by Terri Reed
Ace ran straight to Lana. She laughed and slipped off the bar stool and bent down to hug the dog.
“He’s taken a shine to you,” Adam commented. “Other than with the twins, he’s usually more standoffish.”
“I like this guy, too.” Knowing that Ace liked her filled her with pleasure. She couldn’t help but wonder what Adam thought of her. Pushing the silly thought away, she rose and asked, “What led you to the K-9 unit?”
“After the debacle in LA, I turned in my resignation. Joe invited me to come here to DC. He had a contact in the White House who was putting together an elite K-9 unit. He gave the contact my name and I was asked to join the team. I am glad to have a partner I can count on. One whose judgment I can rely on.”
“But you have good judgment, too. Just because you wanted to believe in your former partner doesn’t mean you should question yourself. You’re a good investigator and a good cop. Ace can point you where you need to go or help you but ultimately you’re the one who does the important work.”
A bemused look crossed his face.
The front door opened. Ace raced to greet the Donovans. Laughter echoed from the foyer and made Lana’s heart squeeze tight as she held Adam’s gaze. Interest flared in his blue eyes. Her pulse skipped through her with an answering awareness. His gaze dropped to her mouth, making her lips tingle with want. She wanted him to kiss her.
She tore her gaze away, needing to breathe, to put distance between them. After sharing such intimate details of their lives a sense of bonding was not unreasonable. But definitely unwise.
Tinkerbell and Ace rolled on the living room floor. Their antics made Lana giggle. The release of joy brushed away the other, more confusing emotions that had crowded in her heart and her head.
“Uncle Adam!” the twins shouted in unison and flung themselves at him.
He scooped the girls up and smothered them with kisses. Lana’s insides melted.
“You said you’d be back,” Tara exclaimed.
“And you are,” Kelsey stated.
“I never break my promises, little darlings,” Adam said. His gaze lifted to Lana.
What kind of promises would he make to her? Did she want promises from him? She sucked in a breath as a bout of yearning smacked her in the solar plexus.
No. No, she didn’t. She wasn’t looking for promises. She wasn’t looking for anything but protection from this man. That was all she could allow because her heart couldn’t take any more pain.
She turned her attention to Ruth and Joe as they each carried in bags of groceries. Lana rushed to Ruth’s aid. “Here, let me take one of those.”
“Thanks.” Ruth relinquished her hold on one bag. Lana set it on the counter and unpacked the contents.
“Hey, bro,” Joe said by way of greeting.
“Hey. You’re home early,” Adam said.
“Yep. Some days I can do that.”
Still holding on to the twins, Adam said, “I have an idea. Why don’t you take your wife out to dinner and a movie? Lana and I will stay with the girls.”
Lana paused with a can of olives in her hand to stare at Adam. He raised his eyebrows as if asking for her approval. Her mouth went dry. Protest rose to the tip of her tongue. She needed space away from the conflicting reactions she kept having toward him. But the thought of him leaving brought a panicked flutter to her tummy and overrode her good sense.
“That’s a great idea,” Lana said, ignoring the alarm bells clanging in her head. “I can fix dinner.”
Ruth’s gaze bounced between Lana and Adam and then an amused gleam entered her eyes. “If you’re sure…”
No, not really. Lana nodded. “I am.”
Ruth turned to Joe. He grinned. In unison they said, “Bernardo’s?”
“I’ll take care of the groceries,” Lana offered. “Go.”
Ruth looked down at her jeans and T-shirt. “I need to change.”
“Me, too,” Joe announced and grabbed Ruth’s hand. “Come on. Before they change their minds.”
The two raced upstairs, their laughter echoing off the stairwell walls. Lana let out a small sigh of longing. She caught Adam’s speculative gaze and flushed with embarrassment. And sent up a silent plea of forgiveness for her envy. “They’re so cute together.”
Adam’s mouth tipped up at one corner. “Cute is not a word I would associate with my brother. But yeah, they’re good together.”
Would Lana and Adam be good together? The unbidden thought rammed a large fist of yearning into Lana. Forcing a calm she didn’t feel, she returned to unpacking the groceries and prayed for strength to never attempt finding out.
*
Several hours later, after a dinner of chicken and cheese enchiladas and Spanish rice, Lana and Adam sat on the couch watching an animated movie with the twins, bathed and ready for bed, wedged between them. Ace lay beneath the front window with Tinkerbell curled next to him.
Adam’s gaze kept straying to Lana. She’d taken control of the kitchen like a general, getting all of them involved in making the meal. The place was a disaster by the time they were done, but the food had been delicious. Her time in her parents’ restaurant had served her well. He wasn’t sure what spices she’d found in the cupboards, but whatever she’d done had made the few ingredients they’d used burst with flavor.
She slanted him a glance and lifted one eyebrow. He smiled. She smiled back, looking lovely with her long dark hair fanned out over her shoulders, little tendrils curling around her face. The red of her blouse emphasized the olive tone to her complexion and highlighted the color in her cheeks. Her gaze dropped to the girls. Surprise widened her eyes. “They’re asleep.”
Sure enough, both girls’ eyes were closed. Tara curled into his side, while Kelsey curled against Lana. Something about this domestic scene clutched at Adam’s heart and wouldn’t let go.
This was what he wanted. A family. A wife and kids. A legacy to leave behind. One day he would have it.
But not here in DC. He wanted to go back to Colorado, to be near his parents so he could care for them and they could enjoy the kids he hoped to have one day. They traveled to DC to see the twins every few months but the routine had to be tiring for them.
It was up to Adam to build his life near them. To give back all the love and support they’d shown him over the years. The only hard part would be leaving Ace and the unit behind. The dog was an officer for the Capitol K-9 Unit. Someone else would become his handler.
Adam should be hearing about his transfer request soon. But he wouldn’t leave until this case was finished.
He had an obligation to protect Lana… No, obligation wasn’t the right word. At least not now.
Maybe in the beginning it had started as obligation, as part of his job, but somewhere it had turned into something bordering on personal. He cared about this woman.
But caring was a long way from love and as long as he didn’t go down that road he’d be fine. He didn’t want any ties that would keep him tethered to DC. When he finally put down his roots and was ready to explore romance again, it would be in Colorado. Lana’s case would end, he’d say goodbye and move on with his life, just as he’d always planned.
“Let’s get them to bed,” Lana whispered.
“Can you carry her?” he asked.
“I’m stronger than I look,” she quipped and picked up Kelsey.
Oh, he knew she was strong. She was one of the strongest women he’d ever met. And brave and caring, compassionate. Everything a man could want in a woman.
His gut twisted with a spurt of jealousy for some faceless, nameless man who would capture Lana’s heart. Because Adam wouldn’t be that man. He couldn’t be. Not if he intended to return home to Colorado.
He lifted Tara up and followed Lana to the girls’ bedroom at the top of the stairs. The pink-and-purple room was every little princess’s fantasy. Flowers had been painted on the wall and frilly and fluffy bed coverings lay over the two twin-size beds. He laid Tara down and co
vered her with a heart-patterned comforter. Lana did the same with Kelsey.
Joining Lana in the doorway, they stood silently together and watched the two little sweeties sleep.
He slipped his hand into hers. Her fingers curled around his, their palms touching in the most natural way as if they’d been born to be together. She gazed up at him with tenderness in her eyes. He liked this, liked not seeing the guarded expression that usually appeared in her gaze. Her lips parted. A flare of something, something he was afraid to name, shot between them.
He pulled her into the hall, away from the girls’ room, and leaned toward her even as his head bellowed a warning signal. His heart hammered a staccato rhythm in his chest so loud he actually heard the beat in his ears. He hovered over her mouth, waiting for her permission, half hoping, and half dreading she’d move away.
Instead, she rose on her toes and closed the distance between them. Her lips were soft and moist and fit so perfectly against his. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her closer until their hearts beat together in the same erratic rhythm.
He couldn’t have said how long they stood there locked in an embrace that melted his mind and touched him deeply. When the kiss eased and they withdrew from each other, he couldn’t bring himself to release his hold on her. Not yet. He dropped his forehead to hers.
Her hand touched his face, her palm warm against his cheek.
He lifted his head and searched her face for regret. Thankfully he saw none. Even so, remorse for taking their relationship further than he anticipated rose within him, crowding aside the affection and attraction that wanted to take over. “I should apologize.”
Her chin dipped. “If you do, I’ll punch you.”
He grinned. “Okay, then I won’t.”
The key in the front door jangled. The perfect cue for him to leave before he asked for more of her kisses. They went downstairs to greet Joe and Ruth. After briefly exchanging details of their respective evenings—except for the kiss—Lana walked Adam and Ace to the door.
“Thank you,” she said.
He tilted his head. “For?”
“Staying this evening. For making me forget to be afraid.” She laid a hand over his heart. “You’re a good man, Officer Adam Donovan.”
His heart swelled, nearly bursting through his skin. Alarm buzzers should be scrambling his brains but for some reason his danger alert wasn’t working. Logically, he knew he needed to retreat back to a professional and impersonal position with this beautiful woman but he defied his practical side and touched his lips to hers for a quick, sweet kiss.
She blinked up at him, her eyes huge in her face. Was that yearning he detected in her expression?
The potent thought zipped through him, as he stepped back. “I’ll return in the morning to take you to your appointment.”
Her expression slowly darkened. She swallowed. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“I’ll be with you.”
One corner of her mouth tipped upward. “Only as far as the door.”
He chuckled. “Yes. I won’t intrude on your session with the court-appointed shrink.”
“I appreciate that.” She shrugged. “Not that you don’t already know my dark secrets.”
That she’d trusted him with her past hurts filled him with a heady mix of affection and protectiveness. He covered her hand with his and gently squeezed. “Good night, Lana. Sleep well.”
He certainly knew he wouldn’t. Not when his heart and mind were not in agreement about Lana.
*
After a fitful night’s sleep, Lana gathered every ounce of courage she possessed to face the day. Not only was she about to step into the court-appointed psychologist’s office, but she struggled to keep from clutching Adam’s arm and asking him to go in with her.
The past week she’d grown closer to him than she had to anyone in a very long time.
Because he was protecting her. She didn’t understand why someone wanted her dead. And the stress of knowing that at any moment an unknown assassin could kill her put her nerves on edge.
The connection she felt to Adam went beyond the fact they’d been shot at and survived. They’d shared their pasts and their hopes for the future. Her attraction to him went beyond the physical, though his kisses lingered in her mind like the wisp of a dream.
Telling him about Mark and the abuse had been hard. After confiding in Rosa and having her lash out with such meanness, Lana had kept all the bad stuff tightly locked inside. But Adam had opened the door with his kindness and caring heart. Because of his prompting, she’d searched her Bible this morning and found peace in God’s word. She’d never equated Mark’s abuse to the many examples of God dealing with humanity’s cruelty and depravity. Each story bolstered her faith until her soul overflowed with God’s love.
Learning about Adam’s ex-partner’s betrayal made her heart ache. She wanted to heal him, to relieve him of the burden of guilt and shame he carried. Though she didn’t know how.
It was difficult to help someone else when she couldn’t even help herself. But God knew what Adam needed and she’d spent a long time praying for Adam, and herself.
“Here we are,” Adam said, halting beside the door marked with the name of the psychologist on a gold-plated plaque.
She swallowed back the trepidation clogging her throat. Squaring her shoulders, she put her hand on the doorknob. She looked up at Adam. “You’ll be back in an hour?”
“I will. I promise.”
“And you never break your promises.”
“Never.” He gestured to the uniformed officer standing a few paces away. “You’ll be protected.”
She believed him. On a deep breath she opened the door and walked in, knowing Juan’s life hung in the balance.
*
“Heard you had trouble yesterday,” Captain Gavin McCord stated as Adam walked into the Capitol K-9 headquarters conference room, Ace at his side.
Adam cringed inwardly. “Yes, sir.”
Gavin didn’t know the half of it. Adam knew the captain meant the shooter who’d tried to take out Lana while they’d been parked on the bridge. But that was nothing compared to kissing the pretty art curator. Trouble wasn’t a strong enough word to describe the extent of Adam’s problem.
He’d wanted the kiss to continue. If his brother and sister-in-law hadn’t arrived home when they had, he might have given in to the temptation and kissed Lana again.
Foolhardy, for sure. He blamed his lack of better judgment on how nice and comfortable and right it had felt to be with her and the twins. Cooking and eating together like a family. Snuggling up on the couch as if the girls were their kids. Pretending for a few short hours that Lana’s life wasn’t in danger. Pretending they were a couple. A couple in love.
But they weren’t.
Despite the way his heart had ached with such an intense longing for the domestic bliss they’d shared last night, he wasn’t ready or willing to fall in love. No matter how sweet and generous and considerate he found Lana, he had plans that couldn’t include her. Plans to leave DC to return to Colorado and start a new life there. He’d made himself a promise when his ex-girlfriend dumped him that he wouldn’t allow himself to fall in love until he was ready to put down roots. Those roots were going to be at home in Colorado. Lana’s roots were planted here. So even contemplating a romance with her would only end in heartbreak for them both.
“As soon as everyone is here, give us the rundown of the details,” Gavin requested from his place at the far end of the table.
Adam pulled a chair away from the oval conference table, waiting for Ace to slide underneath and lie down next to the other canines, before Adam took his seat. To his right sat Chase Zachary, a former Secret Service agent and the unit’s rookie. Adam nodded a greeting.
Across from Adam, former CIA operative Isaac Black leaned back in the chair, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. Next to Isaac sat Nicholas Cole. The former navy SEAL stifled a yawn. Adam raised an eyeb
row. Nicholas shrugged.
A moment later, Brooke Clark, the lone female team member, slid into her seat.
“Good, everyone who can be here is here,” Gavin said. “Adam, give us the lowdown on the shooting.”
Adam related the details. “DC police haven’t found the shooter. They dredged the river and searched the banks on both sides but found nothing to help us find the perp. The guy disappeared.”
“If he’d been prepared to jump, he could have had underwater apparatus on his body and then swam for several miles before leaving the river,” Nicholas offered.
“That’s the working theory,” Adam agreed.
“Miss Gomez has no idea why someone would want to kill her?” Brooke asked.
Adam shook his head. “No, she doesn’t. But someone has targeted her.”
“How does the attack on Miss Gomez relate to the Michael Jeffries murder?” Isaac asked.
Adam turned his attention to the former CIA operative. “It may not. There are a lot of moving pieces here, and I haven’t figured out yet how they all fit together. Or if they even do fit together. The attempts on Lana’s life may have nothing to do with our investigation. ”
“What does the DC police department say about the museum breakin?” Gavin asked.
“Still an open case,” Adam said. “The arrow hasn’t been found. I asked Fiona to reach out to other agencies and informants for intel, hoping for any chatter about the arrow being for sale on the black market, but so far nothing.”
Fiona Fargo was the K-9 team’s resident computer whiz and go-to gal for anything they needed. She kept a pulse on the shadowy world of the internet. She provided support for the team as well when they were out in the field. She could crack any code, find any information no matter how deeply buried, and she coordinated the team’s schedules.
“Okay. I want around-the-clock guards on Miss Gomez continued until this situation is resolved,” Gavin said.
Adam nodded, relieved.
As each team member reported in on their various assignments, Adam forced himself to stay present but his mind kept wandering to Lana. How was she doing? Would the psychologist help her to put the past behind her? Would Lana gain custody of her nephew? He hoped so for both her and Juan’s sake. But the question that taunted him was why did he care so deeply? She was a part of the job. Nothing more. There couldn’t be more.