A laptop? How many times in the past when she’d tried showing him how to surf the net had he claimed he was technology challenged and just couldn’t get the hang of using a computer? She sniffed the air and picked up the smell of coffee. Evidently he’d made a pot while she was taking a shower. Coffee was something she’d never acquired the taste for. She preferred hot chocolate or herbal tea.
Crystal cleared her throat. “I’m finished.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t even turn around, but kept his back to her as he stared at the computer screen. Shoving the clothes she’d taken off earlier into the small travel laundry bag, she turned to put it into her luggage and saw the satchel on the bed. She picked it up. “You left something on my bed.”
It was then that he looked over his shoulder at her and at that moment she wished he hadn’t. Having those hazel eyes trained on her was sending spikes of desire up her spine. “I put it there. It’s yours.”
She lifted a brow. “Mine?”
“Yes.” He turned back to his computer.
She glanced down at the satchel. “What’s in it?”
Without turning back around to her he said, “Why don’t you look inside and see?”
* * *
Bane returned his attention to the computer screen, or at least he pretended to. He’d known the moment Crystal had walked out of the bathroom. Hearing the door open had sent all kinds of arousing sensations through him. The last thing he needed was to glance over at her. His control wasn’t all that great. Going without her for five years was playing havoc on his brain cells. Although he kept his eyes glued to the computer, he could hear her ease the leather strap of his satchel open. His wife never could resist her curiosity, and he’d known it.
“There are cards in here. A lot of cards and envelopes,” he heard her say. Yet he still refused to turn around.
“Yes. I remembered your birthday, our wedding anniversary, Valentine’s Day and Christmas every year. Although I couldn’t mail them to you, I bought them anyway and tucked them inside my satchel. I knew one day, when we got back together again, I’d have them for you.”
He could hear her shuffling through all those sealed envelopes. “There are letters in here, as well,” she said.
“Yes. Most of the other guys had wives or significant others to write home to, but again, I couldn’t do the same for you. So I got in the habit of writing you a letter whenever you weighed heavily on my mind.” He hoped she could tell from the number of letters he’d written that she’d consumed his mind a lot of the time.
“Thanks, Bane. This is a surprise. I hadn’t expected you to do this...for me.”
This time he couldn’t help but turn around when he said, “I would do just about anything for you, Crystal.”
It never ceased to amaze him how easily he could make her blush. At least that hadn’t changed. He could actually feel her gaze moving across his face as she held his stare and he wondered if she could feel him doing the same thing. Suddenly, she broke eye contact with him while drawing in a deep breath. He could see the nipples of her breasts pressing against the T-shirt she had on. It was supposed to fit large on her, but she still looked sexy as hell wearing it.
She glanced back down at the satchel. “I can’t wait to read the cards and letters.”
He nodded and then turned his attention back to his laptop just when the shrill ring of his mobile phone got his attention. He grabbed it off the desk. “This is Bane.”
He nodded and his jaw tightened as he listened to what his friend was telling him. Nick Stover, who used to be a member of his SEAL team, had decided to leave the field and go work for Homeland Security when his wife gave birth to triplets. Bane appreciated his friend’s inside scoop. But what he was telling him now had his temper rising.
When Nick was done, Bane said, “Okay. Thanks for letting me know so I can get in touch with Flip.”
He clicked off the phone and immediately called Flipper. There was no doubt Crystal had stopped whatever she was doing to listen to his conversation. He would have to tell her what was going on. But first, he had a question for her. He turned around and saw her staring at him.
“Is there anything in your home you want saved?”
She frowned. “What?”
“I asked if there’s anything in your house that you want to save.”
He could tell by the look on Crystal’s face that she was trying to figure out why he would ask her such a thing. Before he could explain himself further, he heard Flip pick up the phone. “This is Bane.” He knew Nick had already relayed the same information to Flip that he’d just told him.
“Yes, there are some things she wants to save.” Since Crystal hadn’t answered his question, just continued to look at him like he’d grown a set of horns or something, he said to Flip, “I know for certain she’ll want to save all the photographs on her fireplace mantel.”
Crystal crossed the room to stand next to him. “Hold it! Why are you telling him that, Bane? What’s happening to my house?”
Bane spoke into the phone. “I’ll call you back in a sec, Flip.” He then clicked off the phone and placed it back on the desk.
He regretted having to answer her question, but knew he had to. “In a couple of hours or so, your house will get burned down to the ground.”
Ten
Crystal felt the room spinning and wondered if she was about to fall flat on her face. Bane was obviously wondering the same thing because he was out of his chair in a flash and had grabbed hold of her arm to steady her.
“I think you need to sit down, Crystal,” he said, trying to ease her down into the chair he’d just vacated.
“No. I won’t sit down,” she said, telling herself she’d just imagined what he’d said about her house burning down. There was no way he could have said that. But all it took was to see the concerned look on his face to know she hadn’t imagined anything at all.
“Why would anyone want to burn my house down?” She just couldn’t fathom such a thing.
“Actually, it’s not just anyone. The order came from Homeland Security.”
Shock took over her features. “Homeland Security? Why would the government do something like that?”
“I told you about those other two chemists who were kidnapped. And now the kidnappers are trying to get their hands on you. It’s a serious situation, Crystal, and you’re talking about national security. As long as there’s a possibility something is in your house connected to the project you’re working on, then—”
“But I told you there wasn’t. I never bring work home.”
“The Department of Homeland Security can’t take any chances. Without you the bad guys will try to piece together what they need, and DHS can’t let them do that.”
“Fine. Get them on the phone.”
“Get who on the phone?”
“Someone at Homeland Security. Evidently you have their number. If they don’t believe you, then maybe they will believe me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
There was a moment of silence before he said, “Because right now we can’t trust anyone. Not even Homeland Security. At least until they find out what’s going on. Evidently, there’s a mole within the organization. Otherwise, how else would your project come under such close scrutiny?”
He moved around her to the cabinet that held the coffeepot, poured a cup and took a sip. He leaned back against the cabinet and added, “Homeland Security has no idea where you are. All they know is the bad guys haven’t nabbed you yet because they’re still trying to find you. Obviously, the person who sent you that note is one of the good guys and figured out what was about to go down, which is why he or she told you to disappear. For all they know, that’s what you did.”
He took another
sip of his coffee. “So beside those framed photographs over your fireplace, is there anything else in your house you want to save?”
Crystal drew in a deep breath. Technically, it wasn’t her house since she was leasing it. But it was where she’d made a home for the past year, putting her own signature on it with the decorating she’d done. What she’d liked most about her home was the screened-in patio. She could sit out there for hours and read. That made her realize that all the furniture she did own would probably be destroyed because it was too big to move out without attracting attention. The impact of that made her slide down in the chair. It was still warm from when Bane had sat in it.
“We don’t have much time, Crystal.”
She sat upright, glad she’d already packed her marriage license and placed it inside the photo album she’d kept for Bane. “My family Bible,” she said with resolve. “It’s in the nightstand drawer. And there are more pictures in a small trunk under my bed.”
“Okay.”
He returned to the desk and when he reached for his phone, his arm brushed against hers. The feel of their skin coming into contact made her draw in a sharp breath. He looked at her, holding her gaze for a minute, and she knew he’d felt the sizzle, as well. He continued to hold her gaze, letting her know she had his full attention while he talked on the phone. “Flip, check the nightstand drawer next to her bed and grab her family Bible. And there’s a small trunk under her bed.”
Moments later he clicked off the phone. “I see you haven’t outgrown that.”
“What?”
“Blushing.”
“Was I supposed to outgrow it?”
He smiled. “I have no complaints. In fact I’ve always enjoyed watching you blush.”
She tried to give him a small smile, but in all honesty, she had very little to smile about right now.
“I didn’t ask if you wanted a cup of coffee. Since you didn’t order a cup at that diner earlier tonight, I figured you’re still not a coffee drinker.”
She nodded. “And I see that you still are.”
“Yep.”
She frowned and broke eye contact with him to look at the cup he held in his hand. “Too much caffeine isn’t good for you.”
He chuckled. “So you’ve always said.”
“And so I know. Especially now that I’ve become a biochemist. It’s not good for your body.”
Why had she said that? And why after saying it did her gaze automatically move up and down his solid frame? Bane Westmoreland was so overwhelmingly sexy. He’d always possessed a magnetism that could draw her in. The man was such a perfect hunk of carved mahogany, it was a crying shame.
She moved her gaze off his body and up to his face, thinking his facial hair gave him a sexier look. He gave her a roguish smile and she could feel her cheeks flush. “Looking at me like that can get you in a lot of trouble, Crystal Gayle,” he murmured in a deep husky voice.
He was standing close, so close she could inhale his scent. Manly. Deliciously provocative. “Then, I won’t look at you,” she said, cutting her eyes elsewhere. Namely to her bed and all the cards and letters she’d pulled out of the satchel. “I don’t need any more trouble than I’m already in. It’s pretty bad when you have the government burning down your house. I’d like to see how they explain their actions to the insurance company.”
“They won’t have to. They will handle it in a way that makes it look like an electrical fire or something. It definitely won’t appear intentional.”
She lifted her chin. “Still, I don’t like it.” She eased up out of the chair, assuming he would step back and give her space. He didn’t, and it brought their bodies within touching distance of each other.
“You look good in your T-shirt and sweats, by the way,” he said softly. They were standing so close the heat of his words seemed to fan across her face.
She looked down at herself, thinking he had to be kidding. Both garments were old and ratty looking, but she remembered her manners and glanced up and said, “Thank you.”
The moment she looked into his face, she wished she hadn’t. The intense desire in the hazel eyes staring back at her was so profoundly sensual she felt a tug in the middle of her stomach.
Setting his coffee cup down, he moved closer. Before she knew what he was doing he reached out and placed his hands at her waist. But he didn’t stop there. As he inched his hands upward and gently caressed the curve of her body, he said, “I can’t get used to these. Where did all these curves come from?”
She shrugged. “Wish I knew. I just woke up one morning and they were there.” Why wasn’t she telling him to keep his hands to himself? Why did his touch feel so good?
He chuckled. “Only you would think these curves were an overnight thing.”
Although a part of her wished he didn’t do that, she kind of liked the way he would subtly remind her that they had a past. And she needed that because at times he seemed like such a stranger to her.
“Well,” she said, making a move to scoot around him. But he held tight to her waist and when he began lowering his head, she could just imagine how their tongues would mingle.
The moment he took hold of her mouth, his lips ground against hers and she was powerless to do anything but kiss him back.
* * *
Bane loved kissing Crystal. Always had and figured he always would. Their kisses weren’t just hot, they were flaming red-hot, and in no time he was shivering with desire. And like in the past, he had to taper his lust; otherwise he would have her spread out on that bed in no time. And he doubted she was ready for that just yet.
So he enjoyed this. The way she was provocatively returning his kiss. The way his mouth seemed to be in sync with hers, feeding off hers with a hunger he felt in every part of his body. As when he’d kissed her earlier tonight, it felt as if he’d finally come home to the woman he loved. He had been hungry for her taste for five years. He’d tried to remember just how delicious it was and knew his memories hadn’t come close. The intensity was clouding his mind and he could tell she wasn’t holding back, pouring everything into the kiss like he was doing.
She suddenly pulled her mouth away and drew in a deep breath. When she licked her bottom lip, he was tempted to kiss her again, take his own tongue and lick her lips.
“We should not have done that, Bane,” she said softly. And the look of distress in her eyes touched him.
“Don’t see why not. You’re my wife.”
“I don’t feel like your wife.”
“That can be remedied, sweetheart,” he said in a provocative drawl.
“I know,” she said, looking at him with a serious expression. “But sleeping with you won’t make me feel as if I know you any better. I need time, Bane. I don’t need you to rush me into anything.”
“I won’t.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and he wished she hadn’t done that when he saw her nipples pressed against her T-shirt. “Then, what was that kiss about just now?”
He smiled. “Passion. You can’t deny you felt it. I want you so much, Crystal.” He saw uneasiness line her pupils. “Relax, baby. You will let me know when you’re ready. One day you will realize that no matter how long it’s been, I’m still your husband.”
She shook her head. “But we haven’t seen each other in five years.”
He frowned. Was she saying that because she wasn’t sure she still loved him after all this time? He refused to believe that. “Trust me, Crystal,” he heard himself say softly. “After reading all my cards and letters to you, I have no doubt you’ll see what I mean.”
His cell phone rang and when he turned to pick it up, she used that time to quickly move away from him and back to the bed.
“This is Bane.” He nodded a few times. “Okay, Flip. Thanks and I owe you.” He then clicked off t
he phone.
He looked over at her. “That was Flip. He wanted to let me know he collected all the items you wanted saved. And by the way. Did you know your house was bugged?”
* * *
Crystal was experiencing one shock after another. First Bane returned after five years. Then she was on the run from men who wanted to kidnap her. Then the government wanted to burn her house down. And now she was being told it was bugged?
“That’s not possible. Nobody I work with has ever been invited to my home. They consider me a recluse.”
Bane nodded. “Where did the stuffed giraffe come from?”
She frowned. “The stuffed giraffe?”
“Yes.”
She thought for a minute. “It was a gift from one of my coworkers, who took a trip to South Africa earlier this year. She brought everyone souvenirs back.”
“Who was this generous person?”
“A biochemist by the name of Jasmine Ross.”
“Well, yours was given to you with a purpose. Flip saw it on your dresser and figured it would be something you’d want to keep, as well. When his sensor went off he knew it contained an audio bugging device. He proved his suspicions true when he gutted it. I guess someone thought they could catch you saying something about your research on the phone or something.”
“Well, they were wrong.” Things were getting crazier by the minute and she couldn’t believe it. “Were there others?”
Bane shook his head. “Flip and his brothers combed the rest of the house and didn’t detect anything. Now you see why Homeland Security wants to burn it down to the ground?”
No, she still didn’t see it. “They could have found another way.”
“Evidently not.”
She didn’t like Bane’s attitude, as if he was perfectly fine with someone torching the place where she lived. Turning her back to him, she angrily began shoving all the cards and envelopes back into the satchel. She was in no mood to read anything now. All she wanted to do was get into bed and rest her brain.
“I’ll take my shower now.”
“Fine.” Crystal was tempted to turn around but refused to do so. She planned to be in bed and dead asleep by the time he came out of the bathroom.
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