Agent by Her Side

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “I’m going to give you this one, but don’t do it again. My favorite color is beige.”

  “That’s a color?”

  “Is that your next question?”

  Cooper held his hands up as if he were surrendering. “Sorry about that. Your turn.”

  “Name three people, living or dead, that you’d like to have dinner with if you could.”

  Cooper paused, giving the question a moment of thought. “My mother, my grandmother and Midge.”

  “Who’s Midge?”

  “Midge was a rottweiler I had when I was a little boy. She was my best friend for many years. We did everything together.”

  “Midge isn’t a person.”

  “You didn’t know Midge,” he said, giving her a look.

  “Okay,” Kiely giggled. “But why not Sara? Wouldn’t you want to see her again?”

  “My wife?” Cooper shrugged, his gaze shifting off into the distance as he pondered the question. He turned his eyes back to her as he spoke. “One dinner wouldn’t be enough time to apologize to her for being a crappy husband. It wouldn’t be fair to her.” He dropped the subject, contrition cloaking his expression. “Your turn,” he said. “Who was the first boy you ever kissed?”

  Amusement crossed Kiely’s face. “His name was Steven. I don’t remember his last name. We were in the third grade and he kissed me one day on the playground.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I told my brother Riley and Riley punched him in the face.”

  “Ouch!”

  “It wasn’t pretty,” she responded. “Why did you become an FBI agent?”

  “I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement since I was a kid. I thought being an agent with the FBI would be like an American James Bond adventure. I saw myself going undercover, with high-tech weapons and always catching the bad guys. At the time it looked like a great career path.”

  “And now?”

  “There are no cool weapons, rarely do I get to go in the field, undercover or otherwise, and it’s been a great career path.”

  Kiely gave him a smile.

  “French fries or hash browns?” Cooper questioned.

  “French fries. Are you good at oral sex?”

  Cooper choked on the swallow of hot chocolate he had just sipped. He was laughing and coughing at the same time, a blush of color warming his cheeks. “Really, Kiely?”

  Her brow was raised as she looked at him. “Just answer the question.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve never had any complaints, but with all things, I’m sure practice will make perfect.” Kiely gestured for him to ask his next question. “How long was your last relationship?”

  “I’ve never really done relationships, but if you want to get technical about it, then the last guy I dated lasted ten days.”

  “Who broke it off, you or him?”

  “I get the next question. It’s not your turn.”

  “It was a two-part question. It should be allowed.”

  “Well, it’s not.”

  Cooper laughed. “Fine! Ask your question.”

  “Do you like being a father?”

  “I love being a father. It has made me a better man. And yes, I would love to have more children one day.”

  “I didn’t ask that,” Kiely said.

  “But you were going to. That was clearly a two-part question.”

  “What are you doing, making up the rules as you go along?”

  “I’m playing the game!”

  Kiely folded her arms across her chest. “Ask your question.”

  “Your last relationship, who broke up with whom?”

  “I broke up with him. There was no point staying when I knew it wasn’t going to work out.” Kiely shifted her body, stretching her arms outward. “Cats or dogs?”

  “Definitely dogs. Cats jump on the counters in the kitchen when you’re not home. I’m not a big fan of cats.”

  “That is not true!”

  “How do you know? Do you have a cat?”

  “I just know. And yes, I do. His name is Jim Morrison.”

  Cooper blinked. “Jim Morrison?”

  Kiely laughed. “Ask your last question, Agent McKellar.”

  “My last? I didn’t get ten questions, did I? You said I’d get ten questions.”

  “If I counted those two, you have exceeded your ten questions.”

  “You’re one tough cookie, Kiely Colton!”

  “You better ask before you lose your turn.” She eyed him with a raised brow, waiting.

  Curling his lips in an indulgent smile, Cooper grinned at her. He leaned forward in his seat, the gesture feeling very conspiratorial as Kiely leaned with him. “May I kiss you?” His voice came out in a husky whisper.

  Kiely’s expression shifted, her eyes widening. Her smile blossomed, light shimmering in her eyes. “A kiss?”

  “Do I need to repeat the question?”

  “No, I heard you.”

  Cooper repeated himself. “So then, can...I...kiss...you?” he repeated.

  “Yes,” Kiely finally answered. “I was wondering what was taking you so long to get to it!”

  Shifting his body toward her, Cooper eased his left arm around her waist and pulled her close. Kiely reached both arms around his neck as he leaned in against her. He brought his face near hers and then pulled back. He repeated the gesture a second time, coming so close that his warm breath blew gently against her lips. The third time his mouth connected with hers in the sweetest kiss Cooper had ever experienced. Her lips were like plush pillows, soft like satin and she tasted of chocolate and mint.

  In that moment Cooper knew that he would never want to kiss any other woman ever again. He loved how Kiely melted into his arms and she felt like home. He would have sworn that he saw fireworks, flashes of light behind his eyes brilliantly celebrating the moment. His tongue tapped lightly against the line of her teeth waiting for her to allow him in. As their mouths danced beautifully together, Cooper felt like he’d reached the mystical harmonious valley of Shangri-La. Kiely’s touch was sweeter than his favorite cookie, ice cream on a summer day, and the little nougat candies his mother would make for Christmas. In his arms, she was sunshine after a spring rain, the light at the end of a dark tunnel, and the answer to prayers he hadn’t known he needed. That first kiss was everything and more.

  Chapter 10

  Kiely was pleasantly exhausted the next morning. She and Cooper hadn’t gone to bed until the wee hours of the morning. That first kiss had led to a second and then a third and before either knew it they were making out like teenagers in the back seat of his father’s Ford automobile. The experience had been incredible.

  Kissing Cooper had felt like a dream come true. His touch was gentle yet also commanding and slightly possessive. His hands had danced across her back and down the length of her torso with skillful precision. His heated fingertips had ignited currents of electricity through her body. He had taken her on a sensual journey of warm caresses and hot touches, the likes of which she had never experienced before. If she had to explain it to anyone she wouldn’t have been able to find the words.

  The moment had been interrupted when little Alfie had woken with a slight fever. It had taken a good hour to get him back to sleep and then they were both too exhausted to go back to making out. Alfie still wasn’t feeling one hundred percent and had been moody most of the morning. While Cooper had gone downstairs to work, Kiely had rocked Alfie with a half-dozen storybooks, the child’s song “Baby Shark” on constant rotation, and sips of apple ginger tea.

  Alfie had finally gone down for a nap and Kiely was in the kitchen humming away when Cooper came back up the stairs.

  She greeted him with a wide grin and an eye wink. “Hey, good-looking! What are you up to?”

  “Something smells reall
y good and I came to check out what you were into.”

  “I was just about to pull your lunch out of the oven. I made individual chicken pot pies.”

  Cooper tilted his head slightly, his look inquisitive. “Do I smell apples and cinnamon too?”

  “That’s tonight’s dessert. Apple pie with a buttermilk and rosemary piecrust.”

  “Mmm!” Cooper hummed. “I can’t wait! We’ll have ice cream with that, right?”

  Kiely laughed. “Does butter pecan work for you?”

  “I swear I’ve gained at least twenty pounds since you came into my life. It’s been the best twenty pounds I’ve ever had.”

  “As soon as the doctor gives you the all-clear we need to get you back in the gym. Are you a runner by chance?”

  “I don’t hate it, but it’s not my favorite thing to do.”

  “Thank God!” Kiely exclaimed. “I despise running.”

  “What do you do to stay in shape?”

  “Do I have to do something?”

  Cooper laughed. “So, you want me to believe that you do nothing to maintain that great figure?”

  “I was blessed with good genetics.”

  “I think I hate you. I really don’t, but still!” He laughed.

  “Come sit down and eat your lunch,” Kiely commanded. “The pot pies are ready.”

  After plating the food, Kiely sat down at the table with him. The conversation was casual as they savored their lunch.

  “I sent my sister a shopping list. She’s going to come up tomorrow. Do you want her to bring you anything?” Kiely questioned.

  Cooper suddenly sat forward. He dropped his fork against his plate. A light bulb had gone off in his head as a piece of the puzzle came together. “Your sister. What’s her fiancé’s name?” he asked.

  Concern blessed Kiely’s expression, the abrupt shift in Cooper’s mood disconcerting. “Pippa? She’s engaged to Emmanuel. Emmanuel Iglesias. Why?”

  Cooper shook his head. “No, your sister, Sadie. Who’s the boyfriend you and Pippa were giving her a hard time about on the ride up here?”

  Kiely scowled. “Tate Greer. No one can stand him. He’s a real creep.”

  “He’s more than that,” Cooper snapped as he suddenly stood and headed for the office downstairs. He called out over his shoulder. “Tate Greer is the mastermind behind Capital X. Gunther named him yesterday. The FBI has deemed him dangerous. He’s been placed on our Most Wanted list.”

  For the briefest moment Kiely sat stunned. Her eyes had widened and heat flushed her face a deep shade of rising rage. Her mind began to race, her heartbeat on super speed. Fear was holding hands and doing a two-step with anger, the likes of which she hadn’t felt in some time. She’d always known Tate Greer was scum. She never would have imagined that he was even lower, more like the fungus that fed on pond scum. She cussed, a lengthy stream of expletives blowing past her lips.

  Dashing after him, Kiely followed Cooper downstairs, taking them two at a time. Her voice was an octave higher when she spoke. “I just talked with Sadie about an hour ago. She wanted my recipe for fettuccine carbonara. She’s meeting Tate at his condo tonight for dinner. They’ve been thinking about eloping to Vegas and she’s supposed to give him her answer.”

  “We need to stop her,” Cooper said. “She’s not safe. Call your brother. I’m going to call Agent Miller.”

  * * *

  Cooper and Kiely were both pacing the floor, anxiety levels at an all-time high. Alfie was still under the weather and Kiely held him close as she walked him back and forth. Her nervousness was doing very little to soothe the whining child’s discomfort.

  “It’s going to be okay, Alfie. It’s okay,” she cooed.

  The couple had spent the last few hours on the telephone, back and forth with Kiely’s brother Riley and the FBI. Cooper had alerted his team and a plan was now in place to catch Tate Greer. The challenge for them, was being able to catch Tate and keep Sadie safe. Tipping him off could easily prove to be a detriment to her sister. And there was no way they could tell Sadie and trust that she wouldn’t reveal their hand if her emotions got the best of her.

  After much discussion it was decided to let Sadie proceed with her dinner plans. Shortly after six o’clock, Kiely would call her sister and say that she had an emergency. When Sadie exited the home to come to her aid there would be an FBI team waiting outside. Riley would also be there to ensure that Sadie was safe. When Sadie was out of harm’s way the team could go in and apprehend Tate Greer. It sounded simple enough, but Kiely and Cooper both knew that anything could go wrong at any time.

  Cooper was able to monitor his team’s activity digitally, and the plan was that as soon as they were in place, Kiely would make the call. With the clock ticking Kiely’s nerves were on overload. She hated that Sadie was in this position. Not following her instincts, and wanting her sister to be happy, Kiely hadn’t vetted him as well as she should have. And she couldn’t help but wonder if Tate’s interest in Sadie had been purely selfish, if he’d been using her sister to keep a close eye on what was going on with the case. After reading the report on Tate, she knew that he was capable of anything. He wouldn’t hesitate to use Sadie if it meant saving himself. And if he harmed her sister she didn’t know what she would do.

  “It’s time,” Cooper said, gesturing at her. He reached for Alfie, taking the child out of her arms. “Remember, it’s okay if you let your anxiety show. Use it so that she knows you desperately need her.”

  Kiely gave him a nod as she moved to the desk to sit down. She had tried to not let him see her nervousness, but Cooper had picked up on it. She had no qualms about lying to her sister, but she didn’t want to do anything that would put her family in harm’s way. She took a deep breath then dialed her sister’s number and waited for Sadie to answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Sadie, hey. It’s me,” Kiely responded.

  “Hey, what’s up? You calling to see if I executed the fettuccine correctly?”

  “Are you alone or is Tate there with you?”

  “He’s in the shower, why? Are you okay, Kiely? You don’t sound good.”

  “No, I really need your help. But you can’t tell Tate.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Cooper and the kidnapping case?”

  “Yes. I’m actually outside,” Kiely said, the little white lie rolling easily off her tongue. “There’s a black sedan parked across the street. Can you sneak out for a quick second and come see me? I can tell you everything then.”

  Kiely could almost see her sister moving to a front window to peer outside. She lied again, saying, “The FBI picked me up and brought me here. It’s really important, Sadie! I really need to talk with you. But I don’t want to involve Tate, so please don’t tell him.”

  “Don’t worry, he’s still in the shower. I’ll be right there. I’m on my way out.”

  “Thank you,” Kiely said. For a split second she wanted to apologize to her sister. To say she was sorry for the dishonesty. But more than anything she needed to know Sadie was safe from the likes of Tate Greer. She was desperate for her sister to know what kind of man he truly was but since she couldn’t say those words, she said the next best thing. “I love you, Sadie.”

  Sadie disconnected the call and when she did, Kiely began to count. The few short minutes it took for her sister to exit the house and scurry across the street to the car felt like forever. When her eldest brother’s number showed up on the phone, Kiely snatched it quickly.

  “Hello?”

  “We’ve got her. She’s safe,” Riley answered.

  Kiely could hear her sister in the background, her voice raised as she questioned what was going on. Sadie fussing was all she needed to let go of the breath she’d been holding tightly in her lungs. When she exhaled, letting it go, warm breath and apprehension gushed from her like air from a p
opped balloon.

  “She wants to talk to you,” Riley said as Kiely listened to him passing their sister his phone.

  “Kiely, what the hell is this?” Sadie snapped. “Where are you?”

  “I’m still at the safe house with Cooper and Alfie. I’m sorry I had to lie to you. But Riley will explain everything.”

  “Somebody had better explain something to me!” Sadie shouted.

  Riley had taken his phone back. “Tell Agent Winston I’ll call him back with an update once everything goes down.”

  “Thanks, Riley! Love you, big brother!”

  The phone line went dead. Kiely sat there for a moment, allowing herself to process it all. She couldn’t begin to imagine what Sadie had to be feeling right then. Discovering that Tate Greer wasn’t the man her sister thought he was would break her heart. Tate’s deception would surely steal Sadie’s joy. Understanding the magnitude of that left a bitter taste in Kiely’s mouth.

  As if he had a sixth sense, Cooper read her mood. “If you need to leave, I understand. I’m sure your sister needs you right now.”

  Kiely shook her head. “I need to be here with you and Alfie. Until we find that woman, neither one of you is safe. My family will make sure Sadie is okay. Besides, I’m sure I’m the last person she wants to see right now. She needs someone to blame and I’ll be it while she figures it all out. I know her well.”

  Kiely rose from her seat. She moved swiftly to Cooper’s side and into his arms. He hugged her tightly as she breathed a sigh of relief. She felt safe against him and could have held onto him forever.

  She pressed her hand to Alfie’s cheek. With Sadie secure under her brother’s protective umbrella, keeping the little boy safe was now her first priority. Her family was everything to her and as far as she was concerned Alfie and his father were now family to her, too.

  “He’s still warm,” she said. “It’s time for another dose of baby medicine.”

  “Why don’t you take him up and get him settled. I’ll be up as soon as I hear something.”

  Kiely nodded, then reached to kiss his lips. She eased Alfie against her chest. “Come on, precious. Come to Kiely.”