In Too Deep

by Shannon, R. W.

  “Don’t apologize,” Blake said. “I’m not mad. Just ticked off that you beat me to it.”

  Analeigh reached up to remove his finger from her lips. “Maybe you can buy the next round.”

  Blake smirked. He simply pulled her back against him and devoured her mouth. With his assignment over, he could focus on the real mission at hand: making Analeigh his.

  Chapter Three

  The plane seemed to level off, yet Analeigh’s lips refused to give up the sanctuary she found in Blake’s languid kiss. She wasn’t about to pull away. If she was about to die in a giant fireball when the plane fell from the sky, she wanted no regrets.

  He tightened his arms around her to bring her closer to him. Analeigh suspected his body was also something she could get lost in. The pilot announced that he’d be turning off the seat belt light again after a few more miles of clear flying.

  Closing her eyes, Analeigh swept her tongue against his and ran her fingertips over the stubble that covered his chin. She wondered if she was just another girl in another port. Would he remember her after this flight? Would she, and did she want to, remember him? There was something in the way he kissed her. The way he was so patient with her through her phobia that told her he could be more than a fling. The way he caressed her back with such strength that her panties were beginning to disintegrate. And, yes, she wanted to know more about Blake.

  He tore his lips from hers. When he leaned away from her, his eyes blazed with passion, making his steely gaze even more so.

  “Why are you single?” she blurted out. “I’m amazed that a guy like you exists in the world.”

  He chuckled. “My career has left me with no time except to hunt. And I haven’t found a prize worth spearing with my rod.”

  She giggled at his analogy and caressed his solid thigh. Moments later, she settled her into his arms and leaned against his chest. Once the seat belt lights were turned off, she removed hers to wrap herself in his arms while they watched an action movie on his tablet. By the time the movie ended, meals had been handed out, then collected. Three hours and half a romantic comedy later, the lights in the cabin were turned out for the night. It struck her how this felt more like a date than two strangers flying over the Atlantic Ocean. They had changed seats. Blake had his back against the window while she lay in his arms. Her soft fleece blanket was draped over them. She closed her eyes. But when she felt him moving around, she opened them. He had shut off the movie and placed the tablet in the seat pocket.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No. That movie was getting boring and I’d rather just hold you.”

  Analeigh snuggled against him. “That’s fine by me.”

  Blake fell silent. Minutes ticked by. “What if we don’t see each other after today?”

  She glanced up at him but couldn’t make out his features in the darkness. “Is that the plan?”

  “It may have to be. In my line of work, I can’t afford to get too close to a woman like you.”

  Analeigh straightened her posture. She moved out of his arms. “What does that mean?”

  He lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “It means that my work puts me in danger and I’ve created some enemies. These people might use you to get to me.”

  “What kind of danger can a lawyer be in?”

  “You’d be surprised. I’ve already told you more than I should.”

  Analeigh paused to process his words. Did that mean there could be no future between them? A part of her wanted to question him about it, but what was the point? At least Blake was being honest with her. She couldn’t be upset about that.

  A commotion a few seats ahead of them drew her attention. When she leaned into the aisle, she saw the flight attendants gathered around a man. One of the attendants was checking his pulse. The woman shook her head as another rushed to the front of the plane, Analeigh assumed, to alert the pilot.

  “What’s going on?” Blake asked.

  “I think something’s wrong with one of the passengers.”

  Blake stood. “I’ll check it out.”

  Analeigh stepped into the aisle to let him pass. She bristled as she watched him speak to a pretty attendant with deep cocoa skin. Just the sight of him talking to another woman sparked jealousy, and it startled her. Really, she had no right to be upset. Blake turned and moved back toward their seat. He retook the aisle seat while she scooted into the middle seat.

  “The man is gravely ill,” Blake said. “We may be making an emergency landing in London.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “They don’t know. Only that his pulse and breathing are very faint. He might not make it to the airport.”

  Analeigh shook her head in sorrow, unable to imagine losing a loved one in this manner.

  “That’s such a shame,” she said.

  “Aye. Reminds me of how precious life is,” Blake said as he turned toward her. “I wish we had more time together.”

  She smiled. “So do I.”

  Blake leaned toward her to touch his lips to hers. When he pulled away, he gathered her into his arms. Analeigh closed her eyes and found herself drifting off to sleep.

  Six hours later, Analeigh awoke as the plane was taxiing to the terminal at Heathrow International Airport. Blake was gone. In a panic, she searched the aisle for him, thinking he had gone to the bathroom, but she didn’t see him and the unoccupied lights over the restrooms were lit. Where could he have gone? And why didn’t he say good-bye? Her heart sunk as the EMTs rushed onto the plane to attend to the passenger. The grim expressions on their faces told her that the man had died.

  Analeigh ran her hands through her hair. Maybe she’d been right the first time. A man like Blake was too good to be true. She was probably better off that things had ended this way. Settling back into her seat, she braced for the last leg of her trip and tried to forget about her handsome savior.

  Chapter Four

  Blake hated leaving things with Analeigh this way. He wished he’d had the chance to at least tell her good-bye, but there wasn’t time. His mission came first. So, when she fell asleep, he slipped out of her embrace. After gathering his duffel, he went to meet his boss, Brooklyn, at the back of the plane. Brooklyn Stewart stood five feet seven inches to his six-foot frame. She had dark chocolate skin, long ebony hair, and dark eyes that held many secrets. The uniform she wore—navy blazer, white shirt, and navy pencil skirt—hugged every curve.

  He’d known Brooklyn for nine years. She’d been an agent in a different division before becoming his supervisor. In the fifteen years that Blake had been with the agency, he had worked with her many times.

  “Good job, Blake,” she said, her British accent punctuating each word. “Once we land, a plane will be waiting to take us back to D.C.”

  He pressed his lips together. Going back to D.C. wasn’t an option in his mind. Duncan had moved from his seat and now joined them near the rear exit. Australian-born and raised Duncan Archer had started at the agency on the same day as Blake. They were partners and friends, closer than any blood brothers could be. Duncan, with shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes, sent his gaze from Blake to Brooklyn. He was dressed in a dark hoodie, blue T-shirt, and jeans. A backpack was slung over his shoulder.

  “How long before we land?” Duncan asked.

  “Five minutes,” Brooklyn replied. “We should get ready.”

  As the plane began its descent, the three moved to the front of the plane. Blake hesitated. He glanced at Analeigh, whose face was now pressed against the window. Should he wake her? No. It was better this way. Having only just met, he doubted she had felt a connection to him. There was a pang of longing in his heart, however, that confirmed the same couldn’t be said for him. Still, he moved up the aisle as the plane made its way to the terminal. Once it stopped, Brooklyn opened the door. The emergency personnel rushed by them to the man’s seat.

  “Let’s go,” Brooklyn commanded.

  The trio made their way down the me
tal tube toward a waiting area. Blake paused. He glanced back. The medical staff were bringing the man out on a stretcher. A white sheet was draped over the man’s face. Had the commotion awakened Analeigh? Did she know he was gone? Blake felt a hand on his shoulder.

  “Forget about her,” Duncan warned.

  Blake turned toward his friend. “Easier said than done.”

  “This is why the agency prefers we remain unattached. It’s too dangerous. It will make you compromise your mission.”

  Blake jerked away from Duncan’s touch. “I didn’t mess up.”

  “Yet.“

  Blake glared at him. “Who the fuck are you to lecture me about women?”

  Duncan crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t fall in love with them.”

  Blake flinched. “I’m not in love. I just met her.”

  Duncan reached out and jabbed Blake in his chest. “It’s in your eyes, bro. You’re already gone.”

  “Guys,” Brooklyn hissed. “Let’s go!”

  Duncan turned and followed Brooklyn through the terminal. Blake took two steps, then stopped in his tracks. He couldn’t leave Analeigh like this. Pivoting on his heels, he rushed back onto the plane. The flight attendants were preparing the passengers to disembark. Analeigh’s eyes lit up when she saw him walking toward her. And he was sure it matched the look in his eyes. Bending down, he quickly pressed his lips against hers. When he pulled away, he cupped her cheek. Her eyes twinkled like stars in the darkest of night.

  “I have to get off here,” he said. “But I’ll meet you in Dublin tomorrow.”

  She frowned. “My seminar is tomorrow.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll find you.”

  Blake released her. He dashed up the aisle and back into the terminal. His heart felt lighter than it had in ages. Maybe Duncan was right. Could he already be in love?

  Brooklyn and Duncan were watching for him when he exited the tunnel. The anger in Brooklyn’s eyes was unmistakable. Duncan simply shook his head. Blake held up his hand to halt any forthcoming lectures.

  “I don’t want to hear it,” Blake said as he stopped in front of them.

  Brooklyn exhaled. “We’ll talk about it when we get back to D.C.”

  “I’m not going.”

  Duncan rolled his eyes. “Here we go.”

  “What do you mean, you’re not going?” Brooklyn asked.

  Blake squared his shoulders. “Just what I said. My duties to the agency are finished, for now. This is my free time.”

  Brooklyn placed her hand on her hips. “You know it doesn’t work like that, Blake. In the years that I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you act like this. Why now?”

  “For a woman,” Duncan replied in the form of a cough.

  Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. “Is this true?”

  Blake nodded. “We’ve just met. I’d like to spend some time with her.”

  Though the expression on her face softened, Brooklyn shook her head. “I can’t authorize that. The three of us have to return to Washington together. Otherwise I’ll hear about it from my boss.”

  He exhaled. While he understood the ramifications, he wasn’t going to give up that easily. From the time he’d been recruited into the agency and trained to be an international hit man for the government, he’d never once defied an order. But this was different. There was something about Analeigh that he was willing to fight to discover, come hell or high water. Brooklyn must have read the indecision on his face. She took a step toward him.

  “Get your ass on that plane, Callahan,” she said. “Don’t make me tell you again.”

  Though he didn’t know Analeigh that well, he felt a tinge of something in his heart that made him want to know more. This life would be ending soon and, at thirty-five, he didn’t want to spend it in a nest of revolving beds. Maybe, Analeigh could be the reason he could walk away from this job as a hired killer.

  “Twenty-four hours,” Blake said. “That’s all I ask for.”

  Brooklyn set her jaw as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I can’t do that.”

  “C’mon, man,” Duncan said. “This chick isn’t worth all this.”

  Blake looked at him. “My heart tells me otherwise.”

  Turning his back on their dumbfounded faces, he walked toward the ticket counter. He had to do this; otherwise, he’d always be wondering what-if. The brunette counter attendant told him the next flight to Dublin would be in six hours and he quickly purchased a ticket. When he turned back around, Duncan and Brooklyn were gone. It was just as well. This was a mission he had to perform alone. Blake grabbed something to eat, something to read, and a change of clothes from the nearby mall. By the time it was time to depart, he had booked a room in Dublin’s finest hotel. Would he need it? He hoped so. At the boarding announcement, he gathered his things and made his way to the plane.

  Two hours later, he landed and took a taxi to his hotel. He checked in, then made his way to his room. Once inside, he flopped down on his bed and checked the schedule for Analeigh’s conference on his phone. She was scheduled to speak at ten a.m.

  There was a knock at his door. Blake frowned while he cautiously made his way to the door. He hesitated to open it, even after a second knock shook the door. In his line of work, he couldn’t be too careful.

  “Blake,” Duncan called. “Open the damn door.”

  He exhaled and yanked it open. Brooklyn and Duncan stood on the other side. Neither seemed too happy to be there. It surprised Blake to see them as he thought they’d be halfway to America by now. Brooklyn pushed past him and into the room. She had changed into a tank top and jeans. Releasing a sigh, she sat on the bed. Duncan was still dressed in the manner he had been on the plane.

  “What are you guys doing here?” Blake asked.

  Duncan clamped his hand onto Blake’s shoulder. He moved into the room and leaned against the wooden dresser. “We don’t leave our own,” he said. “No matter how unreasonable he might be.”

  “Our room won’t be ready for another hour,” Brooklyn explained while taking off her boots. “Once you’ve finished your rendezvous, we have to get back to D.C. They’ve already lined us up for another mission. I’ve stalled as long as I can.”

  Blake closed the door. “Thank you.”

  “Are you sure about this?” Duncan asked.

  Blake nodded. “I have to go with my gut. It’s telling me not to let her slip away.”

  Duncan huffed and picked up the room service menu. “In that case, let’s order some grub and go out for a beer.”

  Blake smiled. He was glad his friends were here. It reminded him that they were more than a league of assassins. They had his back at all times, and he didn’t want it any other way. Making his way to the bed, he sat beside Brooklyn. The trio settled in to watch a movie, then went to the pub next door for a drink.

  Around two a.m., Blake returned to his room alone. He checked the conference schedule again and discovered that he couldn’t register for Analeigh’s lecture because it was sold out. Given the subject of her speech, Blake suspected security would be tight and slipping in unnoticed might be a problem.

  With a curse, he lay back on his bed. One way or another, he was going to see Analeigh tomorrow. Just how he was going to do it was the question.

  Chapter Five

  As Analeigh concluded her lecture, she once again scanned the audience for a familiar face and came up empty. Of course. Why would a busy man like Blake come to this? The last time she saw him, he had gotten off at the London airport, along with that sick man. The man, Analeigh learned, had died en route to the airport. She wondered why Blake got off at that moment. What was so pressing that he couldn’t wait a few more hours until they reached Dublin?

  She glanced down at her notes. This was not the time or place to be pining over a man. Let it go, Ana. After releasing a deep breath, she began to wrap it up and asked the audience for questions. The auditorium held over one hundred seats and she had noticed that every one was filled.
r />   Forty-five minutes later, she gathered her slides and notes while fielding additional questions and requests to deliver the same lecture at universities in the States and abroad. Disappointment that Blake wasn’t among the well-wishers resonated in her heart, but she reminded herself that this was why she was in Dublin to begin with. After slipping her black raincoat over her navy dress, she walked with a few of the attendees to the entrance of the auditorium. When she stepped into the hallway, she stopped short. Blake was leaning against the wall just opposite the door. His black suit hung from his frame as if it were tailor-made for him. His eyes lit up when his gaze locked with hers. Analeigh’s heart fluttered as she excused herself to make her way toward him.

  “You seem surprised to see me,” Blake said as he bent to kiss her cheek. “I told you that I’d find you.”

  She laughed at her transparency. “Yes, you did. I was looking for you, but—”

  “You didn’t think I’d actually show,” he finished for her.

  Analeigh nodded. “I’ve been burned like that in the past.”

  He lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “I’m a man of my word, Analeigh. You can always depend on me. Would you like to have lunch?”

  “I’d love to. I do have to be back by two to attend a seminar with my colleagues.”

  “I promise to have you back by then.”

  Butterflies swirled in her stomach. Blake offered her his arm. Analeigh hooked her arm around his and they walked toward the parking area. Once there, he opened the passenger door on a black Jaguar sports car and waited while she slid inside. She watched his tall, muscular physique move around to the driver’s side and settle behind the wheel. Under her breath, she cursed the fact that she had to return to the college after lunch. Spending the rest of the afternoon with Blake seemed to be a better idea.

  “What are you in the mood for?” he asked while starting the car’s ignition.

  She laughed. “That’s a loaded question.”

  He twisted in his seat to look at her with a raised eyebrow. “Is it?”