Dead alert, p.5
Dead Alert, page 5
“Forgive me,” he whispered.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she replied almost on autopilot. That seemed to be her standard response where he was concerned. It amazed her that they’d only known each other a couple of days. She already felt so comfortable with him.
“You’re one hell of a woman, Emily.” His voice grew stronger as his breathing grew steadier. It felt good to know he’d been as affected as she’d been from their kiss. She could feel the impressive ridge of evidence against her hip that he’d definitely been excited by their joined lips.
“So why did you stop?” Damn. Had she really said that out loud? She had a bad habit of saying whatever popped into her mind in moments of stress. This definitely qualified.
A low, sexy chuckle rumbled through his chest under her ear. Oh, she liked the feeling of that.
“I want you to respect me in the morning, Captain,” he joked, setting her mostly at ease. “I swear I didn’t mean to let it go so far but you tempt me like no other woman I’ve ever met, Em. I only meant to give you a friendly kiss goodnight but it morphed before I could control it and all I seem to do around you is apologize.”
She placed a finger over his sexy lips as she drew away from his strong body. For the first time, she felt like she had the upper hand with a man. Somehow, for some strange reason, this big man was on the defensive. She didn’t know what to think about that, but if it helped her muddle through the next few minutes, it was a good thing.
“And all I seem to do around you is tell you not to worry. Let’s just let it be for now. You kissed me. I liked it. But it doesn’t have to go any further than that.”
“For now.” He moved close again, intent in his eyes though he himself stopped before he kissed her again.
“Okay. For now,” she agreed. “But know this. I’m not easy and I don’t sleep around with every new pilot who joins my fleet.”
He looked as if she’d slapped him as he let her go.
“Don’t you think I know that already?”
“Just so we’re clear.” She backed off as well, glad to have some space between them so she could think more clearly. “I generally have a rule about getting involved with pilots. I don’t.”
“I’d heard that about you.” A slow, wicked grin spread across his talented mouth. “But I have a rule of my own. I bend the rules.”
She had to chuckle at that. His self confidence was truly something to behold. It was probably a big part of what made him a good pilot. Thinking on your feet and being certain of your decisions was a good quality in someone driving a high velocity aircraft where things could turn on a dime from good to bad to worse . . . to deadly.
“I’ll remember that.”
“See that you do.” His smile warmed her and she found herself grinning back at him.
He dipped his head and for one shocking moment she hoped he was going to give her another of those amazing kisses. She held her breath in anticipation but he only bussed her on the forehead as he took the key card from her hand. He swiped it through the lock again and tucked it back into her hand. He turned the door handle and pushed the door inward, sticking his foot in the space he’d created, but didn’t go any farther.
“Sleep well, pretty girl,” he whispered near her ear then leaned back, letting her go. “Call me when you’re ready for breakfast. And be sure to turn the deadbolt. These hotel locks aren’t that great.”
He gestured for her to go inside and wouldn’t budge until she’d done so. She was definitely not used to this kind of treatment. It was as if he really cared about her safety. She looked at him quizzically as she stepped inside the open door.
“Close it and lock it, Em. I’m not leaving until you do.”
She shook her head and smiled bemusedly as she shut the door. She went up on tiptoe to watch him before turning the deadbolt. Sure enough, he waited until the lock made the telltale snick. He gave her a tiny wave as if he knew she was watching, then turned and sauntered away silently down the hall.
Emily turned in the privacy of her hotel room and leaned her back against the cold door. It had been an interesting night. A lovely dinner filled with good conversation and then the most amazing kiss that had come out of nowhere. They’d gotten off to a rocky start with that strange invitation in his room, but he’d made up for it in spades.
If he flew as good as he kissed—and she’d already seen enough of his work in the air to know he was a competent pilot—then they were in for a wild ride.
If she chose to let this continue.
She still wasn’t sure where his loyalties lay.
And that thought brought reality crashing back. What if all this had been some kind of ploy? What if he really was working for Scott? What if he was in on whatever Scott was doing to Praxis Air? What if he’d been sent to spy on her in some way, or keep her in line?
And what if her imagination was running away with her? She could be overthinking the best thing that ever happened to her.
Or the worst.
Darnit. Why was everything so confusing where men were concerned? Emily didn’t know what to think anymore. She decided to give up for now and get some sleep. Hopefully everything would be clearer in the morning.
Sam found it hard to leave Emily and that was something he hadn’t anticipated. Not only did she intrigue him on an intellectual level, but she fit in his arms way better than he ever would have expected. She was gorgeous. That went without saying. But she was attractive in other ways as well.
Sam had never been much of a skirt chaser though he’d had his share of playing around in his younger days. Nowadays, he wanted more than a roll in the hay from the women he chose to get involved with. He wasn’t looking for a wife necessarily, but he wanted something more than a one night stand.
He wanted a friend. Someone he could talk to out of bed and enjoy in it as well. While his lifestyle and job didn’t mesh well with the idea of a relationship in the traditional sense, after seeing the happiness of some of the couples on his new team, he wanted more.
He’d probably never get it, but it was something to dream about. In fact, he had a pretty good idea that the woman he’d find starring in his fantasies of a future was the one he’d left only moments ago. Emily was funny, smart, and fit all his ideas of beauty both inside and out. While he still couldn’t be certain of her loyalties, the picture he had developed of her so far was all too attractive for his comfort.
And he didn’t have time. Sam couldn’t afford to get emotionally entangled with anyone on this op. He had to keep a distance and stay as objective as possible. His mission depended on it. But after only a day or two spent with her, he knew it would hurt to discover that Emily was involved in the potentially treasonous activities Praxis Air was suspected of.
Time was wasting and he had to find out what was going on before another outbreak occurred someplace. The longer he took to complete his mission and uncover what exactly was going on at Praxis Air, the higher the odds of another zombie infestation. Each time the creatures had shown up, it got worse. More innocent lives wasted. More horror. More killing. Sam had to make that stop. To do that, he had to stop thinking about his attraction to a certain female pilot and start concentrating on his job.
Sam called in on his secure phone while he had the chance. Commander Matt Sykes picked up on the second ring.
“Sorry, sir. I know it’s late but I couldn’t get free before now to check in with you.”
“No problem, Sam. I’m on the late shift for the next few weeks anyway, but you can call me anytime. Your mission is important. Don’t hesitate to call.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, give me a sitrep. Have you learned anything yet?”
Sam launched into the requested situation report, detailing his activities since showing up for duty earlier that day and his plans for the next day. He gave his impressions of the various personnel he’d met so far and his plans to scout out the cargo manifests in more detail when he returned to the airline’s home base in Wichita.
“The CEO signed the blank manifest personally. That, in itself, seems odd to me. It’s like he wrote a blank check and nobody would dare question the missing paperwork because his name was on it. Emily didn’t say a word, even though she’s proven to be a stickler for protocol.”
“Do you think she’s in on it?”
“Too soon to say, sir. She seemed annoyed when she saw the manifest, but she went along with it.”
“And there was no way to get a look inside the crates?”
“I tried early this morning but Emily intercepted me. She had accepted the shipment in the middle of the night. I figured she’d left, but she must’ve either come back or stayed in the office long after I thought she’d be gone. She caught me snooping, but I believe I was able to salvage the situation.”
“She doesn’t suspect you?”
“I don’t think so. But she may have suspected something was fishy with the cargo, which is why she stayed. It’s only a guess at this point. I haven’t cleared her yet. For now, everyone is still on the suspect list. I’ll let you know my findings as the situation develops.”
“I’ll try to have someone track the cargo after you dropped it off but I’m not holding out much hope. John Petit may be in touch with you in the next week or two. I have him working research for this op and he may also provide some logistical support, if needed. In the meantime, if you need anything, call me.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“And Sam,” Matt paused. “Be careful.”
“Roger that, sir. Give my love to the doc.” Sam couldn’t resist teasing his new commander about his girlfriend. Dr. Sandra McCormick had snared the commander’s heart after healing Sam’s.
She’d worked her medical magic on Sam back on Long Island before she’d even met Matt Sykes. Back then, they weren’t altogether sure which team she was on, but her special serum—when injected directly into the heart moments after exposure to the zombie contagion—could save lives. It had saved Sam’s life and he’d be forever grateful to her for it. As far as Sam was concerned, she’d more than made up for her initial involvement in creating the zombie contagion as part of the original research team.
Once she’d realized what they’d done, she’d put all her efforts into finding a cure. It still wasn’t a perfect cure. It only worked on a small percentage of people. But it had worked for Sam and that’s all that mattered.
“Stop flirting with my girl, lieutenant,” came Matt’s disgruntled reply. It had become a somewhat standard joke between them since Matt and Sandra had become a couple. Sam didn’t have any romantic interest in Sandra, but he liked and respected her as much as he did the commander. It was harmless teasing between friends.
“Sir, yes, sir,” Sam replied crisply to Matt’s disgusted grunt.
“Call me when you have news. And Sandy says to take care of yourself. She doesn’t want to have to patch up your bleeding ass again.”
Sam heard a commotion in the background and realized he’d probably either woken the couple with his phone call or interrupted something a little more intimate.
The commander hung up before Sam could make a smartass reply but it was just as well. Matt was still his commander, for all their easy camaraderie. It was important to keep that boundary, even as their friendship deepened. Someday, when this was all over, they would probably hang out together, but for now there had to be a slight demarcation line between commander and those he commanded.
Meanwhile, Sam had work to do and time was not on his side. There was little he could do about it tonight. He decided to rest up. He’d have another chance for action again tomorrow and he wanted to be at his sharpest. Emily wasn’t a fool and he had to be on his toes around her—whether she was on the good side, or heaven forbid, the bad.
Chapter Four
Sam dreamed of Emily. Hot dreams. Bothersome dreams. Dreams that had him taking a cold shower the moment he got out of bed and working to suppress memory of them when he met her in the lobby.
It did no good. The sight of her fresh face and creamy skin brought back the heated, sweaty imaginings of his overactive mind from the night before. That single kiss they’d shared outside her door had fueled his fantasies in a way no woman ever had before. To Sam, Emily was the stuff dreams were made of.
Erotic dreams, mostly. Although in other dreams they simply were together, laughing and enjoying their time together. Those dreams were almost as sweet as those that featured a heavy, sexual beat of them making love. At least in his mind.
Sam found himself grateful that she wasn’t able to read his mind as he greeted her in the lobby of the hotel. She’d called briefly to say she was heading downstairs and he’d barely been able to grunt in response. He was doing better now but she still turned him on. He’d have to deal with it. They both had jobs to do and walking around with a woody wasn’t going to help his cause—either with the woman or with the task he’d come here to perform.
“Are you feeling adventurous this morning?” Emily greeted him with a mischievous smile.
Oh, yeah. His dreams had definitely been adventurous, but somehow he got the feeling that wasn’t what she was referring to. Still, best to be cautious. He leaned back on his heels and regarded her.
“Depends what you have in mind.”
“Breakfast,” she replied quickly. “But not here. This place has the standard eggs, bacon, and heart attack on a plate menu. I was thinking of something a little different. Question is, are you up for it?”
That daring edge in her voice was a siren’s call to him. The more he got to know of her, the more he both dreaded and delighted in the fact that they seemed to be kindred spirits.
“I’m up for anything you can dish out, captain.” Hell, he’d eat bamboo shoots and alfalfa sprouts if it made her happy. Lord knew he’d eaten worse in his time.
“I got us both set up for late checkout so as long as we’re back here by noon, our stuff can stay in the rooms. What do you say we head out to parts unknown, get breakfast at a little bistro I’m thinking about, then head straight to Saturday Market from there?”
“Sounds like a plan.” He nodded and followed her out of the lobby and down the street.
She was downright bubbly this morning and he wondered what had brought about the subtle change in her energy. Yesterday she’d been a cautious, calm professional. The day before she’d been slightly harassed and wary. Today she was open and free. Had he done that? Had their kiss brought out her lighter side as it had brought out the sexual perv in him?
Well, maybe not perv. But some of the things he’d dreamed about last night were definitely pushing the envelope. He wondered if she’d be interested in testing the kinkier side of life with him as he watched her sashay down the sidewalk slightly in front of him.
She turned suddenly and caught him staring.
“Do my eyes deceive me or was my first officer just ogling my butt? I could have you keel hauled for that, mister.” The twinkle in her eye told him she was definitely kidding.
“Good thing we’re not in the Navy, then.” He caught up to her and took her hand in his.
He didn’t know why he’d done it. He hadn’t held hands with a girl since high school. Somehow, though, this felt right. Sort of old fashioned and good. Pure.
Unlike the steamy sexual thoughts he’d been having about Emily since last night. Better to tamp those down so he could function today. At least a little.
Being with Emily was proving harder on his self-restraint than he would have believed just two short days ago. She was a dynamo in a size petite captain’s uniform and more competent in the cockpit than he’d have credited. Boy, had he been wrong about her. From the get-go, he’d had the wrong impression, gleaned from the thin personnel file and lousy photo he’d been given as background information before he went undercover.
She was nothing like the serious, harassed looking woman in the photo. There was something almost vulnerable about her at times that appealed to his protective instincts. At other times, she was fierce. A good partner to have at your back in battle. He’d never thought of any other woman in those terms. Not even the women warriors on his new team. Sure, he respected them all, but he didn’t know them half as well as he thought he knew Emily after only a short acquaintance.
Of course, he’d never kissed any of them. Or had naughty dreams about them. No, that was just Emily. A woman who was working her way under his skin without even trying.
They walked toward the downtown area where the market was located. Emily stopped short of the busy market area and ducked into a small bistro.
Emily surprised him with her choice of restaurants. It had a fun ambience and eclectic menu. Lots of health food dressed up in appetizing ways. If she thought he’d be put off by the choices, she was sadly mistaken. He ordered fresh cinnamon wheat toast and a big portion of something called rice and raisins.
It was served hot and was basically a bowl full of seven or eight different kinds of rice that were mostly of the brown and long grain varieties, dotted with plump raisins. The waitress brought a bunch of fussy little dishes along with it, including a small carafe of milk and his choice of brown sugar, molasses, honey, or maple syrup and with a few different choices of chopped nuts and other things he could use to dress up the rice. He went to town, much to Emily’s amusement, decking out his bowl of steaming rice and raisins with a little bit of everything.
“Nothing fazes you, does it?” She shook her head as he dug into his bowl of unconventional breakfast.
“Not much. I’ve eaten worse in the service, Em. If you want to stump me you’ll have to try harder than this.” He winked at her and they shared a grin as she buttered her whole wheat toast.
“Duly noted.”
She nibbled daintily on the toast while he chowed down on the unexpectedly good concoction in his bowl. He’d have to remember this and try it sometime when he got back to base. He liked experimenting with different foods though he wasn’t much of a chef.
