She smiled at the empty pier railing. “Three out of three? Not bad.”
His face turned serious. “Not good enough, though. I got a call from Austin today.”
She tensed. “Ranger headquarters?” He’d been waiting for them to decide his fate, she knew.
He nodded. “The powers that be have reviewed the test results from the neurologist. They’re not going to let me back in the field, even if I can qualify on the gun range with my left hand.”
Her heart swelled into her throat. She stroked his cheek with her fingertips, and he snugged her closer to him. “I’m sorry, Clint.”
“Don’t be. They’re not going to let me in the field, and I’ll miss that. But they had another proposal.”
She waited for him to explain, sensing the change in direction was something he was still working through.
“After our brush with disaster, it seems the governor is interested in starting up a new task force. An anti-terrorism group aimed specifically at protecting Texas and Texans from terrorism. It would be state level, but would coordinate with the federal agencies like Homeland Security and the FBI. He was thinking the Rangers would be the perfect group to run it.”
“They asked you to be on this team?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that, honestly. The four men who had sabotaged Texas Stadium had been caught in Chicago two days later, trying to buy train tickets to Canada. It turned out they’d been from two separate hate groups—one Middle Eastern and one from the disease, poverty and famine-ravaged Sudan—who had joined forces, a terrifying trend in itself.
The drug that had saved her life had already been analyzed and duplicated in Atlanta. The project had been David’s last for the CDC. He’d known going in that they would terminate him afterward. At least they’d given him a chance to redeem himself somewhat for the damage he felt responsible for. He’d worked tirelessly and cracked the cure in record time.
The results of his new drug in Malaysia were very positive. He was there now, working without compensation to treat those still recovering from the disease.
The threat of anyone using ARFIS as a biological weapon had been nullified. But how many more plots to kill or maim were being cooked up out there? How many more times would Clint have to put his life on the line to stop them?
On the other hand, being a Ranger wasn’t just what he did. It was part of who he was, and she loved him. All of him.
She would learn to deal with it.
“You won’t have to give up your badge?” she asked.
“Not give it up. Just trade it in.” He lifted his quicksilver gaze to hers. “For one that says captain on it.”
Joy bloomed inside her. “You’re getting a promotion?”
He nodded. “They didn’t just ask me to be on the task force. They asked me to lead it.”
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “Congratulations, Captain.”
“I’m not sure how it’s going to work out. It’ll mean riding a desk a lot, but I guess I’ll adjust. I can always call Bull for advice.”
She pulled back, sobered. “How is he?”
“Regaining his strength, slowly.”
“Still no word from Kat?”
The pretty blond Ranger had taken off without a word as soon as Captain Matheson had come out of emergency surgery, Macy had been told. No one had heard from her since.
Clint shook his head. “Del’s been trying to track her down, but with the baby due any day, he’s had to stick close to home.”
“She blames herself.”
“That’s why it’s so important we find her. I hate to think of her out there alone. She needs some help dealing with it.”
“You’ll find her.” She hoped it was true.
“Yeah.” Clint pulled the quilt tighter around her. “You cold?”
“No, it’s a beautiful night.”
He kissed her gently, sweetly, gradually taking her deeper, arousal rolling in between them like the tide. “Could be a beautiful night inside too. In that big, warm bed in there.”
“Could be.”
She smiled against his lips as he lifted her, carried her over the threshold.
It was a perfect night in heaven, indeed.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6733-0
HER LAST DEFENSE
Copyright © 2005 by Vickie Spears
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