“And I’m a problem.” Again, no emotion. She merely stated a fact. Joseph approved of the strong woman she had grown into. Em cleared her throat. Joseph grabbed a bottle of water from the cup holder and handed it to her. “Was the guy in the bar part of this?” That wanna-be Dom? Too fucking stupid. “No, I don’t think so. The man at the bar seemed to think you were a submissive without a Dom. Stupid ass-wipe. If you’re wearing a collar, you’re already owned.”
“What? A collar? You mean my choker? That’s what caused him to be such an ass?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you know that, the collar thing?”
“Been around that block more than once.”
“Are you into that? Are you one of those Doms? Like those books that all the nurses were talking about? What was the name? Shades of something?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Not going there with you—ever. “We need to focus on critical issues.” His clipped reply was probably harsher than it should have been. Damn. He wasn’t good at this conversation thing. But he had to admit the majority of the people he had one-on-one contact with were dead within minutes of meeting him. His knife skillfully silenced any opportunities for casual chit-chat. Yeah, not much chance of conversation with a corps.
She took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay. Isn’t the Morales Cartel the one responsible for the mass murders along the Mexican border and the hit squads killing border patrol agents?”
He nodded, his eyes scanning the rear view mirror. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
“So it wasn’t law enforcement who called the hotel was it?” He looked down. Her hand lay in his comfortably. His thumb stroked circles over the back of her hand. Damn, how long had he been doing that?
Her question…“Ahh…no, as far as I know, all law enforcement agencies have been given a cease and desist order in connection to you.” He looked over and shrugged. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for a while, Em.”
She closed her eyes and sighed, and Joseph watched her battle fatigue. She was crashing, no doubt the adrenalin pushes of the day waning now that she was safe. He had experienced the same exhaustion too many times to count. She wouldn’t last long. She couldn’t quite keep her eyes open.
“I think it is the other way around Joey, I’m not going to let you go. You couldn’t get rid of me now if you tried.”
Joseph chuckled. He lifted the center arm rest and patted his thigh. “Lay down. You’re exhausted.”
“Hmmm…I would love to, but before I do, is there a woman that’s going to kick my ass for using you like a pillow?”
He smirked when he looked over at her. “No. Half of the world is terrified of me. The other half is blissfully ignorant.”
Ember took off her boots and curled up on the seat putting her head on his thigh. She snuggled closer to him resting her hand on his leg near his knee.
“I’ve never been afraid of you, Joey.”
He reached down and ran his fingers gently through her silky black curls. “I know, Em. I know.”
The powerful car effortlessly put distance between them and the last place she’d been seen. Her silky smooth curls molded around his fingers. Mindlessly he ran his fingers through her hair while she slept. The dashboard lights illuminated her face. Her thick and extraordinarily long lashes rested on her high cheekbones. Darkness hid the freckles that dusted over her nose. She hated them. He didn’t. Her full luscious lips parted as she slept. Angelina Jolie, you’ve got nothing on these lips. He ran his thumb over the pulse steadily throbbing in her neck. It had been almost sixteen years since he’d held her. It had been a simpler time, when he’d had dreams and a shot at a future. It seemed like forever.
Few cars shared the road and the lack of an adversary allowed his mind to wander. His finger traced the collar on her throat. He knew exactly what the leather signified. That she didn’t spoke volumes about her. Hell, her body may have matured, but Em still reminded him of the sweet girl he knew so many years ago.
The miles and hours slipped away. During the night, she’d tossed and turned during the drive. Now she lay on her back with her head on his leg. He knew the second she woke. Her breathing changed. Her body tensed slightly. She relaxed then smiled without opening her eyes. Lifting her hand, she stroked his arm. “God, you feel so good, Joey.”
He chuckled and squeezed her shoulder. “We’re approaching a rest stop. Need to freshen up?” She nodded and sat up, stretching her arms and rolling her neck.
“Sorry the accommodations weren’t better.”
She laughed and slid towards him kissing his cheek. “My compliments to the management. That was the best rest I’ve had in years.”
She wormed her way next to him, scooting against his wounds. He lifted his arm and she snuggled into the crook before she put her head on his shoulder.
Okay, this closeness? This needed to stop, this snuggling thing she had going on. The sudden lovey-dovey shit could be damn easy to get used to. Ignore the warmth. Ignore the perfect way she fits next to you. This can never happen. Ember deserved better than he could give her. He cleared his throat. Time to get back on course. “We’ll get some breakfast in Sioux Falls before we turn onto I-90 heading west. The safe-house is another twelve to fourteen hours away.”
“Don’t you need to get some sleep?”
“The work I do has provided me with vast experience in dealing with very little sleep. When we get to the cabin, I’ll let you stand guard while I hibernate for a day or two.”
Joseph exited the highway into a rest stop and parked. Ember pulled her satchel into the front seat and opened the zipped pouch inside. Pulling out a small silver capsule, she pushed it at him. “Here, you take that, I don’t want it. I don’t want to know what’s on it and I don’t want to be associated with it.”
He nodded and got out of the car putting the flash drive in his front pocket of his slacks. He stretched, careful not to wince. “Too late, you’re already associated with it, but I’ll take care of it until we can upload it to a secure server.”
Ember cocked her head looking out the open door as she pulled on her boots. “Okay, you’ve got all day to explain that secure server comment, but right now I’m heading to the ladies' room.”
Joseph walked with her into the building. He used the facilities and splashed his face with cold water hoping to reduce his growing temperature. Sitting outside in the early morning sunshine, he waited for her. The muscle spasms, shaking and even the fever he was nursing remained manageable. He suspected by tomorrow he would be in a world of hurt, but by then they would be at his cabin. She exited wearing faded jeans and knee high boots instead of the mini skirt. Her curves were sensational and he wanted nothing more than to peel the skin-tight denim off her body. Ahh…just fuck me now. I’m so screwed. A groan rumbled in his chest. At her questioning look he admitted, “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I was just thinking the same thing about you, Joey.”
Moving away from her before his body could betray were his mind had taken him, he responded, “I’d never live it down if my brothers heard you say I’m a beautiful woman.”
“What? No, ugh, you know what I meant. You’re a total stud muffin. You always have been. Please don’t tell me the King brothers are still maneuvering for the most macho award?”
He shook his head as he got in the car. “No, not really, but there’s a definite pecking order. Justin is a businessman. He owns six very successful restaurants. He’s the only one of us who’s never been associated with Guardian Security. We no longer fight over who is most macho because we all agree. Justin lost hands down.”
She laughed as he programmed the GPS for the nearest restaurant and pulled onto the interstate. “So you work for Guardian too?” He threw a glance her way before he nodded.
Ember slid closer to him once again forcing his arm up so she could snuggle next to him. Her body, her scent, her sexy voice—God, w
hat a fucking distraction. She placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed slightly. “What do you do for Guardian? Your mom said you worked overseas.”
He didn’t respond. What the hell was he supposed to say? Instead, he pulled off the interstate and motioned towards a small restaurant. “Breakfast.”
She crinkled her nose and erupted in a throaty chuckle. “Stop ignoring the question. What do you do?”
Oh, nothing much, I kill evil mother fuckers who deserve to die. “I have assignments abroad.” Congratulations, it wasn’t a lie.
“So you work for Guardian overseas doing what?”
He stopped the car, put it in park and turned his head towards her. He didn’t move his body more than necessary. “I eliminate security concerns. Stop bad situations from getting worse.” Yep, with practice he could actually hold a conversation.
She smiled at him, “Is this what you pictured when you joined the Marine Corps?”
He leaned back gingerly on the door and leveled a very pointed stare at her. “We had a very naive view of the world back then, Em. Nothing about what I do is that innocent. I perform a necessary function, without which hundreds if not thousands of innocent people would perish.”
He watched for her reaction. Her brow furrowed as her head cocked. “What could you possibly do that would stop that much suffering?”
“My job.”
Chapter Six
Joseph dissected the dining room, a habit he couldn’t stop after years of living on the edge of society. The waitress served them coffee, took their order and left while he determined the possible threats.
Ember leaned across the table and placed a hand on his. She lowered her voice to a whisper, “Is there anyone here we need to worry about?”
He nodded and drew his eyes to hers. “Two men, seated separately—one at the entrance, the other at near the bathrooms. Based on the number of cars parked outside, and accounting for the staff and patrons grouped into clusters, they could be together. They seem to want to give the appearance they aren’t.”
She never looked away from him and calmly asked, “What are we going to do?”
Brave girl. He shook his head and leaned forward towards her. “We are going to eat breakfast and push on. If they’re looking for you, they won’t know you’re with me. Hopefully, they’re not aware you’ve changed your looks.”
Time to change the subject. No need someone hearing something they shouldn’t. “So tell me how your Aunt Caroline is doing.” His field of vision held both of the suspicious men.
“Ahhh well…she died four years ago. It was a sudden, massive, myocardial infarction that irreparably devastated the heart muscle. There was no chance of survival.”
“God, I’m sorry. I don’t remember anyone telling me that.” Damn it King, you really do suck at small talk.
She shrugged. “Death is part of life. Nobody has tomorrow guaranteed.”
“I take it by the terminology you used that you did go to medical school?” He covered her hand with his and once again stroked the top of it with his thumb. And, no, thank you, I don’t want to know why I feel the need to do that.
“Went to, graduated from and currently practice emergency medicine. Or at least I did until yesterday.”
Reality. He could deal with reality. “I can get someone at Guardian to make a call and get you a leave of absence if needed.”
She shook her head. “Nah, that won’t be necessary. I just resigned my position. I’d reached a point where I wanted a change. I planned to take the next year off. I had the foolish notion I wanted to travel the country and see all the sites. While I was soaking in the Americana experience, I was going to look for a smaller hospital, one where I could actually have a life, you know? Outside of work, I mean. I was supposed to drive away today on my long anticipated hiatus.”
Joseph kept silent until the approaching waitress deposited their breakfast plates, refilled their coffee and left. “Do you still enjoy medicine?”
Ember cut the blueberry pancakes and swirled them in the maple syrup she had pooled on the plate. With the fork halfway to her mouth, she paused before she smiled radiantly.
God, she was amazing.
“Absolutely. I love what I do, but the way I was doing it was draining my energy, my essence. I felt almost…I don’t know how to explain it, but I felt dead inside. It’s hard to put out there because I don’t want to be a complainer. But when you’re good at something, sometimes, you allow people to put you in a position that keeps taking that skill from you until burn out. Believe it or not, it’s human nature. Well, if not human nature, it’s at least my nature. I was asked to accept more responsibility, work longer hours and take on additional shifts.” She stuffed the pancakes in her mouth and chewed for a while before she continued. “All of which I did without complaint. That left me with almost no time to figure out who I was or what I wanted. I floated, doing exactly what people expected of me. I was content or at least ignored my dissatisfaction until I saw a way out. The friends I made in college are all married. They have families and their lives are filled with children and love. All I have is a storage unit full of taped up boxes. I want more.”
And didn’t that sum up the way he had allowed his profession with Guardian to suck him into nonexistence? The parallel was uncanny on so many levels–too many to be comfortable with.
Putting another bite of the blueberry studded pancake in her mouth she closed her eyes and hummed, “Delicious!”
Hell yes, she was delicious and, damn, he may just have to sample a bite. “I agree.”
She opened her eyes and cast a glance at his stack of pancakes. “Joey, you haven’t even taken a bite.”
“I’m not hungry for food. I’m talking about you. I bet you’re absolutely…delicious.” See? Ember was a distraction. Trouble with a capital E.
Just like in high school, her blush built up from her chest and swept over her cheeks. She peeked through her long lashes at him.
He chuckled and pushed his food around his plate. Well, you started it King. Don’t stop now. “I’m betting the recipe may have gotten better with time. With age and maturity the flavor has had time to develop additional spice.”
Ember winked at him. Between bites, she teased, “Nice. Call a woman old and then complement her on her spices!” Her laughter peeled around him. He had to shake his head in disbelief. She hadn’t changed at all.
“So, mister-open-mouth-insert-foot, just how do you propose to savor said spices?”
He frowned at the food on his plate and put down his fork. “That depends. Is there a man who is going to try to kick my ass when I make love to you?”
Ember cocked her head and looked at him narrowing her eyes. He recognized that look. He’d seen it many times when they were younger. She pointed her fork at him.
“When you make love to me? Don’t you mean if you make love to me?”
He shook his head. His eyes devoured her luscious body. “If I’m completely honest? I’m not entirely sure. Still contemplating whether or not that would be a good move for either of us. Answer my question.”
She blushed vividly and suddenly found her pancakes very interesting. He struggled to hear her soft reply.
“There’s nobody and hasn’t been for a long time. Remember the work rant I just bored you with?” She threw a radiant smile his way. “Half the world doesn’t know I exist and the other half only values me for my medical skills.”
His foot knocked hers under the table like he used to do in high school when he wanted her full attention. “I happen to know you exist and at this second I don’t need a doctor.”
“Really? Have you had a routine need for a doctor in the past?” She ate another forkful of pancakes as he watched.
He shrugged and regretted it immediately when pain skipped across his shoulder and back. “More than I care to admit.”
Ember kicked his foot under the table. He glanced at her while taking a drink of coffee. Her eyes were bright with laughter.
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She purred, “Hey, Joey, want to play doctor with me?” Coffee spray showered the table as he choked on the hot beverage. Her squeal of laughter ripped across the restaurant. Picking up her napkin, she wiped her arm and tossed it at him. “Damn, Joey, you lost all cool points on that one!”
He couldn’t help it. He laughed. It had been forever since anything had struck him as funny. Dropping cash on the table, he stood up offering her his hand. “Maybe, but that was one hell of a loaded question.”
She giggled, stood up and walked out the door with him, “That would be true. It was. So? Are you going to accept?”
He got in the car and waited until she had fastened her seatbelt before he put it into gear. As he pulled out, he answered. “Do I want to? Hell, yes. Am I going to? Look, I’m not politically correct and I don’t play games. I’m putting my cards on the table. I’m not the kid you used to know. I’m not what you need. I would end up hurting you, Em. I don’t do normal.”
“Normal what?” Her eyes were wide as she stared at him.
“Normal relationships. I guess you could say I have unique desires.” Damn, could she blink maybe or look away? How in the hell did I get into this conversation?
“Oh. Ohhhh! Like the Dom thing you wouldn’t talk about last night?”
He shook his head. “No, not like that and I’m not getting into this with you. You probably couldn’t handle what I need.”
“Are you gay?”
He couldn’t stop the laugh. Damn, she tickled him. “Far from it. Not that I give a shit who a person is attracted to, but guys don’t do it for me.”
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