari smiled. “Your friend is very nice. So is Megan. He’s got good taste.”

  “That’s one thing about Beau,” Slade agreed. “He’s got very good taste in women.” He leaned down and put his mouth to her ear. “But not as good as mine.”

  The server returned with the check and his credit card. Slade signed it and tucked the card back into his wallet. “How about if we blow this place? Maybe stroll along the river a little?”

  “Okay. Sounds good to me.”

  She was quiet as they walked along the busy pathway, thinking about the man who’d stopped at their table and her reaction to him.

  Slade studied her intently. “Is there something worrying you, Kari? Are you in danger of some kind? Maybe from someone you’ve prosecuted?”

  I only wish I knew if that was it.

  “I’m fine.” She curved her lips in a smile. “And having a great time.”

  He stopped and looked down at her. The heat in his eyes warmed her body. “If anyone is bothering you, if you are in danger of any kind, I want you to tell me.” His voice and his face were dead serious.

  “Are you going to tell me you know fifty ways to kill someone?” she joked.

  “Without a doubt.” And he wasn’t joking.

  “Okay. I’ll remember that. Is that what you do for the Army?” she teased.

  He hesitated a moment before he answered. “Among other things.”

  She stared at him, all levity gone. “I’m sorry, Slade. That’s nothing to joke about. I’ve read what’s out there about Delta Force. It’s hardly fun and games.”

  He nodded. “We don’t usually discuss it. Everything we do is top secret.”

  Another brick fell into place. “And that’s why you don’t want a permanent relationship.”

  He shook his head. “It isn’t that I don’t want it. It’s that I’m not sure I can handle one. I can’t afford to split my focus. Plus, I don’t want to think of someone back home worrying about me. Or worse, getting a visit from the brass to tell them I bit a bullet.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to put someone in that situation.”

  They started walking again. “Don’t you think that’s a decision for the other person to make? What if they are willing to take the chance?”

  “What if I’m not?” he came back with. “What if I can’t live with it and it affects how I carry out my missions?”

  Okay, she thought. Enough of this bad stuff here.

  “Maybe we’re getting way ahead of ourselves here.” She gave him a tiny grin. “Maybe after ten days we won’t even be able to stand each other.”

  The slow, lazy smile he gave her matched the desire in his eyes and made every one of her girl parts quiver with need.

  “I don’t think that’s a problem,” he drawled.

  One of the river boats filled with people cruised by. During lunch Kari had watched them moving slowly along the water. They were flat-bottomed barges with rows of bench seats and wooden railing painted myriad colors. At one end, facing toward the passengers, a guide stood at a wheel steering the boat, giving what looked to be a narrative of the river and what they were seeing.

  “Looks like fun,” she said.

  “I’ll bet you haven’t ridden on one of these yet, have you? You aren’t considered a resident until you’ve had at least one boat ride.”

  “Is that a fact?” Her lips curved in a smile. She had seen pictures of the sightseeing tour on the water but hadn’t had the courage yet to get in a boat with a couple dozen other people she didn’t know. But Slade was with her and probably the man who’d bumped into their table really did not know who she was. And—

  Oh, for God’s sake, Kari. It’s a boat ride and Slade will be right next to you.

  Yes, Slade. The icon of masculine strength. He’d never let any harm come to her. She hated herself for being so paranoid, but that unnerving feeling she’d lived with since the first episodes in Chicago still clung to her like a second skin.

  “Okay.” She pushed herself out of her chair. “Let’s do it. I’m up for some fun.”

  And she did relax, to a point. The ride was fun and she loved hearing about all the interesting places on either side of the river, which she noted was more like a stream. They passed the riverside of the colorful pubs and restaurants, saw the tiny Honeymoon Island just big enough for two people and an officiant, the many historic buildings that had been there since the late 1800s—Kari loved every minute of it. Despite that, as if he knew she needed the added reassurance, Slade kept hold of her hand the entire time, at one point casually draping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to him.

  She had to admit no one on the boat looked threateni
ng, or showed any unusual interest in her. She had to get past this somehow. Not every place was a trap waiting for her. She hoped.

  When they returned to the landing spot, Slade helped her out of the boat then took her hand again.

  “How about an ice cream?”

  “Wow! That sounds really good.”

  “We’ll have to climb the stairs to street level, but there’s a great place right by the Alamo.”

  “Sounds good to me.” She wondered if her life was changing enough that she could at last put the stalker out of her mind. If she’d even be able to.

  And just as the thought turned around in her brain, a sudden chill skittered over her skin. She looked around, slowly, trying to spot whatever might be causing it. But nothing seemed out of the ordinary. People were strolling along the sidewalks, crossing the bridges over the river, hurrying up and down the stairs from the lower level. No one seemed to be paying them—her—any undue attention.

  I’m losing my mind.

  It stunned her to realize her hands were shaking. How had she let some unknown person take this kind of control of her life? She needed to get her act together here.

  She jumped when Slade’s hand closed over hers and he curled his fingers around it.

  “Are you going to tell me what this is about?” His voice was low, even, warm. Soothing.

  But no, she wasn’t about to dump this on him when they’d spent barely twenty-flour hours together. If they never had more than this interlude, she didn’t want him to carry with him the memory of someone who was a nervous idiot. Worse yet, who attracted someone like her stalker.

  She swallowed, smiled up at him and did her best to make her voice reassuring and light. “It’s really nothing. Honestly. Let’s just forget it.” She paused. “Please?”

  He turned her so she faced him completely and studied her as if memorizing every inch of her face. Finally he nodded, his body relaxing.

  “Okay.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “For now.”

  Chapter Eight

  The man filled his mug from the single-serving coffee maker and carried it back to his den. He’d come to realize he was getting into the Scotch too much doing his fruitless Internet searches so he’d switched to coffee. He had a professional demeanor to maintain and showing up anyplace hung over wouldn’t do his reputation any good. But sometimes it was the only thing that could take the edge off the frustration.