Military Heroes Romantic Suspense Collection

by V. R. Marks

  "Oh! You forgot the shopping bag."

  He glanced down at their empty hands. "Hmm. We didn't need it anymore. Let whoever's after you have fun with it."

  It was clearly an invitation to share, but she ignored it.

  "Let's get a quick shot for Facebook." He stopped suddenly, and raised his cell phone to snap their picture. When they looked at the result, she laughed. He'd pulled a face and looked ridiculously silly next to her strained smile. "You can't post that. We look deranged."

  "Of course I can." He pocketed the phone again. "Or I could if I had an account."

  "You don't Facebook?"

  "What can I say? I'm a throwback." He winked at her as they made their way toward the long term parking garage. "In my line of work it's not the smartest thing to broadcast every little life detail."

  "That's fair." Her palms went damp. They were headed toward the same area where she'd dumped her car earlier.

  "Rick?"

  "Almost there."

  His persistent calm steadied her.

  "Are you active on Facebook?"

  She did a double take. "No. I just IM or text with a few close friends if I need instant interaction."

  "Media packaging maintains a high security standard these days?"

  She gave him a light elbow jab. "Well, marketing does get a little edgy about new names and ideas but we haven't had a leak yet."

  Just as she relaxed a fraction, thought they might get away, his whole body tensed. He pulled her to a stop behind a large support pillar in the parking garage.

  "Wait here for me. I'm going to pull my car around."

  "No. I can't." She clutched at his arms much as the desperation clutched a cold fist around her heart. What if he didn't come back? Sure, she'd wanted him to leave back when she had a plan. Now that they were moving on his terms, she felt like a yo-yo as her confidence ebbed and flowed. "You can't leave me."

  "I'm not leaving you." His eyes were kind and sincere. "Thirty seconds, tops. But there's a team snooping around your car. If we go together they might see you –"

  "You said they won't expect me to be traveling with someone."

  "True."

  "You said together." The operative word. She would have offered better arguments if she'd been thinking clearly. As it was she knew if he walked away, she'd lose it. Right now, as her heart hammered in her chest, she'd likely turn herself in rather than go forward with the original plan he'd interrupted in the cab just hours ago. Courage gone, the only thing holding her together was him. If he stepped away, she would shatter.

  "Please."

  "Fine. But don't blame me if we wind up in a car chase. And play along."

  "I promise."

  "Ready?"

  She nodded.

  He kissed her. Not like he'd done for the store cameras. This time his lips locked with hers, full of heat and promise. His fingers speared into her hair, holding her face at the perfect angle, taking her deeper. She melted under his sensual advance, her lips parted and desire rocketed through her. His tongue stroked hers and she tasted mint and man. Sliding her hands into his open jacket and cruising her fingers over his sculpted chest, she moaned. Her enemies might well be closing in, but she didn't care. The world itself could be ending and she would happily ride it out if he'd just keep kissing her.

  "Hang on," he said, breaking the kiss.

  Before she could adjust to what felt like another unfair loss, he pulled her away from the pillar and into quick swing dance move. Breathless, she smiled at him, her hair flying wild as she spun back into his arm. He wrapped her in a hug and suddenly boosted her up and over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

  She barely hung on to her purse and her laughter bounced like a rubber ball off the concrete structure as he turned another circle, making her dizzy.

  Parking lights flashed, and she was on her feet for just a moment before he tucked her safely into the passenger seat.

  When he was behind the wheel he beamed at her. "Well done! They blew us off."

  The rush of happiness fizzled and she felt like she was riding a hellish roller coaster designed just to torture her. One moment she was terrified, the next exhilarated, only to be dumped into a spiral of disappointment. She wasn't sure how a man kissed like that when it was all business.

  "Now we just have to hope they aren't watching the exits."

  Of course they had to hope. They weren't out of the proverbial woods yet. She should know that. She would know that if she could think straight. Fear, desire, and unrelenting tension were a volatile mix in her bloodstream. She struggled to get a good deep breath and find her balance. "What do you want me to do?"

  He glanced over. "Just sit there and be gorgeous."

  She nearly swore.

  He pulled into the shortest exit line and shifted, trying to get his wallet and keep his seatbelt on. "I've got it." She pulled her purse onto her lap and dug around for her wallet while he handed over the ticket. The price appeared on the display and she handed him cash.

  "Not very long term," the clerk in the booth said.

  "Our plans changed. My uncle Oscar had a stroke."

  "Sorry to hear that."

  Nicole prayed the gate would lift faster as Rick dropped the change into the cup holder.

  They were through. Hope gave her emotions a boost, but she was afraid of the next, inevitable drop. "What now?"

  "Now we find a place to catch our breath."

  Rick reached for her hand, but she turned on the radio instead. She didn't want more fake touches right now, no matter how reassuring. If the immediate danger was gone, she wanted to enjoy some logical, coherent thinking.

  "Maybe they'll give an update on the search for me."

  After a curious glance, he put his hand on the steering wheel. "Good thinking."

  That's what she was aiming for. "Did you have something in mind for tonight?"

  "Do you?" He wiggled his brows.

  If she didn't know better she'd think he was flirting. "Seriously."

  "Seriously. When you left the fire, what was your plan? You led them to the airport, what did you want them to think?"

  "That I'd been kidnapped. At least in the short term. That's why I went in to buy a ticket, knowing they'd eventually see that footage too and ask more questions."

  She could feel him mulling that over. They'd just met, she barely knew him, and still she knew he was fitting pieces together, looking for a way to use that to their advantage.

  "Is there a particular agency you wanted to believe that scenario? Or a particular perp you hoped they would question?"

  She couldn't stop the smile, but she kept her gaze on the road ahead. "Your interrogation technique is friendly, I'll give you that."

  "Give me something more, Nicole."

  The heat underscoring that reply rippled over her skin. He drew her as unerringly as a moth to flame and she stared at him, soaking up his strong profile.

  "More?"

  He sighed, clearly exasperated. "More. Give me information, background, trust. Hell, give me anything. If it were just me, I'd drive all night and put as much distance as possible between me and the local news."

  "But you have something to do in the morning."

  "Yeah. And you have me so twisted up I'm thinking of skipping it."

  She twisted him up? That shouldn't delight her as much as it did.

  "I can't skip it. Won't. But that means staying in town. A move that's obviously risky for you."

  "You too, now that you're with me."

  He shrugged a shoulder as if any risk to him wasn't worth mentioning. "Why the train station?"

  "Pardon?"

  "Don't play dumb," he snapped. "You had a plan. The cabbie at the airport – the first time – he mentioned the train station."

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  "I was going to ask a friend for a favor."

  "To hide you or get you on a train?"

  "Both if necessary."

  "That'
s likely burned now. Or will be shortly."

  "As soon as the authorities track down the cabbie."

  "Yup."

  "Should I warn my friend?"

  "Does he know anything about why you might run away?"

  "Nothing at all. I was taking pictures for him. He has an extensive personal collection of model trains."

  Thinking about it now, a chill slid down her spine. Most of those pictures were stored on the cloud, but she'd edited a few on her work computer during lunch. If whoever hacked her computer was after her, rather than Allie, the train station stash might very well be compromised. Good grief she was in a mess.

  "Was that some line to get you into his apartment?"

  "Well, it worked." She was startled, and more than a little amused by the rigid set of his shoulders. "Are you jealous?"

  "Yeah, I am." He looked at her, a sheepish grin on his lips. "How weird is that?"

  "Pretty weird," she teased. "You can relax. Arnold is almost eighty, still handsome as the devil though. The pictures were for his insurance company."

  "Uh-huh. What about after that?"

  She knew what he was asking and she didn't want to answer. He could get her to her next destination, had promised to do so. The part of her that still hoped they could go their separate ways at that point was growing smaller with every moment she remained in his presence. Still, it wasn't fair to drag a good man into her bad situation.

  "After the train station depended on which train was leaving first."

  "So you've planted stashes both north and south."

  "H-how can you know that?"

  "It's not a big leap. You're smart, methodical, and it seems you've had time to think things through. You staged a kidnapping, knowing it wouldn't hold up long, but you didn't care because you only needed a short head start."

  She folded her arms. "You're right. Irritating," she added, "but right."

  "The good news is I'm quicker on the uptake than the feds."

  "Feds? How did you leap to that conclusion?"

  "Criminals dress well, but the subdued suits around your car screamed federal agent. They really don't know how to blend in."

  She laughed, a moment made richer when he joined in. Her emotions were on the upswing, even though they had nowhere to spend the night.

  "Which begs the question about why federal agents are the first on scene."

  And again with the diving emotions and disappointment. She should just throw her arms in the air and scream like she was riding Space Mountain in Disneyland. Instead, she swiveled in her seat. "How do you do that? How do you turn it off and on like a light switch?"

  "What?"

  "One minute you're kissing me senseless and the next you're completely analytic."

  Minutes, three long minutes according to the clock, went by with no answer. She should apologize for being emotional, for not understanding the game, but she couldn't squeeze the words past the hard lump in her throat.

  "I'm sorry." Rick's voice echoed the phrase circling through her mind. "Playing the happy couple seemed the safest bet." His voice was cool, clinical. "I used –"

  "I get it," she interrupted. She'd scream if he she had to listen to an explanation of how he used her obvious attraction to him. "I get it," she repeated, quieter. "The circumstances and situation are just crazy. I'm sorry I snapped at you."

  "It's understandable."

  She didn't want his understanding. Irked with this new, contrary side of herself, she got them back on topic. "Since I'm out of near to town options, what's your plan?"

  "A cut-rate motel with outside entrances is our best bet. If I check in alone, there's a chance we can get through the night."

  "That sounds safer and warmer than sleeping in the car."

  He slanted a look at her.

  "What?"

  "There is one place they'd never look. No cameras, complete privacy. We would definitely not be disturbed."

  "That sounds better. What's the catch?"

  "Do you have anything against cemeteries?"

  Of all the things he might have said, that was completely unexpected. "You're kidding."

  "No. There's a chapel at one nearby that's always unlocked."

  "You know this how?"

  "I had family in this area."

  Had? He looked relaxed, but his voice was tight with emotion. Questions raced through her head. "Will you be okay if we stay there?"

  "Honestly, I'd feel better than getting stuck in a more public area."

  "You're the expert. Let's do it your way."

  With a nod it was settled and they were on their way.

  Chapter 5

  Rick couldn't believe he was doing this, but they needed a few hours undisturbed. He needed to put these pieces together. Not just the case he'd been sent to work out, but what the woman was doing to his senses.

  He could have coached her into that scene at the garage, he didn't have to kiss her senseless as she'd put it. She'd been so worried, so tense, and he'd given in to the temptation. Along with a curiosity about her that had plagued him since he'd started tailing her.

  She was brave and stronger than she thought and she'd held steady during tonight's traumatic events despite her fear. As he turned into the cemetery where his wife was buried, he was about to find out just how much bravery he had left inside.

  He drove down the road, his headlights cutting a narrow path through the heavy darkness. Tall trees along the lane made a canopy above them, blotting out any light from the moon. He turned at the sign, though he didn't need the direction. This was a route he knew by heart, having walked it every time he was home on leave since getting word his wife had died in a car accident.

  He parked to the side of the chapel building and doused the headlights. "Give me a second to get the flashlight out of the trunk." And change the license plate, but she didn't need to know that. Every RC Investigations car had a kit for times like this. He pulled back the lining and withdrew the optional plate. It wouldn't hold up for long if they got stopped, but he felt it was necessary in case the current plate had been noted at the airport.

  Popping the batteries into the lantern from the safety kit, he went around and opened Nicole's door. "Ready?"

  "If you are."

  "Sure." The air was still, but cold, or maybe it just felt colder since they weren't running from anything right now.

  His legs felt leaden and moved only because they knew the way. The heavy feeling didn't fade once they were inside, though the air was warmer and the scent of lemon oil and wax offered a familiar comfort.

  "I recommend up front. It will be warmer and less of a draft."

  She murmured her agreement and walked up the short aisle.

  He paused, noting the changes since his last visit. There was a fresh bouquet of flowers on the stone floor in front of the altar and someone had installed lighting that glowed softly from sconces on either side.

  He cut across to a utility closet and used the lantern to find what he was looking for, hoping the supplies were still there. Finding the pillow and blanket tucked away, he pulled them out and handed both to Nicole.

  "Bedding? In a chapel?" The incredulity was clear enough in her voice.

  He cleared the lump out of his throat. "It's better than the hard floor. The priest who maintains the chapel…" His blood felt like molasses slogging through his veins. This was a mistake, but he was too tired and it was too late to find an alternative now. "He, ah, started leaving them for me a few years back."

  "Thoughtful."

  "Yeah. Get comfortable and try to sleep. We'll leave early, before the groundskeepers and caretakers come in."

  "You're sure no one will find us?"

  "We're as safe as we can be tonight. I'll check the doors and keep watch." He stepped back before he touched her again. "Sleep well, Nicole."

  He didn't think there was much chance they'd be discovered, much less disturbed here, but he refused to take chances. Outside, he gathered dry leaves and sma
ll stones to make sound traps at both doors.

  With nothing left to do, he settled near the main door. Pushing his backpack under his head for a pillow, he removed the pistol from his back and tucked it by his hip.

  Sleep didn't come easy, he didn't expect it to. The energy was different with Nicole in the chapel, a place that had been his private retreat for so many years. It was here that he could face his guilt head on, knowing he'd taken his wife and their future for granted. His visits here were a penance of sorts. The only way he knew to honor a woman who'd given him nothing but love and grace only to be snatched out of his grasp when her car had spun out on an icy bridge one winter while he'd been on some mission he couldn't even recall now.

  Her parents had never forgiven him for letting her die alone in a sterile ICU. He'd taken the verbal beat down like the stoic, capable soldier he was, understanding the grief behind the terrible words.

  He'd been shut out of the funeral services, told in no uncertain terms that his eleven short months as a husband didn't give him any say in the matter. The photos of the accident scene were his only connection to the tragedy. The only way to comprehend the full scope of his loss.

  As a spectator, he understood how right they'd been and vowed never to repeat such a dreadful mistake. His career, the inevitable sacrifices involved, wasn't conducive to real relationships.

  Whispering an apology into the cold air, he turned his thoughts to the case. Events up until the fire were pretty cut and dried. And he expected tomorrow's meeting at the bank to confirm the general consensus that RC Investigations' most recent client had duped them somehow.

  It seemed that was as far as his thoughts would go without returning to Nicole. Nothing they knew tied her to the trouble at the pharmaceutical company. The clean background and the suits crawling over her car raised all kinds of red flags. He never really believed she was an identity thief, but he wasn't sure he wanted to go head to head with WITSEC. Federal marshals were a tough, determined breed.

  He pulled out his phone and sent an email to Eva, detailing the last couple of hours and asking her to see what she could find using what they already had on Nicole. The woman was a computer genius and without the boss' connections would probably be doing time for hacking. He wished he'd thought to get a fingerprint while he was tailing Nicole. There was no way to do it now without completely destroying the paper thin trust she'd extended.