Family Secrets: Books 5-8

by Virginia Kantra

  Samantha gasped.

  He flashed her a quick grin and set the slab beside the tank. Its okay. I know what Im doing.

  Obviously. She wasnt about to admit she was weak-kneed and breathless because he was strong and competent and could lift concrete. He took a bottle and a coil of string from his pack on the floor.

  What are you doing? she asked.

  A well should be disinfected once a year.

  She really hated the casual way he was bending over that hole. There was some kind of pipe on one side she supposed he could use as a handhold, butSo youre disinfecting the water? she asked, to distract herself from his precarious position.

  He leaned his big body farther over the gaping hole. Her heart hitched. That, and I want to take a sample. Make sure its safe to drink.

  She couldnt watch. She couldnt look away. If its not safe to drink, then what have we been

  Bottled water. He straightened and she breathed again in relief. I brought drinking water with us, but groundwater is more convenient. And we want an unlimited supply in case He stopped and capped the bottle in his hand.

  In case you have to keep me here, she finished for him.

  Until its safe for me to take you back. Yeah.

  Standing, he tucked the bottle away and pried the lid from the orange bucket. He threw something into the well. The plops drifting up from the waters surface sounded very far down. She took a step back.

  Not that I doubt for a minute that you are highly capable, she said carefully, but dont you think if I were really in imminent danger, someone would have come up with a better plan than sending us alone into rural Virginia? If theres a problem within DS, I could have been assigned protection from another agency, FBI or Secret Service or something, that would have allowed me to continue to function.

  Marcus thumped the lid back down on the bucket. You were assigned other protection, he said. Me.

  Yes, and then they sent us miles away from Washington to an abandoned farmhouse with no electricity, no water, no food, no phone and no security.

  Weve got electricity and water now. And Ill feed you. Dont worry.

  She flapped her hand. Forget food. Food is not the point. Dont you find the whole setup a little odd?

  He gripped the edges of the concrete well cap. His fingers tightened. His shoulders bunched as he lifted the slab. I would. Except the setup is my fault.

  Samanthas jaw sagged. What are you talking about?

  I figured if there was a leak at DS, their safe house might not be so safe. He set the well cap squarely over the hole. So I brought you here.

  You brought me.

  He straightened, shrugging his pack onto one shoulder. Yeah.

  Without telling anyone.

  Telling would have kind of defeated the purpose, now, wouldnt it?

  She pressed her lips together. She was not going to overreact. She was not going to cry or scream or lose her temper or do anything inappropriate for an ambassador of the United States of America. So its not just Agent Walker who doesnt know where I am. No one knows where I am.

  Marcus nodded and sauntered toward her. Thats what Im counting on.

  No crying. No screaming. No

  Are you out of your mind? she snapped.

  He met her gaze. I sure hope not.

  There was a shadow in his eyes that fell on her heart. She caught her breath. He was only joking. He had to be.

  And then he smiled his warm, wide smile, and she felt as though she were the one losing her mind.

  Maybe I just dont want to question a mission that involves me spending time alone with you, he suggested.

  She relaxed. Now she knew he was joking. And yet he tempted her more than she would have believed or could ever admit. Take me back, and when all this is over, perhaps we can

  Write to each other? You from Delmonico and me from the latest hot spot outside CONUS? Continental United States, he meant. He shook his head. Hell, maybe we will. Maybe well have to. But for now, maybe we should take what weve got and be grateful.

  I cant do that, she said automatically.

  He raised an eyebrow. What, you think the worlds going to end if you neglect it for a few days?

  She had been so focused for so long it was hard to see beyond her political agenda. The accord might.

  Its been ratified, hasnt it? By the Delmonican government? And signed by our president?

  Well, yes, but

  And youve got until next week before you have to schmooze it through thewhat did you call it?the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.

  He listened, she thought. He listened and remembered. Oh, the council doesnt have to approve the treaty. But the implications for the larger European community

  He tugged the plank door firmly shut behind them. So what youre saying is, the treatys not going to fall apart if you disappear for a few days.

  Frustrated, she followed him along the sunlit path. Not for a few days, no. But

  But you might?

  His insight silenced her. She was appalled to feel tears burn the back of her throat.

  He turned. Hey. His voice was gentle.

  Her vision blurred, but she saw his face soften and change. His hands were warm on her shoulders as he tugged her closer. She thought about resisting. But what was the point? He was too strong for her. And she was tired, weary of fighting the world and sick of denying her feelings.

  With a sigh, she relaxed and rested her forehead against his broad chest. His arms came around her, but the rest of him didnt budge. There was no softness, no give to him at all. He was solid and calm and hard as the side of a hill, and he smelled like grass and summer sun.

  It was tempting simply to lean on him, to absorb his strength and his comfort, to imagine he could take care of her, to hold on and believe that everything would be all right.

  She knew better. Shed believed in Stan, and Stan was dead.

  Still, she held on, her throat tight, her hands fisted in Marcuss shirt.

  He brushed a kiss against her hair. Poor baby.

  I am not a poor baby, she said, the words muffled against his chest. I just need something to do.

  Work helped. The past year had taught her that. Activity kept her mind occupied and her grief at bay better than any pills the doctor had prescribed. She needed to work.

  Okay, Marcus said slowly. Want to help me catch dinner?

  She lifted her head. His blue eyes were warm and close and dazzling. What?

  The farm pond used to be stocked with catfish. Still is, I bet. We could have fresh fish for dinner.

  Youre inviting me to go fishing?

  Why not?

  Because I dont know how. I wont catch anything.

  Honey, were not fly-fishing for trout. Were dropping a couple of lines for catfish. Youll do fine.

  Samantha was without a doubt the thinking-est woman Marcus had ever met. It could have been annoying. Or even intimidating. But he liked watching that first-class brain kick into high gear over so
mething as simple as an invitation to go fishing. And there was that little pleat that formed between her eyebrows. He liked that. And the way she pursed her lips while she puzzled things over made him hot.

  She pursed them now, and he grinned in pure appreciation.

  What? she asked suspiciously.

  Nothing. When she continued to glare at him, he said, You look cute, thats all.

  She took a step back, away from him. I do not.

  He shrugged. He wasnt going to argue with her.

  But apparently after yielding in his arms, Ambassador Barnes was more than willing to argue with him. I have never been cute.

  Sure you were. When you were a little girl? I bet you were really cute then. Red hair, right? And dimples? All the little boys were probably crazy for you.

  She blushed, but he couldnt tell if she was pissed at him or pleased.

  Youd lose your bet, she said. Little boys didnt like me. I beat them in dodgeball and I talked too much in class.

  It figured she was one of the smart kids. Marcus had been one of the dumb ones. It created a bond, of sorts, though she might not see it that way.

  I dont mind you talking, he said. Fact is, I kind of like it.

  Maybe you dont mind it now. You would have thought I was a geek in high school.

  And you would have thought I was a dumb jock.

  Youre not dumb.

  And youre not a geek. He caught one of her hands and drew lazy circles on the back of it with his thumb. No geek ever had skin like yours. Or hair like yours. Or a body like yours.

  She tugged. He didnt let go.

  You dont have to say that. Im not fishing for compliments. I dont need them.

  Maybe not. Maybe I need to say them anyway. He brought her hand to his lips, watching her eyes darken when he kissed her knuckles. Maybe I want to offer you all kinds of things you havent asked for and dont need from me.

  Her tongue touched her lower lip. What kind of things?

  Help. Protection. Comfort.

  Oh, yeah, like she wanted any of that stuff from him.

  Naked back rubs? he suggested instead, and was relieved and rewarded when she laughed.

  But she pulled her hand away. I dont think Im ready for that level of distraction yet.

  Yet?

  Did that mean? No. Probably not. But even the possibility was enough to electrify his body and fog his mind.

  He curled his hands into fists so he wouldnt do something colossally stupid like grab for her. Okay, he said easily. Guess were stuck with fishing, then.

  I told you I wouldnt be any good at this, Samantha complained an hour later.

  Marcus studied her from under the bill of his baseball cap. Cool, composed Ambassador Barnes was gone. The young woman parked next to him on the bank, the sun striking fire from her dark red hair and mud decorating the hip pockets of her new jeans, looked every bit the Sexy Chick her T-shirt proclaimed her to be.

  We dont know that yet. Weve only been out here an hour.

  She sniffed. I should have caught something by now.

  He grinned. You know, for a woman who can stand around an embassy party in high heels and make small talk for five hours, youre pretty impatient.

  She jiggled her line in the water. I thought the purpose of fishing was to catch fish.

  Catching fish is good. He tilted his cap so it shaded his eyes again, leaned back and folded his arms beneath his head. Some folks also like to relax.

  Im relaxed, she insisted.

  Youre bouncing like a buoy in rough water. Youre as bad as my baby sister.

  She flipped back her hair, the way a woman did when she wanted a mans attention.

  She had his. He looked at the line of her throat and the sunburn beginning to prickle her nose and thought she could have anything she wanted.

  I would probably like your sister, she said. In fact, at the moment, she has my sympathies. Do you pull this tall-dark-and-stolid routine with her, or is it something I do that brings it out in you?

  Marcus switched his attention from her pink nose to the challenging lift of her chin. Its just you, he said cheerfully. You talk too much.

  She practically sputtered. You said you didnt mind.

  I dont. He raised himself on his elbows, enjoying the quick glance she stole at his body. Its the fish. Youre scaring them away.

  Youre making that up, she accused.

  No. See, fish are creatures of instinct. They detect low-frequency vibrations. They can sense when youre agitated or impatient, and they stay away.

  Baloney, she said.

  Amusement shook him. I can prove it.

  You cannot.

  Yeah, I can. You relax, and I bet you catch something.

  She rolled her eyes. How can you tell if Im relaxed or not?

  Im going to help you.

  Oh, that will work.

  He folded himself to a sitting position. Why dont we try it and see?

  She did not protest as he took the fishing rod and jammed it between a rock and a rotten log on the bank. But when he turned her gently by her shoulders, she said, This really isnt necessary.

  Shh. He exerted pressure with his thumbs, finding the knots in her muscles.

  Im prepared to take your word about the fish, she said over her shoulder. Ill even be quiet.

  Good. He brushed her slippery hair off her shoulders before beginning to knead her latissimi dorsi. She was really tight.

  Honestly, you can She moaned as his thumbs found a particularly sensitive spot.

  Stop?

  Her head fell forward. No. Oh, no. If you stop now, Ill have to kill you.

  He chuckled and stroked her back, rotated her shoulders, massaged her arms. Her flesh was firm and smooth under his hands. Her skinthe soft skin at her nape and her pink upper armswas warm and damp.

  She stretched like a cat, bowing her back toward him so he could see the tiny bumps of vertebrae through her T-shirt and the pale sliver of waist above her jeans. She made another sound, a hum of pleasure deep in her throat that vibrated through them both.

  He wanted to taste the back of her neck, wanted to suck and lick. He wanted to slide his hands around and squeeze her full breasts, wanted to press her down on the warm, grassy bank and push himself inside her, hard, fast, now, while she moaned.

  He closed his mouth and tried breathing out his nose so he wouldnt drool. Damn.

  Okay, so he wasnt going to win any points for finesse. That didnt mean he had to react like a nineteen-year-old sailor on his first shore leave in a Philippine whorehouse. Marcus concentrated on keeping his breathing steady, his touch gentle and his libido lashed to the mast.

  And while he didnt fool himself into thinking he wouldnt crawl, kill or die for a chance to rip the jeans off that lush, incredible body and drive himself insidewell, maybe he fooled her. Because instead of jumping up and yelling at him to take his hands off her, she gave this little sigh and let her chin d
rop to her chest. Pleased, he rubbed and dug and coaxed the tension from her shoulders.

  He gave them a final squeeze and released her. There. Now youre relaxed.

  The fishing pole snapped forward. The reel rattled as the line spun out.

  Marcus made a lunge for the pole before it followed the fish into the water.

  Nice reflexes, Samantha said.

  He grinned and tested the resistance on the line. Shed hooked a pond monster, three, four pounds easy. Good teamwork. See, I told you the fish could sense your mood.

  She stood, brushing grass from her back pockets. Well, the fish were wrong.

  He played out line and pulled it in. What are you talking about?

  You said the fish would come if I wasnt impatient. Im still impatient.

  He mocked himself for his disappointment. Hed thought a back rub would change her mind? He took up more slack on the line. Okay. After I clean the fish, Ill check in with DS. Maybe

  Samantha shook her head, smiling. Her dark lashes lowered, then lifted as she met his gaze. Her red hair slipped over one shoulder and curled around her breast. Sexy Chick. Thats not what Im impatient for.

  When he gaped at her, she stood on tiptoe and brushed soft lips against his cheek. Ill see you back at the house, she said, and sauntered away in her tight, dark jeans, leaving him to wrestle a big, fat, flopping fish and his own lust.

  Ten

  I t was a good thing she was a diplomat and not a spy, Samantha thought, studying the back of Marcuss head. Because if her life or her job ever depended on her ability to seduce a man, she was obviously sunk.

  She had thoughthopedthat after her little come-on by the farm pond he would follow her back to the house hot and urgent and hungry for more than fried fish.