Carlie nodded. “If I wasn’t in so much pain, I might argue with you about what I need.”
Nick groaned, feeling himself getting semi-rigid at the thought of her in that bed, ready and willing. “You’re killing me, Carlie. Really. I’m going out to the couch now. Who knows when I’ll get to sleep.”
“Sorry.” She didn’t sound particularly chastised.
“Never apologize for being sexy. You can’t help it.” Forcing himself to leave before he changed his mind, Nick switched off the lights and closed the door.
Paul would probably still be awake, getting ready for the flight to Washington D.C. in the morning, but Nick didn’t want to call him. If S.A.T.O. investigated Carlie because of her connection to Maharla and not terrorists, Nick might still have trouble.
He sank onto the couch, allowing himself to relive every sweet moment of their kiss. Fighting his growing attraction to Carlie was impossible. When he believed she was a terrorist, it had been just barely manageable. He’d told himself she was a beautiful woman on the outside with a rotten heart, just like so many he’d known before. Finding out the inside was actually more beautiful crushed his willpower. He cared for her.
She wasn’t safe. Paul had been willing to almost kill her in an effort to get Nick into her inner circle. There had to be a reason, and he didn’t think it was because S.A.T.O. wanted to do anything good to her.
Nick could probably figure out the problem with the assassins and get her away from them, even if it meant personally flying to Africa to provide her parents with a safe phone that was actually safe. However, if Nick was going to save her from the United States government, he had to figure out what it was they were really after. If just her death would suffice, Paul could have completed this mission long before he ever brought Nick into the fold.
If they knew who she really was and this wasn’t about her being a terrorist, there had to be a reason Paul and the President wanted her trust. Figuring out why they wanted her—while keeping Carlie alive and not provoking Paul’s ire—would take all the skill Nick possessed.
Maybe more.
Chapter Ten
Carlie woke to sunlight streaming through the window. It took a few seconds to get her bearings and remember what happened. Actually, considering the beating she took, the pain wasn’t as bad as expected. Then again, she hadn’t moved yet.
The bathroom door opened and Nick walked out, rubbing a towel through his wet hair. He had on a pair of jeans, but nothing else. Hard muscles defined his chest and arms, every bit as sexy as she imagined when stroking his torso last night. His stomach formed a rigid six-pack. Nick’s skin glistened in the sunlight, and all Carlie could think about was rubbing her hands all over it.
Maybe while kissing him again.
The kiss last night had been short and left her longing for more. It was satisfying to know Nick didn’t trust himself to behave if he stayed in the room, but it would have been nice to cuddle. She liked being with him.
He glanced at the bed and caught her watching him. A sexy grin lit his face as he tossed the towel down and ran his fingers through his dark hair.
“Good morning, beautiful.” The deep rumble of his voice sent chills racing down her spine.
She struggled into a sitting position, feeling pain in places she hadn’t known muscles existed. “Morning.” Her voice sounded gravely and talking flared pain throughout her neck muscles. “Not sure about the good part yet.”
Nick crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, putting his hand beneath her chin and lifting upward. Carlie tipped her head back, wondering if he would kiss her again, though quickly realized he inspected her bruises.
After a few seconds, he released her chin. “I should go finish the bastard off.”
It felt nice having him want revenge for her injuries, but that wouldn’t solve anything. “How about you do something better than that?”
“What?”
“Teach me those defenses we talked about over dinner.”
Nick nodded. “As long as you’re up to it. Maybe we should wait until you’re not so sore.”
“Moving will help ease the stiffness, as much as it doesn’t sound like fun.” She looked down at herself, remembering she only wore underwear and Nick’s t-shirt. “Ummm...maybe you could take me home so I can get fresh clothes first?”
“We should probably practice at your house anyway. The people staying downstairs wouldn’t appreciate the noise of us throwing each other around.”
Even if it was on the bed?
Warmth crept up her cheeks. Fortunately, there were so many different colors on her face, Nick probably couldn’t tell the difference. She barely knew him, yet her attraction was strong. Never before had her thoughts gone immediately to the bedroom like they did with Nick.
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that little grin all about?”
Oops. She shrugged. “It’ll be good to have you teach me.”
“Really? That’s all you were thinking about?” He licked his lips, and his eyes dipped to her chest briefly. “I was thinking how hard it’s going to be to keep my mind on training.”
Carlie knew the ‘little grin’ probably spread across her face again. “That too.”
“Good to know it’s not just me.” Nick stood up. “Why don’t you get into a hot shower and loosen your muscles? I’ll order breakfast.”
Her stomach rumbled at the mention of food and they both laughed. “I guess I’m hungry.”
“It’s been a while since dinner,” he agreed. “By the way, I sent your clothes to the laundry. They should be back soon, but I think the sweater might be beyond repair. At least you’ll have pants to wear over to your house.”
He thought of everything, it seemed. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m not normally so needy, I promise.”
Opening a drawer, Nick pulled out a gray t-shirt and pulled it over his head. Although Carlie was sad to see his muscles blocked from view, maybe it would make it easier to think about training instead of how long it had been since she spent alone time with a man—at least, a man she wanted to be close to.
He faced her. “You’re not being needy. I know you’re independent, Carlie. I’m not trying to take that from you, but I hope there’s room for another person in your life. I’d like to continue seeing you.”
“Even with all my troubles?” She hadn’t wanted to think about whether or not he changed his mind overnight.
He winked. “Danger’s my middle name. I thrive on excitement.”
She laughed again, surprised at how happy that made her feel. Maybe she could have a normal life, if she could figure out how to outsmart the assassins. “Let’s keep things a tad less exciting than last night.”
“Or at least exciting for different reasons.” A lopsided grin curved half his face.
That made her worry, actually. “Is it safe to go back to my house? What if Stephen’s waiting?” She paused, shaking her head. “Or someone else?”
“I’m not going to leave you alone. Besides, I think Stephen will stay away from us.”
She wished she felt as certain as he seemed to. “What if the people who hired him are waiting for me?”
He crossed the room and put his arm around her, squeezing gently. “I don’t want to worry you, but Stephen knows I’m the one who stopped him last night. If they decide to come after you, they’ll probably look here second.”
Carlie couldn’t stop the tremor that spread through her body. “I didn’t think of that.”
Leaning in, Nick placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. “I’m not going to let them get to you. You’re safe with me. I promise.”
Nodding, she tried to put a brave face on. “I trust you, but I am afraid. In the past, I’ve always run when they found me. Staying is pretty frightening.”
“If they come back, I’ll deal with it.” He stood and clapped his hands together. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, do you like your eggs scrambled or over easy?
”
She couldn’t help but smile. If Nick decided not to worry about the assassins, she’d have to trust he had things under control. “Scrambled would be wonderful.”
Carlie watch as he left the room. She wasn’t sure if the little blossom of hope growing in her chest was good or not. Part of the reason she never had many relationships after Ryan was because she never knew when she’d have to run. That meant dropping anyone she became attached to. Now she had the business, new friends, and something starting with Nick that felt right. When he looked at her, she was sure he felt something too.
But hope was a fragile, delicate creature. Her enemies could snatch everything away in an instant.
***
Nick ordered breakfast after Carlie went into the bathroom. He needed to call Paul, but hopefully the boss was in the air so Nick could leave a message.
A knock sounded on the door and Nick answered, accepting Carlie’s clothes and his jacket before handing the maid a tip. He walked to the bedroom, laying the clothing on the unmade bed. Carlie’s slacks and sweater actually looked okay, but his jacket was beyond salvation. Dark stains covered the sleeves. Nick hung it in the closet so it wouldn’t upset her again.
After Carlie finally turned on the shower, Nick knew he couldn’t put off the phone call any longer. He stepped into the sitting room.
The phone only rang once. “Hello?”
Damn. “Hey, boss. Checking in. I wanted to let you know Carlie didn’t say what I expected to hear last night. She explained where she came from and why she just popped in out of nowhere, however.”
“What’s her story?”
Nick quickly relayed the information about her marriage and the Prince’s subsequent murder, curious what Paul’s reaction would be. “So I don’t think there’s a reason for us to investigate her, sir.”
“That’ll be for the President to decide,” Paul barked, irritation clear in his voice. “Months I’ve spent with agents on this investigation. If it was all for nothing...”
“About that.” Nick sucked in a breath, wondering how foolhardy it was to make demands, but knowing he had to. “Stephen Chance is going to stay away from the target. I don’t want any other agents near her, ruining my chances if the President thinks we need more information.” That sounded plausible at least. Hopefully Paul bought it.
He grunted. “Stephen won’t bother her, but I also promised you wouldn’t take repercussion against him.”
The swelling and dark marks across Carlie’s face and neck turned Nick’s stomach. He couldn’t let her be abused like that again. “If your boy stays away, I’ll honor that.” He paused, struggling to control his voice and show no emotion. “But since it’s my job to make the target trust me, I’ll have to do something if he comes around again.”
“Agreed.”
That was easier than Nick thought it would be. Either Stephen wasn’t important to the organization, or the boss was pissed he didn’t obey orders.
“Stay with her for now,” Paul decided. “I’ll check out her story and speak with the committee to see what they want us to do. If she is truly a princess hunted by assassins, we may want to keep an eye on her anyway.”
“Fine. I’ll stick to the original plan until I hear differently.”
The phone went dead in his ear and Nick tossed it onto the coffee table. It made him nervous, wondering what S.A.T.O. might have in store for Carlie. If the government already knew who she was, what did they want from her? Paul seemed surprised and upset by the information. If he already knew, he was a better actor than Nick figured.
The only thing he knew for sure was his time with Carlie was limited. He tried to tell himself that was okay, that he didn’t feel a connection with her. She was a target, just like any other job.
It was sad. As good a liar as he was to everyone else in his life as a spy, Nick couldn’t lie to his own heart.
***
Carlie walked into the bedroom, wrapped in the scratchy hotel-room towel, to find her clothing on the bed. Though she tried to dress quickly, stiffness slowed her motions to a crawl. While practicing defenses sounded like a good idea, perhaps a day of rest was in order.
She threw her towel on the floor with Nick’s and smoothed her hair down before walking into the sitting room.
Nick sat on the couch. Aromas from the food cart next to him caused her stomach to grumble again. He glanced up and smiled. “Feel better?”
After picking her way carefully across the floor, Carlie sat gingerly next to him. “Actually, worse.”
Nick nodded as though he expected that all along. “We’ll put off training until tomorrow.” He grabbed a plate off the cart and handed it to her. It was loaded with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and toast. “Is this okay?”
“Perfect,” she assured him.
They ate without talking much, hungry after the eventful night. Carlie darted glances at him under the cover of eating, wondering if he changed his mind while she was in the shower. Asking him to protect her from something so huge...it felt like too much.
Nick opened a bottle of ibuprofen once they finished eating and shook out two pills, handing them to her with a new bottle of water. “These should help the pain some. I wish I could do more.”
Swallowing them, she shook her head. “You’re doing more than enough.” She wanted to ask him if he was sure about helping her, but bit her tongue. He said he wanted to, and she needed him.
Nick cleared their dishes, and then pulled a fresh icepack from his basket of supplies. He shook it before handing it to her. “Maybe we can spend today watching TV and visiting while you rest. There’s a lot I’d like to know about you.” He raised his eyebrows with another grin. “And maybe a little more kissing wouldn’t hurt your bruises too much?”
She placed the icepack across her stomach and patted the cushion beside her. The speed with which Nick sat and pulled her into his embrace made her smile despite her discomfort. “Sounds like a plan. I’m sure kissing is fine. It might even help me heal faster.”
“It might.” Nick’s lips brushed her cheek. “Can we talk, though? Something’s been bothering me all night about your restaurant.”
A tendril of dread threaded down her spine. While she believed Nick was trustworthy, questions made her nervous. “What?”
“How did you open it? I mean, you’re in hiding. There are taxes to pay, the building to lease, probably countless other things I haven’t thought about. How are you doing it?”
“Oh, that.” She snuggled against him, wondering how much detail he really wanted—probably not everything. “I have a...friend,” and ex-lover, “who put everything in his name. When the profits roll in, he’ll get a cut. I guess sort of like what you do for your restaurants, but on paper Bradley is the owner of Carlie’s Creations.”
“Makes sense.” Nick nodded, but favored her with his hawk stare for a moment. “I thought you didn’t have connections to your past, so you could stay hidden.”
She wondered why Nick had a problem with that. In truth, Bradley had been her good friend for months and progressed to a friend with benefits. Nick probably didn’t want to hear that. Though she never told Bradley about her past, he knew she hid from people who wanted to kill her. When she decided to move back to Washington, he agreed to help her open the shop.
Shrugging, she looked away. “Bradley’s my only friend, but our relationship is complicated. He’s engaged now and not allowed to be friends with strange women.” Because the idiot told his fiancée about the benefits part with Carlie. “We’re business partners. He won’t turn me in to the assassins.”
“Good, that’s what I was worried about.” Nick kissed her forehead and cuddled her to him, though his touch was gentle. “We have to do whatever we can to keep you safe.”
Carlie released a deep breath. She had to get over her nerves. Nick cared about her. That was all. His questions weren’t meant to harm her. She wished trust weren’t such an issue for her. Then again, though they had been l
overs, she hadn’t trusted Bradley with as much as she already shared with Nick. There was something special about him, and she was eager to know him better.
Making a conscious decision to release her anxiety, Carlie forced herself to relax. “Since we’re spending the day together, what kind of shows do you like to watch?”
Nick laughed. “Time for the important stuff, huh?”
Nuzzling his neck, she kissed it softly. “Well, if a man wants to make out with me, I have to make sure we’re compatible first.”
His fingers tenderly stroked her cheek. “If it means spending time with you, I’d willingly watch chick flicks. Don’t worry, my lady. We’re compatible.”
Chapter Eleven
The following morning Carlie felt a bit better. Another soak in Nick’s whirlpool tub the night before had done wonders for her strained muscles. Spending the day cuddling with him had rejuvenated her even more than that.
However, people out there still wanted to kill her. It was time to learn better defenses so no one could hurt her again.
After a quick breakfast, they headed to her house. Although she was nervous about returning, it made sense. They’d have more room and privacy to train. That knowledge didn’t stop her from feeling exposed.
Nick pulled the Porsche into the driveway, parking behind her Camry.
“How did my car get here?”
He cut the engine and shrugged. “I called a business associate to bring it over.”
“Someone from your restaurant?”
He turned to face her, a charming, lopsided grin on his face. “So full of questions? I thought you’d be happy I took care of things. I didn’t want you going back to Stephen’s to get it.”
I’m being too suspicious again. “You’re right. What I meant to say was, ‘thank you for getting my car home.’”
She opened the passenger door and climbed out. Nick had packed a bag and promised to stay a few days until they figured things out, which made her feel better. She knew he couldn’t protect her forever, but if she was going to remain in Sayle, not run, it was good to know she had some backup.
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