by Marie Harte
Of course it was. Noel knew a lot about her. “I pay attention.”
“I guess you do.” She tentatively looked in the bag but didn’t reach for any food. “Noel. Talk.”
He sipped his coffee, considering how much to tell her. “I’m not actually an investment banker.”
She narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
In a low voice, he said, “I work for an organization that cleans up messes around the world.”
She put her coffee down. “What organization?”
“I can’t say.”
“Can’t or won’t?” she challenged in a louder voice. Then seeing his frown, she lowered hers again. “CIA? FBI? NSA?”
He nodded.
She blinked and trembled. “Seriously?”
“I’m not on any books. Not in any database. I don’t exist, Addy. But I want to.” So much. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her that last night. He glanced around, saw them still somewhat safe surrounded by couples and young mothers and fathers with kids. “I was young when my parents died. I had no one to take me in. I tried foster care. It didn’t take.” He didn’t want her to feel sorry for him, but better pity than fear. “I was on the streets for a very long year when a man found me. He introduced me to a new career path.”
“How old were you?” She sipped her coffee, and her shaking finally subsided.
“Fourteen. They taught me a lot.” He remembered the days of brutal drills, of shooting on the line, of martial arts training. The nonstop learning, studying languages, political machinations, history, and tactics. No weekends or summers off. But he’d belonged, as he hadn’t in a long time. “I went out solo at eighteen and never stopped.”
She sat there for some time, then asked, “Deacon and Hammer?”
“Just like me.”
She nodded before a hurt look appeared on her face. “So it was all lies?” She paused. “What about Noel Jr.?”
He grimaced. “He’s real. The mess I’m in with him is real. My home in Bainbridge, being with you, all real.” He took her hand, pleased she didn’t pull away, but not happy she stiffened under him. “I wasn’t lying about the rest either. I need a change.”
She snorted, surprising him with that hint of sass. “I’d say you do if your workdays are like what you just did.”
He nodded. “More or less. I get by telling myself it’s for the greater good. One less dictator who kills the masses. One less drug runner selling young girls and boys in trade. One less corrupt official contributing to mass murder in war-torn countries. But Addy, that kind of work leaves a stain. And I’m tired.”
She looked at him, really looked at him, and he wondered what she saw. Then she glanced away and stood. “I want to go home, Noel.”
So he took her. But the quiet ride on the ferry had never felt so long.
Chapter Eight
Addy hugged herself as she sat in Noel’s car while he stood outside, leaning against the driver’s side door. Despite all that had happened, she wasn’t afraid of him.
The minute they’d boarded the ferry, she’d taken a trip to the bathroom and sidelined to a payphone, where she’d dialed the police to give an anonymous report of trouble at the abandoned storefront. Five minutes ago she’d gone to “use the restroom” again and called back, only to find out the police had found nothing in that store. No bodies. No blood. Nothing broken or cracked in the shop at all and could she please leave her name because it was a crime to falsify a 911 call.
She had to be crazy to believe Noel’s story. A spy? She wasn’t born yesterday. But who had cleaned up after him? And if he wasn’t what he said he was, who was he? A killer for hire? She’d watched him shoot a man in cold blood. Granted, that man had tried to hurt her for some reason, but Noel hadn’t killed the second man. Instead, he’d called in help.
Could he really have been trained to be a killer? Deacon or Hammer she could see in that type of profession. But quiet, steady, hermit-like Noel? Though, that would explain the scars on his body. And the lost look in his eyes.
And she still didn’t fear him. Instead, she felt bad for him, because she did believe him. So much of what he’d told her made sense about the man she now knew.
No family, only violence to bring him to adulthood. All his talk about the greater good. She’d grown up hearing about her father working for the greater good. Bert Rose had retired after thirty years on the police force. Addy knew all about helping others, about service to one’s country, city, people.
She’d thought she’d known Noel, and she’d been wrong. Addy had assumed she could read people.
She glanced out the car window and saw him with his arms wrapped around himself, no doubt cold because of the winds off the Sound. But he wouldn’t go upstairs inside the ferry and leave her alone down by the cars, away from the safety of others. She could tell her having been in danger bothered him.
Unless it was all an act?
No. He’d been genuinely upset that she’d been harmed. His quick actions had saved her. Noel could have dumped her. Could have run away and left her to fend for herself. Hell, he’d even sat with her at a public coffee shop, risking that she’d call the authorities and report him. She still had her cell phone.
But she’d called to report the incident, not Noel. And why not?
Because he hadn’t ditched or kidnapped her. Instead, he’d called Deacon and Hammer to tell them what had happened. Then he’d given her some long looks, and a few dejected ones when he hadn’t thought she’d been watching. He was taking her home, as she’d asked.
And he’d mentioned something to Hammer about packing up and leaving.
That wouldn’t do.
She knocked on the driver’s side window.
He leaned down, and she motioned to him to come back inside.
He entered and shut the door behind him. The car felt a lot smaller all of a sudden.
“One thing I still don’t understand,” she said. “Deacon texted me to meet him.”
Noel shook his head. “It wasn’t Deacon. He’s spent the past few days on the island arguing with Solene about childcare, apparently. And he spent last night in Canada, sent on a wild goose chase while Hammer wrapped things up out East. Both of them should be back soon, though.”
“Good.”
“Addy, I’m sorry.”
“So you keep saying.” She’d gotten her courage back, and it felt good. Seeing a man get killed was nothing like the movies. The finality of that moment would be forever etched in her mind. But she could deal better, now.
“I never wanted that world to intrude on this one.” He clenched his hands around the steering wheel. “When I come back from a job, I meditate on the ferry ride. Do you ever do that?”
“No.”
“I put all the ugliness that’s in the world behind me. I look forward to feeling fresh. I’m normal here. Just a guy settling into his house. Fixing the plumbing. Checking out my cute neighbor when she’s not looking.” He sent her a ghost of a smile that faded too soon. “Keeping to myself, because I know life in Bainbridge Island isn’t real. Not for me.”
For someone so young, he must have seen a lot of nasty things.
“Noel.”
“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, Addy. I live the life, and someday all that violence is going to find me. No matter how careful I’ve been, it’s followed me here. I’ve had my handler looking into it for me. And Deacon and Hammer too.
“The baby was a complete surprise. Look, I’m not a monk. But it takes a lot for me to let down my guard with a person.”
Yet he’d done it with her.
“Having sex is getting vulnerable. So I don’t do it a lot. And I’m always—usually—careful. The baby isn’t mine. I just know it. But if he were, I’d take care of him. I might be a killer, but I’m a protector at heart. No boy of mine would ever
want for security.”
She believed him.
“Thing is, something went wrong after my last job. Not on the job exactly, but on my return home. I was nearly mugged in the city. Then I was almost run down on the street. Then this, today. None of it makes any sense. We’re a closely guarded secret, Addy. No one but my handler and his boss know my missions. I said I work for the government, but my Business contracts out the jobs. Seriously. I don’t exist. Noel Cavanaugh works for an investment firm. He’s good at what he does. But he’s not me.”
She thought about that. “Is Noel Cavanaugh even your real name?”
He watched her, and she swore he looked for a brief second as if he still had hope—for her? “Noel is real. Cavanaugh isn’t though.” He paused. “My last name is Smith, believe it or not. Noel Smith.”
“Really?” She smiled, seeing the humor in such a common name for an uncommon man. She took his hand in hers, feeling for him when he gripped her tight. “Noel, why did you ask me out?”
He flushed but didn’t look away. “I wanted to go out with you.”
“For two years you’ve ignored or avoided me. Why now?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. If I’d been smart, I would have stayed away. Addy, I’ve known about you for a long time, even before you moved back. I’m a cautious guy. I have to be. I researched all my neighbors. My closest ones especially.” He rubbed a thumb over her hand. “When you moved back to Bainbridge, it was so hard to stay away. I liked you from the start. But I didn’t want to drag you down. I’m not a safe man. I’m not a nine-to-fiver working for stock options with dinner and a movie on the brain.”
“So you just wanted in my pants, is that it?”
He scowled. “Hell no. I mean, yeah, I wanted to have sex with you. You’re beautiful, smart, funny. Why wouldn’t I? But you’re sweet, nice. Damn, Addy, you teach school kids. I kill people for a living. It’s not a good mix.”
“But…?”
“But then you handed me a baby on my doorstep. He made me see that my wanting to get out of the job has been building. I’ve been contracting for twelve years. I’m only thirty, and I’m burned out.”
“I sense that.” She held him. “Do you really like gardening?”
He gave her a small grin that tugged at her heartstrings. “I really do. I wasn’t lying about all of it, like I said. I’m actually very boring. I don’t like going out. I’m a homebody. When I’m home, where it’s safe, I garden. I read. I try to pretend I don’t want you,” he said wryly before pulling his hand away. “Watching a sunset, hearing the birds and watching them fly overhead, that’s magic to me. But it was nothing compared to last night.” He swallowed, his heart in his eyes. “Last night meant something to me.”
“It meant something to me too.” What, was the question. “Okay. So let’s say I trust what you’ve told me. Where do we go from here?”
“I go far away,” he said firmly. “Away from you, so the danger’s gone. Then I finish figuring out who’s behind this.”
“No.”
“I—what?” He frowned.
“They came for me once. What’s to say they won’t do it again?”
He gritted his teeth.
“I’m safer with you than without you.”
“Addy, I won’t put you in danger again.”
“You will if you leave me alone.”
“I—crap.” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “You don’t understand. I can’t let them hurt you.”
“So don’t. Get Deacon and Hammer back here and figure out what’s going on. And figure out what to do about Noel Jr.”
He blew out a breath. “Easier said than done.” He turned to look at her. “You’re really okay with all I said? With everything that happened?”
“No, but I’m adaptable. You know my dad was a cop?”
“Yeah. And a helluva gardener.”
“He still is a helluva gardener. He’s just growing crops in Scotland now.” She scooted closer to him in the car. “Noel, I won’t lie. I’m scared. But I don’t want you to leave, not now.” She clutched him by the arm. “You said last night meant something to you.”
“It did.”
“Then stick around and find out what.”
He looked down at her. “You sure, Addy? I’m all into seeing where this goes if you are. But if anything ever happened to you…” He stroked her cheek. “I’d send them all to hell. It would be a bloodbath. No one gets to you unless they go through me first.”
Her quiet Noel, ferocious when it counted. “You don’t scare me, Noel Smith. Not unless you plan on leaving without saying goodbye.” Hell, if he planned on leaving period. But Noel was understandably skittish. She decided to keep him around, so she’d have to move slowly, so as not to spook him.
Like dealing with a small child, she’d win him over with patience and trust. And since he certainly wasn’t a small child, she’d know exactly how to handle him. She smiled at him, and he did a double take before starting the car and getting ready to depart the ferry as they pulled into Bainbridge Island.
“We can do this, Noel. Together.”
“I’m willing to try. But Addy, like I said, I won’t—can’t—let you get hurt because of me. If it comes down to that, I’ll leave.”
“Okay, Noel.”
Bullshit. I’m not letting you go yet. Not now. Maybe not ever.
* * * * *
Noel still wasn’t sure how she’d talked him into staying in town. But hell, she hadn’t bolted yet, so he had hope she might give him another chance. That Addy could handle him killing a man in front of her and not run away screaming said a lot for her strength of will, her courage.
He drove them both toward his house when something Deacon had said struck him. He pulled over to the side of the road and dialed Deacon on speaker. “Deacon? Where’s the baby?”
Addy shot him a worried look.
“I told you,” Deacon drawled.
“You told me you had to check something out in Canada, so I assumed you’d taken care of babysitting for the kid. Did you take him with you?”
“I left Noel Jr. with Solene. She wasn’t happy about it, but I paid her triple her usual rate. The shark.” He muttered something else.
“What?”
“Not important. I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. And buddy, you owe me big for all that babysitting I’m doing.”
“You mean watching your own kid, don’t you? Isn’t he saying your name now?”
“He shit all over my favorite pants!”
Noel couldn’t hide a grin. “Sorry, you’re breaking up.” Even Addy smiled.
“Noel, you bastard, don’t even think about—”
Noel disconnected and turned to Addy. “So the baby is with Solene. I think we’d better go get him.”
“Yeah. Especially because Solene isn’t a babysitter. She runs a daycare, but when she goes home for the night, she’s baby-less. I’m dying to know how Deacon convinced her to watch Noel Jr.”
He sighed. “That’s not his name.”
“I think it’s cute.”
“I think the kid deserves something a little more creative than Noel Jr.”
They argued about names on the short drive to Solene’s home, just like a normal couple. Noel prayed that ease between them would continue.
Solene lived in a gorgeous, semi-private home in Manitou Beach, just four and a half miles from Addy.
“Nice place,” Noel said as they left the car.
Solene opened the front door before they reached it. “Noel Jr. is napping. And Noel, you owe me big time.”
Addy grinned. “You sound just like Deacon.”
Frost glazed Solene’s amber eyes. “Don’t mention that man’s name to me, Addy. Not if you want to stay friends.”
Noel sighed. “What did he do?”
“When he wasn’t flirting with me or my staff, you mean? Or the mothers dropping their kids off? Or the women working next door at the friggin’ bakery? He had the nerve to try to bully me into helping him. When that didn’t work, he manipulated me into caring for Noel Jr.!”
Noel kept his face expressionless, certain he’d get smacked if he showed any sign of amusement. “Manipulated how?”
“He said he was going into danger. That the baby might get hurt if he had to take him, and he didn’t want to chance it.” She huffed. “How could I let that precious baby get hurt if I could stop it? That rat bastard,” she seethed.
“I assume you mean Deacon and not the baby.”
Solene gave him a baleful eye. “Of course I’m not referring to the baby. You might be cute, but you’re a little short on smarts, eh?” She turned. “Well, come on, you two. Tell me how the date went.”
Noel and Addy exchanged a glance before following Solene inside.
The open floor plan had dark hardwoods throughout, and the airy rooms were breathtaking, but not as awe-inspiring as the view out the bay windows at the back of the house, overlooking the water.
“Yeah, yeah, you can see the water and Seattle from here.” She gathered up a familiar duffle bag and plopped it at Noel’s feet. Then she left and returned carrying a sleeping baby in his baby carrier. She put him down and added quietly, “Well? The date?”
Noel knew he’d need to let Solene know about the possible danger, especially since she’d be linked to him sooner or later because of the baby and Addy.
“It was…interesting,” Addy answered. “Noel, why don’t I stay with Addy while you get little Griffith settled?”
He rolled his eyes, secretly thrilled she still was teasing him. “Griffith? Really? Why don’t you paint a sign on his back begging kids to beat him up on the playground too?”
Solene looked confused. “I thought his name was Noel Jr.?”
“No, that’s just what Deacon calls him to annoy me.”
“Yeah, about that. So who is the baby’s father, anyway? Because I am seriously baffled about all of this.”