by Carolyn Lee
"Yeah, well, like I said I wasn't intentionally spying." She fished her cell phone out of her pocket. "I've got to call this in to my boss. I'm not so sure the DEA has jurisdiction anymore."
Keegan drove as Nikki placed her call. She was right, the weapons probably took the case out of the DEA's hands or, at the very least, gave joint jurisdiction to the ATF. Heck, Border Patrol might even get involved if the shipments were coming in through the ports. He liked the idea of working a case with the spitfire sitting beside him in the passenger's seat.
"Hey, Henry. You aren't going to believe this. No drugs."
"No drugs?" Keegan heard Nikki's boss yell through the phone. She looked over at him, an apologetic look on her face and shrugged.
"Henry, calm down and quit yelling in my ear."
"Sorry, Nik." Her boss's voice filled the car again. This time she took the phone from her ear and put it on speaker to save her hearing. "But don't tell me we just wasted hundreds of hours of man power on this case."
"Oh crap. I didn't call off the back up."
Henry groaned. "I'll call you back in a minute."
"He gets a little emotional, huh?" Keegan asked as he pulled onto the road that led to his house.
"Yeah, you could say that." The phone rang in her hand. "It's Henry." She tuned it on to speaker again. "Hello, Henry."
"The guys were still stuck in traffic. I told them to turn around. Now, if there weren't drugs then what are we dealing with? It better be something good."
"A truck load of guns and gun parts good enough?"
"How many we talking about when you say truckload?"
"A pallet of boxes," Keegan said without thinking.
"Who the hell are you? Nikki, who the hell is that with you?" Henry's bellow filled the cab of the car.
"Remember that guy I told you about?"
"Your suspect?"
Keegan laughed out loud at Henry's accusation.
"What's so funny?" Henry demanded.
Nikki held a finger up to her lips indicating he should stay quiet. Keegan nodded. They were almost to his place anyway.
"Nothing, Henry. Turns out the guy—his name is Keegan James by the way—is Border Patrol."
"Oh. Hey man, sorry."
"No worries," Keegan replied. He turned the car into the driveway, his eyes scanning the area for trespassers with big guns. Everything looked quiet. He parked Nikki's car next to his truck and turned the key to off.
"Anyway, we poked around, found a mess of guns and then got shot at by one of the thugs dealing that stuff."
"Someone shot you?"
"No, Henry, not me. My car. The back window is gone, but I haven't gotten out yet to check the rest."
"But, you're okay?" Henry's worry was obvious. A little too much so for him being her boss.
"I'm fine, I promise. I think we need to call ATF. You know anyone over there?"
"Yeah. I'll call a buddy of mine and get back to you."
"So, how long has your boss been in love with you?" Keegan turned to look at Nikki and gauge her reaction.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Her brown eyes widened and her skin flushed a deep crimson.
"Come on, you can't tell me you didn't know. Are you sleeping with him?"
Nikki reached up and slapped Keegan across the cheek. "You're an ass!"
He pressed his palm to the place her hand had made contact. The skin was hot and it stung. "Why'd you hit me? That's assault on a federal agent."
"Doesn’t count when it's a federal agent doing the hitting. Cancels out."
"Oh, is that how it works?"
"You accused me of sleeping with my boss. You sleeping with yours?"
Not anymore.
"I don't technically have a job right now."
"Border Patrol?"
"Haven't started yet. Anyway, about your boss."
"He's not in love with me. He is my dad's best friend. He just looks out for me, is all."
"If you say so. What do we do now?"
"We don't do anything. This is my case. Not yours. You aren't even technically employed, remember?"
"This is my property and someone just tried to kill me on it. I am not going to let that go with a smile and a handshake. Like it or not, Agent Nikki, I'm here to stay. We can either work together or not. It's up to you, but I've got a brother in Homeland Security that is going to want to know about this."
"You have a brother in Homeland and you are Border Patrol. Got a cousin in the FBI too?"
"Nope. I just left there after ten years though, so I have a few connections. I also have a couple of cop cousins and a mother that can work a shotgun like a sharpshooter. There is even a distant relative in the CIA, another with NCIS. Oh, and I also have a cousin at ATF. I've got all the backup I need."
She studied him for a long time with those green eyes of hers. Keegan felt waves of energy ripple over him as she stared. Blood pooled below his waist. He shifted to try to hide the evidence of what her attention was doing to his insides. Finally, a slow smile spread across her lips. Lips he definitely wanted to get to know better.
"Fine. We can work together on this."
"Good. So, what do we do now?"
"You've got all the answers, you tell me."
Nikki was feisty. Keegan was used to stuffy, suit-wearing business types. The woman in the car with him wore jeans that fit her like a second skin, a red sweater and dark brown, knee-high boots. Her hair was thick and unruly but the way the curls fell around her face was downright sexy. He resisted the urge to bury his fingers in that hair and pull her toward him.
You need to get your head in the game, man! Gun runners have taken over your property, remember?
He remembered all right. If not for the light, airy scent of Nikki's perfume, he could probably have focused on it.
"I need some air." Keegan jumped from the car and headed over to his truck.
"You all right there, Border Patrol?" Nikki came up beside him.
"Yup. Fine. Just needed to stretch and get a little fresh oxygen."
"Fresh oxygen? You sure you're okay?"
His muscles were tense, his chest tight. The heart racing inside it seemed to gain speed with every passing second. He ignored her probing stare, afraid that if he looked her in the eye all the fresh oxygen in the atmosphere wouldn't keep him from suffocating.
What the hell was going on with him?
Maybe it was a panic attack. Logan used to get them when he was young, after his dad killed his mom and he came to live with them. His cousin used to describe the feeling much the same as what he was experiencing.
No. It couldn't be. Keegan was known for his calm, cool demeanor. Even in the face of pure evil and devastation he never wavered in his stoicism. So, why was he completely losing it at the moment? A hand on his arm nearly made him jump out of his skin.
"You look strange. Should I—call someone? Maybe your matchmaker mother?"
His arm burned where her hand rested with the kind of sweet pain he could really get used to. Keegan studied the long, tanned fingers wrapped across arm and wondered what he had to do to— Wait! Did she say she was going to call his mother? Her smile told him she was kidding. Thank God.
"Um, no. I'm fine. Must be the adrenaline dump from all the excitement." Yeah, right. Never affected you before. "We need a plan."
"Not until Henry calls back. If this is ATF jurisdiction we don't want to get in a pissing match."
A pissing match. Man, he was really starting to like this woman.
10
Nikki
What the hell was going on with that guy? One minute they were talking about the case and then next he was flitting around like a humming bird on speed. Now he wanted to make a plan. Like they were partners. Not happening. This girl liked to work alone.
Her phone rang. "Hey, Henry."
"Hey, Nik. You sure you're okay? Your old man'll kill me if he finds out someone was shooting at you."
"I'm a federal agent
with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Pretty sure the old man knows there is a certain level of danger with my job."
"Maybe. Or maybe he's living in the land of denial, counting on me to keep you safe."
"Please, Henry. I don't need a babysitter."
"Well, you're getting one. ATF is taking the case. I need you to get back here right away so we can all have a sit down."
"No."
"What do you mean, no?" There was quiet anger building in her boss's voice.
"I mean, I put a lot of time into this case. I'm not just handing it over to some other agency because they say so."
"I wasn't asking, Nik. This is an order. Get your ass back here."
"You can't tell me what to do."
"Um, yes. Yes, I can. Because I am your boss!" She could actually hear his fist slam against his metal desk.
"Don't get all worked up, Henry. I'll be there in a little bit."
"Alone?"
"What?"
"Will you be alone or are you planning to bring your new friend with you? You know, the guy you thought was a suspect in your case?"
Nikki rolled her eyes. Not like Henry could see her, it was just a habit when her boss irritated her. "I guess I totally screwed this whole thing up, didn't I? Got the wrong guy and the wrong dope."
Keegan walked back and forth slowly behind his house, hands shoved in his pockets and looking very interested in the foundation—probably just eavesdropping and didn't want her to know.
"It's not like that, Nikki. How could you know? They are an international cartel and a very successful one at that—because they know how to slip under the radar. You found their transfer location. That's half the battle."
"Yeah, well, they are going to change that up right quick. Someone saw us. They know we know. I don't think I should leave here. Someone needs to keep an eye on this place."
"They don't necessarily know you're a fed though. With any luck they just thought you were a nosy neighbor and they scared you off. Either way, I've got Barron and Lewis on the way to sit on it. As soon as they get there, you come back in so we can make a plan to get the bastards."
She let out a long, heavy sigh. "Fine, Henry. If that's an order?"
"Take it as such, Nikki." Without another word, Henry hung up. He didn't need to say anything else. The implication was there in his voice. Get her ass back to headquarters or maybe get a new job.
"Hey, James!" She waved Keegan over. As long as she had to work with the ATF, she might as well bring Keegan in. So much for working alone.
Come on, lady, you know you don't mind having him around.
True but she wasn't about to admit that the incredibly sexy, almost Border Patrol agent did things to her common sense she was seriously trying to ignore.
"What's up?" He sauntered over, completely relaxed. Nothing like the nut job she thought he was ten minutes ago.
"I've gotta go see the boss. ATF is joining us. You up for a little field trip?"
"Always up for anything." He winked and grinned. "ATF, huh? Not exactly where you thought this would end up is it?"
"I'm DEA. Drugs are my thing."
Keegan laughed. "Leaving the guns to the big boys?"
"What the boss says, goes. As soon as our back up gets here to sit on this stuff, we'll go talk to him. See where to go next."
"As long as we're waiting, I'm going to check a couple of things in the house. Got my contractor coming in later and he had a few questions."
Nikki gave the house a once over before returning her attention to Keegan. "What made you want to buy an old place like this anyway? There's so much new construction in Virginia Beach. Have you seen the condos down at the ocean front?"
"My brother's wife used to live down there. They are beautiful. Just not my style."
"No, I suppose not." He definitely didn't have the preppy, businessman style she usually saw down that way. Dressed the way he was, he looked more like he should be on the back of horse than in the standard Lexus or Mercedes she saw down by the water.
"Come on, you want to take a walk through with me?"
Oh, how she really wanted to but she had a building full of evidence that was her responsibility. Nikki glanced back to where the guns were stored, cursing her moral compass and work ethic.
"I better stay here and wait. I don't want to risk them coming back and taking the stuff before back up gets here."
"I doubt they will return before nightfall. We would hear their truck if they did. But it's okay. I understand. I'd probably do the same thing."
Nikki watched as he walked away, resisting the urge to follow. Her brain knew she had to stay and do her job but her body was hoping she would simply ignore the logical part of her. Keegan was such an anomaly. When she ran into him on the beach, he looked like he belonged on the sand. Now, out here in the country, she couldn't imagine him anywhere else. The sudden need to see the place he would soon call home overwhelmed her. Her feet began to move without direction from her brain. Before she knew it, she stood at the foot of the porch steps wondering what the master bedroom looked like.
The door in front of her was massive and imposing. As intricate as the design was, it had to have been hand carved with a forged iron knob and placket. The key hole was designed to fit a skeleton key so there was a good chance it was original to the house. Her stupid body betrayed her even more by climbing the stairs and turning that impressive knob. She stepped inside and gasped at the small entry way. Under the layers of dust and grime and neglect, beautiful woodwork begged for love and attention. The foyer split off on both sides to living space that boasted huge, hand hewn ceiling beams and wide floor planks. The blacksmith forged nails with square heads rather than round were hammered into the floor boards at surprisingly exact intervals. Above her head footsteps sounded. Nikki followed the flow of the space to a narrow staircase and began her ascent to the second story.
As she reached the landing, Keegan stepped out of one of the rooms nearly running into her. Nikki startled, losing her balance and started to topple backward toward the stairs but Keegan grabbed her and pulled her to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he chuckled. "We really have to stop meeting like this."
Nikki laughed too. "I know, right?"
"So, you decided come inside after all?" Keegan asked, not letting loose of his hold on her. She didn’t mind that one bit, even though she knew she should.
"My curiosity got the best of me, I suppose."
"I'm glad." There was an intensity in his eyes as looked down at her that made Nikki's body hum. Was he going to kiss her? This was the twenty first century, she should just kiss him.
No! No kissing!
Why not? Keegan's eyes seemed to be asking the same question as he slowly lowered his head toward hers. Nikki ran her tongue lightly across her lips to moisten the suddenly dry surface. With their mouths just a whisper of space apart, Keegan sighed and said, "I think we may have a problem."
Oh, they had several problems but none of them mattered at the moment.
"Yeah? What kind of problem?" Nikki asked. The only problem she could see is the fact that she could barely breathe at the moment.
"A vehicle just pulled in the driveway."
Damn. Now that was a problem. The last thing she needed was to be caught making out with Keegan in front of her team. She would never live it down. Nikki took a step back, disengaging herself from Keegan's embrace. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she nodded. "I'll go meet them while you finish up in here."
"Do they always have such impeccable timing?" Keegan asked, sounding a little annoyed which made her smile.
"Like a bad rash. Always showing up when you least want them to." She turned and bounded down the steps, laughing the whole way at the surprised look on Keegan's face.
"I'll be right there!" he called after her as she stepped out of the front door.
"Hey, guys!" Nikki waved to the two men getting out of the well-worn agency owned Ford Crown Victoria.
"He
ar you got shot, Nik." Jeff Barron said as he walked toward her.
"Not me. My new Impala"
"Aw, man, that sucks." Mark Lewis, the other agent said as he inspected the damage to her vehicle that sat parked in the drive next to Keegan's truck.
"Yeah, it really does."
"I'm just glad it wasn't my brand new truck there." Keegan stepped onto the stoop and turned to lock the front door. She was right, it was an actual skeleton key he used. "I just drove her off the lot two days ago."
Jeff was walking around the black Ford F-250 and letting out a long, low whistle. "This here is one pretty sweet looking vehicle."
"Thanks, man. Traded in my BMW for it," Keegan replied, his hand outstretched.
Jeff shook his hand and nodded toward the truck. "It must be pretty crazy going from a Beamer to a beauty like that. Name's Jeff Barron. This here is my partner Mark Lewis."
"Definitely an adjustment but I like it. Nice to meet you both." He shook hands with Mark before turning his attention back to Nikki. "So, you're here to keep an eye on things?"
"Yeah," Jeff replied. "Nikki here is always getting into some mess she needs us to bail her out of."
Nikki punched him on the upper arm. "Excuse me, but I'm pretty sure I'm the one always bailing your ass out."
"Language, Nik." Mark covered his ears with his palms. "Virgin ears over here."
"Ha! Right. Don't let me offend your sensibilities. I'm sure they don't cuss on those porn sites you like to check out."
"Geez! Get a guy below the belt why don't you? It's not porn, it's a matchmaking website. We don't all have your luck getting dates. Some of us need a little scientific help finding love."
Did the whole agency know about her ex? "Go to hell, Lewis."
"So, you've tried that internet dating stuff? My mother keeps trying to get me to sign up on one."
"Your mother?" Jeff asked, laughing. "She pack your lunch and wash your shorts too?"
Keegan grinned. "If I let her, she would. Ma's got an issue with getting old. She wants her kids married and well into the baby making business before she can die happy."
