“No,” she muttered, giving him a defiant look. Breaking free of his embrace, Kinah brought the two boys to her side and held them. Each clung to her robe.
Sighing, Khalid nodded. “I thought you’d say that.”
“We can’t leave. That would be a sign of defeat, Khalid. You know that.” Kinah scanned the room riddled with bullet holes. “No, I refuse to run! I would say this is the work of Malik.” Her brows dipped and anger tinged her husky tone. “That desert rat is behind this, Khalid. My gut tells me so. Last year up north at the other village where I worked so hard to get the people to build a schoolroom, he came in and shot hundreds of holes through it.”
“Yes,” Khalid said quietly, “I believe he’s behind this attack.” And he said no more. Both of them were aware of Malik’s promise to kill them. It had almost happened last night. Khalid wanted desperately to remove Kinah from the village. As he looked into the stubborn set of her chin, he knew it was useless to insist.
“Where’s Emma?” Kinah asked, wanting to move on.
“At the helo. We brought in a medical team and other emergency supplies.” He glanced toward the door that had been splintered by gunfire. “I need to get back to help her. Will you be all right here?”
“I’m fine, brother. Go. I’m taking these boys to my home. They need to get washed up, find clean clothes and be fed some food. That’s where I’ll be.”
Khalid leaned over and pressed a kiss to her damp cheek. “We will come to see you later,” he promised, his voice thick with emotion. Turning on his heel, Khalid left the nearly destroyed classroom. A number of the desks were in shattered ruins, too. His heart ached for his sister. This time around, Kinah had been brutally impacted by the attack. The other two times last year were nothing in comparison to this one. Khalid could see that she grappled with the trauma of it all. Who didn’t in this demoralized village?
Emma glanced up to see Khalid striding down the muddy street toward where she stood with the list of supplies in hand. How was Kinah? Anxious, she passed the list to her load master. A number of men from the village assisted what was left of the A-team to offload the emergency supplies. Five soldiers were on their way to Bagram for treatment of their wounds. The medical team, consisting of a doctor, a nurse and a medic, was already in the village helping those who had been hurt, but not badly enough to be medevaced to Bagram for treatment.
Meeting Khalid, she asked, “Kinah? How is she?”
Khalid told her. The morning was dawning clear after the storm clouds of yesterday. Emma’s fine, thin brows moved downward as he finished.
“She’s been traumatized,” Emma growled, unhappy.
“Yes, this time it really got to her,” Khalid agreed, his voice distraught.
“She won’t leave?”
“No. Wild horses wouldn’t drag her out of here now.”
Seeing Khalid’s worried, forlorn eyes, Emma wanted to reach out and embrace him. “I’m sorry, Khalid. War is ugly business. Everyone is hurt by it,” she said, hurting for him.
“You should have seen those two orphan boys. They were shaking like little trees in the aftermath.”
“The worst is how the children are affected,” Emma agreed. “But they’re with Kinah. She’ll be a rock for them and she’ll get them through this.”
Khalid looked around. Bodies of the Taliban had been put to one side of the flat landing area. A number of Afghan national soldiers had come with them on their flight, and now they were going through each man’s clothing to find identification. It wasn’t a job he would want.
“Malik’s behind this,” he rasped to Emma as they walked back to the helo. Most of the crates were out of the bird and the last of the A-team men hefted supplies on their shoulders and took them into the busy village.
“It sounds like his signature calling card: destroying the schoolroom. The bastard,” Emma whispered, angry.
Walking up the ramp, the load master, a twenty-year-old blond technical sergeant handed her another list. Emma stopped and signed it. She was AC, air commander, and therefore responsible to see the shipment was out of the helo and delivered to the proper village authorities. Khalid walked past her and sat in the left-hand seat. He moved his knees aside so she could slide between the seats and sit down in the right-hand seat. Even though she was the AC, Khalid was the head of this mission.
“What now?” Emma asked. Khalid’s profile was silhouetted against the sunlight suddenly flooding into the cockpit.
“I need to talk with Abbas. By the way, their family is okay. Shaken up, but no injuries. Many of their windows are shattered, but they can be replaced.”
“Good,” Emma sighed. “I’m relieved.” Living in a stone house rather than a mud one had its advantages in a fire fight.
Khalid glanced around. No one was near their helicopter. Driven by the anguish of his sister facing death so bravely, he couldn’t help himself. Last night as he and Emma had fought the Taliban, he’d known that they, too, could die. And they nearly had when that rocket was fired at them.
Khalid’s eyes narrowed upon her, burning with desire. Taken off guard by his sudden predatory look, she didn’t see it coming. One moment he was in the chair and the next, he was standing. He cupped her face with his long hands and leaned down, sweeping a powerful kiss against her mouth. Emma stiffened momentarily. The heat of his mouth rocked her lips open. She felt his warm breath, smelled his spicy scent and tasted chai.
Her world dissolved beneath the swift, hungry kiss, his mouth sliding hotly against hers. Oh! Emma didn’t know what to do. For so long, she had yearned for Khalid’s mouth on hers once more. She wanted to feel his sensuous, exploring lips against hers, inciting her, teasing her and letting her know just how much he loved her.
Mind spinning as she hungrily returned his passionate kiss, his fingers moving through her hair and holding her prisoner against his searching mouth, Emma heard the word love reverberating through the halls of her wildly beating heart. Right now, Khalid’s mouth was playing her as if she were a beloved instrument in his hands. His lips drifted from her mouth to her cheek, to her closed eyes and finally, back to her parted, wet lips. There was such tenderness in Khalid’s slow exploration of her as a woman. And Emma wanted this. She wanted him.
Khalid’s soul absorbed Emma. Never had he wanted a woman more than her. That shook his internal world. His grief was gone. In its place an assuredness that this magnificent and courageous red-haired American woman was priceless to him. Her mouth was soft and pliant, giving and taking. He’d been afraid she’d reject him, but, to his relief, once his mouth slid across hers in invitation, she’d responded just as eagerly and passionately as he. Perhaps it was the combat last night, their near-death experience? Khalid wasn’t sure. What he did know without reservation was that he was falling in love with Emma.
As he sipped at her wet lips, Khalid smiled and whispered against them, “You are the sunlight to my darkness, beloved.”
Just the way he whispered beloved, made Emma moan with pleasure. As she drew away, his face inches from her, the tender light burning in his blue eyes, she didn’t know what to do or say. “Oh, Khalid,” she managed in a strangled tone.
“I know,” he said apologetically, releasing her. “We’re in a very confusing situation.” He stared down at her full mouth glistening in the wake of his worshipful kisses. Fighting himself, Khalid sat down. He reached out and gripped her hand. “We could have died in combat last night.”
Emma closed her eyes, as she heard the urgency in his voice. She worried about someone seeing them kiss or holding hands. It was forbidden by military law. Opening her eyes, she cast a quick glance around. They were alone, and relief sped through her. She drowned in his pleading gaze. “In our business,” she said in an unsteady tone, “we can die at any time, Khalid. You know that.” He had been right, though. Last night’s combat had been raw and violent. She was still edgy from it. So was he. Plus, Khalid had thought his sister might have died in the attack. Emma r
ealized the pressures upon him and knew that he needed a safe harbor. She was that harbor.
Nodding, Khalid forced himself to release Emma’s hand. It was a hand he wanted to kiss, one finger at a time. His dreams were erotic, with his loving Emma an inch at a time. “Yes, you’re right. I’m still on an adrenaline high from it.”
Emma tucked her hands in her lap. “We’re both jumpy. We have a right to be.” She lowered her voice and searched his stormy gaze. “You could have lost Kinah last night. I understand, Khalid. We all need someone at times like this.”
The silence settled in the cockpit. Khalid’s heart pounded with love for Emma. He knew he could not speak of it. Not yet, at least. And he had to get past the six-month mission before he broached it with her. “People need people,” he agreed, his voice suddenly weary. “I’m just glad you’re here. Thank you.” He reached out and grazed her hand. “I didn’t exactly give you warning, did I?”
Emma drowned in the heat of his voice and eyes. Khalid’s ability to seduce her was more than impressive. She’d never met a man who could touch her heart and soul at the same time. But Khalid did. “No, you didn’t,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. What should she do? As much as she tried to push away her desire for Khalid, their attraction kept growing. Emma felt out of control, but reasoned that it had to do with the combat.
“It was good.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. Sometimes, Khalid reminded her of an Irish elf, a trickster who was completely unexpected in his actions. Like this kiss. How long had she waited for it? Emma wanted to tell Khalid of her dreams of making love with him, but she didn’t dare. “Yes, it was very good,” she said. “But I’m confused, Khalid. I’m not sure what to do.”
“Then,” Khalid said, hope in his voice, “perhaps we can learn to be good friends who support one another in times like this?”
“I don’t know where professionalism and personal needs begin and end with you. I’m at odds with myself.” She touched the area of her heart. “I wish we’d met somewhere else. The military is a rough place to find romance, much less keep it and grow it.”
Joy raced through Khalid as he heard Emma’s softly spoken admittance. She couldn’t look at him, her gaze down on her tightly clasped hands. He wanted to unleash his excitement and hope, but he reined it all in. He had to respect Emma’s need to get past this mission. “You have trusted me with yourself, Emma. I will hold you in my heart and hands as if you were a dear friend.”
Tilting her head, Emma studied Khalid’s serious features. “I’ve been in other situations where my boss and I did become friends. It never influenced us when we were flying or what we had to do in our respective jobs.”
“And you are okay with that between us? To allow our friendship to flourish like a red rose bud?” Khalid asked hopefully.
She melted beneath his burning blue eyes that spoke so fervently of untold and unexplored possibilities. Perhaps, someday, Emma cautioned herself. “I can’t think of having a better friend than you, Khalid.”
Chapter 12
“You’re looking pretty down,” Nike observed of Emma as they sat in the chow hall at dinner time. The place was noisy, crowded and plenty of A-teams were mingling with the combat and transport pilots.
Emma pushed the mashed potatoes around on her aluminum tray. “Yeah, some stuff happened in the last twenty-four hours, and I’m conflicted about it.”
Nike had her appetite. She dove into the steaming mashed potatoes and gravy. “Khalid?” she guessed.
Looking up, Emma frowned. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
Nike wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “Oh, come on! He’s in love with you. Don’t you see it?”
“Mmm….”
Nike cut into her sirloin hamburger. “The guy clearly loves you. Now, I wouldn’t ordinarily judge things like that, but it’s written all over his face every time I see him with you. Has he let you in on his secret?” She grinned wolfishly.
Unhappy, Emma set her cutlery aside and sighed. “Yes and no. He kissed me this morning.” Emma saw Nike’s black, thin brows raise with surprise and then she saw fear in her friend’s eyes—for her. Holding up her hand, Emma quickly added, “No one saw us.”
“That’s good. Because you think getting busted over us landing on that hilltop was something? If Dallas hears about you kissing another officer in a combat zone, your ass is grass, my friend. You’ll never be more than a captain, even if you’re allowed to stay in for your twenty years.”
“I know, I know.”
“So, you want his attention? He seems like such a heroic figure, Emma. He’s doing so much for his people here in his country. He and his sister are out on the front lines every day making a difference.” Nike popped some food into her mouth, chewed for a few moments and swallowed. “What’s not to like?”
“I didn’t want his attention, Nike, but he’s a man with a mission.”
“You like him?”
“Yes.” Emma’s brows curved downward and she stared at the food on her tray, her stomach in knots. “There’s nothing to dislike about Khalid. That’s the problem.”
Nike studied her critically. An entire A-team took up the picnic tables to their left. She lowered her tone and leaned forward so only Emma could hear her. “What is the problem? That he’s Afghan and you’re an American citizen? That your family, if they heard about you falling in love with a foreigner, would go bonkers? Or…? You supply the third reason.”
Emma glanced toward the A-team. A sergeant came and sat to her right, his tray filled high with food. She knew these men ate MREs out on their thirty-day missions and that hot food was a rarity in their lives. “My family is very open-minded about whom I might fall in love with. My mom and dad aren’t prejudiced.”
“Yeah,” Nike said, “but he’s a Muslim, Emma. Did you consider that angle? I mean, the Trayherns are a military dynasty. I’m sure you probably don’t have that religion in your family.”
Emma shrugged. “Not yet. My family accepts all religions, Nike. They have a live-and-let-live attitude. I like my parents’ take on it: a religion is something you live daily. It’s not about going to church once every seven days and then not living your beliefs the other six days. In Khalid’s case, I respect and admire him for his dedication and beliefs. He clearly lives them every day whether it’s dangerous to do so or not. That’s commitment.”
Nike considered her words. “I just wonder if your parents would be so open-minded if you married the guy, though.”
Shocked, Emma sat up. “Married?!” She’d said it a little louder than she’d thought. The entire A-team to their right collectively lifted their heads and stared at Emma. They soon turned, bent their heads and continued to shovel in the food as if they’d never get any more.
Heat flushed from Emma’s neck upward and stung her cheeks. She rolled her eyes, having no one to blame but herself for speaking too loudly. Nike grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. Emma leaned forward and whispered, “I haven’t thought of marriage, Nike.”
“Well, I didn’t either when I met Gavin, but that’s what happened,” Nike chuckled, resuming eating her meal.
“Did your family have issues with him being an American army captain because you’re from Greece? Did your parents get upset with the fact you are going to marry someone who wasn’t Greek?”
Nike wiped her mouth, took a sip of her coffee and said, “No, they didn’t. My dad was in the military for twenty years and is now a commercial pilot for a major Greek airline. He flies around the world. My mother is cosmopolitan, too. The only thing that gives them stress is that when I marry Gavin at the end of our tours, we’ll continue to be in the army. And so, we’re not going to be home in Greece. They’d like that, of course, but understand we have to go where the army assigns us.”
“Yes, but eventually, you will retire,” Emma said. “Would you live in Greece or the U.S.?”
“We don’t know that yet. My parents want us to live in Athens nea
r them. But Gavin’s farm parents want him to come and settle down near them in Nebraska. We’re not promising either set of parents anything at this point.”
“And Gavin isn’t Muslim,” Emma muttered.
“True, but you know what? I have a lot of friends who worship different gods. As long as they don’t push their religion on me and I don’t push my beliefs on them, we’re fine. Everyone has to be more open-minded.”
“It’s only the fanatics of any religion who cause trouble,” Emma agreed.
“So, if Khalid’s religion isn’t really an issue with your parents or you, why are you so hesitant?”
Emma picked up her fork and ate a few kernels of corn from her tray. “I just need time, Nike. I didn’t expect to like this man. I didn’t realize how heroic he really was deep down. Khalid has worked for the good of the common people here in his country ever since he returned from the U.S. And it’s not like he doesn’t have money. His father is a billionaire times ten. He uses the money to lift people out of the terrible poverty we see here.”
“Yeah, he’ll need billions to do that,” Nike muttered. “With all the bribes that are expected, I’m sure he goes through plenty of dough.”
Emma groaned. “Yes, bribery has been a way of life for Afghan people for thousands of years. It’s awful. I don’t see what or who is going to break this cycle, Nike. The chieftain of the region is always looking for money from Khalid.”
“Oh, you mean Jawid Khan. He’s a crafty devil,” Nike agreed with a slight smile. “But he’s like all chieftains. They have over four hundred and fifty different tribes that make up the country of Afghanistan. They’ve had this system enforced for thousands of years.”
Emma continued to nibble at the corn. “Khan is only forty-five years old and, really, he’s the one who is part of the Northern Alliance that has been fighting the Taliban for the last decade after the Russians gave up and left.”
Operation: Forbidden Page 13
