Ashfall

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Ashfall Page 10

by Denise A. Agnew


  “That’s amazing,” she said. “You’re very good.”

  A sheepish grin passed over his mouth. “Thanks.”

  The little boy smile got to her and she said, “Are you showing off?”

  “For you. Yeah.”

  For you. So he wanted to impress her. One part of her mind couldn’t wrap itself around the idea. That meant this totally ripped, drop-dead hunk cared what she thought of him. It didn’t matter how many times he told her, showed her. If it was possible to feel both powerful and humble at the same time, she was feeling that now.

  “Why would you do that?” she asked.

  “Because I think you’re interesting. Hot. Totally annoying.” He threw a grin into the mix. “Because you’re making me crazy.”

  “Annoying? Crazy-making?” She laughed softly. “I suppose I am.”

  He placed his water bottle on a table. “What is it? Did my dancing freak you out?”

  She swallowed hard. “Yes. I mean…no. You’re an incredible dancer. Where did you learn all those moves?”

  “When I was in high school I belonged to this glee club where we sang and danced. Kept me out of trouble.”

  Her mouth did pop open then. “Seriously? I never would have pictured you in a glee club.”

  “Yep. I always liked to sing and dance. I got a lot of ribbing from the football team. I was a member of the team, too. Some guys called me gay because I was in glee club, which was bullshit.”

  He found a low, throbbing jazz song that spelled sex in each second.

  He strolled toward her and held his hand out. “Come on. Let’s dance. Pretend the world outside is a lot more hospitable.”

  Mally’s fingers slipped into his light grip, and she allowed Adam to draw her into his embrace. Though his arm went around her waist, he cupped her other hand against his chest. Heat flickered just under that subtle, undemanding touch. He held her lightly, and she appreciated that. Looking up into his eyes, though. Oh, wow. That was hard. His gaze told her one thing she knew without question. He wanted her in the most carnal tangle of lips and limbs. A parade of sensual need coaxed her to follow his lead, to swing and sway. Still she kept her emotional distance. She couldn’t afford to become too attached to him. Attachment to anyone right now wouldn’t make sense when danger rode high and hard and fast.

  “Would the General approve of this?” she asked, only half kidding.

  He frowned. “I don’t know, but it isn’t his business.”

  “Two of his contractors doing the two step? Doesn’t he have a policy against it?”

  A smile warmed his face. “This isn’t the two step darlin’. But to answer your question, I doubt he’s thought about his contractors mixing it up on the dance floor.”

  “Okay. It’s shuffling along the floor. A barely moving hug.”

  “No. This is a hug.”

  Before she could blink he slipped his right arm more firmly around her waist, and with his other hand he cupped the back of her head and drew her to his shoulder. His fingers slid into the hair at the back of her neck, cradling and cupping. He pressed a soft, sweet kiss to the side of her forehead. She melted and slid her arms around his waist. He felt so good. Every hard, powerful inch of his body touched her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it. Moments later she eased back and looked up into eyes hot with need. It was then she thought about it. Thought of closing the gap, of throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. The kisses they’d shared before had soaked her in desire, had made her body tingle and yearn. But she’d resisted a lot of temptation in her life, sexual and otherwise. She could resist more. His lips were so close to hers, his breath fresh and his masculine scent heady to her overheated senses. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt this safe, this wanted.

  “You all right?” he whispered the question.

  “Oh yes. More than all right.” Oh. That came out more breathy than I wanted.

  “You still don’t trust me, do you?” The low rumble of his voice tickled her senses, flirting relentlessly with Mally’s desires.

  How did she answer that? “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I…”

  “Yeah?”

  Oh man. He hadn’t put an inch between them. So she did. Mally wriggled a little and increased the distance between her and Adam. He released her. She headed to the window and looked out at the rain. Maybe if she didn’t see him, she wouldn’t find him so damned compelling.

  “You can deny it all if you like.” His words were even and cool. “There’s something between us. But I made a promise I wouldn’t kiss you again. I won’t.”

  Time for some honesty. Or not. “I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow. Eight o’clock sharp.”

  He took his MP3 player and a bottle of water with him, and when he left all he said was, “See you tomorrow.”

  When the door closed she locked it. Not because she worried about what he’d do. She half feared she’d wander down the hall to his room and…well, who knows what would happen then. She decided not thinking about hotter-than-sin Adam Becker was a better idea.

  She returned to staring at the rain and pondering everything that had happened since she’d arrived. How long would she need to stay here? When would martial law be dropped? Ever? At some point she’d have to return to her compound to see if her home stayed intact.

  In the meantime she’d roll with the punches and keep her hands off the delectable Adam Becker.

  Chapter 10

  Adam groaned as he opened his eyes to a new day. Lying in bed, he shifted and felt each last ache as it penetrated his muscles. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like this. Yesterday had kicked his ass, and it didn’t make a damned bit of sense. He rolled to his left and checked the clock. Five fifty.

  “Damn.” The alarm was set to go off at five. What the hell had happened?

  He checked the settings on his phone. He’d forgotten to set the alarm last night. Pissed at himself, he closed his eyes and counted to ten. Naked, he stood slowly.

  “Shit.” He rubbed the back of his neck and wandered into the bathroom.

  The mirror told a significant story. Dark circles under his eyes. Light perspiration on his forehead. He took a quick shower and dressed, his body telling him the best tactic. He could return to bed and go on sick call. Instead he powered through the weakness. He rummaged through his gear until he located his first aid and medical supplies. He checked his blood pressure and pulse and everything was normal. His temperature checked out at one hundred. Well, that explained a lot.

  A knock came on the door, and he went to answer it. Mally stood there, dressed and looking concerned.

  “Hi.” She frowned. “You didn’t come down to breakfast yet and I…Mark wasn’t worried but I…”

  When she faded off he gave her a half-assed smile. “I overslept. I didn’t set the alarm.”

  She peered at him closely. “Is something wrong?”

  He considered lying, but brushed off the idea. “I’ve got a fever of one hundred. But I’m good.”

  Worry touched her face. “You should stay in bed.”

  He shook his head. “Nope. I’m not letting you and Mark go out there alone today.”

  For a second she looked as if she would argue, but then changed her mind. “Okay. I’ll see you downstairs.”

  He joined Mark and Mally downstairs at breakfast. He gobbled up scrambled eggs. He didn’t talk much either, but then neither did they. By the time they piled into the SUV and took off to patrol, the silence in the vehicle sounded like the inside of a tomb.

  “Don’t everyone talk at once,” Mark said from the back seat.

  Adam grunted.

  “Okay.” Mark laughed. “What about you, Mally? Did you guys argue or something?”

  “No.” Mally’s answer was firm. “He’s the one that’s not talking.”

  “Okay, kids. Time to get along,” Mark said.

  Adam grunted again, not in the mood. “We need to keep our attention on the road and what’s
happening around us. Not making small talk.”

  Adam glanced in the rear view mirror in time to see Mark’s eyes roll.

  “We didn’t argue.” Mally’s voice held amusement. “But I’ll ask some questions. How’s it going with that firefighter you were talking to the other night?”

  “What?” Mark sounded surprised.

  “The woman. Didn’t you get her name?” Mally asked.

  Silence. Then Mark cleared his throat. “No.”

  “Lost your chance,” Mally said.

  “I didn’t lose my chance. I mean, there wasn’t anything…there,” Mark said.

  “Yeah, right,” she said.

  Mark made a choked sound. “There wasn’t.”

  Adam groaned and glanced over at Mally. “What the hell are you two talking about?”

  “There was a spark between them when Mark met her. I saw how they looked at each other,” Mally said.

  “You noticed how they were looking at each other?” Adam asked in disbelief. “While we were in the middle of working.”

  Mally said, “Yes.”

  “Sounds like a girly thing to me,” Adam said.

  Mally chuckled. “It is. But in case you didn’t notice, I’m a woman.”

  Hell yeah, I’ve noticed. Every minute of every damned day.

  “You’re just deflecting.” Mark’s voice was defensive.

  “About what?” Mally asked.

  “How you feel about Adam,” Mark said.

  Adam almost growled. “Shit, O’Day. Did someone cut your balls off? Talk about girly.”

  Mark said, “Yeah, yeah. Screw you, Becker.”

  “Like you said before,” Adam said dryly, “you’re not my type.”

  Mally laughed softly. “What’s wrong, Adam? You don’t have a feminine side?”

  Adam’s temper rose a notch. “Hell no.”

  Mally gasped. “Stop!”

  Adam glanced in his rear view mirror quickly. No one was behind him. “What is it?”

  “There’s a woman flagging us down. The alleyway you just passed,” Mally said.

  “She’s right,” Mark said. “I just saw her. Now she’s running down the alley.”

  Adam put the SUV into reverse and glided backwards until they came flush with the alley opening. Adam saw the woman halt halfway down the alley.

  A niggling sensation made Adam’s breath catch and his suspicion heighten. “Something isn’t right.”

  “Someone’s at the end of the alley,” Mark said, suspicion clear in his voice.

  Adam noticed a male figure several yards behind the woman, and the guy lifted something big onto his shoulder.

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” Adam said as he slammed on the accelerator.

  The vehicle leapt forward. A whoosh came seconds before the rear of the SUV lifted off the ground. Amid the deafening noise he heard Mally’s yell and Mark’s virulent curse. A flash of light brightened everything as a roar pounded at Adam’s ears. The SUV crashed back to earth, rattling his bones. Despite the disorientation, Adam went into combat mode.

  “RPG!” Adam roared the warning. “Get out now!”

  If that bastard planned to lob another grenade on them they wouldn’t stand a chance. He whipped off his seatbelt and saw Mally do the same.

  Mally grabbed her weapon and secured it to her body just as she gasped. “Mark’s hurt!”

  Fear sliced a deep gash into Adam as he swiveled to look at Mark. Mark’s seatbelt had kept him in place, but he listed to the side, his head forward. He was unconscious. No visible blood but that didn’t mean there weren’t other injuries. Adam’s attention leapfrogged between two modes. Battle ready and medical. He had to help Mark but if that asshole with the RPG came at them again—

  “Are you hurt?” he asked Mally, his gaze frantically assessing her. He grabbed her shoulder when she stared at Mark and said nothing, her lips parted. “Mally, answer me. Are you hurt anywhere?”

  She peeled her gaze from Mark and put full attention on Adam. “No. I’m fine. I’m good. You?”

  Anger burned a hot path through him. “I’ll be better when I shove my boot straight up the shooter’s ass. Come on. Mark needs us.”

  Sirens split the air as another SUV, this one a National Guard vehicle, rolled up behind them. Yet another one came alongside with a red cross on the side. At least they’d have some help if the excrement hit the oscillating device. Adam didn’t have to tell Mally what he planned to do as he jumped out of the vehicle and opened the back door to get to Mark. She did the same on her side.

  “Asshole had an RPG!” one of the Guard guys, decked out in full battle rattle, said from the rear.

  Other voices mixed with shouting as army soldiers ran down the alley, presumably to capture the suspect. Sirens wailed. What a fucking mess. Chaos went on around Adam as he crawled into the back of the SUV to assess Mark’s injuries. He checked for a pulse.

  Relief replaced stark fear. “He’s alive.”

  “Oh, thank God,” she said.

  Assessing Mark’s injuries didn’t take long. “He might have a concussion. I don’t see any sign of broken bones but we have to get him to the hospital. He could have internal injuries.”

  A fire truck roared up a moment later, sirens blaring, and so did a regular ambulance. Adam felt a headache starting near his ears, and he shook his head. He’d gotten his bell rung, but he didn’t care. Mark needed him on his game right now. The next few minutes went by in a blur. You’d think world war three had started with all the action and attention. Paramedics assisted Adam in checking on Mark. Mark’s vitals were fine, but he hadn’t regained consciousness, and that worried the shit out of Adam. Before long paramedics had loaded Mark into an ambulance.

  “Mally, go with him and get yourself checked out while you’re there,” Adam said.

  “What about you sir?” asked one of the city paramedics who stood by Adam.

  Adam shook his head. “I’m fine. I need to stay here and deal with the authorities.”

  “Adam.” Mally climbed into the ambulance with Mark. “Are you sure?

  Adam’s muscles hurt so much now he wondered if he’d done more damage to himself than he thought. “I’ll get a ride to the hospital as soon as I can.”

  Mally’s frown was as wide as Grand Canyon, but she nodded and soon the ambulance carted Mark and Mally away. All Adam could do was hope they would be all right. The mess continued at the scene with police and National Guard all in the mix. Adam’s head pounded and his stomach churned. Time stretched to a crawl. The asshole with the RPG was caught and so was the woman with him. Though Adam wanted to get in their faces and bash the man to a pulp, he obviously couldn’t. Instead, he called the General and told him what happened. The General promised to head to the hospital ASAP. The man was a rock—not only were his daughter and Ian missing, his team was in shambles. At this rate, there soon wouldn’t be a team left.

  * * * *

  Mally stood in one corner of the overflowing emergency room. The noise pushed against her senses and threatened to overwhelm her. A television high on the wall across the room was silent, but closed captioning gave a continuous barrage of bad news. She scanned the room quickly, feeling as hypersensitive as she’d ever felt in her life. Hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Her insides still felt like gelatin, rattled from the vibration of the RPG explosion. Since she’d started working with Sentry Security, she’d already experienced far more danger in a short time than she’d expected. So this is what it felt like. To have your entire world centered on a moment, on doing nothing more than being alive. Staying in the compound bunker would have been safer.

  She glanced around the room. No sign of danger from the parents with sick kids, the elderly couple in one corner, and the mixed bag of others waiting for treatment. The talking and kids crying brushed across her nerves. What she wouldn’t give right now for an isolated room where she could quietly go insane. Worry gathered in the pit of her stomach and tightened her muscles. She leaned against the
wall and crossed her arms, but even that casual stance couldn’t erase her concern for Mark and for Adam.

  As if she’d materialized him from thin air, Adam strode into the emergency room main area. They locked eyes, and Mally thought she saw relief in his face. She also noted everyone else’s reaction to him. His height and obvious strength made him a formidable-looking man. In normal circumstances hospitals wouldn’t allow weapons on the property, and at the entrances metal detectors had been set up. She’d had to check her weapons at the door and put them in a locker room for that purpose, and obviously so had he.

  Men and women gave him wary looks. He didn’t appear to notice, or if he did, he didn’t care. She smiled, but he didn’t smile back as he reached her in seconds.

  “Hey.” He palmed her shoulders, his gaze worried. “You all right?”

  “You asked me that before. I’m fine.”

  “I know.” His gaze scanned her, and he leaned in close enough to whisper. “But you’ve never been blown up before.”

  That sounded weird. “No. But we weren’t really blown up.” She smiled. “Thanks to your quick action we’re alive right now.”

  Emotions flashed through his eyes, and she couldn’t say for certain which ones. They looked like anger or maybe regret.

  She smiled and couldn’t resist cupping his face with one hand for a moment and noticed how hot his skin felt. “What about you? You were in the same blast, you know.”

  He nodded. “Pissed but good.” She didn’t believe him, but before she could pile on more questions he asked, “Any word on Mark?”

  “He woke up in the ambulance. He’s all right. The doctors are doing more tests right now, but it looks like a mild concussion.”

 

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