by Lea Hart
“Maybe so, but there’s no way I’m walking around with the germs of the city on my hands.”
He rubbed his hands together and wondered what she’d do when they were deep into Syria and couldn’t take a shower for days.
Sure was going to be interesting to see how she handled the germs and dirt then.
He watched her slip the bottle back into her bag and then zip it up. “Are we good to go?”
“I know you have about ten snarky comments to make and I’d appreciate it if you’d keep them to yourself until after the meeting.”
He took her hand and made sure he was closest to the street as he walked along 42nd. “I only had three and I plan on keeping them to myself for the rest of the day.” He felt her move her hand away and frowned before he retook it. “If someone wanted to try something, they’d do it here in the busiest block of the city.”
“You realize I’ve lived here for over five years and never once had a bodyguard to ensure my safety. What do you think will happen when you leave tonight and I’m on my own?”
“I’m here now and if you don’t want to see me lose my shit, then you’ll allow me to do what I feel is necessary.” Tightening his hold, he smiled when she did. “And, I’m not leaving until Sunday.”
“Why?”
“Wasn’t sure how long the meeting was going to run, so I allowed myself an extra day.”
“Oh.”
Looking down, he saw her frown and wondered why the idea of him in the city for an extra day was making her unhappy. They had some planning to do and it would be easier to accomplish if they were sitting in the same room. “I’ll take you to the gun range tomorrow and see what your skills are like.”
“I know how to shoot a gun, Carrick. My father is an accomplished outdoorsman and I was taught to shoot when I was twelve.”
“Good to know.” They passed the recruitment station for the armed forces that was lit up with the American flag and he wondered how often people went in. Times Square seemed like a strange place for one, but what did he know.
“What would you tell someone who walked into the recruitment center and wanted to be in the Navy?”
“I’d tell them the choice to serve is the best decision I ever made in my life. While my friends went out to make a living, I was discovering what I was made of and how I could give some part of that back. Every part of my SEAL experience was incredibly powerful and it has been my honor to be part of a community that believes in taking on great challenges and does what it takes to meet them. The mindset is hugely potent and will define how I live the rest of my life.”
They turned up 6th Avenue and Carrick let out a laugh. “Not sure if that would make anyone want to join, though.”
“Why did you?” Audrey asked.
He moved around a group of people that were standing in the middle of the sidewalk and then answered. “Because I wanted my sword to be in service to this nation and to be in the company of the best men in the world.”
“Did it live up to your expectations?”
They stood in the front of the Simon and Schuster building in the middle of Rockefeller Square and Carrick nodded. “Exceeded every single one of them. I know that I can meet the most hideous challenges and will always find a way to do things right. It wasn’t easy but everything that follows has been a gift.”
“You’re lucky, Carrick, because you got to go out and live your dream.”
Looking up at the enormous skyscraper, he grinned. “Let’s go in and see what we can do about you having the same chance.”
Moving his hand to the small of her back, he led her past the large glass doors and wondered why he only felt comfortable when he was touching her. As they stood in line at the security desk, he decided not to worry about it. They had more significant concerns and his keeping Audrey close was going to be the least of them.
God willing.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Friday, October 13th
Audrey sat across from Kelly and wished she could enjoy the casual elegance of Brasserie Ruhlmann. The beautiful French Art Deco interior was bathed in golden light and instead of appreciating the ambiance, she was fuming. “Did I do the right thing?”
Folding her hands on the table, Kelly nodded. “Absolutely. They were adding more restrictions the longer we were in the room, and that tells us both that they were trying to sabotage the trip.”
“Which makes no sense, considering they want to publish the book.”
Kelly leaned to the side and looked down the center of the restaurant. “Before Carrick comes back, tell me what the hell is going on between you two?”
Making sure her cutlery was aligned correctly, Audrey then looked up at her friend. “Nothing is going on.”
Kelly picked up her phone and put it to her ear. “Hold on I need to make a call.”
“To whom?”
“I’m calling bullshit.”
Feeling some of the tension slide off her shoulders, Audrey let out a small laugh. “Girl Scout honor, nothing is ‘going on’ between Carrick and me. We had dinner last night and discussed the itinerary and that’s it.”
Tapping her finger to her mouth, Kelly raised an eyebrow and then said, “Bullshit is holding, so there’s no way you’re going to get away with telling me a fib. Especially since you invoked the whole Girl Scout honor thing. The man was touching you from the moment you all stepped off the elevator and only stopped when he excused himself to take a call.”
“I know it’s weird and, if I had an explanation, believe me, I’d share it with you. But I don’t.” She smoothed out the tablecloth and then looked around the room again and admired the red velvet chairs and crisp white linens. “I’m going to Syria.”
“I know,” Kelly replied glumly. “When you hadn’t signed the contract, I knew you had reservations.”
“Once I read it thoroughly, I realized they were not comfortable with the liability the trip could potentially present, but we had to go through the motions before I could be sure.” Lifting her shoulders, she frowned. “Now I know and I can move on. If Carrick backs out, then I’ll go to Dyna Corp and be in Syria by next Friday at the latest.”
“I don’t think Carrick is going to pull out because he’s got a little lusty crush on you and the idea of you being with someone else would probably be unacceptable to him.”
“And how is a lusty crush different than a regular crush?”
“A lusty crush is a regular crush on steroids. You know…like when all you can think about is tearing the person’s clothes off and running your mouth and hands over every inch of their skin until you know them better than you know yourself. When all you want is to be so deeply buried within one another’s bodies that you’re breathing the same air, mixing blood and bone. The kind of feelings that make you forget why rational thought and smart decisions were ever something you considered.” Lifting her glass of iced tea, she took a sip and then set it down. “I’m surprised you don’t know the difference.”
“I’ve never gotten close to having one, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.” She squared up the flowers and sugar bowl and then laid her hands on the table. “Which is actually kind of depressing, considering I’m thirty.” Watching Kelly smile made her wonder what was going on. “Why do you look so happy?”
“Because there’s a big brutal man who I think is going to change all of that. Maybe you two can get twisted up in the sheets when you’re traveling and see if whatever is simmering is as hot as I think it’s going to be.”
Carrick came up to the table and looked at them. “What’s hot?”
“The soup,” Audrey replied. “Always piping hot when they serve it.”
Kelly snorted and then lifted her menu in front of her face. “Absolutely scorching,” she said quietly.
Audrey watched Carrick fold his big frame into the chair and then give her a questioning glance. Deciding she didn’t want to answer any questions, she mimicked her friend, picked up the menu, and studied it carefully. “So m
any delicious options.”
“I know I’m missing something,” Carrick said as he dropped his arm on the back of Audrey’s chair.
As she studied the entrée selections, she felt Carrick’s calloused finger rub up and down her arm. Looking sideways, she saw he was looking out the window of the restaurant and appeared to be lost in thought. Which made the absentminded affection all the more potent.
She set down her menu and saw that Kelly had done the same. Seeing her amused expression, she knew she was watching Carrick. “What are you having?”
“What I always have when I come here, the shrimp and lobster roll.”
“I’m going to have the Maine lobster cobb salad.”
“Of course, you are,” Kelly replied with a laugh. “You haven’t been home since August, so I know you’re experiencing withdrawals.”
“I was so sick of lobster when I was in high school that I swore I’d never eat it once I left the state.”
“That didn’t last long because I think you were craving it only one month into school.”
Carrick turned away from the window and looked at them. “Is that where you two met?”
“Boston University, freshman year—we were assigned as roommates and have been together ever since,” Audrey replied as she shifted in her seat. Carrick was smooshed up along her side with his big leg resting against hers and she didn’t know what to do with the heat. “Kelly was just as glam at eighteen as she is now and took pity on her geeky, preppy roommate from Maine.”
“When she unpacked her bags, and I saw nothing but J Crew, I knew I had to intervene.”
“It was a valiant effort, but it never really took,” Audrey said as the waiter came up.
After they were done placing their orders, Carrick took her hand under the table and held it. Not wanting to make a scene, she tried to move it away and felt him tighten his grip. “Carrick…”
“I feel responsible for the publisher pulling out all those additional restrictions at the meeting,” he said as he held her gaze. “I thought I gave them a balanced view of what we were going to encounter and thought that stressing the assets we had in-country would alleviate any concerns.”
“I had a feeling they were going to try something and that’s why I never signed the contract.”
“You could’ve given me a heads up, Audrey.” He shifted his weight and then picked up his glass of water and drained it. “I’ve been feeling like crap for the last hour.”
“I’m sorry, Carrick, but there was no way I was going to voice my suspicions before we walked in.”
Kelly stood and placed her napkin on the table. “I’m going to use the ladies.”
Audrey nodded and watched Kelly walk toward the back. “I’m still going and if Titan doesn’t want the contract, then I need to know today so I can make other arrangements.”
“How the hell are you going to pay the tab, Audrey? We’re talking about a forty-thousand-dollar check you’re going to need to write to Titan.”
“I’m well aware of those facts and was prepared for this eventuality, so don’t be sticking your nose into my financial life.”
“I’m not sticking my nose into anything—all I’m trying to do is process what the hell is going on.”
“I’m taking the trip and writing the book. I need to be back in New York City by November 1st, so I can prep for the case I’m taking. Which means I’ll be in Kobane one week from today, come hell or high water.”
“What case?”
Sighing loudly, she moved her hand away from his and frowned. “I’m of-council with Sullivan and Cromwell and that means they give me cases from time to time if it doesn’t make sense for the firm to take it. I have one starting in November that will likely keep me busy through the end of the year.”
“I’m not letting anyone else go, so forget about other options because there aren’t any. It’s me or you stay home.”
“That is a load of steaming hot cow…”
“I get the picture,” he replied as the busboy came by to refill their water glasses.
Turning toward him, she studied his hardened features and let out a small laugh. “I hope you just enjoyed that little fit of dominance because if you ever try anything like that again, I will…”
Carrick leaned forward and pressed their mouths together so all she could do was swallow her words.
Shock.
Pleasure.
Heat and desire.
All of it was happening in the middle of a busy Manhattan restaurant and she had no idea what to do, so she merely enjoyed it.
“Enough with the tonsil hockey,” Kelly said loudly as she took her seat.
Pulling away, Audrey pressed her fingers to her mouth and looked around. “There was no tongue—so no hockey.”
Hearing a booming laugh, she turned and saw Carrick with his head thrown back. “Glad you’re enjoying my mortification.”
“Nothing to be mortified about,” Kelly commented. “All I see is a bunch of people eating their meals and talking; no one’s interested in the two of you locking lips.”
Their food was delivered and Audrey stared at her salad blindly. She felt Carrick’s hand land on her leg and she pushed it away. “We will talk about this later.”
“Looking forward to it,” he replied with a smile.
“Wipe that satisfied smile off your face if you plan on making it through the meal unharmed.”
Kelly lifted her fork and pointed it at Audrey. “You tell him, sista. If you let him get away with any nonsense now, then you’ll never get him under control.”
Carrick snorted and picked up his burger and took a bite.
“We are not talking about this now!” she repeated firmly. Lifting her fork, she speared a beautiful piece of lobster and put it in her mouth. Enjoying the sweet taste, she decided that Friday the thirteenth had lived up to its potential. Not only did she not have a contract for her book, she had a bodyguard who was acting crazy.
Lord, let this day have no more surprises.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Friday, October 13th
Carrick stood with his hand out as he waited for Audrey to get out of the cab. When she brushed past him and pushed his hand away, he knew she wasn’t happy with the smooch he’d given her.
Which made sense, considering their relationship had been purely professional until he decided to kiss her.
Was it unprofessional and slightly crazy?
Absolutely.
Was he going to do it again?
As soon as he could.
All he had to do was convince Audrey that it was a good idea, and by the look of her stomping feet, it wasn’t going to be easy. Taking long strides, he was at the front door of her building before she was and managed to open the door and hold it for her. When she ignored him and blew past, he girded himself for the blast she was going to give him the moment they were inside the apartment.
And he deserved it, no doubt about it. What he did was unacceptable and why he decided to end her diatribe about finding someone else to protect her with a kiss wasn’t something he fully understood, and might never.
He’d never been anything less than one hundred percent appropriate with the people he encountered in both his careers in the Navy and at Titan, and why being around Audrey was making him act like a nut, he didn’t know.
Watching her hair swing across her back as she strode toward the elevator and her beautiful ass sway made him realize he was full of shit. Because he did know, and it wasn’t complicated. He was attracted to her in a way that had never happened with any other woman.
Not only was she fucking beautiful, she was smart, brave, and compassionate. Anyone who got off the fast-track to go volunteer with refugees was a person who believed there were more important things in the world than prestige and money.
And in his experience, that was a rare quality.
When they arrived at the elevator, she hit the button with more force than was necessary and he figured she was seeing
his face when she did it repeatedly. “Are you mad about the kiss or the fact that I did it in the middle of a busy restaurant?”
Turning slowly, she said, “Oh, I don’t know, Carrick…maybe both.”
The doors slid open and they walked on, and as they closed he took her hand. “I’m sorry I did it at the restaurant, but I’m not sorry I kissed you. I know it was really unprofessional but I lost my mind when you kept saying that you’d go with someone else.”
