Next Exit, Three Miles

by CW Browning

  “I'm taking a back road.” John glanced at her. “Can you please stop trying to navigate?”

  “No!” Steph shot back irritably. “I think this is asinine. We shouldn't be just showing up in the middle of the night. What we need to know can wait until a decent hour. And besides, I'm more concerned with where Damon disappeared to.”

  “I can guarantee Damon Peterson will not be far from Alina,” John retorted grimly.

  Stephanie glanced at him.

  “Why?” she asked.

  John shrugged.

  “Call it a hunch,” he answered.

  Stephanie's eyes narrowed.

  “So help me, John, if you're dragging me out into the pine barrens at two in the morning out of some misplaced sense of jealousy, I will make sure that you never have children,” she promised fervently. “What Lina does with her time, and with whom, is none of your concern anymore. You made sure of that ten years ago.”

  “Well, ten years ago I didn't know that she and her “whom” were going to waltz into my investigation and turn it into a nightmare,” John retorted.

  If Stephanie's eyes could have rolled any higher, her eyeballs would have popped out of her scalp.

  “Oh, don't be ridiculous,” she muttered, watching as Marlton fell away and the quiet darkness of Medford loomed before them in all its wooded glory.

  However, she fell silent after that. There was just enough doubt that John may be right to cause her to stay quiet and allow him to continue on. They did have questions that needed to be answered and Stephanie was pretty sure that Alina or Damon, or both, had the answers they needed. She also agreed that if Damon was not with Alina, he wouldn't be far away.

  Stephanie looked out the window at the dark trees flashing by. She knew everyone thought she was so focused on her work that she didn't see the obvious right in front of her nose. She had worked hard to ensure that was the common perception. But she didn't get to where she was now by not being observant. She knew as soon as they walked into the restaurant that night that Damon and Alina knew each other. She had felt the tension in the big body behind her at the hostess desk, and had seen the same look of wariness in Alina's eyes as she joined them. Her suspicion had been confirmed as soon as they got to the table and she saw Damon murmur something as he pulled out Alina's chair. The look that passed between them was not the look of strangers, but of two people who knew each other well. She hadn't jumped to the same conclusion that John had, however. She had watched them closely that night, and she had noted how every person who entered the room was examined by Damon. He exuded an aura of protective awareness, and Stephanie had left the restaurant with the distinct impression that Damon was more interested in Alina than in anything else. While John had clearly formed the opinion that Damon and Alina were working together, Stephanie suspected just the opposite. She suspected that Alina had no idea why Damon was there, and she believed that Damon was there for Alina.

  “Have you heard from your friend in Washington yet?” John asked after a few miles in silence.

  Stephanie pulled her attention back from the darkness outside and her thoughts.

  “Not yet,” she answered. “She may not be able to find out anything. Homeland Security is tight as a clam, apparently. But if she can, she'll let me know the scoop on Damon.”

  “Did she give a time-frame?” John asked, turning onto the road that led to Alina's house.

  “No, Mr. Impatient, she didn't,” Stephanie retorted.

  John glanced at her with a grin.

  “You really are cranky tonight,” he remarked.

  Her only response was to glare at him. He laughed and turned on his high beams, slowing down. The street was pitch black with few street lights and the woods were thick.

  “Deer,” Stephanie said, catching sight of the iridescent glow of eyes in front of them.

  “I see.” John stopped and they watched as not one deer, but four, ambled across the road. Once they had cleared the road, he increased his speed again. “So what's the plan when we get there?” he asked.

  Stephanie looked at him.

  “You're asking me?” she demanded. “You're the one who dragged me out here! You come up with the plan!”

  “Do you want to be good cop or bad cop?” John asked, glancing over to her as he slowed down and pulled into the long gravel driveway.

  Stephanie stared at him, flabbergasted, for a long moment before returning her attention out the window. John grinned and waited. It wasn't until the house came into view that she spoke.

  “I'll be the good cop.”

  Alina set the coffee mugs in the sink and turned to lean back against the counter. She watched as Damon slid the door to the deck shut and locked it. He had followed her inside without a word, glancing around the darkness outside before stepping into the house. Alina watched as he switched on the lamp in the living room, her lips twitching.

  “Make yourself at home,” she murmured.

  Damon heard her and looked over with a grin.

  “Thanks,” he retorted, settling into the recliner.

  Alina was forced into a chuckle and she pushed away from the counter to walk over to her laptop. She opened it and typed in a few commands, setting the security system and redirecting it to the flat screen above the fireplace. Damon watched as a quadrant appeared on the screen, displaying real-time surveillance of the four most accessible entry points to the property.

  “I’ve been wondering if you used the TV,” he said. “Now I see what you use it for.”

  Alina shrugged and walked over to settle onto the couch. She pulled off her boots and tucked her feet up beside her.

  “I have a TV in my bedroom if I want to watch TV,” she informed him.

  Damon raised his eyebrow and studied her.

  “And what does Viper watch when she wants to watch TV...” he wondered, leaning his head back and watching her lazily.

  “Oh, I'm a sucker for reality TV,” she replied with a wink.

  Alina set her elbow on the arm of the couch and propped her chin in her hand, watching Damon. He was completely relaxed, his feet crossed at the ankles. His jeans were worn and faded, and his black tee shirt hugged his broad chest and biceps. Dark hair fell carelessly across his forehead and he stared back at her with a faint smile on his face. They stayed like that, in comfortable silence, for a few minutes, lost in their thoughts. The night was silent outside and the only sound in the house came from the ticking clock in the front of the house and the low hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen.

  “What are you thinking?” Damon finally asked softly, watching as her dark eyes reflected the light.

  Alina shrugged, smiling slightly.

  “I’m wondering why you keep popping up in my life,” she answered readily, her eyes meeting his frankly. If Damon was surprised, he didn’t show it.

  “Is it becoming a problem?” he asked, his eyes laughing at her.

  Alina’s lips curved into an answering smile of their own accord.

  “Not yet,” she retorted enigmatically. “But you seem to be a recurring theme in my life, Hawk.”

  The storm of emotions from the past few hours had left her, and in its place was that ponderous languor that follows such a frenzy of adrenaline and mental stress. Alina stretched comfortably and Damon watched her lazily with hooded eyes.

  “I haven’t seen anyone else that we were in boot camp with, or anyone from the training facility,” Alina continued. “But you, you keep popping up.”

  She thought she caught the faintest glimpse of a flash in his bright blue eyes, but in a second it was gone and his eyes went back to their hooded twinkle.

  “Do we have to assign reason to it?” he asked in a low voice. “I always thought it was kind of nice how I keep running into you.”

  Damon watched as something flickered in the back of her dark eyes and her lips parted slightly. He held his breath for a moment. Damon thought he caught a glimmer of something resembling longing in her dark eyes, but then,
just as quickly, Viper’s mask slid back into place. Her lips closed, her lashes covered her eyes, and Alina sat up abruptly. The comfortable spell was broken.

  “It is nice,” she told him with a quick smile. She stood up and stretched restlessly. “It’s always good to see a friendly face.”

  Alina turned to go into the kitchen, afraid she wouldn’t be able to conceal the sudden confusion she was feeling. She hadn’t been prepared for the sudden rush of warmth and longing that had rolled through her. Initially, she had some vague idea of trying to find out what he was really doing here, but somehow she lost control of the conversation. The onslaught of emotion had been completely unexpected and Alina wasn't sure how to proceed. She was so used to setting emotions aside that Alina did what she knew how to do best. She went over to the counter and flipped on the faucet to rinse out the mugs, pushing the moment aside.

  She never heard him move swiftly and silently up behind her.

  “You make me sound like a Labrador.”

  Hawks' voice was low and just behind her ear. Alina started, surprised despite herself at how quickly and silently he had moved. A bolt of awareness raised the fine hairs on her neck and she could sense his body a scant inch behind her. If she tipped her head back, she knew it would rest on his chest. Almost instantly, her heart started thumping and she felt another shiver of awareness slice through her. She inhaled slowly, resting her hands on either side of the sink.

  “What’s wrong with that?” Alina asked, not turning her head. “I like dogs.”

  There was a low chuckle behind her and his hands came up to cover both of hers. She caught her breath and watched his long fingers slide between hers, the warmth of his hands spreading like fire up her arms. Alina felt like she was completely engulfed by Damon, even though only his hands were touching her. His smell and his heat surrounded her, making her almost light-headed with a sudden onslaught of desire so fierce that she could only catch her breath.

  “Cute.” His breath tickled her ear as he bent his head toward it. “You don't make me think of dogs,” Damon whispered in her ear, his lips brushing against it as they moved.

  His full attention was focused on the woman in front of him, his hunting instinct taking over. He watched through hooded eyes as his whisper caused all the little hairs on her neck to rise up and the pulse at the base of her throat to start beating wildly. Hawk felt a small measure of satisfaction at the small, tell-tale signs that she was feeling the same over-whelming desire that he was...and had been ever since he had stepped into the living room from the deck. He rubbed his thumbs lightly across the backs of her hands, the skin soft against his, and watched as goosebumps appeared on her arms.

  Alina felt like someone had just poured fire all over her. Her heart was pounding and desire was coursing through her with such intensity that she was almost blinded by it. Then Hawk started stroking her hands with his thumbs and she was lost. Viper forgot all about Johann. She forgot all about explosions and mysterious strangers in the woods. Every thought was pushed out of her mind by this intense longing and desire. All but one. All she had to do was lean back, turn her head, and Hawk would give her everything she wanted right this second.

  Alina wasn't thinking anymore. She was feeling. For the first time in years, she was actually feeling something.

  Damon felt the tension of indecision leave her body on one single, silent exhale. He reacted immediately and was already leaning into her and starting to lower his head as she turned hers. Deep blue eyes met dark brown and Hawk was satisfied with the desire that he saw burning in her eyes. He lowered his lips to hers.

  A single, very loud beep echoed through the silent house just as his lips touched hers. His head snapped up and around. Alina's eyes popped open and went straight to the flat screen above the mantle. The driveway quadrant was flashing. A car was approaching the house.

  There was a moment of absolute, deafening silence after the alarm had finished slicing through the house. Alina's heart was slamming against her chest as she brought her eyes back to Damon's face. His eyes were a deep, dark cobalt, still clouded with desire. But the glimmer of laughter was lurking once again in their depths. They stared at each other for a split second, and then Alina giggled.

  Her eyes widened in shock as soon as the sound came out and Damon raised an eyebrow, staring down at her as if he had never heard a giggle. His look of utter amazement made Alina giggle again and she pulled her hand out from under his to clap it over her mouth. She hadn't giggled in years! But the emotions bubbling up inside her were uncontrollable and she leaned back against the sink and gave in to the laughter that was welling up inside her. Damon stepped back with a grin, watching the outburst.

  “Saved by visitors,” he murmured.

  Alina took a deep breath and tried to stop the laughter.

  “And the ex, no less,” she replied.

  Damon looked over to the flat screen again.

  “What's he doing here?” he asked.

  Alina shrugged and choked down the rest of her nervous laughter.

  “I have no idea,” she answered, reaching out and shutting off the faucet.

  Damon turned his attention back to her at the genuine sound of disgruntlement in her voice. The eruption of laughter was fading and Viper was sliding back into place. Damon didn't say a word as he reached out and touched her lips gently with one finger. He smiled slowly as her eyes met his, and he was content. Deep in the chocolate depths, the passionate woman still lurked. She wasn't gone completely.

  “We will continue that,” he promised softly.

  Alina tilted her head slightly to the side, considering him.

  “We'll see,” she answered just as softly.

  Chapter Twelve

  When John and Stephanie pulled around the driveway to stop before the garage, the backyard was flooded with light from a spotlight fixed to the back of the house. Alina and Damon were both seated in the chairs on the deck, Damon with his feet propped on the banister and Alina with her legs crossed. Both appeared totally relaxed, just enjoying the night. Stephanie got out of the car and waved.

  “Oh good! We didn't wake you!” she called as she came around the back of the car and waited for John.

  “Is she serious?” Hawk murmured under his breath.

  “Be nice,” Alina hissed back, standing up as John got out of the car and the two started walking toward the deck.

  They were both wearing their FBI windbreakers and the breeze caught both of them, blowing the jackets open and exposing the badge and the standard issue on both their hips.

  “Why do I suddenly feel like a felon?” Hawk asked, standing up beside her.

  Alina glanced at him in slight surprise.

  “Because that's their intention,” she retorted, keeping her voice low. She watched them consideringly. “I think...wine,” she added decisively. “It will keep them off their official high horse.”

  Hawk smiled.

  “That could work,” he agreed.

  They stopped talking as John and Stephanie reached the deck.

  “We were afraid you would be asleep,” John said, his eyes cutting over to Damon. “But apparently not.”

  “I'm still something of a night owl,” Alina answered smoothly. She waved them up onto the deck. “Damon was just telling me about the explosion,” she added as Stephanie stepped onto the deck first.

  “I didn't realize the two of you knew each other,” Stephanie said, looking from one to the other.

  Damon grinned.

  “This is the old friend,” he told her.

  Stephanie looked sharply at Alina.

  “You never said anything!” she accused her.

  Alina shrugged.

  “I didn't think it was important,” she answered. “We were in basic training together. It's nice to catch up again after all this time.” Alina glanced at John and turned toward the back door. “You both look tired. We were just about to go in. It's gotten chilly out here. Come on inside.”

  �
��We won't stay long,” Stephanie said, stepping into the living room behind her. “We just left the crime scene. I wanted to run some things by you,” she added. Alina glanced at her, raising her eyebrow slightly.

  “Really?” she asked in faint surprise. Stephanie grinned.

  “You seem to have some experience in crime scenes,” she replied.

  “Not quite in the same capacity as you,” Alina murmured dryly.

  She led her into the dining area and Stephanie set her purse on the table, shrugging out of her jacket and dropping it over the back of a chair.

  “I was thinking of a glass of wine,” Alina said, moving to a dark wood cabinet against the wall. “Would you like one?”

  “Yes, please!” Stephanie watched as Alina opened the cabinet, revealing a large, well-stocked wine rack. “I thought you didn't drink anymore!” she exclaimed.

  Alina glanced over her shoulder.

  “I never said I didn't drink,” she pointed out. “Angie just assumed it.”

  “Good point.” Stephanie grinned. “Where are the glasses?”

  “Cabinet in the kitchen, next to the refrigerator,” Alina answered, selecting a bottle of Shiraz. She glanced around. Damon and John were still outside. “Do I even want to know what they're doing?” she murmured, looking out the picture window.

  Stephanie poked her head around the cabinet door and followed her gaze. Damon was near the back door, but John was still near the steps.

  “You might not,” Stephanie answered dryly, nudging the cabinet closed with her elbow. She set four wine glasses on the bar. “I think there is a touch of...something....there where John is concerned.”

  Alina looked at Stephanie and set the bottle down on the bar next to the glasses.

  “Oh for God's sake...” she muttered, heading to the back door.

  She stopped when she reached the door. Damon was struggling not to laugh as John was staring at something. Alina followed John's gaze and almost burst out laughing herself. Raven had settled himself on the back of the chair between John and the door. Stephanie came around the bar and joined her.