“I got you.” He gently cleaned the wound with alcohol swabs from the first aid kit, trying to wipe off the evidence of their enemies being a little too close for comfort.
She gritted her teeth through the stinging until he carefully placed gauze on the area. “Let’s get back on the road.”
Mia drove out of the motel parking lot, mentally preparing for what needed to be done once she made it to the house. She glanced over as Calvin moved the bookbag to the back seat. She hit a two-lane highway and a familiar Suburban came into view, with the Tahoe not too far behind.
Damn!
She picked up speed down the dark two-lane highway. The Suburban was hot on her tail. She lifted her foot from the pedal as they neared a slow-moving Honda Accord. She slid the Lincoln around the Accord, getting behind a Prius before the headlights reached her. The Suburban waited until an oncoming car passed. Mia used the lights from the Prius to see the curves in the road and drove at top speed with her lights completely off.
“What the hell are you doing?” Calvin reached for the dashboard as if preparing for impact.
“Trying to keep us alive.” She turned the lights back on too late for the Suburban to react to the sudden curve. Their pursuers careened into the grassland. A loud boom resounded as the Suburban crashed into the metal fence around the field. The sound of rubber fighting to grip the pavement filled the air as the Tahoe slammed on brakes so it wouldn’t meet the same fate. Bright lights in the distance suddenly disappeared, signaling her opportunity to change directions. Mia turned off, heading to the expressway.
“Where are we headed now?”
“A place I spent most of my summers.”
Her grandparents’ former house in a small town in Richland Parish in northeastern Louisiana wouldn’t be a place on anyone’s radar. Only one gravel road led in and out of the street surrounded by either trees or cotton fields. At least she’d hear anyone coming for them and would have a plan in place. Once night fell, she would have the advantage.
Mia realized that only her company was aware of the change of plans. Calvin hadn’t texted his friend, Gordon, about the modification until around dinner. Another reason the breach couldn’t have been him. Besides, he wouldn’t have known where she was supposed to drop off the case. Mr. Martin and Walter were still her top suspects.
Hours later, they got one last fill up and made it to a grocery store before it closed. Mia was relieved when she finally heard the gravel crunching under the wheels of the tires as they approached the carport of a ranch-style brick house tucked off the back road.
“Where are you going?” Calvin asked as she drove onto the grass. “Parking. None of the roads back here have street signs. I don’t want the car to give away our location.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “Take only the basics in case we have to leave quickly.”
Mia grabbed the duffle and bookbag and tapped the code into the lockbox on the knob to release the key. Stifling heat greeted her as she crossed the threshold. Mia placed the bags on a small round wooden table, flipping on the lights to see the mustard-colored walls that her grandma insisted were the color of sunshine.
Calvin slid past her, placing the grocery bags he held on the sparkly stone counter. “Based on your smile, this place brings back fond memories.”
“It does. The thermostat’s in the living room.” Mia pointed to an opening on her left. “Unless you like the heat.”
“This time you’re the one to tackle dinner,” Calvin said, pulling out egg noodles, ground beef, and mozzarella. “Maybe we’ll actually get to enjoy it this time.”
“Can’t help it that you’re so in demand,” she teased, her gaze lingered on his lips, wanting to feel them on hers once again.
“By them? Or … you?” Calvin headed to the thermostat.
“Check your ego, Sir. This is work,” she said.
They were in danger. No fun-filled trips to Shreveport. No visits to her favorite pizza place after going to the casino. While she missed her grandparents and her mother, she wasn’t ready to meet them on the other side. She had to keep him alive.
Her thoughts went to figuring out who was behind the attempted robbery. That team at the house and at the travel stop were discreet, adapted quickly, and were well organized. Maybe they were from a government agency. Could the government be attempting to steal The Suit instead of buying it? Or was their plan to kill Calvin all along?
“Can we trust the facility where we’re dropping it off?” Calvin asked as he returned to the kitchen.
Mia pulled out her cell. “I’ll have someone I trust to check them out.”
“Who? Walter? Mr. Martin?” Calvin’s voice was laced with concerned. As well he should be apprehensive of her people. She was beginning to think that maybe her boss might have gone rogue. Enough money on the table could bring out the greedy side of a person and facilitate a departure from the norm.
“My dad,” Mia answered as she moved to the floral couch in the living room.
She crossed her fingers, hoping she wouldn’t have to alter their next move.
“Dad,” Mia said as soon as he answered. “I need you to check out Sanibel Research Center out of Texas and verify they’re legit, and dig into Mr. Martin’s background. He’s with Blades Protection Company.”
“Of course,” Mason’s baritone voice replied. “I’ll contact you as soon as I know something.”
Her dad not giving her a hard time about not greeting him before asking a favor was a sure sign he sensed the urgency of the matter.
“Remember what I taught you,” Mason said before disconnecting the call.
While Calvin hummed the chorus to Maxwell’s Fortunate, she texted one of her father’s Houston contacts, then made another call to put a few things into play. She’d find out soon enough if her suspicions were correct. Hopefully they’d stay alive long enough for them to pan out.
Chapter 8
How was it that these men were able to continuously locate them?
Calvin pulled out the wooden chair from the table and settled in. The only ones who knew about The Suit’s development besides the Sanibel people were Gordon, Mr. Martin, and Walter. For different reasons, they all felt the private sector was the way to go.
Perspiration dotted Mia’s honey skin as she opened the pasta bag.
“What are you making?”
She glanced over her shoulder, pouring the noodles into a silver pot of boiling water. “Quick lasagna.”
“Don’t tell me your Grandma made lasagna,” he teased, remembering how they exchanged cuisine stories of the women they adored.
“Only because I was a pasta lover,” she answered. Mia held up a jar of spaghetti sauce, reading the ingredients.
Calvin stood, reached across the counter, and tried to snatch it away. “Oh, no. You’re not using that after you talked about me.”
Mia yanked it out of his reach and grinned. “Yes. Quick. The same way you did when you lost that bet.”
“See, why do you have to bring up old stuff?”
“Grab the plates,” she said, chuckling as she tossed the empty jar, cottage cheese container and shredded cheese packet in the garbage.
Calvin retrieved two yellow plates from a cabinet near the sink. He rinsed and dried them off before she spooned on the lasagna and grabbed garlic bread from the stove.
She placed her back to the counter, looked down at her arm, touched her bracelet, and smiled. “Your brother would be proud of what you’re doing.”
Calvin didn’t want to think about how much he missed Shawn.
“I never asked you,” he said around a mouthful of their meal. “How did your boyfriend feel about you taking this gig?”
Her fork stopped midway to her mouth, which pulled into a frown. “Why are you bringing this up?”
He had started on this journey to make something good come out of his loss, grief and isolation, not realizing that he’d find a love that would aid him in navigating through his emotions, fortify his purpose, an
d reignite hope in his life.
Calvin shifted his food around his plate, knowing that he should have covered that ground long before now. “Your job required you to move away, live alone with a single man, and have no physical contact with him. I’d have—”
“How did your girlfriend feel about it?” she shot back as she clamped down on another forkful.
“I didn’t have one when the option was offered.” Calvin took a bite of the garlic bread.
Mia looked away as if she felt remorseful. “My decision to take the job ended my relationship.”
“Look, I—”
“I can’t go back and change it now,” she said, lowering her gaze to the floor.
Calvin felt only a small stab of guilt. “Why are you ignoring the chemistry between us?”
“You’re a client.”
“Is that the only reason?”
Mia lifted one eyebrow, but said nothing. They proceeded to eat in silence. She stood, grabbing her plate. Calvin joined her at the sink. He leaned on the counter as she rinsed the plates. Swiping the hair off her shoulder as he waited for an answer, he felt her body tremble.
Calvin knew this wasn’t the time or the place to break through whatever stood between them. He wanted her to know he respected her intellect and skill. He also saw the vulnerability of needing to prove she was as capable as anyone else on the team. But it certainly came at a cost. From the time his feelings had become intense and consuming, he’d buried himself in work so he wouldn’t do anything to make things awkward or force her to ask to be re-assigned. Now he was hours away from no longer needing her protection. This could be his last opportunity to put his cards on the table—or the last chance for her to see that he was part of a winning hand.
Calvin stuck his hands under the running water and took her hand in his. Mia frowned, turning off the faucet with her free hand. Calvin stepped in her path as she tried to back away. She crossed her arms over her breasts, then locked a steely glare on him.
“I want this to be real.”
“Getting chased isn’t real enough for you?” Mia pulled her hair into a ponytail. The smooth curve of her neck was so inviting. He wanted to press his lips to that smooth honey skin.
Calvin grabbed her around the waist, pulling her to him. “This, as in us, is what I want to be real.”
She gazed into his eyes as his lips descended to hers. Her arms slid up his back, then she suddenly broke the embrace. “We don’t have the time for this.”
“I love you. I’m not going to let you run off like you did in your last relationship.” Calvin stepped back to the table.
“Wait, did you say run off?” She peered at him. “I took an assignment. I didn’t run off.”
Cavin chuckled. “I tell you I love you and you focus on those two words. I see you, Mia Jakob.”
“What is it that you see?” She stood in front of him, lips pressed together.
“A woman scared to be vulnerable and to open her heart to a man who wants her more than his next breath.” He uncrossed her arms and planted them at her side. “I don’t know why.”
“Because I’ll never compromise myself and my dreams for the illusions of love and having a warm body in my bed again.” Mia stepped back, putting so much distance between them that a pickup truck could slide right through.
Calvin moved closer, inhaling the floral scent he’d come to love. “Now that you know what makes a bad relationship, you can recognize what it takes to have a good one.”
“We’re not in a real relationship.” Mia’s focus remained on his lips, before venturing upward to his eyes.
“Your job brought us together but the relationship we’ve developed is real.” Calvin stroked the wedding ring that seemed huge on her delicate hand. “A part of you craves love as much as you fear it.”
She averted her gaze, “Calvin—.”
“I want you.” He positioned his hands on either side of her face and slid the pad of his right thumb across her quivering lips. Inching his body and mouth closer to her face he whispered, “If you don’t feel the same, say so.”
Calvin kissed along her jaw and down Mia’s neck. He raised his head and gazed into her eyes. Calvin took her mouth in a deep purposeful kiss, stroking her arms and parting her thighs so he could rest between them. Mia’s lips met his with as much passion as he’d ever felt from her. Calvin intensified the kiss as he lifted her off her feet and onto the countertop. He pulled off her tank top to reveal a black lace bra that lovingly caressed a pair of breasts that he ached to taste. He unfastened her bra, flinging it to the ground. Mia’s head rested on the cabinet as his tongue flickered over her nipples. Calvin leaned to the side, sliding his hand into her jogging pants. He slid first one finger then another into her wet heat and Mia moaned as she grinded against him. Mia gripped his shoulders as her body shook with a tremor of orgasm. He relished the heat rolling off her as he worked his way back to her lips.
Mia ended the kiss. “Mmm, you promised a full meal.”
“And I plan to deliver.” He lifted her from the counter and her lips locked on his again as her legs wrapped around his waist.
Calvin lowered her to the sofa. Mia yanked his shirt over his head. He trailed small kisses on her lower abs as he lifted her hips to remove her pants. With her heated gaze on him, he stood, pulling out condoms he’d purchased at the last gas stop.
“You came prepared, huh?” Mia’s eyes feasted on his body as he prepared himself to enter her.
“Full meals require preparation and safety.” He moved toward the sofa, settling in between her legs and slowly entering as she rotated her hips to meet him. Calvin enjoyed the slick tight walls around him, moaned with the feel of her breasts pressed against him. Every thrust was met with a whimper of pleasure and her holding onto him as if he was trying to escape. He slipped from her body only long enough to change position. He gripped her hips and took her from behind. Mia wanted control and Calvin happily relented. She straddled him and Mia rode Calvin until a sensation whipped through him, causing him to scream her name. His release matched the intensity of her trembling body as it collapsed on his.
She laid encircled in his arms, caressing his chest as their heartbeats slowly returned to normal.
They only had a few minutes to savor and start in for another round when Mia’s head snapped up. “We need to move.”
Chapter 9
“Wh … Wh … What?” Calvin froze, put a grip on her waist to balance her as she scrambled to an upright position. She ignored her jogging pants and tossed him his shirt so that it nearly wrapped around his head, forcing him to release his hold on her.
“I heard a vehicle up the road.”
Mia’s garments were back on in the time it took for him to get his feet into gear. “People around here are elderly. They don’t drive at this time of night.”
Calvin focused, trying to hear whatever she felt was cause for concern. All he had heard were crickets and the change in her breathing pattern.
In the kitchen, she slipped into a pair of sneakers while he shook the sexual cobwebs out of his head and followed her lead.
Calvin remembered the narrow dark gravel road that led to this place. No way to drive past them without being seen. “How are we getting out?”
Mia opened the case as he rushed to her side. “Did you fix the issue of The Suits not covering the gear?”
Calvin pulled out the silver discs. “That’s what these are for.”
“We’re about to field test your Suits.”
He attached one of the discs to the back of the bookbag, and she stuffed the case inside.
“What else do you need me to do?” Calvin scanned the table, seeing if he missed anything.
“Take all the money, IDs, and phones in the bookbag. I have to grab something out the back.”
Mia took off for the living room, flying past the sofa.
Calvin emptied out the contents on the wood table, leaving the first aid kit.
“Alright let
’s turn this on.” Mia gave him a half grin. “I hope you’re ready for a long walk.”
“No choice,” he said, wondering how long of a walk and how they would get out of town, let alone get to Texas.
He activated his, grateful that The Suits were already programmed to fit them. The door opened a few seconds later, which meant Mia had left. He followed her, closing it behind him. Calvin turned to see the key going into the lock box. Then nothing. He had no idea which way she went.
The Suits projected the images around the wearer so they blended into their surroundings. He quickly realized a problem with his design that he hadn’t considered. If he couldn’t see her, then she couldn’t see him, either. His heart began to race to the point of bursting through his chest. A hand patted his arm several times then yanked him down onto the grass.
“Come on,” Mia commanded, guiding him to pick up speed on the path that led to the cotton field behind the house.
She kept her hand laced in his as they whisked past the evenly spaced rows of cotton. He only had a split second to wonder how she’d picked up on the fact that he wasn’t behind her.
Calvin heard Franco yell, “They’re here. I see their car.”
Mia and Calvin followed the moonlit path that wound through the dirt and foliage for what felt like hours before they emerged from the field onto the concrete road.
“Remember, drivers can’t see you,” she instructed, pulling him onto the rocks next to the street.
The Tahoe and the damaged Suburban stopped right next to them, totally unaware that their targets were mere inches away.
Calvin froze.
“You see them?” Jesse asked, looking right at them as he scanned the area.
Franco shook his head. “I’m going to check if they doubled back.”
Once the Tahoe whipped past, Mia pulled Calvin up the incline to cross the railroad tracks to the main road heading to a more populated area. The houses were well lit, compared to the darker areas they’d left.
When they reached a large metal shed near a church parking lot, they finally stopped moving. A key entered the padlock and the tin doors swung open.
Sugar Page 14
