Final Hours

by Cate Dean

But the look every woman had given him once they found out who he was haunted him, until he expected to see it every time, with every woman. He didn’t want Elizabeth to be one of those women—

  “Hey.” Her quiet voice jerked him out of his thoughts. He met her eyes, noticed the smudges under them, how fragile she looked in the oversized chair. “How do you feel?”

  “Better.” He used his left arm to push himself up, and flinched when his right shoulder twitched. He thought he hid the reaction—until Elizabeth scrambled off the chair and slid one arm around his waist to help him sit. He didn’t need the assistance, but any excuse to have her close and he would use it. “Thank you.”

  “I don’t think you should be sitting up at all. You still look—”

  “Rakishly handsome?”

  Her smile set off warning bells in his mind. “Like you’re in pain.” She sat back on the edge of the chair. Too far away, and not far enough. “Carrie came by while you were asleep, wanted me to tell you that you’re officially off rotation. At least until Guy is located. I’m guessing that means you’re on vacation, so you should take advantage… what?”

  Kane realized he had been staring. He ran one hand through his hair, and his gaze dropped to the notebook she left on the arm of the chair. “What were you doing?”

  “Oh.” She stared at the notebook, her fingers toying with the edge of the cover. “Just—scribbling. It helps me think, or keeps me from thinking. Depends on the situation.”

  Kane used her distraction to keep her talking. He enjoyed her quiet, low pitched voice. For a Yank, she had a pleasant accent. “And in this particular situation?”

  A smile tugged at her mouth. “Keep from thinking. You must be thirsty.” She turned to the nightstand, and he spotted the tray with a small teapot and two cups. “Carrie left some tea, spiked with mint leaves. She said you’re sensitive to the—healing machine, and the mint settles your stomach. It’s probably on the cold side, but if you want some I can—”

  “Beth,” He touched her wrist, and she stilled. “You know you are safe here. Dr. Kinimoto’s unfounded threats aside, this is the most secure facility in my time. No one can harm you.”

  “What about Guy?”

  Kane focused on her, to keep the rage from overwhelming him. “Guy would be a fool to return. He has a shoot on sight order on him, and he would know that.”

  She eased away from him and poured tea. “Is this place military?”

  “Not exactly.” He took the offered cup and forced himself to take a sip. Herbal tea was not his favorite, and he barely tolerated it hot. Cold, it tasted like medicine. He set the cup on the nightstand and patted the mattress beside him. After staring at the spot long enough that he expected her to refuse, she sat next to him, muscles tense, hands pressed between her knees. “This is a government project, but it’s overseen by civilian scientists, like Dr. Kinimoto. Regulations are strict because this facility holds the portal to our past. Very few people outside a few MPs and the Prime Minister even know of its existence.”

  “How?” Elizabeth faced him, more relaxed now, her eyes bright with questions.

  “I can’t be answering all of the questions running through your mind, but I can tell you that most of us here believe we are saving the future with this project.”

  “By observing the past.”

  He smiled. “Exactly.”

  “How’s that going for you?”

  His smile faded. She didn’t sound enthusiastic. In fact, she sounded angry. “We have had—complications.”

  “Like a maniac running free in the past? Those kind of complications?”

  “Beth—you don’t have the complete picture—”

  “You were chasing Guy, wearing a BEF uniform from World War II.” He stared at her. “Yes, I saw it, and yes, I recognized it.” She stood, hands clenched at her sides. “You were heading into my past, affecting my future. That’s all the picture I need to know.”

  “Beth.” Kane pushed himself up, surprised when she retreated from his reaching hand. He couldn’t figure out how the conversation had spiraled out of his control. “We never set out to do anything more than observe. To learn from past mistakes, make our future better for it. The people here have been carefully screened and selected for this project.”

  “That didn’t work so well with Guy, did it?” She kept backing away from him, her voice sharper, harder with every word. “So what now, Kane? Pat me on the head, threaten my life if I dare to say anything about this and send me home?”

  “Elizabeth.” She halted next to the door, lifted her chin, her eyes furious. “I would hardly treat the woman who saved my life so carelessly.” Her chin lowered, surprise flaring through the anger. “Regardless of what you think, there are many protocols in place to prevent the dire predictions you’re lining up in your mind.”

  “Such as?”

  He bit back a smile. She was a spitfire, this one. “Such as, no agent can return to the same time twice.”

  “So Guy won’t be able to come back to my time and—find me?”

  “Not unless he can build his own transport and bypass the portal.”

  “How did he appear, the night we met?”

  Kane sighed. “It was for effect. We can travel short distances using the transport, on the day we arrive. After that first day, all we can do is return here, or move to another time.”

  “How are you going to send me home?” He heard the fear edging her voice.

  “You are not—attached to the portal.” He was not going to try to explain that purely alien aspect of the project, especially since he didn’t like to think about it himself. “We will be able to send you straight back, almost like a boomerang. So you will land right where you started.”

  Her hands unclenched. “So, if you can’t go back to the same time, you won’t be able to take me home.”

  “And I am sorry for that.” He lowered himself to the bed, his shoulder throbbing again. “Please stop hovering near the window. The staff will think you’re afraid of me.”

  She moved to the chair and sat on the arm, as if she wanted to keep distance, and have an easy escape. It shouldn’t have bothered him, but it did. More than he expected.

  “Is this good enough?”

  “Beth—”

  “What?” She sounded petulant, and she must have realized it. With a sigh, she slid into the chair, fingers picking at the notebook. “I’m sorry. I have a temper, and feeling out of control tends to spark it.”

  “Feeling out of control would apply in this situation.” He rubbed his forehead, exhaustion weighting him again. “I know you want to return home, but I would like to be able to stand upright long enough to walk you to the lab.”

  “If that’s your way of saying you want me to stay until you’re recovered, I will.” She leaned back against the chair, the smudges under her eyes darker. “I think I might need some recovery time.”

  “You did not need to stay with me all night.”

  “I lost track of time.” A smile touched her lips. “Honestly. I tend to do that when I’m draw—scribbling.”

  Since she obviously wanted to keep what she did to herself, Kane didn’t pursue it. Instead he reached for the intercom on the nightstand. “I’m going to have them prepare an empty room for you. Now that Dr. Kinimoto knows you’re not a notorious international assassin, you can stay as long as you need to—”

  A screeching alarm cut him off.

  He was on his feet and grabbing Elizabeth before he thought about it.

  They ran down the med wing corridor, both of them barefoot. Kane swung her around the corner, and nearly ran straight into Mac.

  “I was just coming to get you.” Mac gripped his good shoulder. “We found Guy.”

  ~ ~ ~

  The lab was crowded when they arrived. Kane took long enough to duck into the costume room and change into a fresh, blood free BEF uniform. He found his spare greatcoat in his locker, along with the blue wool scarf Mac gave him last Christmas, and
headed back into the lab. His shoulder ached as he pulled the coat on and wrapped the scarf around his neck. He decided to ignore it.

  Elizabeth stood near the console, hugging her waist. Despite every promise, he would have to leave her here alone. Desert her. His mind shied away from the fact that he was most likely another name on a long list of people who had done the same. But there was nothing for it; he had a narrow window to find Guy, and he had to take it.

  Mac diverted his attention, waved him over to enter his ID number on the smaller console. He strode over, more than happy to avoid the crowd that surrounded the main console.

  “Guy’s headed back to his original coordinates in 1940,” Mac said, pointing to his screen. “London, May 14. You have about five minutes until the all clear.”

  “What does he want with that time?”

  “It was the start of the war, you know.”

  Kane raised an eyebrow, glanced down at the uniform he wore. “I am well aware. But the key players are in Europe. Why would he keep going back to London?”

  “Churchill is in London, and he’s the new Prime Minister.” Elizabeth’s soft voice startled him. She stood at the end of the console, gaze on the main screen. “Winston Churchill is one of the big reasons Britain isn’t under German rule.” Her eyes widened in surprise when she discovered both him and Mac staring at her. That charming blush colored her cheeks. “What? I’m a history buff.”

  It was Mac’s turn to look surprised. “Elizabeth Barritt—you’re Elizabeth Barritt.”

  “Right. We were introduced, if I remember correctly—”

  “No.” He started furiously tapping on his screen. “You’re the Elizabeth Barritt.” With a wide smile, he leaned back and pointed at the result.

  A biography popped up, with a photo of an older Elizabeth. Kane stared at it, then at the real woman next to him. The Elizabeth in the photo looked plain, tired, resigned, her face so thin all the viewer saw were cheekbones, and the big black glasses that hid her beautiful eyes.

  Kane shifted his attention to the list of books under her bio. A long list of books.

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered, backing away from the console. Kane snapped out one hand and caught her before she could run. “I look so angry. How did I end up that angry? How did I—that can’t be me, I don’t even write. I’m a guide in a second rate gallery—”

  “Elizabeth.” Kane pulled her in, wrapped his arm around her waist when he felt her shiver against him. “Read the titles. These are books on art and history. Somehow, you combined the two. And from what your bio says, did quite well with them.”

  “Please take it down. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to look at her—”

  “Mac.” He nodded, deleting the information. Kane slid his hand up her back, all too aware of the curve of her hip, her narrow waist. God help him, she felt so good. He cradled the back of her neck, gently kneaded the tensed muscles. “Look at me, Beth.”

  When she obeyed, the pain in her eyes drove straight through him. He shoved aside the need to simply hold her until that pain disappeared.

  “I don’t want to be that person,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes, but didn’t fall. He guessed she had learned a long time ago to keep from shedding them. “I came to London so I would move away from becoming her.”

  “That is just one possible future for you, Beth. Mac shouldn’t have shown it to you,” he sent a narrow-eyed glare at the Texan, who shrugged his shoulders. “But now you know, and when you return to your own time, you can make decisions based on that knowledge. Decisions that will erase her, recreate her.”

  He tucked blonde hair behind her ear. It was like silk under his fingers, and he wanted to bury his face in the thick, golden strands, surround himself with her scent, her warmth—

  He dropped his hand and stepped back.

  “Kane—”

  “I have to go.” He moved past her, tried to ignore the beautiful, dark blue eyes that followed him. “Mac will see that you get home safely.”

  “Be careful.”

  Those quiet words stopped him. He let out his breath, turned around. Elizabeth stood at the end of the console, blonde hair caressing her bare arms, those blue eyes watching him.

  With a string of curses running through his head, Kane stopped fighting the attraction.

  “Bloody hell—”

  In front of God and all his colleagues, he strode over to Elizabeth, hauled her up against his chest, and kissed her.

  ~ ~ ~

  Elizabeth knew, when she saw his eyes change, just what he had planned as he stalked back across the lab.

  She couldn’t move, could hardly breathe.

  When he swept her up and his lips possessed hers, she expected a hot, fierce, angry kiss. Instead, his lips gentled, exploring hers. The effect was devastating.

  He broke through every barrier she’d spent years building, and she felt her heart open to him, trembling, vulnerable.

  Both arms reached up to wrap around his neck, and her fingers slid into his thick, unruly hair. He tasted like mint. She let out a low moan when he eased her mouth open, deepening the kiss. She forgot their audience, forgot her fear of becoming attached to a man who would leave her alone, forgot everything but the feel of his lips, the strength of his arms, the heat of his body.

  His hand slipped up her back, tangled in her hair as he angled her head, pulled her in deeper. Heat spiraled through her, and the need to get closer had her arching in to him.

  She could feel his rapid heartbeat, hear his ragged breath as he started to lose control. Or was that her breath, so fast and hard it made her lightheaded?

  Kane broke off the kiss, staring down at her.

  “God help me,” he whispered, just before he dove in again.

  This time it was fierce and hungry, and she rode the wild emotions, abandoning any attempt to hold back. His demanding mouth, the hands that curved over her hips and pressed her tightly against him refused to let her retreat.

  She lost herself in the heat, in the need for another person she had never felt before. A need she protected herself from, in a life that had no guarantees, and more disappointment than she thought she could ever take and stay whole—

  This time she broke off the kiss, fighting to catch her breath, terrified that it was too late. Kane rested his forehead against hers, his own breathing just as labored. “I simply meant to say goodbye.”

  “That was some goodbye,” she whispered.

  “Too much?” Humor edged his deep voice.

  “Unforgettable.”

  With a quiet sigh, he pressed his lips to her temple. “Ready for this?”

  “No.”

  His laughter soothed her nerves. “I need you to ease your death grip on my neck, love.”

  The endearment had her tensing again. Oh, yes—it was too late. She liked him before they landed in his time. Now she wanted him. How the hell was she supposed to forget the way his lips felt on hers, the raw, uncontrollable emotion he stirred in her?

  She lowered her arms, and Kane eased her to the floor. Heat rushed across her face as everyone in the lab applauded.

  To her surprise, Kane bowed, flashing a smile. “Thank you, for your good wishes.” He took her hand, nodded to Mac, and led her to the steps next to the platform. Sparks danced around the perimeter of the circle. “Now I will give you a proper goodbye.” Her heart jumped as he leaned in, but his lips touched her cheek, warm and brief. “Take care, Elizabeth Barritt. Be proud of who you are, live your life for you.”

  How could saying goodbye to someone she barely knew hurt so much? Tears stung her eyes at his quiet words. He made it worse by brushing hair off her forehead, his touch gentle, almost more intimate than kissing her.

  “Please be careful,” she whispered. Her voice threatened to lodge in her throat, along with her tears. She laid her hand on his left wrist. “Guy is going to do whatever he needs to do to stop you.”

  “The constant twinges in my shoulder will be a good remin
der. Not a word, Beth.” His fingers cupped her chin. “I will be ready for him. Now, I believe I need to kiss you again. For luck,” he said against her lips, just before he claimed them.

  This time the kiss was achingly sweet, and far too short. Kane ended it, cradling her cheek, his hand so warm on her skin. Before she could touch him he backed out of reach. “Now, Mac.”

  Gold light burst up from the circle, a shimmering, transparent wall.

  “Is that the portal?” She didn’t plan to sound so awed, but it was—awe inspiring; so beautiful it nearly swamped her. Like a breath-robbing piece of art.

  “The doorway to endless possibilities.” Kane climbed the steps, turned back to her. “I look forward to seeing what you do with your possibilities. I will miss you, Beth.”

  His coat swirled around him as he swung to face the wall of gold. Elizabeth hugged her waist and drew the image in her mind: of Kane’s face edged in gold, the light tracing his aristocratic features, glinting in his clear grey eyes.

  He closed those eyes for a second, before he reached out and thrust his hand into the wall. Elizabeth let out a gasp when the light wrapped around him, then winked out of existence, plunging the lab into darkness. Endless seconds later, the lights flickered on, revealing confusion, concern, and outright fear on the faces of the people who should have been used to the portal.

  “Elizabeth!” Mac rushed over, gripping her shoulders. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  “That wasn’t a normal—what do you call it?”

  “Departure—and no, it wasn’t. Kane’s signal went offline right after he entered the portal. He’s out there with a nonworking transport, and if I don’t find him fast, he may not be coming home. Stay here. Doc!”

  She watched him dodge people to get to the other side of the lab, numb at his announcement.

  Without a working transport, Kane would be trapped.

  Four

  Kane flew through the air and hit hard ground shoulder first.

  Fortunately, it was his left shoulder, but it still hurt like a bitch. Cursing, he pushed himself up, did a quick check of his surroundings. The portal sent him to the back of some building, enclosed by walls on three sides. Fresh razor wire ran just under the roofline, and he heard the sound of cars to the other side of the wall.