The Reunion Mission: The Reunion MissionTall Dark Defender

by Beth Cornelison

  Daniel slid a covert side glance to her, studying her reaction as her gaze moved from one picture to another.

  “Oh, my gosh,” she chuckled, “I bet you hate that picture. Look at your pout!” She met his eyes, her lips twitching with humor. “Were you a grumpy little boy, Mr. LeCroix?”

  The urge to kiss her teasing grin slammed him so hard he had to catch his breath before he could reply. “No more than most. I’m smiling in all the other pictures.”

  Her attention returned to the photo album for a moment. When she raised her head again, warmth filled her face.

  “So you are.” She smoothed a finger over one of the photos, and his skin reacted as if she’d stroked him instead. “That’s the smile that stole my heart the night we met.”

  Stole her heart? The phrase sent a shock wave through him, though with effort, he masked his surprise, suppressed it. His smile hadn’t been enough to build a relationship on after she’d used him in her rebellion against her father years ago.

  His fingers tightened on the photo album as a familiar knot of bitter disappointment swelled in his chest. He couldn’t allow himself to forget the pain and sense of betrayal he’d known that morning and in the months that followed. He’d buried himself in special operations training, praying he could forget Nicole and the hope she’d crushed in that overheard phone call to her father. But he’d never completely erased her from his heart or his mind. And now, here he was sharing the house he’d grown up in with her, protecting her from an unknown threat...and in danger of falling for her all over again, if he didn’t find a way to fight the old feelings stirring to life again and keep her at arm’s length.

  “Oh, there’s the requisite I-lost-a-tooth shot.” Nicole angled another grin at him, and he ignored the acceleration in his pulse. “Do you remember what the tooth fairy brought you?”

  “I didn’t have a tooth fairy.”

  “What?” Nicole sounded truly offended on his behalf. “Why not?”

  “Doesn’t matter. I had a good childhood,” he said, hearing the note of defensiveness in his tone. “I had plenty of reason to be happy, to smile, even though I lost my parents when I was twelve. We didn’t have much materially, but I never knew it. What we lacked in things, my parents and Mémère made up for in the love they gave me.”

  “Oh, Daniel...” Nicole stared at him with a certain sadness in her eyes. A bittersweet smile that felt too much like pity to Daniel tugged her lips.

  He closed the photo album with a grunt and shoved to his feet, wincing when a sharp ache shot through his knee. The pain only fueled his frustration with the elusive dissatisfaction that nagged him. “I’m not looking for sympathy! I have no regrets from my childhood. I’m proud of my family, my heritage.”

  Pilar raised a startled looked, and Nicole blinked her surprise at his outburst. “As you should be. I never said otherwise.”

  Daniel sucked in a deep breath, his nose flaring and his hands fisting at his sides. Get a grip, man. She hadn’t said anything derogatory about his Cajun roots. Not today, anyway, and not since he’d brought her home from Colombia. But being with her in this house had him on edge.

  “Forget it,” he grumbled, picking up his crutches and heading outside. “I’ll be on the porch.”

  The weight of Nicole’s stare followed him as he left, and his gut tightened. Like a storm rolling in from the Gulf, a showdown between them was coming, and he dreaded the fallout.

  * * *

  Nicole carried her glass of iced tea toward the front porch but stopped behind the screened door when she spotted Pilar sitting with Daniel. He sat in one of the rocking chairs with his injured leg propped on a large bucket he’d turned upside down, and Pilar stared at the ugly red surgical scar visible through Daniel’s knee brace.

  “Pilar,” he said softly, and the little girl glanced up. He crooked his finger, motioning her closer. She walked to his side, and Daniel put an arm around her shoulders, turning her and pointing toward the bayou. “Look.”

  Nicole looked the direction he indicated and spotted a beautiful blue heron strutting through the water, searching the shallows for fish.

  Pilar angled her head to grin at Daniel, and Nicole’s heart tripped. The little girl had a beautiful smile, and Nicole’s spirits lifted seeing the child happy at last. Was it the new hope Pilar had of being reunited with her father that made her feel safer, more cheerful, willing to smile?

  No sooner had that thought filtered through her mind than Daniel flashed a warm grin back at the little girl. Now Nicole’s heart thundered. When he smiled, Daniel could melt the hardest heart. This was the man she’d fallen so hard for five years ago at the Mardi Gras ball, the man with whom she’d spent a sensual night and with whom she’d envisioned her future. Perhaps part of Pilar’s happiness had to do with Daniel. She couldn’t blame Pilar for developing a crush on the handsome man who’d rescued her twice.

  With a flap of its massive wings, the heron took flight, and Pilar tracked the bird with her gaze, until it disappeared behind the cypress trees that lined the bayou. Pulling her chair closer to Daniel’s, Pilar settled in, staring again at the injured knee.

  “Te duele?” Pilar asked in a tiny voice, her finger lightly touching Daniel’s scar.

  Nicole was so startled to hear Pilar speak, she gasped.

  Pilar and Daniel both swiveled their heads toward the door where Nicole stood. Caught spying on the duo, Nicole pushed through the screen door and took the rocking chair next to Daniel’s. “She asked if your knee hurts.”

  He shot Nicole a strange look, then arched one black eyebrow and said dryly, “Thanks.”

  “Wh—”

  Before she could finish, he turned back to Pilar and, with a devastating smile, replied, “No mucho. Espero que la cicatriz tan horrible que tengo no ahuyente a las chicas bonitas.”

  Pilar giggled and shook her head. “No creo.”

  Nicole kicked herself mentally. Hello? The guy had worked undercover in Colombia for who-knows-how-long. Of course he spoke Spanish.

  He met her stunned, somewhat embarrassed look with a smug grin. “I told her I hoped my ugly scar didn’t scare away all the pretty girls. She said it wouldn’t.”

  “I’m sorry. I forgot you would know Spanish because of your work in South America.”

  “Instead, you assumed I couldn’t understand her. Why?”

  She blinked, taken aback by the bitterness behind his question. “Well...most people wouldn’t have.”

  “Most Cajuns wouldn’t? Is that what you mean?”

  She bristled. “What is that supposed to mean? I’m not a bigot!”

  He waved her off. “Forget it.”

  Nicole tensed and leaned toward him. “No, explain. Why do you think I would make any judgments about you based on your heritage?”

  “You have before.”

  She sputtered a laugh. “What? When?”

  He rolled his eyes and shook his head, frowning. “Are you kidding me?”

  Nicole spread her hands. “No. Please enlighten me.”

  A muscle jumped in his jaw. “The night we spent together, five years ago.”

  Her pulse sped up, remembering the sensual glide of his body against hers, the heat of his kisses and the breathy moans of satisfaction they’d both made. But she couldn’t recall anything he could have misconstrued as bigotry. She shook her head. “Still clueless. What did I do?”

  He glanced at Pilar, and Nicole noticed the girl’s worried frown for the first time. Even if she couldn’t understand the words, Pilar could obviously tell from the tone of their voices and their expressions that the conversation had turned angry and personal.

  “Dang it,” Nicole fussed under her breath then flashed the girl a forced smile. “Todo está bien. Everything’s all right, mija.”

  Pilar looked skeptical and shifted her gaze to Daniel.

  With a lopsided grin, he turned up a palm and shrugged. “Alguien debe haber puesto un insecto en su desayuno.”

 
Again Pilar giggled.

  “What did you tell her? Something about breakfast.”

  Daniel gave Nicole a nonchalant glance. “That someone must have put an insect in yours.”

  Rolling her eyes heavenward, she leaned closer to Daniel. “We’re not through with this conversation.” She kept her volume low and shot Daniel a pointed look. “We have to talk about it eventually... Soon, preferably.”

  “Let it go,” he returned flatly.

  Gritting her teeth, Nicole huffed her exasperation, then met Pilar’s gaze and pointed at Daniel. “Él está loco.”

  “Sí, loco.” Daniel wiggled his fingers on either side of his head and crossed his eyes.

  Pilar laughed and snuggled closer to Daniel’s side. “Sí.”

  Nicole grinned, touched by Daniel’s attempts to bring Pilar out of her shell. “Well, it seems we’re all in agreement.”

  Daniel grunted and returned his gaze to the still waters of the bayou. “Pilar, my dear, have you ever been fishing?” He met the girl’s eyes and repeated the question in Spanish.

  When she shook her head, Daniel seized his crutches and hoisted himself out of his chair. “Then I’m going to teach you.”

  He limped to the other end of the porch and grabbed two cane poles that leaned against the house. Leaving one of the crutches behind, Daniel started down the porch steps and hitched his head, signaling Pilar to follow. “Come on, tadpole. Let’s catch dinner.”

  Pilar’s glance asked approval from Nicole.

  “Go on.” She waved her away with her fingers. “Te puedes ir.”

  Her expression curious, Pilar rose from her seat and joined Daniel on the lawn, taking the fishing pole he handed her.

  “Be careful,” Nicole called, not sure if she was more worried about Pilar, experiencing the wildlife of the bayou for the first time, or Daniel, dealing with his injured leg on uneven, sometimes murky terrain.

  Daniel tapped the walkie-talkie clipped to his hip. Jake had purchased the short-distance radios for just this type of circumstance. At the moment, Nicole’s was still sitting in the charging cradle plugged in the kitchen outlet.

  He leveled a penetrating gaze on Nicole. “Keep your radio close. If anything seems off, if you so much as think a mosquito has gotten in the house, call me.”

  Nicole straightened. “I thought we were here because it is so remote, so safe. Do you really think—?”

  “No. I think you’ll be fine. And I’m only going a few yards down the bank to my old pirogue dock.” His eyebrows lowered, deepening his scowl. “But I’d rather not take any chances. There’s a gun in the first kitchen drawer. If you need it, don’t hesitate to use it.”

  * * *

  After Daniel and Pilar left, Nicole carried Daniel’s encrypted cell phone out to the porch, hoping to get more than one bar of reception so she could check in again with her father. The connection was marginally better outside, so she settled in the rocking chair Daniel had vacated and held the phone to her ear.

  After assuring her father that she was fine and refusing once more to tell him where they were, Nicole asked if Ramon Diaz had been in touch.

  “He’s called every day, Nic. He’s getting pressure from his government to bring Pilar home before this turns into a political issue. You are holding the child of an important Colombian official, you know.”

  “I know, Dad, but Daniel thinks we—”

  “LeCroix? He shouldn’t even be involved in this! He’s trouble, Nic. He’s up to something. I know he is.”

  “He protecting us the best way he knows how.”

  “He has an ulterior motive. Just a few months ago, he swore to my face that he’d destroy me. How can you trust him?”

  “Daddy, stop. Please?” Nicole rubbed her eyes and groaned. “Can’t you two put your differences behind you and realize that we’re all on the same side? This bickering and hostility between you two...” She opened her eyes in time to see a turtle scuttle from a log into the brown bayou. “Well, it hurts me. I care about you both. Deeply. And—” She stopped abruptly when she realized what she’d said.

  She had deep feelings for Daniel. But what feelings? Gratitude, certainly. He had saved her life several times. Admiration, yes. Daniel had risen far in a short time and made a difference in the fight against terrorism. Lust? Definitely. In spades.

  “Nicole.” Her father’s wary tone intruded on her reflection. “Are you telling me you’re in love with this man?”

  A tremor shot to her core. “I...don’t know. He’s changed since I knew him before.”

  He scoffed. “Did you ever really know him?”

  Nicole scowled. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you had a reckless one-night fling with him a few years ago, but then he left town and... I thought that had been the end of it.”

  Out of habit, Nicole bristled a bit at the word reckless. When she did something impromptu—like leaving her nursing job to help at a medical mission camp in a poverty stricken area of Colombia—she was reckless. When her father made snap decisions, he was bold and daring.

  Then the rest of his comment resonated inside her. “What do you know about his leaving town?”

  Her father hesitated. “Only what you’ve told me.”

  “I never said he left town. Even when I left for Colombia, I still had no clue what happened to him. The Navy wouldn’t tell me anything, and he never called. I...” A chill of suspicion slithered through her. “Daddy...what...” She took a slow breath for courage. “What did you do?”

  “Do? I don’t know what you mean, what did I do?” Her father might be good at bluffing with reporters and his colleagues, but she heard the slight wobble in his tone.

  Acid pooled in her stomach. What part had her father played in keeping her and Daniel apart? Was her father behind the bitterness that Daniel felt toward her? “How did you know he left town?”

  “Like I said, I thought you told me that. But it’s been years, honey.” He laughed stiffly. “I’ve slept since then.”

  “Fine. I’ll ask Daniel.” Nicole rolled her eyes. Liked he’d tell her! Keeping mum about the past was one thing Daniel had in common with her father.

  “Nicole, I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. I remember how you felt when he walked out on you last time. Who’s to say he won’t abandon you like that again?”

  His question cut her to the quick, because he’d hit on the very fear she’d been skirting around for days. Don’t fall for him again. Don’t let yourself form those old attachments to him, she’d warned herself. Not only had he made no promises for the future, he sometimes acted like he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. So why was he here with her at all? She’d give anything to be able to read that enigmatic mind of Daniel’s, see past his shuttered expression. Years ago, he’d worn his heart on his sleeve. He’d been open about his passion for her, his hope for the future, his zest for life.

  His black ops work, she realized with a sinking heart. They’d trained him to hide his thoughts, show no emotion.

  “Nicole?”

  When her father spoke, she yanked herself from the silence into which she’d lapsed. “I don’t know what will come of my relationship with Daniel, Daddy. But for my sake, if you two could put your differences to rest and at least be civil...” She sighed, wondering if such a truce was even possible.

  “So...you are looking for a future with him? You have feelings for him? Real feelings? Because any adoration you have for his heroics in rescuing you is not enough to build a relationship on.”

  Nicole pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m aware of that.”

  She heard her father blow out a breath. “All right. I’ll do my best to accept him. For your sake.”

  She opened her mouth to tell him his concession might be premature, that there was nothing between her and Daniel to accept. But the murmur of voices called her attention to the bank of the bayou where Daniel and Pilar were making their way back up to the house.

  Just the s
ight of Daniel, his skin a deeper bronze after only an hour in the sun, made her pulse stutter and her breath snag in her lungs. The bright daylight accentuated his ebony eyes and the masculine cut of his cheeks and square jaw. He flashed Pilar a white smile as they crossed the yard, and a bayou breeze ruffled his black hair. Her fingers twitched around the cell phone, remembering the silky feeling of his hair threading through her fingers as they’d made love. His dark Cajun features easily topped her list of reasons to love his heritage.

  “I just want what’s best for you,” her father said, interrupting her ogling and sensual memories of Daniel.

  Nicole cleared her throat. “Thank you, Dad. I’ve got to go now.” She started to disconnect then added, “I love you.”

  “Same here, sweetheart. Be careful. And call again soon so I know you’re okay.”

  “I’ll try.” She tapped the disconnect button and set Daniel’s phone aside just as he and Pilar reached the foot of the porch steps.

  He sent her a dubious look. “Who was that?”

  She shook her head, dismissing the call as trivial, and focused her attention on the fish dangling from the line Pilar held. “You caught some!”

  The girl’s face lit with excitement, and she held up their catch—two good-size catfish and one very small fish Nicole couldn’t identify. Keeping her tone cheerful and bright, she asked Daniel, “Isn’t that third one too small to keep?”

  He smiled back, keeping up the pretense. “Yeah. But there was no way I was going to make her throw back the first fish she’d ever reeled in. That’d just be mean.”

  “Cena!” Pilar said, beaming. Dinner.

  Nicole braced a hand on her hip. “I hope you don’t think I’m cleaning those!”

  “Squeamish, are we?” Daniel asked, using the porch railing and one crutch to help him hop up the steps on his good leg.

  “Just sayin’.”

  When he reached the porch, he stepped toward her, so that she had to angle her chin up to meet his eyes. So that he was near enough for her to feel his body heat, near enough to smell traces of the soap he’d used in the shower that morning. His proximity caused a quiver deep in her core. The intensity of his gaze as he hovered over her shot longing through her like liquid fire.