Operation Midnight
Page 23
Hunter laughed. “What can I say? You guys have some amazing women in your lives.”
Hunter had once been engaged until his fiancée married his stepbrother two years earlier. Since then, he floated in and out of meaningless relationships, vowing to never give his heart to another woman.
“Did you tell Wiz the latest about the NBA’s commissioner’s claims?” Malik asked. Wiz knew Hunter was having some issues with the media railroading him about his gambling, but it sounded like something else was going on.
“Malik, we’re here to celebrate. Why’d you even have to bring that up?” Hunter and Malik argued back and forth.
“That’s my cue,” Wiz cut in. “I’m going to let you two hash this out. But, Hunter, you know where to find me if you need me for anything.” They shared a one-arm hug and Wiz excused himself to go in search of his wife.
He spotted her talking with Quinn, Alandra, Tyler, and Dallas.
“Well here’s the man of the hour,” Quinn said when Wiz approached. “I was just telling Olivia that I’m surprised you let her out of your sight.”
Wiz wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled down at her. “She was never out of my sight. I figured I’d let her spend a little time with everyone since I’ll have her all to myself for the next two weeks.”
“We’re so happy for you both,” Dallas said, and Alandra cosigned the sentiment. The women exchanged hugs while Wiz pulled Quinn and Tyler off to the side.
“I know you guys said you would take care of the damages to the penthouse, but we’re willing to—”
“Don’t worry about it. Our men have already made the repairs. Considering how instrumental you were in helping me and Dallas with the stalker and the Ponzi scheme mess, this is the least we can do,” Tyler said.
“And you already know where I stand on taking any money from you,” Quinn added. “We’re brothers for life. There will be no money exchanged between us.”
The times that he had helped each of them was something he wanted to do. He never thought he would be in a similar situation to where he would need to call on them for support. They had truly come through for him.
“Well, just know that I appreciate the way you all helped me and Olivia. I’ll never forget it.”
They talked for a few minutes longer before Tyler and Dallas said their good-byes, needing to get back to their sons.
“What time does your flight leave in the morning?” Quinn asked Wiz.
“Six. How long are you planning to be in town?” Except for dealing with the situation with Keisha, they hadn’t had a chance to really hang out the way they used to.
“We’re thinking about sticking around at least until after the baby is born.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Alandra said she would feel more comfortable giving birth on American soil, and you know I’m not about to argue with a pregnant woman.”
“I heard that!” Alandra laughed and looped her arm through Quinn’s. “Instead of you talking about me behind my back, why don’t you dance with me?”
“I think I can handle that.” Quinn took her hand and led her to the small dance floor.
Wiz’s gaze met Olivia’s. “Hey, my beautiful wife. You doing okay?”
“I’m better than okay.” She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He would never get tired of the sweetness of her lips.
“Today you made me the happiest man in the world,” he mumbled against her mouth before lifting his head.
Her lips tilted into that smile he loved so much.
“I’m glad to hear that because I have something to tell you that I hope will make you even happier.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Okay, but I don’t know what you could possibly say that would make me feel better than I do right now.”
“We’re having twins.”
Wiz’s mouth fell open. He knew she’d had another ultrasound after being checked out at the hospital again for her bruises and dehydration, but she never said anything about twins.
“I know I should have told you sooner, but I had planned to include the news in my wedding vows. This morning I changed my mind because … well, because I want to keep this little surprise to ourselves for a while.”
Wiz still stood stunned. Their little family would double in size in a few months and words escaped him.
“Are you mad?”
“Are you kidding?” He cupped her face within his hands, emotion clogging his throat as he stared into her worried eyes. “Sweetheart, I … I’m crazy happy! I’m almost tempted to hop onto one of these tables and scream it to the rafters that I’m going to be a father, twice.” He lowered his voice when a few heads turned in their direction. “This is truly the best day of my life. What more could I ever ask for? You are officially my wife and I get to spend the rest of my life with you raising our children.”
She grinned. “I know, right? Today feels like a beautiful dream, but it’s actually our reality. I’m so excited I feel as if I’m going to burst.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “I feel the same way. A love like ours doesn’t come around often.”
“I know. And I will never take your love for granted again.”
Wiz kissed her with everything he had in him. He had no doubt that their love for each other would only get stronger with time.
“What do you think about us sneaking out of here?” Wiz asked.
“I’d say I love the way you think.”
*****
If you enjoyed this book by Sharon C. Cooper,
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About the Author
Award-winning and bestselling author, Sharon C. Cooper, spent 10 years as a sheet metal worker. And while enjoying that unique line of work, she attended college in the evening and obtained her B.A. in Business Management with an emphasis in Communication. Sharon is a romance-a-holic - loving anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies or real life. She writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When Sharon is not writing or working, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net
Other Titles by Sharon C. Cooper:
Jenkins Family Series (Contemporary Romance)
Best Woman for the Job (Short Story Prequel)
Still the Best Woman for the Job (book 1)
All You’ll Ever Need (book 2)
Tempting the Artist (book 3)
Negotiating for Love – (book 4) – Coming Soon
Seducing the Boss Lady – (book 5) – Coming Soon
Reunited Series (Romantic Suspense)
Blue Roses (book 1)
Secret Rendezvous (Prequel to Rendezvous with Danger)
Rendezvous with Danger (book 2)
Truth or Consequences (book 3)
Operation Midnight (book 4)
Stand Alones
Something New (“Edgy” Sweet Romance)
Legal Seduction (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
Sin City Temptation (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
A Dose of Passion (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
Model Attraction (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance) – Coming April 2016
Connect with Sharon Online:
Website: http://sharoncooper.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSharonCCooper21?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Sharon_Cooper1
Subscribe to her blog: http://sharonccooper.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823574.Sharon_C_Cooper
An excerpt of Truth or Consequences (Malik & Natasha’s Story)
book 3 of the Reunited Series
Malik Lewi
s ambled through the halls of Supreme Security Agency, his Stacey Adams clicking rhythmically against the marble floor. He spoke and nodded as his employees hustled through the hallways, greeting him while they hurried off to their designated areas. Sometimes he found it hard to believe how much the agency had grown over the years. With a staff of seventy-five—which included security experts, IT specialists, and a host of support staff—his organization was one of the largest private security agencies in Illinois.
“Good afternoon, Malik.”
“Hey Malik. We missed you at the meeting this morning.”
“What’s up, boss?” Stan, one his most reliable armed security supervisors, greeted and fell in step alongside him. “I heard a vicious rumor that you might be facilitating the morning huddles for the next four weeks.”
“Yeah, don’t remind me.” They turned down the hallway that led to Malik’s office. “I didn’t know Ted was going to be out of the office that long.” As owner and CEO of the agency, Malik wore many hats, even if it meant facilitating meetings, which he hated. Normally Ted, the Executive Protection Director, would oversee morning huddle, but not for the next few weeks. Ted was home with his wife, busy playing new daddy to one of the cutest baby girls Malik had ever seen … it even had him thinking about having a kid or two one day.
Pushing open the double glass doors, the men walked into the large suite that opened into a receptionist area and two offices, one being Malik’s.
“Hey, no Vicky today?” Stan asked, referring to Malik’s executive assistant.
Malik glanced at his watch, surprised it was already four-thirty in the afternoon. “She should be back shortly. She’s making a couple of runs for me.”
“All right, I’ll catch her later.” Stan followed Malik into his office, but stayed near the door. “I’m going to have your mini-me on the Fontaine assignment for the rest of the week.”
Malik set his briefcase down and regarded Stan with a smirk. “A regular comedian, huh? Mini-me?” Stan had been giving him the business about Travis Kincaid, the kid Malik had hired a few weeks earlier.
“Hey, what can I say? Besides being a little rough around the edges, he reminds me of you, just younger.”
Seeing potential in him, Malik had personally hired Travis. The young man started with the Chicago police academy, but thanks to his temper, got himself kicked out before graduating. CPD didn’t care that his skills were like those of a master shooter. He had excelled at the physical agility tests, and had great detecting instincts. They wanted someone with Travis’s leadership ability, but it was equally important that he could follow instructions without coming across as a know-it-all. Malik had to admit that he’d hired the kid because he reminded Malik a little of himself. A smartass, fearless, and intimidating force with quick thinking ability as well as physical prowess. With a little guidance, those qualities could definitely come in handy.
“So are you okay with him being on the Fontaine assignment?” Stan asked, cutting into Malik’s thoughts.
“Hey, if you think he’s ready, go for it. Just keep an eye on him. Dealing with his big mouth and cocky attitude might pose a challenge for you.”
Stan shrugged his linebacker-size shoulders. “Eh, I think he’ll be all right. If not, by the time I’m done training him he’ll be one of your best bodyguards.” He turned toward the door. “Catch you later.”
Like a trusted advisor, Stan was one of Malik’s most valued assets and had been with the company since the beginning. He played a part in the solid relationship the agency had with local law enforcement, as well as the state and federal government. Malik tried for years to give Stan a role worthy of his importance in the company, but being a security specialist was all he wanted to do, and he was damn good at it.
Malik released an exhausted sigh. He stood at the large window in his office behind the desk and gazed at the busy downtown traffic below. It felt good to be back at the agency. By the second meeting that morning, his patience had worn thin, his meeting tolerance depleted. It didn’t help that throughout the day his mind kept straying to thoughts of a beautiful, curvy goddess who he hadn’t seen in months. How a one-night-stand could rock his world the way she had was a mystery to him.
“For Christ sake, why don’t you just call the woman already?”
Malik turned from the window and narrowed his eyes at Wiz, who walked into his office, closing the door behind him. Known for his ability to hack into any computer system and manipulate anything remotely technological, Cameron received his nickname, Wiz, honestly. They’d first met years ago during their Navy days and went through SEAL training, serving on the same team together. Other than Quinn Hamilton, Malik’s best friend, Wiz was one of few men Malik could count on for anything.
“Call who?” Malik finally asked.
“Man, don’t play dumb with me. You know damn well who … Natasha Lockham, Alandra’s sister. That is who you’re thinking about, isn’t it?”
“Wiz, don’t start,” Malik grumbled. Not in the mood for any ribbing, he pulled out his desk chair and plopped down in it.
“What do you mean don’t start? I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who noticed how distracted you were in that meeting this morning.” Wiz sat on the edge of the oversized mahogany desk and folded his thick arms across his broad chest. “As a matter of fact, your attitude has been shitty for the past few months and we both know why.”
Wiz knew about his one-night-stand with Quinn’s sister-in-law and took every opportunity to rag him about it. And then there was Alandra, Quinn’s wife. Malik was pretty sure that when she told him to take care of her sister, she didn’t mean for him to seduce Natasha into giving him the most amazing sex he’d ever experienced.
“I’m counting on you to look after my sister,” Alandra said just above a whisper. “Promise me.” When he didn’t respond, she moved closer. “Promise me.”
“There you go again, staring off into space. Now tell me again. Why haven’t you called Natasha?”
Malik sighed loudly and rested his head against the back of his leather chair. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his forehead. I am not having this conversation. There was something to be said for hanging around people who knew you almost better than you knew yourself. Before retiring from the Navy, he and Wiz spent practically every day together, raiding terrorist compounds, traipsing through jungles, and bouncing from one op to another. It was almost impossible for them not to know what the other was thinking, honing in on each other’s attitudes, knowing in a heartbeat when something was off.
“I can’t call her, man.” Malik stood abruptly, sending his chair slamming into the wall. He reclaimed his spot at the window and braced his hands against the windowsill, as if staring out at nothing in particular would provide him with the answer to his problem.
“Why the hell not? I’ve never known you to shy away from any woman, especially one as hot as Natasha. Mr.-I-Can-Pull-Any-Woman-I-Want is punkin’ out,” Wiz scoffed, his patronizing tone clawed down Malik’s spine. “So what’s the problem?”
“The problem?” Malik turned and glared at his friend. “Wiz, your IQ is higher than anyone I know and you have to ask me what the problem is?” Malik’s voice boomed. “She’s a damn surgeon! No, actually, she’s the fucking Chief of Staff at one of the largest hospitals in Chicago. I can’t ask her out!”
Wiz stood a few inches shorter than Malik, but that didn’t stop him from stepping to Malik and getting in his face. “Why not?” he asked, his voice raised to match Malik’s forceful tone. “You’ve beaten some of this country’s most vicious advisories. Hell, you’ve even been shot at pointblank range and left for dead. And you expect me to believe that your punk-ass is afraid to step to a woman?” Wiz shook his head. “Unbelievable!”
Malik clenched and unclenched his fist; anger churned in his gut as he stayed rooted in place. No one pushed his buttons the way Wiz could and Wiz knew it. “Man, fuck you!” Malik spat out, unable to think of anything more brilliant to say.
He peeked over his shoulder at his friend. Wiz’s comments wouldn’t have stung had they not been true.
“What the hell would we talk about?” Malik asked. “Sure, I can tell her anything she wants to know about taking apart and cleaning a M4 assault rifle, or show her how to use just the right amount of C4 to blow-up a small section of a building without the whole damn thing tumbling down. Heck, I can even teach her how to take out a tango target at 2000 yards, but after that,” he shrugged, “I’ve got nothing. We come from two very different worlds and have absolutely nothing in common.”
Wiz stared at him; his green eyes boring into him like a high-beam laser zoning in on its target. Malik rarely flinched, but damn if Wiz wasn’t making him squirm.
What the hell is happening to me?
Wiz threw his head back and a bark of laughter erupted, bouncing off the light blue walls and filling the large space.
“Damn! I wish Quinn could see you now,” Wiz said, still laughing when he collapsed into one of the leather chairs facing Malik’s desk. “How many times did you give us a hard time about our women? Talking about our noses being wide open and how the mighty had fallen. Now who’s whipped? Yeah, it’s probably good you’re not calling Natasha. If she messed you up with just one night, you probably can’t handle anything more.”
Your day is coming. There is a woman out there who is going to bring your crazy ass to your knees. Quinn’s words from a few months earlier invaded Malik’s thoughts. He remembered teasing Quinn mercilessly after watching him fall under Alandra’s spell.