“My people can turn what they had found out over to the FBI.”
“That makes sense, but what do you think?” She shifted around to look at him.
Looking to the side again, he saw her earnest expression focused on him, and he longed to gently rub the crease between her brows. “I agree, it makes sense. If you don’t, you’ll always be looking over your shoulder to see if Mark Martins is sending someone else after you.” He watched her visibly shudder and reached over to place his hand on hers.
They were silent for several moments, their fingers still linked, and she seemed to be struggling with her thoughts. Finally, she said, “I know that I’m lucky to have met you. I mean, what are the odds of meeting someone who has your connections and your past in law enforcement? We definitely need to let the FBI know, and I’d rather be on the offense telling what happened than be on the defense trying to convince someone I didn’t steal the money.”
He released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and reluctantly let go of her hand to grab his phone. Pressing a button, he connected. “She agrees. Send it all to the agent I told you about.”
“Copy that. Keep us informed and let us know if you need help.”
He disconnected and felt her eyes pinned on him again.
“That’s amazing that all you have to do is make a phone call and someone on the other end makes it all better.”
He laughed and nodded. “What’s even crazier is that I haven’t had my official first day as their employee yet.”
Her laughter rang out, and he loved the sound, glad to see her smile and the tension lines in her face and the tightness in her shoulders relax.
“Are you going to be okay in Boston all by yourself?”
She sobered, shrugging. “I have no idea. I don’t know if I can get a job in my field as long as this mess is hanging over my head. I’m sure I’ll have to be interviewed by the FBI, and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay in my friend’s condo.” She lifted her hands and threaded her fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her face as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Finally, snorting, she shook her head. “I’m not terribly interested in Boston; I just chose it because I had no idea where else to go.”
“Do you want to go back to Chicago? Once everything is settled and it's safe?”
Shifting in her seat to face him, she replied with a question of her own. “What made you decide to leave Wyoming and the FBI?”
Shocked at the change in topics, he thought for a moment. “It wasn’t any one particular thing. Wyoming was fine, but I can’t say I had any good friends there. I often worked alone, and it seemed as though my job had become more administrative than anything else. I had the opportunity to work with a man that I became friends with. He was back in Wyoming visiting family, but when he’d gotten out of the military, he started working for a security company. Getting to know him and talking to him, I became interested. You’re right, I took my time. I thought of the pros and cons. But more and more, the pros outweighed the cons, and I decided to make the career change.” He glanced at her, once more finding her focus completely on him.
She nodded her agreement. “I get that, Levi. I really do. I suppose it seems that everything I did was completely impetuous… and, in truth, it was. But part of me had been longing for a change. Martins and Lee Investment Company was never going to be where I spent my whole career. They were a little too ‘old boy network’ for me, and I knew I’d never advance there. I actually liked the bank job I had before that, even though it didn’t pay as much.”
She continued to think in silence for a few more moments and then added, “Outside Chicago is where I was born and raised, but with my parents no longer there and quite a few of my friends having left, I didn’t enjoy the city as much as I had when I was younger. I guess perhaps I’d been looking for a reason to make a change and what happened simply forced the issue.”
“So, I’ll repeat my question… is Boston where you really want to go?”
Once more the silence filled the cab, and he glanced at the highway sign, pulling off at a rest stop. Putting the SUV in park, he unbuckled and turned in his seat, facing her. She glanced outside at their surroundings, then turned back to him in question.
She shook her head and sighed. “No, not really. I just don’t have a backup plan right now.”
He reached across the console and took her hand, wanting the physical connection while battling the desire to pull her closer. “So, what do you know?”
She looked down at their linked fingers and then back up to his face. “I know that I need a place to regroup. I know that I need to feel safe. I know I’ve stood on my own for a long time, but in two days I’ve discovered how nice it is to have someone to help.” She pinched her lips together and sucked in a breath through her nose before letting it out slowly. “And, if we’re sticking to honesty, I know that I can’t imagine saying goodbye to you.”
The air left his lungs in a rush, and he reached with his free hand to grab the back of her head and bring her forward, their lips meeting. Firm met soft as their mouths melded together. She opened her lips in a little sigh, and he slid his tongue into her warmth, the jolt of lust shooting through him as her tongue moved over his.
Leaning back, barely able to catch his breath from a kiss that reminded him what they’d shared this morning, he held her gaze. “We’re at a crossroads, Claire.”
Her brow furrowed as she continued to cling to his shoulders. “What crossroads is that?”
He nodded to the right and said, “That’s the way to Boston. You say the word, and that’s the road we’ll get on. I’ll take you wherever you want to go and make sure you’re safe before I leave.”
Chest heaving, she barely whispered, “And the other choice?”
Nodding straight ahead, he said, “That’s the way to Maine. I don’t even have a place to live right now. I’ve got use of a cabin until I find my own place. My job hasn’t officially started until I get there. I’m not in a position to make promises other than to say I’ll keep you safe and help you as you figure out the next step in your life.”
“Why would you do that for me, Levi?”
“Because honestly, Claire, sweetheart, I can’t imagine saying goodbye to you, either.”
A slow smile spread over her face, her beauty slamming into him, causing his heart to pound even more than it already was. She slowly nodded as her smile widened and her eyes shone brightly. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go to Maine.”
Chapter 10
They stopped for gas on the north side of Boston, having taken the interstate that circled widely around the city. While Levi pumped gas, Claire ran into the ladies’ room. Grabbing a few snacks, she pulled out her wallet, remembering to use her credit card and not her now-disabled debit card.
His eyes landed on her as she walked back to the SUV and his smile warmed her heart, giving her hope that better days were coming. Unable to stop, she leaned forward and placed her hands on either side of his jaws. Without hesitation, she kissed him, loving the feel of his firm lips underneath hers. They opened their mouths at the same time, their tongues immediately seeking entrance, tangling and dancing together.
He tasted of coffee and cinnamon and she wanted more. Much more. Now that she knew what lay under his clothes—especially behind the zipper of his jeans—she hoped she’d have the opportunity for more.
His hands moved over her back, skimming down to her waist where his fingertips flexed, pressing in before gliding upward. She felt his thumb sweeping underneath her breast and wished they were no longer in his SUV in the middle of the parking lot.
He finally dragged his mouth away but kept his forehead pressed against hers, his breath ragged. “What are you thinking?”
“Honestly? I wish we were somewhere private and not in the middle of the parking lot so that I could keep kissing you the way I want.”
He laughed and lifted his head, now pressing his lips against her foreh
ead. “Me too.”
“How much longer do we have to go?”
“This exit is right at the Massachusetts and Maine state lines. According to GPS, we should be at our destination in less than three hours.” Almost on cue, his phone sent an alert indicating an accident ahead on the highway, causing delays. They looked at each other and he smiled. “It might take a little longer, but how about we take some back roads?”
Laughing, she nodded. “Two days ago, I thought getting stuck off the highway was the worst! But now, I think maybe the best adventures are found on back roads.”
Grinning, he kissed her lightly before starting the SUV, and she watched as he passed by the entrance ramp to get onto the highway and they started along the coast road north into Maine.
The scenery was gorgeous, and she said, “Growing up in the city, I became so used to skyscrapers and concrete. But this takes my breath away.”
“I know what you mean. Granted, the scenery in Wyoming was amazing as well. But these forests that run right to the edge of the ocean are pretty spectacular.”
“What’s gonna happen when you get to Maine? I mean, if you’d never met me, how was that going to work?”
“The company I work for has a small cabin near their base, and they said I can use it while I’m looking for a place to live. I looked at it when I came to interview for the job and met everyone. It’s small but nice. The boss actually let his now-wife and son use it when she needed a place to get away. In fact, I think two of the other wives may have used it as well.”
She grew quiet, nibbling on her bottom lip as she wondered about the future. She wished she had a little more time with him before they arrived. “Are they expecting you today?” She felt his stare but dreaded to see his questioning gaze, so she continued to face forward.
“No, not really. Originally, I told them that I was going to take a whole week to get from Wyoming to Maine. Why?”
“Oh… I don’t know…”
“Hey, you always say the word honesty. In just two days, I already associate that with you. So, just say what you’re thinking.”
Licking her lips, she glanced to the side, seeing nothing but interest in his eyes. And maybe a touch of lust as well. God, I hope so! “It’s just weird. They’re expecting you… not you bringing some stray.”
“Claire, you are not some stray!”
“I know you said your boss considered this to be a mission. I don’t really even know what that means, but I still doubt they're expecting you to bring your mission along with you.”
“When I came to interview for the job, I had a chance to meet the others. Except for my friend Tate, the other men that are in relationships all met their women when on a mission.”
She blinked, her chin jerking in slightly. “You’re kidding?”
Shaking his head, he said, “Nope. From what they tell me, it takes a special woman to be able to have a relationship with someone who’s in security.”
Uncertainty still ate at her. “Well, when we get there, should I find a hotel?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“What other choice do I have?”
“Stay with me. At the cabin.”
The air rushed from her lungs, and she held his gaze, seeing a twinkle in his eyes. “Levi, what exactly are you saying?”
“I’d like you to stay with me, at least until we figure out what we want. We can eat. Rest. Whatever.”
Brows lifted at his suggestion, she grinned. “Whatever?”
“If I’m being honest, too, Claire, I’d like to keep kissing you as well. It’s the whatever I’m really looking forward to.”
Sucking in a quick breath, her smile widened. “Then I’m all in. I’ll stay at the cabin with you until I figure out my next step. And we can… whatever.”
Levi grabbed his phone and called Tate. “Just wanted to let you know that we should be there early this afternoon.”
“It’ll be good to finally have you here, man. I’m glad you gave me a heads up. The women have gone into planning mode.”
“Planning mode?”
“I told Nora that you might bring someone and gave her an explanation of what was happening.”
“How did you know? I didn’t until just now!”
Tate laughed and said, “I told you not to fight it. Mace and Drew’s wives were already planning for Claire’s arrival with you since they work here and know the whole story, but Nora let the others know. They’re planning to welcome Claire with open arms.”
Levi hated for anyone to go to trouble, but it warmed his heart to know the other Keepers’ women would make Claire feel welcome.
“Just to let you know, we sent the information to your contact at the Chicago office of the FBI. As you can imagine, he’s thrilled. He said they’ve been taking a look at Mark Martins for a while but didn’t have anything concrete. He’ll want to talk to Claire soon.”
“Sounds good. It still feels strange to have all this working on my behalf, and I haven’t even started my employment yet.”
“Remember what I said, Levi. As far as we’re concerned, you’re a Keeper already. Mace considers this to be your first mission with us.”
“We both appreciate it. We’ll be there soon. We’re going to drop my stuff off at the storage unit first.” Disconnecting, he looked over at Claire as she beamed her smile his way. “I take it you heard most of that?”
She reached over and gave his hand a squeeze while nodding. “I can’t thank you enough for this, Levi.” She pulled out her phone and began typing. “I’m letting my friend know that I won’t need her condo in Boston… after all, I’m taking the scenic route to Maine.” Grinning up at him, she added, “And I can’t wait to spend more time with you.”
As though she read his mind, he pressed his foot down on the accelerator, anxious to eat up the miles to get to LSI. He had no idea what tomorrow would bring or what decisions Claire would make about her life, but right now, they would stick to the road together.
As the road hugged the rocky coastline, Claire had her nose pressed against the glass. “This is absolutely beautiful!”
Levi grinned, glad to see her so relaxed and enjoying the view. Their speed had slowed on the curvy road considering the trailer towed behind them. Turning his attention back to the drive, he glanced at the extended side mirrors, seeing a car tailgating. Growling, he slowed more on a straight section of road, hoping the car wanted to pass. Instead, the car just slowed as well. “Asshole,” he grumbled under his breath.
Suddenly the car pulled into the other lane and sped up. Looking ahead, Levi cursed, seeing that now there was no room for the other car to pass. “What the fuck is he doing?”
“What’s going on?” Claire asked, whipping her head back around to him.
“Some maniac in a car is acting like he’s trying to pass but won’t actually do it.” Driving defensively, he pulled ahead but knew that with the U-Haul trailer, he would never be able to outrun the car. Suddenly, he felt a bump against the trailer, and they swerved, perilously close to the edge of the road.
Claire screamed, and he hit a number on his phone as well as speaker. “Got a tail! Someone’s trying to run us off the road! I can’t outrun them with the trailer.”
“Location?”
“About a mile south from the Coastal Storage Facility.”
“Just short of there is a farm. You’ll have a bigger area to try to get off the road. We’re on our way.”
He felt a tap against the trailer again but managed to maintain control of the vehicle. Growling his curses, he looked ahead and saw the lane leading to the farm, extra-wide to allow for tractors and trucks. Cutting the other vehicle off, he turned as carefully as he could while still maintaining speed. The U-Haul trailer lurched to the side, then slammed back down on the gravel lane. A barn was in the distance, and he called out again. “Car still in pursuit. I’m at the farm, heading to the barn.”
Looking toward Claire, he said, “I need you to do exactly as
I say, babe. Open the glove compartment, pull out my weapon, and lay it on the console. As soon as I stop, you hop out and run into the barn. Get out of sight.”
Grateful she followed his directions without question, she nodded and opened the glove compartment. Pulling out his gun, she laid it right where he indicated, within his reach. He sped up, causing the dirt on the lane to swirl into the air all around creating a screen behind them. Suddenly, he jerked to a stop, the barn looming on her side of the vehicle. “Now!”
She hopped out and ducked down as she ran around the front of the SUV, then into the barn. He snatched his gun, threw open his door, and raced after her. He bypassed the door and ran around the far corner of the barn, still hidden by the dust-storm swirling from his tires. The car skidded to a stop behind the U-Haul. Glancing around the corner, he watched Clarence Tolsen, the man that he had disarmed in the hotel, climb out.
The way he’d angled his SUV and trailer, he hoped Clarence had not been able to discern that he had gone in a different direction than Claire. He heard the footsteps approach as they crunched on the gravel and readied his weapon. The steps halted and then retreated. He’s going into the barn. Please, God, let Claire be out of sight!
Clarence entered through the wide doors of the barn, and Levi soundlessly slipped around the corner. Making his way to the open doors, he could hear Clarence moving inside.
“I know you’re up there! I can see the fuckin’ straw move!” Clarence yelled. “You got a choice. You can come down and give me what I want, or I’ll burn this fuckin’ barn down!”
Levi peeked around the barn door into the cavernous space. The barn was old, and in another time or place, he would have appreciated the architecture. Now, he instantly scanned the interior, seeing bits of straw and dust motes floating through the sunlight streaming through the slats in the wooden walls, but no sign of Claire. Good girl.
Staying out of sight, he prepared to take aim when, suddenly, Clarence looked down and yelled. “Shit!” Clarence swung his weapon around and fired at a large snake slithering along the dirt floor. He missed and the snake coiled, raising its head. Clarence fired wildly again at the serpent.
Danger and Desire: A Romantic Suspense Anthology Page 34
