Danger and Desire: A Romantic Suspense Anthology

by Kimberly Kincaid

  “So, you’re going to be that rancher you always wanted to be and raise cattle and horses and children?” Her heart stuttered, as she waited for his answer.

  “That’s the plan,” he said. “I’m not getting much younger.”

  “Have you met someone?” she asked before she could stop herself. “Don’t answer that. It’s none of my business.”

  He nodded. “As a matter of fact, I have.”

  Kylie’s heart sank to the pit of her belly. She swallowed hard and said, “I’m happy for you. I hope she’s special because you deserve someone special.”

  His lips quirked upward. “She is. And yes, I do deserve someone special.”

  She leaned across the table and touched his arm. “I’m sorry if I hurt you all those years ago.”

  His shoulders lifted and fell. “We were young. We got over it.” Then he looked into her eyes. “So, have you met someone?”

  She had. Many years ago. Kylie had never fallen out of love with him. Now, he sat across the table looking sexier and more mature than he had when they were younger. An intense ache settled across her chest. “Yes, I have met someone.” She took a deep breath past the weight sitting on her lungs and changed the subject. “Do you think I can meet with Faaid, now?” She set her cup on the table, pushed back from the table and stood.

  The thought of Mac with another women made her incredibly sad. The sooner she got her interview and left, the better.

  “We can go and see if the intelligence guys are done with him.” Mac rose from the table and stacked her tray on top of his. Once he returned the trays to the kitchen, he led her to the quarters he’d secured for her. By then, the team was back from the nearby town with Kylie’s backpack.

  Rucker handed her the backpack, and Kylie clutched it to her chest. “Thank you so much,” she said, glad to have everything she’d brought with her to Afghanistan. “Did you have any troubles getting to it?”

  Dash laughed. “Not really, because we’re sneaky bastards. We saw a truckload of vicious-looking characters arrive at the front of the hotel. We went around the back, entered through the back door, and went straight up to your room.”

  “We guessed they’d have to ask which room you were in and that it would take time,” Rucker said with a grin.

  “We were in and out before the elevator made it up to your floor,” Tank said. “We took the stairs down.”

  “How did you know they were Taliban or that they were coming to find me?” Kylie asked.

  Dash puffed out his chest. “I stuck around in the stairwell long enough to see them break into your room. I left as soon as they did.”

  Kylie’s eyes widened. “Wow. Thank you very much for getting my backpack.”

  Mac frowned. “All the more reason for you to stay on base tonight and to get the hell out of Afghanistan as soon as possible.”

  She sighed. “Fine. After I get my interview with Faaid.”

  “We’ll arrange for that as soon as we get him out of Intel,” Rucker said.

  Dash tipped his head toward her quarters. “This is where you’re staying?”

  Kylie nodded. “Yes, it is. Why?”

  Dash’s lips split into a wide grin, and he jabbed Mac in the ribs with his elbow. “Lucky dog.”

  Mac frowned. “I had to put her in the room next to me because I have to keep an eye on her.”

  Dash nodded. “Uh-huh. You could’ve put her next to any one of us, and we’d have gladly kept an eye on her.”

  “Knock it off,” Mac said. “I’m the one the CO put in charge of keeping our guest safe.”

  If it had been any other man, Kylie would have accused Mac of being possessive, maybe even a little jealous. But surely by now, Mac was well over her. It had been years, and he’d just admitted he’d found another woman. Of course, she’d just admitted she’d found another man, too. None of the men she’d seen since Mac could compare to him. She’d never felt the same for them as she had for Mac. Yeah, she’d dated, but she’d always known they were only temporary. “Josh, where are you going to be?”

  “Rucker set me up in a box around the corner from you. You want to work on that video I recorded during the mission?”

  “The sooner we get it out the better,” she said.

  He nodded.

  She turned to Rucker. “How soon do you think it will be before I can see Faaid?”

  “I’ll check with the CO and see when we can get in to see him.”

  “In the meantime, I’ll be here in my quarters, with Josh, working on what we have already.”

  For the next hour, Kylie and Josh edited the video. When they were happy with what they had, they agreed to take a break. It was late in the night, and Kylie was tired but still pumped up on adrenaline.

  A knock sounded on the door. She opened it to find Mac standing there. “You can see Faaid now.”

  Her heart fluttered. “Josh, grab your camera, we’re on.”

  Josh collected his gear and followed Kylie and Mac across the base to a building. Inside, Faaid sat with the commander.

  “I got word from my chain of command that you’re allowed to interview Faaid,” the commander said. He stepped aside and waved toward the informant. “I’d like to sit in on the conversation, if possible.”

  “That will be fine,” she said.

  “Rucker’s bringing the interpreter,” Mac said.

  A moment later, Rucker entered the building with another man in tow, an Afghan national who could speak English fluently.

  Over the next hour, Kylie interviewed Faaid, using the interpreter, while Josh recorded the session and Kylie made notes.

  When she had all the information she needed for her report, she thanked Faaid and wished him well. She hoped that he would be placed somewhere in the United States where he would be safe from the Taliban. With his cover blown, he wouldn’t live long in Afghanistan.

  Mac was waiting outside the door of the building to escort her and Josh back to their quarters. They dropped Josh off first, as his unit was closer. By the time they reached her room, it was the early morning hours. Still dark, people still asleep, the night shift working. She and Mac were alone, walking toward her quarters. When they arrived in front of her door, she reached for the doorknob and paused. “Thank you for saving my life and bringing me here to protect me.”

  “You’re welcome.” He turned her to face and tipped her chin toward the starlight. “You look tired, Kylie.”

  “After a day like yesterday, it’s to be expected. Anyone would be tired.”

  “No,” he said. “You look tired, like you’re tired of it.”

  She gave him a weak smile. “I’m living my dream. How could I be tired of it?”

  “I’m living my dream, and I’m tired of it,” Mac said. “Delta Force is really a young man’s work.” He brushed a thumb across the corner of her mouth. “I used to love kissing you.”

  Her chest burned with longing. Not a day, not a week, not a year had gone by without her missing him. Right then she wanted to kiss him so badly, she started to lift up on her toes. Then she remembered that he’d said that he’d found another woman. She dropped down flat on her feet and stepped away. “That was a long time ago, Mac.”

  “Yes, it was. But if feels like yesterday.” He bent until his lips hovered over hers. “I remember how you tasted.”

  His breath, warm against her skin, made her tingle. She swayed toward him as if drawn like a moth to a flame.

  When their lips touched, a massive explosion rocked the earth next to them, knocking them to their knees.

  Chapter 4

  A siren revved up, and the sound of heavy guns went off, lighting the sky with tracers.

  Mac pushed her to the ground and covered her body with his. His teammates burst from the doors of their sleeping quarters, stepping out into the moonlight.

  “What was that?” Kylie asked.

  “C-RAM guns that detect and destroy incoming rockets,” Mac explained.

  Another explosion
went off nearby and the Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar guns Kylie had heard of fired, making a burping sound, the rounds went off so fast.

  Mac rolled off her, leaped to his feet, grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “Come on. We need to get to the bunker.” With his arm around her, he ran her to the nearest reinforced bunker where they remained for the next thirty minutes.

  After the initial attack, there were no other rockets launched at the forward operating base.

  On their way back to their quarters, Rucker called out and ran to catch up to them. “The CO wants us in the conference room.”

  “I’m not leaving Kylie,” Mac said.

  Rucker nodded. “He wants her there, too.”

  Together, they hurried to the war room. Once inside, they found the CO and the rest of the team seated around the table.

  “Just got word from Intel.” The CO stared across the table at Mac and Kylie. “That attack was deliberate and meant as a warning message to our guest, Miss Adams. They’ll leave this base alone, if we turn her over to the Taliban.”

  Mac stiffened beside Kylie. “No way in hell.”

  The commander lifted a hand. “We’re not turning her over. However, we need to get her out of here. As long as she’s here, she’s a danger to all of the people on this base. As soon as we can arrange it, we’re flying her out to Kabul. She’ll catch the next plane back to the States.”

  “Sir, she won’t be any safer in Kabul than she is here,” Mac said.

  The CO nodded. “And that’s why you’re going with her. Get some rest. Likely you’ll be flying out at sunup, depending on the availability of helicopters.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mac said.

  “Miss Adams,” the commander turned to Kylie, “stay safe.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she said.

  They returned to their quarters. This time when Mac stood outside her door, he took her into his arms. “You’re in serious danger. Please tell me you’re not considering staying in the country.”

  Kylie shook her head. “No, I’ve got my story. I’m done here.”

  Mac glanced down at her, his eyes narrowing. “You know, I don’t think anyone can get onto the base, but if they do, they’ll come looking for you in the unit they’ve assigned to you. It worries me that they might know where you are already.”

  “So,” she said, “your concern is?”

  He sighed. “Maybe we should switch quarters. You stay in mine; I’ll stay in yours. That way if anyone tries to get into your room, I can take care of it immediately.”

  Kylie tilted her head to the side. “That makes sense, but that puts you at risk.”

  A gentle smile lifted the corner of his lips. “I’m more qualified to handle that risk.”

  “You have a point.” Kylie ran her hand through her hair. “Okay. We’ll switch quarters.”

  “Good,” he said.

  “This one’s yours?” she asked, tilting her head to the room beside hers.

  “Yes, it is,” he said. “Let me grab a few things, and I’ll take yours, you’ll take mine.”

  “And I need to get my backpack,” she said.

  “Will you be going to the shower facility?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I’d like to, after all the dust from the mission.”

  “Then we’ll go at the same time,” Mac said. “I’ll stand outside while you shower. You can wait for me while I shower, as long as you don’t go too far.”

  “Deal,” she said with a grin. Kylie ducked into her room, grabbed her backpack and carried it over to his unit. Mac grabbed his toiletry kit and a change of clothes.

  Kylie did the same.

  Mac led her to the shower facility.

  Inside, Kylie stripped down and stepped beneath the spray, soaping and rinsing quickly, then running shampoo and conditioner through her hair. It was a cold shower, but after the heat of the day, she just wanted to be clean and was thankful for the use of the facility.

  She let the water run through her hair, rinsing the rest of the dust and conditioner out, remembering the times she’d shared the shower in her little apartment with Mac standing behind her, rubbing shampoo into her hair. He’d let the suds drip down over her body, and his hands would follow them over her shoulders, across her breasts and lower to the juncture of her thighs.

  She was hot, even under the cool spray. Her desire for him hadn’t waned in the least. In fact, if anything, it was even stronger.

  By the time she toweled dry, she was wet in other places. She wished they weren’t in Afghanistan but back in that little apartment. When she stepped out of the shower facility, she kept her head down and prayed he wouldn’t see the signs of her desire in her eyes.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she said briefly.

  He touched her arm. “Are you sure?” His brow dipped. “You didn’t get hurt in that explosion, did you?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

  Where his hand touched her arm, it burned a path through her all the way to her core.

  “While I’m getting my shower, wait here in the shadows. Scream if you feel threatened.”

  “I’ll wait right here,” she promised.

  In less than five minutes, he was back out, smelling of soap, his hair dripping wet.

  She chuckled. “You could have taken a minute to dry off.”

  He shook his head. “Nope. I was worried about you standing out here alone. I was afraid someone would take a shot at you.”

  “They’d have to take a shot from way past the fence line,” she pointed out.

  “Some of our guys have made shots longer than from here to the fence and hit their targets.”

  A shiver rippled down Kylie’s spine as they made their way back to their sleeping quarters. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Mac stood outside his own unit and waited until Kylie stepped through the door. “There’s a sleeping bag in the duffel bag. Just pull it out and spread it out on the cot.” He touched her cheek with his hand. “When you close the door, make sure you lock it,” he said and let his hand drop to his side.

  Kylie said, “I will.” With one last glance at Mac, she entered, shut the door and turned the lock.

  The light was on, and she noted the space was barren, except for the duffel bag in the corner.

  She crossed the short space to Mac’s duffel bag, unbuckled it and pulled out the sleeping bag. As she did, a photograph slipped out. At some point in time, the picture had been laminated, but the edges were worn. She picked it up to put it back into the duffel bag.

  When she turned it over, it wasn’t a picture of the other woman he’d found, but of her and Mac all those years ago when they’d been young and in love. It had been taken at the state fair. They’d been riding on the Ferris wheel. At the top, they’d taken this picture of themselves. She’d been smiling up into his eyes when he’d snapped the shot.

  Why would he carry a picture of them when he had another woman? She laid the picture on the cot, and then spread out the sleeping bag. Still too warm to get between the folds of the sleeping bag, she lay on top of it, using it as a cushion against the tight canvas. The cot didn’t have much give.

  Knowing the morning would come soon, she lay down and closed her eyes. Then she remembered the photo between the bag and the cot. She fished it out and held it close to her heart.

  He’s been hurt when she’d broken it off with him back then.

  The fact he hadn’t forgotten her made her heart swell. They had wanted different things back then. He’d wanted his Army career and for her to follow him, to be his wife and raise his children. She’d been in college, working on her journalism degree. He’d been about to ship out to Fort Bragg for his training in Special Forces.

  When he’d asked her to marry him, she’d been two years short of finishing her degree. She hadn’t been willing to abandon her studies and her dreams. Nor had she been ready to settle down and have children.

  And he’d nee
ded the time to dedicate to his training. It had to have taken a lot of skill and dedication to become Special Forces and then be selected for Delta Force.

  Back then, she’d known he was the right person for her, but the timing had been wrong. Now that she’d been thinking about settling down and starting that family she’d always wanted later in life, it was too late to have him. He was still the right person for her, but he’d found someone else.

  Kylie hugged the photo to her chest.

  Was it too late?

  With her eyes closed, she tried to sleep. When sleep didn’t come, she let her memories flow back over all the time she’s spent with Mac, the picnics they’d gone on, the hikes they’d made through Palo Duro Canyon, horseback riding at a local stable. They’d spent lazy days in the sunshine, floating the Guadalupe River.

  Still shaken by the day’s events and finding Mac again, Kylie lay wide awake. After thirty minutes of tossing and turning, she sat up, flung her legs over the side of the cot and stood. Crossing to the door, she listened for any sounds coming from outside.

  Nothing.

  She unlocked and tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Something was blocking the door.

  Suddenly, it opened and Mac stood there. “What’s wrong?”

  “Were you blocking my door?” Kylie asked.

  He scrubbed a hand through his hair and gave her a weak smile. “I was sleeping there.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t go to bed?”

  “No,” he said and yawned.

  “Why not?”

  “I didn’t feel comfortable leaving you alone,” he said. “Besides, I can sleep sitting up.”

  She shook her head. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s just not my preference on a long-term basis. Go back to sleep.”

  “I never went to sleep,” she admitted.

  His brow furrowed. “Are you worried there will be another rocket lobbed into this base?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just that a lot happened. Between killing three Taliban terrorists, running into my old flame and being fired on with rockets, I’d say that’s a pretty eventful day.”