Soldier Protector

by Kimberly Van Meter

  Caitlin rose and Zak followed. They were too close again. He was in her personal space.

  And she liked it.

  Of course, all that previous talk about keeping the lines drawn and whatnot flew right out of her head, and all she could breathlessly hope for was that he’d grab her and kiss her stupid. Maybe kiss her so hard that she’d forget it was a terrible idea and probably ranked in the top three most reckless things she’d ever do in her life.

  Okay, twist her arm, it would be the most reckless thing but she didn’t want to pull away or remind him that they’d agreed it was a bad idea.

  But how often did opportunities like this drop into a woman’s lap? She wasn’t dead below the waist. Zak was very handsome and he smelled like citrus and male skin, something that had never really made her quiver but it certainly did now.

  Oh, God, he was moving in, his lips were tantalizingly close to hers.

  This was happening.

  Zak was going to kiss her.

  Holy Madame Curie...

  She lifted her lips, ready to feel his mouth on hers.

  Her eyes fluttered shut but before Zak could seal his lips to hers, a sharp tink sound interrupted the moment. Suddenly Zak wrapped his big arms around her and took them both to the floor. He took the brunt of the impact but the drop clacked her teeth together.

  Caitlin’s mouth popped open on a gasp but he shushed her quickly with a motion to remain on the floor. What the hell was happening? It took a full five seconds before she realized with dawning horror that the sound had been a bullet puncturing her kitchen window, narrowly missing her head.

  Fear squeezed her throat. A bullet! Nearly hit her head!

  Zak carefully made his way out of the kitchen to melt into the night with the stealth of a trained killer. Holycrapholycrapholycrap! The word jumble in her head was on a repetitive loop as the realization that she’d been seconds away from meeting her maker kept her on the floor, paralyzed with fear.

  It was jarring to see Zak go from teasing and laughing to a hardened soldier, gun drawn and eyes sharp and cold.

  But if there was anyone out there, Zak would find them.

  Suddenly, she was so grateful Zak had been there with her. If he hadn’t, whoever had tried to put a bullet in her brain probably would’ve succeeded. She rested her forehead on the cold wood of her kitchen floor, saying a silent prayer to a God she didn’t necessarily believe in for second chances.

  Moments later, Zak returned to do a search of the house. When he was satisfied the house was secure, he allowed Caitlin to rise but he kept his body between hers and any open windows.

  “Did you find anyone?” she asked, her teeth beginning to chatter. It was something that happened involuntarily when she was scared. It was also the biggest reason she didn’t watch horror movies.

  “Whoever took the shot is gone but we’re not safe here anymore. Your house has been compromised. Grab your stuff, we’re leaving.”

  “Leaving?” she gasped, horrified. “Going where?”

  “Anywhere but here.” He gestured curtly, all business. “Ten minutes. Go.”

  Ten minutes? To pack? Pack for where? For how long? But she didn’t have the option of arguing. A second look at that tiny hole in her kitchen window put her feet in motion.

  She’d pack light.

  * * *

  While Caitlin packed, he texted his TL, Scarlett.

  House compromised. Need safe location. ASAP.

  Scarlett responded a moment later.

  4100 Old Hawk Road. Location secure. Await further instruction.

  Caitlin appeared, pale and shaken, with a small suitcase in her hand. “I’m ready,” she said, her eyes big. “Are you sure it’s safe to go outside?”

  “Whoever it was took the shot and split when they didn’t hit their target.”

  She gulped, knowing full well that she’d been the target. “I guess we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right?”

  He nodded, grabbing her suitcase and leading the way. “Stay behind me, just to be safe.”

  Zak went to his rental and tossed the suitcase inside as Caitlin climbed into the passenger seat. Punching the address into his GPS, he quickly left Caitlin’s little cottage behind and hit the road.

  “Are you okay?” he asked once they were clear.

  “I think so.”

  The shake in her voice gave her away. “It’s okay not to be.”

  “I’ve never been shot at. I don’t like it.”

  “Not many people do. I never like getting shot at.”

  “Have you dodged many bullets?” she asked.

  “A few,” he lied. He’d been shot at more times than he cared to remember. It was definitely the less awesome part of his job. “I don’t want you to worry. I will keep you safe, okay?”

  “I know you will,” Caitlin said, nodding. “I guess this blows my argument out the window about Tessara overreacting, doesn’t it?”

  “Pretty much.”

  She chewed her lip for a moment before admitting, “I’m really glad you were there. If you hadn’t been... I might be dead on my kitchen floor right now.” Caitlin shuddered. “And I would’ve ruined my hardwood floor. I spent a lot on that flooring. My entire Christmas bonus last year, actually.”

  “Hardwood is expensive,” he agreed just to keep her talking. Shock had a way of sneaking up on a person. “It was a good choice. The dark wood is nice.”

  She bobbed a nod. “Yeah, I thought so, too. More expensive but it was worth it.” Caitlin drew a halting breath as if she just realized the gravity of everything and the reality that was staring her in the face. “I almost died. Someone almost killed me. Why would anyone want me dead? I don’t understand. I’m just a scientist.”

  “You’re the only person who currently has a chance of deciphering that cure code. Apparently, someone wants to make sure you don’t get to figure it out.”

  Or they wanted to scare her, keep her on edge, which would affect her ability to think.

  But with an attempt on Caitlin’s life now in the mix, everything had changed.

  No more was this a simple babysitting gig—shit had just got real.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, her teeth clattering.

  “Are you cold?” He reached to turn up the heat but she stopped him.

  “My teeth chatter when I’m scared,” she admitted. “I’m not cold.”

  A smile wasn’t appropriate given the circumstances but that single thing seemed the most adorable quirk he’d ever heard of. Somehow he doubted she’d find his amusement adorable. Smothering his urge to grin, he said, “All right, well, if you change your mind, feel free to adjust the thermostat.”

  She nodded, seeming relieved that he didn’t make a big deal out of her reaction. “So where are we going?” she asked again. “A hotel or something?”

  “Can’t trust a hotel. Red Wolf has access to safe houses throughout the United States. We’re going to a secure location until I can regroup with the team and discuss our next course of action.”

  “Sounds very Jason Bourne.”

  He chuckled at her comment. “Yeah, pretty much. But we’ll be safe. I can promise you that.”

  “I never realized how I’ve taken ‘not being shot at’ for granted. I won’t do that again.” She made a second realization. “Oh, man, I’ve been a real pill to you. It’s a wonder you didn’t bolt within the first ten minutes of meeting me, which, by the way, I would’ve been okay with. And if that’d happened, well...”

  “I’m kind of a stickler for details, such as not bailing on an assignment, no matter how prickly they get,” he said, winking. He was trying to keep things light. It was heavy enough to realize how close she’d come to death; he didn’t need to make it worse.

  Caitlin peered over at his phone, where the map app was direct
ing their course, and read the address. “Old Hawk Road? I think I know where that is. Talk about the boonies. Well, one thing is for sure, I don’t think anyone will find us.”

  “Sounds perfect for what we’re needing for the night.”

  Caitlin settled against the seat and fell quiet. He wanted to keep her talking but her teeth had stopped chattering and she seemed to be in control of the situation. He didn’t have to worry about shock anymore but he wanted to reach out and hug her. It was an irrational urge that he didn’t dare act on but he hated that someone had gotten the drop on him. Made him feel like he’d let her down. He should’ve had the surveillance cameras mounted on the house already but he’d known Caitlin was going to squawk about it and he’d been trying to ease her into it.

  His reluctance had almost cost her her life.

  And that was unacceptable.

  No more cut corners, no matter how much Caitlin squawked.

  Although, when he spared a quick glance at Caitlin as she leaned against the window, something told him she wasn’t going to squawk quite as loud as before after this incident.

  But it never should’ve happened in the first place.

  Chapter 9

  As safe houses went it wasn’t very exciting but there weren’t a lot of windows to defend and there was great line of sight around the most vulnerable exits.

  And that was just how he liked his defensible space.

  “I’ve always wondered what a safe house looked like.” After a small pause, she admitted, “It’s a little anticlimactic.”

  “It’s not going to win any Architectural Digest awards but it’ll serve our purpose.” The door was reinforced with steel and the windows were shatterproof glass. On the outside it might look very nondescript and bland but it was actually a very safe place. He grabbed her suitcase and headed for the front door. Zak keyed in the code for the electronic lock and opened the door, stepping inside to look for the light switches.

  Soft light flooded the living room and Caitlin peered around their new digs, chewing her bottom lip with uncertainty. “Are you sure it’s actually safe? What if there are spiders? Or even worse, rats?” She shuddered. “Do they keep regular maintenance on places like this? I don’t believe I’ve had my most recent tetanus shot.”

  He chuckled. “Well, I can’t say they’ve kept up maid service but I’m sure it’s clean enough.”

  But there was a fine layer of dust on everything and his nose was already twitching with the urge to sneeze. It wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst, either.

  “I’m not saying I expect to stay at the Taj Mahal but, um, well, I don’t want to pick up a disease, either.”

  “You aren’t going to get a disease,” he assured her, double-checking the locks on the windows. “It’s just a little dusty. Your allergies might act up but other than that, pretty safe.”

  Caitlin didn’t seem so sure. She stood in the foyer looking forlorn and lost. The quicker he could establish some kind of normalcy in a screwed-up situation, the better. “Stay here. I need to check all the exits and rooms.”

  “Gotta make sure the safe house is safe,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself.

  He was beginning to figure Caitlin out. She had a tendency to fall back on sarcasm when she was nervous.

  After determining they were indeed alone, he grabbed Caitlin’s suitcase and showed her to the bedroom.

  The queen-size bed was nothing to look at and probably felt as comfortable as sleeping on a plank but he would sleep just fine knowing that no one was getting into that tiny fortress without him knowing.

  Caitlin’s gaze strayed to the bed and narrowed. “And where exactly are you sleeping?” she asked.

  “I’ll stand watch.”

  “You can’t stay awake all night, that’s ridiculous. How are you supposed to be an effective bodyguard if you fall asleep on your feet?”

  “I require very little sleep. I’ll be fine.”

  “Are there no other bedrooms in this little house?”

  “There is another bedroom but I’m not leaving you alone. If I need to catch a couple winks I’ll do so in that chair over there.” He gestured to the singular chair against the wall. It looked as comfortable as the bed. But he wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t need a lot of sleep. Probably a throwback to all of his time in the military. He had trained his body to operate efficiently with very little. Be it food, sleep or creature comforts. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t understand why you have to stay in the same bedroom.”

  “Because I’m not taking any more chances.”

  “I appreciate your dedication but I don’t want you sleeping at my feet.”

  This was the squawking he’d been avoiding earlier but she would just have to deal with his methods. “Look, I understand this makes you uncomfortable. I promise you I am not going to do or say anything that is inappropriate. But your safety has been compromised and I’m no longer going to second-guess my training just to save your feelings.”

  “What do you mean second-guess your training?” she asked, offended. “I haven’t had any say on how things have been done thus far.”

  “I never should have allowed you to stay at your house. It was stupid and won’t happen again.”

  “Where else was I supposed to stay?”

  “It doesn’t matter. What should’ve been done and what was done—none of that matters. All that matters is what we are going to do going forward. Your home is no longer an option. Likely you aren’t going back to the lab, either.”

  Her jaw dropped. “How am I supposed to do my work if I can’t go to my lab?”

  “Look, I suggest we sit on this topic for the moment, get some sleep and come back to it tomorrow morning. I have to talk to my superior and figure out what the next step is. Until then let’s just sit tight and try not to make each other too uncomfortable.”

  “I’m not staying here for days on end.”

  “You will, if that’s what is safest.”

  “You are not my jailer. You were supposed to be protecting me. I have important work to do. You are not keeping me in this little house hidden away from the world.”

  “I will, if it’s keeping you safe.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you are ridiculously stubborn?”

  He smiled. “It’s not the worst I’ve been called.”

  They were at an impasse but she would learn that he wasn’t going to budge.

  “Do you recall that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realized someone had tried to kill you? The realization that the bullet that shattered your window was meant for your head? Yeah, hold on to that. When you’re feeling as if you can’t stomach the idea of being sequestered away for your own safety, remember how much you enjoy breathing.”

  Maybe he was being a dick, being so harsh, but Caitlin was nearly as obstinate as he was and he had to get through her thick little head.

  “So if that means we’re stuck here for a week until my TL can figure out the next move, that’s what we do. Maybe if we’re lucky we can find a deck of cards to keep ourselves busy.”

  Caitlin didn’t like that idea at all. It was written all over her face that she wanted to poke him in the head with a sharp stick, but she grumbled, “Fine, but I am not happy about this.”

  “I suspect you aren’t, but at least you’re alive.”

  Caitlin seamed her lips together as she spun on her heel and disappeared behind the bathroom door. Once she was out of the room Zak let out a deep breath. Caitlin needn’t worry—he didn’t want to be stuck any longer than possible in this tiny house, either. But not for the reasons that Caitlin thought.

  There was something about Caitlin that made him soft, and softness was weakness. He wasn’t about to ruin a great career over a girl he didn’t know and who didn’t really care to know him.
This was just a job, and at the end of it he would deliver her safely to the lab once the crisis was over, and he would move on.

  He just had to get through whatever it was that was clouding his judgment.

  Including thoughts that involved kissing those pouting, sassy lips of one really difficult scientist.

  * * *

  Caitlin leaned against the door, her heart hammering. Her anxiety was at a zenith. First, an almost-kiss with Zak—inappropriate as hell, but that didn’t seem to stop her half wishing it had happened—and then the delicious real food followed by the near-death experience of dodging a bullet.

  And now this? She wasn’t equipped with the right tools to handle this kind of duck and weave. Nothing in her life had ever prepared her for anything remotely close to this situation. She wasn’t a spy or a soldier. Tears burned her eyes. How was she supposed to deal with all this? Damn, why did she have to be so awkward? Everything about Zak made her jumpy and anxious—most of which had nothing to do with the current situation. She was attracted to him.

  She startled at the soft knock. Wiping at her eyes, she answered, “Just a minute,” and went quickly to the sink where she splashed some water on her face. The cold water washed away her tears but didn’t provide any clarity. Okay, so she’d have to start looking at the situation with logic and reason.

  Zak was keeping her safe. He wasn’t looking to sex her up. Once the job was done, he’d leave and her life would return to normal.

  All she had to do was get through each moment as a singularity and soon enough this would all be over.

  Blowing out a deep, measured breath, she nodded to the reflection in the mirror, affirming her logic. You got this. Don’t be a baby. All things are temporary, even discomfort.

  Measurably calmer, she opened the door and went to her luggage with purpose. It was late enough for bed. Thankfully, she’d had the forethought to pack pajamas.