by V. R. Marks
He stared at her for a long moment after she set the pizza on the counter to cool. "Be right back," he said, turning in the direction of the bedrooms.
Allie decided it was best not to try and figure out his prickly mood. Hoping the meal would settle him a bit, she looked for the right bottle of wine. She was impressed by the selection and Eva's obvious expertise. Using a bottle opener gadget lovers would envy, she opened the wine and let it breathe while she sliced the pizza.
When Ross still hadn't appeared, she served herself and headed for the table.
"Impatient as ever, I see," Ross said with a smile.
Allie tried, but she couldn't return the smile. She didn't remember him being quite so moody - not without a good reason anyway. Actually, he'd only ever been moody when something out of the norm of his dysfunctional home life had happened. The hair on her neck rippled with dread. What could be troubling him other than her situation?
Exasperated with herself, she made a deliberate study of the wine in her glass. When would she be nice to herself and drop this 'compare and contrast Ross then versus now' routine?
"Better get it while it's hot," she said when she'd finally quashed the urge to prepare his plate for him. They weren't playing house here and they definitely were not looking to rekindle anything more than a friendship. He'd said that much himself after she'd thrown herself at him in the window seat.
She checked her watch. Had that only been a few hours ago?
"You cleaned up, figured it was only fair if I did the same."
She nodded. He looked good in a cobalt polo shirt that hugged his biceps and the worn jeans riding low on his hips. The scruffy beard shadowing his jaw only made him more appealing. She told herself she was most relieved he'd changed out of the bloodstained shirt, but the parts of her tingling with anticipation weren't convinced.
To keep herself from taking a bite out of him, she bit into her pizza. For a few moments, it was simple bliss to enjoy the hearty flavors and quiet company.
"You were right," she said after another bite. "Food helps."
"The wine can't hurt either." He smiled, raising his bottle of beer.
She raised her glass in kind. "Eva has excellent taste."
"You'd know better than me."
Somehow, she thought he knew pretty well. About Eva, about wine, about a lot of things he wasn't discussing with her. "What did your security check show?"
"No one ventured inside the property line." He took another long pull on his beer. Setting the bottle on the table, he seemed to forget the pizza as he toyed with the bottle pensively.
The third time the label came around, she cleared her throat. "Any word on my aunt?"
"She's still safe. As far as onboard security is concerned it's a prank. They ran a full sweep and it seems only the message - not the messenger is on board."
"Did they mention how the message was delivered? A death threat can't fall from the sky, not even that close to Sicily."
He chuckled. "According to Cochran, Ruth was only perturbed at the disruption. She found the note: an old style cut and paste sort of thing in her shopping bag after an excursion."
"But why bother the sheriff?" Ross pushed away from the table and lurched to his feet, making her want to snatch back the question. "Ross?"
"Because the note mentioned you specifically."
The pizza turned into an icy lump in her stomach. "They threatened Aunt Ruth, hoping she'd convince me to give up the data?"
"Smart as ever, I see."
"Not about this. I'm out of my league with this. I contacted an attorney, but they have yet to acknowledge my inquiry."
"You were planning to do the official whistleblower thing?"
She sighed, poking at the black olives on her pizza slice. "The analysis is absolutely heinous, Ross. It goes beyond cold to downright cruel."
"This attorney..."
"Not my dad," she answered the question he clearly didn't want to ask. "If they got to Ruth then they obviously hacked Nicole's computer. No one else at the company knew about Ruth's vacation. The long reach is startling."
"Some big corporations have financials and assets that would intimidate an octopus."
She nodded. "It shouldn't surprise me. I've seen the emails. If Bradley had that much pull I shouldn't be surprised his superiors would find a way to harass my aunt."
"You're getting mad."
"Damn straight." She caught the grin he tried to hide behind his beer. "What do you find so funny?"
His eyes danced with humor. "Thinking it's about time. Mad suits you."
"Coming after me is bad, but understandable. I actually stole something, even if it's only proof the company's behavior is despicable. Aunt Ruth and Nicole are completely innocent in all of this." She pushed to her feet, dinner forgotten. "What can I do?"
"First of all it's 'we'."
That made her smile. "Good. What can we do to get this over?"
"Finish dinner first."
"I'm serious," she said, but she settled into the chair once more. When he gave her a pointed look, she took another nibble from her pizza slice, though her appetite was long gone. "You know, the stupid note is kind of a relief on one count."
Ross frowned, his dark brown eyes contemplative. "How so?"
"It means someone still needs the information I have."
"Does give us leverage." Ross tipped back his beer, then gave her another long look. "I sent an update to Rick. If your friend is in trouble, he'll take care of it."
Allie managed a weak nod. "Thanks. I hate the idea of anyone getting hurt because I made a rash decision."
"You had solid, intelligent reasons for what you did. Rick's next report better shed some light on this. It's not going at all like I'd expect."
"You have expectations about this kind of situation?"
His hand was warm when laid it on hers. "In my line of work, expectations are key, even when things don't go as planned. Anticipating the other guy's move and taking precautions mean the bad guys get caught and the case wraps up faster."
"I could do with wrapping this up faster."
"We'll get there. For tonight, we stay put. The systems are armed and we're as safe as I can make us. Rick should have news for us soon. Eva too."
"And tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow we'll make a plan based on the new intel."
Intel. The term sounded so official and proactive. The devious expression on his face and knowing him as she did, the combination gave her hope. He was on her side. She had an ally she could count on at last. "Thanks, Ross." She struggled, searching for better words. "I've felt so alone since - well that doesn't matter. Please know that I appreciate your expertise and friendship here and now."
She looked into his eyes, waiting for him to say anything, hoping for something she was half afraid to define. His gaze slid away from hers, and his silence said too much as he cleared the table. He'd been her best friend and while she'd taken a chance with the kiss earlier, taking a chance on sharing the intense emotions building inside her frightened her more.
"Ross," she started, at the same time he said her name.
"Go ahead," she urged him to continue. Please let us be on the same page here. She couldn't be the only one feeling this connection and uncertainty because of how they'd parted after high school.
She hoped she wasn't the only one who wanted to do something about it. Something that started with another long, drugging kiss and ended with a worthy distraction to keep them busy until the new intel arrived.
Ross cleared his throat. "I think you should get some rest. Take the bed and I'll sleep out here on the couch."
Okay. Looked like she was as alone with her feelings as ever before. "It's your house. Take the bed. I'm too wired to sleep anyway."
"That's no problem." He reached into the refrigerator for another beer. "I was headed to the office to research a couple things. Watch television or whatever." He popped off the top and flipped it into the trash.
&n
bsp; "Two points."
"Every time."
Deciding another drink was the best solution under the awkward circumstances, she refilled her wine glass.
"You're sure we're safe?" She winced at the sound of the lame question, but it let her look at him another moment. Taking a gulp of wine, she wondered if her desperation and desire could be any more obvious to a man trained to observe and assess.
"Guaranteed."
She nodded, wishing things could be different. He was right to take himself out of her sight, out of her reach. Still, a brief fantasy ran through her mind, a quick image of what life could be if they were a couple.
In the evenings, she'd lean against that broad chest and weave her fingers through his thick, dark hair. She'd lay a kiss on his talented mouth that would tease and tempt and guarantee he'd be quick about wrapping up any end of the day details so he could meet her in bed.
She stopped herself right there, before all her pent up craving had her jumping him again.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Sorry, my mind wandered. Result of the wine."
"Uh-huh." His dark eyes studied her too intently. He'd never been stupid.
"Thanks for taking care of the face." She pointed to her cheek. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Sweet dreams, Allie."
"You too." She retreated to the bedroom, intending to tuck herself in tight and stay put until morning. Because sweet wasn't on the dreaming agenda. If she managed to fall asleep, she would dream. Of him. The way she felt right now, she knew those subconscious scenes would be a far cry from sweet. At least asleep she wouldn't embarrass them both by trying to act on her fantasy. When the piece of her heart that still loved him twinged with that all-too-familiar ache, she knew her retreat was the smartest decision for both of them.
* * *
After the restless night on the couch, plagued by dreams of holding Allie in his arms, he wasn't surprised that the computer's soft chime signaling the arrival of new email brought him fully awake. He'd turned the volume up and slept lightly, hoping for news from Rick. At least now he had a good reason to be awake before dawn.
Everything had been quiet through the night, but he'd expected nothing less after both Eva and the pair of deputies sent by Cochran to scour the area turned up nothing but a candy bar wrapper where the sniper had most likely been waiting.
Ross knew that wrapper might be as good as a calling card in the shady underworld of hit men, but it would be useless in a court of law. Frustrated, personally and with the case, he went to start coffee before he headed back to the office and the email.
When he settled at his desk and clicked the icon, he saw the expected update from Rick.
"You have a problem," the message began. Ross sighed as he scrolled through the message. Of course he had a problem. He had several problems.
"Identification is assumed, based on location of the body. Extensive damage to face and hands means official ID is pending."
Ross swore and kept reading, coming to the same conclusions Rick had outlined.
"Will have lobby security report by mid-morning. Busy night. The friend is safe after fire in building. Interview pending."
Damn. A fire? This crew aimed at Allie wasn't taking any chances. Which only made him wonder about the gang bangers. That piece of this puzzle felt sloppy. A risky move as strategy went. Gangs weren't loyal to anyone but themselves. Aside from that, Ross couldn't help wondering how a rich executive had found them, much less convinced them to cooperate.
Ross sent a reply, providing the number of Allie's disposable cell phone and requesting text updates. He deleted the message, but kept the email program open. Back in the kitchen, he filled a mug with coffee and downed half of it before setting it aside. By the time he showered and dressed it would be light enough outside to look for yesterday's bullet.
But his plan hit a speed bump when he returned to the kitchen to find Allie making breakfast. It was too domestic to be real. Catching sight of her bare feet, his eyes locked on the hot pink polish on her toes. A bolt of lust ripped through him like lightning, setting all of his nerves on high alert.
Hot pink toenails? He really was losing his perspective if that set him off.
She looked happy and relaxed which annoyed him on principle. He counted the fading dark circles under her eyes as a personal victory, though he was more than a little jealous she'd managed a decent night's sleep.
"I'm, uh..." He tried to focus on her face in general, but her bright smile didn't make anything easier. He topped off his coffee and tried again. "I'm heading out. Need to recover that bullet."
"Want some help?"
"No," he said too quickly. "I'd like you to stay here and look at some pictures Eva sent in." After reading Rick's email, he'd opened the message from Eva, complete with attachments of mug shots. "The computer is ready whenever you are."
"Have some breakfast first. Please?"
How was a man supposed to keep his distance - or his sanity - when she looked at him like that? He had to be smart here, but his body would be just as happy if he'd give in to the urge to be stupid.
He wasn't a randy kid anymore, he had better sense and well-honed instincts as an adult. Too bad they'd both gone AWOL the minute Allie had reappeared in his life.
"More gang bangers?"
"Huh?"
"The pictures from Eva," she clarified.
"Oh. Yeah. But she's hoping you'll recognize someone in the mix and we can put a name with a face. Or two."
"I'm not likely to ever forget the guy from the treadmill incident."
Ross smiled at her term for that nasty moment in her life. "I used to envy your memory." Once the words were out, he wanted to snatch them back. Between his lack of sleep and his lusty reactions to things like toe nail polish, he knew memories good and bad should be avoided at all costs.
"That did make some things easier," Allie said with a grin as she scooped eggs onto a plate and added four thick slices of bacon. "Biscuits will be out in a minute."
"You have been busy."
"You too, it sounds like."
He accepted the offered plate though he knew sticking close was a bad idea. Truth was the food smelled too good to ignore. "Reminds me of those days we'd come back to the Rooster during hunting season."
What was wrong with him? He'd been avoiding a trek down the mine field that was their memory lane since he'd had to reveal himself to her back at her aunt's house.
"Aunt Ruth was convinced you had a hollow leg the way you inhaled all that food."
Ross bit into a strip of bacon and shoveled some eggs in after it to keep from replying. He should feel relieved that she was blatantly avoiding the topic he'd cracked open, but the annoyance spread like poison ivy, making him itchy and grumpy. Leave it alone, he chanted in his head. Too late. Overtired, the long-buried despair and temper broke loose and charged to the surface.
"Why the hell didn't you ever write to me?" He felt his face heating with embarrassment and took a little too much satisfaction when she dropped the pan of biscuits on the floor. Still, he repeated the question. She owed him an answer.
The baking sheet hit the sink with a violent crash. "How dare you," she hissed at him. "I wrote you letters every day, waiting for an address to send them to."
Bull. Though her body language implied she believed it, he knew it wasn't true. Couldn't be true. He shook his head. "Impressive. You must have practiced that line a long time."
"No. I practiced others."
"Really?" Breakfast forgotten, he watched her sweep up the crumbs. "Share a few?"
"I forgive you." She filled the dustpan. "Let's start over." Dumped it into the trash. "Today matters more than yesterday." Her hands were steady as she clipped the dustpan back to the broom handle, but her eyes glittered with unshed tears when she finally met his gaze. "I still love you."
"What?" Her voice had cracked on that last one. His own throat was clogged with his stupid heart. "What did you say?"
/> "Nothing important. Guess I'm out of practice." She turned, putting the broom away. "I'll leave the rest of the cleaning to you," she said, and walked out of the kitchen.
"Wait, Allie! That makes no sense. I wrote to you every week from basic."
"Of course you did." She spun on her heel to face him, anger radiating from every taut line of her body. "And every week after, I'm sure. Give it up, Ross, I'm not a gullible, lovesick teenager anymore." Her lips pressed to a thin line, she looked up at the ceiling. "What's done is done. I eventually got past the hurt and got over you."
She was lying. She had to be. There wasn't any other possible explanation than the one he'd clung to with righteous indignation for all these years.
Was there?
He shook it off. Couldn't be. Her parents never liked his home address, but they'd come around once it was obvious he wasn't going anywhere. Her dad had even guided him through the recruiting process when he wanted to join the Army. And not just to get him away from Allie. Ross realized the Army had been his only hope for a real career.
He remembered explaining all of the logic and reasoning to Allie. He'd basked in her encouragement and understanding; such a contrast from the disinterest and worse from his own family.
She'd known he would write to her. She was the only person he wanted to stay in touch with and she'd sealed her promise to write back with a kiss that carried him through those first couple of weeks.
The phrases she claimed to have practiced haunted him. Why would he need forgiveness? He was the injured party here. He was the one who came home on leave to find everyone he cared about gone. Allie had moved to college, his dad had been evicted, even Aunt Ruth had given him the cold shoulder when she'd served his eggs, bacon and biscuits that morning.
He looked at the mess he'd made of Allie's generous breakfast and thought through the whole argument once more. She had to be lying.