Holmes (7 page)

He reached the truck and heard her laughing. Curious, he rounded the back and spotted her sitting on the bumper of his truck. She was surrounded by a group of kids of varying ages.

As he watched, she flicked a finger at the chin of one teenaged girl. “How you holding up, Ava? A pretty wild road trip, huh?”

The girl nodded. “I always thought a road trip would be fun, especially after being stuck in the base.” She pulled a face. “This one, not so much.”

“Hey.” Liberty handed the girl something.

It was a stick of chewing gum. Ava snatched it up like it was gold.

“I know things are crazy,” Liberty said. “But even in the middle of that, you have to find the things that make you feel good. Enjoy the little things.”

“Like what?” a boy grumped, but his gaze was on Liberty’s hand.

“Well…like a delicious muffin for breakfast. A pretty sunrise. A smile.” She handed some gum over to the boy and he took it with a grin. “Some good candy.” Her gaze rose and caught Adam’s. “Or spending time with someone who makes you feel good.”

“Libby, Libby.” Small hands patted at Liberty’s pockets.

She bestowed a radiant smile on the trio of tiny kids tearing at her. “Hang on, munchkins, I haven’t forgotten you.” She pulled out a spill of multi-colored jelly beans. The kids pounced like unfed tiger cubs.

Two of the kids shoved handfuls of the treats into their mouths. But one little boy contemplated his, a serious look on his face. He lifted huge brown eyes. “Libby? Are the aliens gonna get us?”

It was a blow to Adam’s insides. Here was a child, maybe four, worried if he was going to be hunted down like an animal. Adam’s hands fisted by his sides. This boy should be worried about when he could have a playdate, or head to the park, or about his first day at school. Not this.

Liberty crouched down to the boy’s level. “Ian, honey, we have some special people looking out for us.” Her gaze flicked up again. “The general here works day and night to keep the aliens away. And we have the squads.”

A little girl plonked herself in Liberty’s lap and the teens crowded closer, like they needed to be closer to Liberty, soaking up her easy calm.

Liberty straightened the little boy’s crooked collar. “You leave the aliens up to the general and his soldiers. But I have an important job I need all of you to do, too.”

“What is it?”

“What?”

The chorus of eager voices made some of the tension leak from Adam. He couldn’t look away from Liberty. She radiated something that seemed to captivate—it made kids want to sit in her lap and men want to weep.

“Smile,” Liberty said. “I need you to play and smile and laugh. No matter what.”

The boy who’d asked about the aliens was now chomping noisily on his candy. “I like to play soccer.”

“I like to go on pretend adventures,” one of the girls said. “I want to discover buried treasure.”

The others chimed in with their favorite games.

“Okay.” Liberty set the little girl on her feet and stood. “Sounds like you can all help me out. Now, off you go. We’ll be leaving soon.”

When she turned to face Adam, he couldn’t manage any words. He just stared at her, trying to make sense of this woman. At first, you saw beauty, a woman with easy charm who enjoyed the pleasurable things in life.

And there was nothing wrong with that. But if you stopped for a second, you got a deeper glance at what lay beneath.

And it was fascinating.

He cleared his throat. “We’re moving out shortly.”

She nodded. “I’m ready.” She popped a piece of gum in her mouth. Eyeing him, she pulled something else out of her pocket and held it out.

Adam stared at the piece of black candy. “How could you possibly know I like licorice?”

A Mona Lisa smile played around her mouth. “A woman never, ever gives away her secrets.” She lifted her hand and pressed the licorice to his lips.

The strong taste of aniseed exploded in his mouth. Without thinking, he grabbed her wrist, keeping her fingers at his lips. He sucked one of her fingers into his mouth.

She gasped, her pupils dilating.

He dragged his tongue along the slender finger, sucking once, then let it go.

“There is so much you keep hidden,” she murmured.

“Same goes, Ms. Lawler.”

“Adam—”

“General!” a female voice interrupted.

Adam took a hasty step back from Liberty and put on his general face. He turned and saw Doc Emerson hurrying toward them. “Emerson.”

The doctor nodded her blonde head. “We have a problem.”

Chapter Seven

Liberty could see the strain in the doctor’s face.

Emerson huffed out a breath. “We have a lady refusing to get back in the vehicles.”

Adam frowned. “She doesn’t want to leave?”

“No. I’ve tried to talk to her.” A frustrated sigh. “She’s elderly and stubborn and…I think she’s given up.”

Liberty swallowed. She knew that a lot of people in the convoy were starting to feel that way. Why keep running, fighting, living on fumes when you could curl up and let all the pain go away?

She understood. She’d felt that way once, curled up on the tiles of her bathroom, bleeding and hurting.

But there was always a glimmer of light somewhere. You just had to look.

“I’ll talk to her.” Adam’s voice was firm. “Go, get the med bus ready to leave.”

As Adam walked in the direction Emerson had pointed, Liberty fell into step with him.

“You can wait for me at the truck,” he said.

“No. It’s fine. I’ll come.”

He looked surprised for a second, before he nodded.

Was Adam Holmes just that used to being alone that he was surprised when someone offered something as simple as company? Liberty sank her hands into her pockets, her thoughts churning.

The old woman was sitting on the grass under a tree. She had wrinkled skin stretched over the strong bones of her face. Not a wilting flower, this one. Her hair was white and pulled back in a bun and she wore a simple black dress that hung on her.

“Hello.” Adam crouched beside the woman. “I’m—”

“Know who you are,” the woman said, her thready voice filled with steel.

“And your name, Ms…?”

The woman looked up, her faded green eyes filled with tears. “It’s Missus. Mrs. Marinos.” Her voice trembled. “Lost my husband of forty years at Yeranderie.”

Liberty’s heart clenched and she saw Adam flinch. They’d lost a lot of people at the final battle in the mountains.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

Adam’s words came out cool, but Liberty could see him struggling with a bunch of emotions, and guilt was winning.

Liberty knelt beside the woman. “I can’t really understand how you feel. But we’re really sorry.”

“Aliens’ fault, no one else,” the woman said, matter-of-factly. “Lost my house, my children and grandchildren, and now George. I’m old. I can’t fight the aliens. I’m useless.”

Now Adam moved, his voice sharp, but he gently gripped the woman’s shoulder. “That isn’t true—”

“Not true?” Color flared in the old woman’s face. “Young man, I can see the writing on the wall. This new world is for the young, the strong, the fit. I’m tired of running.”

“No.” Adam shook his head. The vehemence in his voice had Liberty staring at him.

“I’ve been focused on the squads, the military support people who help fight and protect us every day.” The blue of his eyes shimmered with ferocity. “But I’m just starting to realize we need the people with the softer touch, too. Soldiers fight, and—” a rueful smile “—generals give orders, but kids need hugs and stories, people need warmth and tenderness, too. They need someone who hands them stolen candy just as much as someone willing to hold a carbine.”

Liberty felt a warmth move through her. There was praise in his words, and though she’d vowed a long time ago to never need a man’s approval, it made her feel good. Damn good.

It made her want Adam Holmes even more than she had a moment ago.

He looked back at the woman. “We need memories, we need stories, we need the glue that holds all this together.” He waved at the convoy.

The woman stared at Adam for a minute. “We are lucky to have a man like you leading us.”

Adam gave a half laugh. “You want the truth? Sometimes, I’m not sure I can go on either.” He rubbed a hand at the back of his neck, looking surprised the words had come out. “I’m terrified I’ll make a wrong decision, and more innocent people will die.” He sighed. “Sometimes my only options are two bad choices.”

Liberty felt a lump lodge in her throat. For the first time, he was showing some of his pain.

“It’s not easy being in charge, is it?” This time Mrs. Marinos patted Adam’s arm. “And I’m only making it more difficult.”

“You’ll only make it harder if you tell me you still want to sit here and give up.”

The woman huffed out a breath. “Not today.” She gripped his arm and waved the other hand at Liberty. “Help me up. I need to get back to my vehicle.”

They helped her to her feet, and she dusted off her dress. Then she pinned Adam with a stare.

“Reach out, young man. You don’t have to be so alone.”

After the woman had walked away, Liberty saw Adam’s mask drop. She caught a glimpse of the ugly, dark feelings welling in him.

“Adam—”

With a shake of his head, he stalked off. He rounded his truck, out of view of the convoy.

Liberty followed. She was good at reading people, and Adam was on the same edge that Mrs. Marinos had just stepped back from.

She rounded the truck and saw him standing, tall and stiff, staring off at the horizon.

“It kills me.” His words were like bullets. “Kills me that she just wanted to die.”

“You brought her back, Adam.”

He spun. The calm, patient general was nowhere to be seen. “More are going to start giving up.”

“And we’ll help them, too.”

He made a choked noise, his hands curled so tight his knuckles were white.

“Adam… I’m right here.” She held out a hand. “Hold on, just for a little while. Let me help you.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“Yes, I do.”

He lunged at her so fast, she gasped. Strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off her feet. He pushed her up against the side of the truck, sun-warmed metal against her back and hot, hard man pressed to the front of her body.

His mouth slammed down on hers and she moaned into his kiss. It was dark, edgy. His hands grabbed hers, slamming her wrists above her head. Liberty wrapped one leg around his lean waist.

The touch of their tongues was like a bomb going off. He kissed her with an urgent, reckless edge that made goose bumps flare on her skin. He stroked her tongue, deepened the kiss, and arousal sang through her.

When he finally pulled back, they were both panting. Liberty touched his shoulders and realized some of that vicious tension in him had eased, replaced by red-blooded desire.

“Feel better?” she asked.

“Not really.” He nudged her with his hard erection. “But if you’re asking if I’m still on the edge…no.”

He slid a hand down her leg, then pulled her thigh away from him. She watched him take a step back, shoring up his control, pulling his “man-in-charge” persona around him like armor.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “This can’t keep happening.”

She touched a hand to his cheek, and he stilled. “Did you enjoy it?”

He made a growling sound. “That isn’t the issue—”

She stroked her nail down his cheek, over lips that had given her so much pleasure. “Yes. It is.”

He sighed. “You are driving me a little bit crazy.”

She grinned now. “Good. I think that’s what you need.”

“You were right.”

“About what?”

“We need to do something to remind everyone that life is worth living.” His gaze traced her face. “I don’t know what kind of magic you wield…but I can’t breathe from wanting you. It certainly takes my mind off other things.”

Pleasure filled her. She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. “I want you, too.” A sliver of fear snaked through her. She hadn’t wanted a man—not like this—in a very long time. An easy, fun romp was one thing. This…

Well, this was something else entirely.

“I shouldn’t want you,” he said. “Shouldn’t dream about touching you, tasting you…”

“Adam.” She arched into him, her breasts feeling full, her skin flushed.

“But for now, I have to think about the convoy.” There was frustration on his face. “We need to get out of here and think of something to help them all remember that the fight for our freedom is worth it.”

“What do you suggest?” she asked. “I don’t think a party right now is going to work.”

“I have something in mind, but I need to talk to Marcus, first.”

Liberty couldn’t imagine what tough, battle-hardened Marcus could help with, but she trusted Adam. “Okay.”

“And I’ll need your help once we get to the mine.” That groove between his brows appeared, and she wanted to kiss it away.

“You have it.” But she heard his unspoken words.
If
they got to the mine.

***

It was quiet.

Adam stared out the windscreen. Far too quiet.

They were nearing the mine where they’d spend the night and they hadn’t seen a single alien. Yes, Roth and Tane and their squads were doing an excellent job with their diversions…but this complete absence of problems was making Adam nervous.

He knew it wasn’t only him. He could almost feel the tension throbbing off the entire convoy—clipped voices on the comm, vehicles trying to drive too fast, and even Liberty was gripping the steering wheel tight.

Adam tried to relax. He pressed his head back against the seat, trying to find some calm in the rocking motion of the vehicle.

But even if he succeeded in forgetting the aliens for a moment, thoughts of the woman beside him made him tense. Looking at her, smelling her, remembering that damn kiss. He shifted, willing his hardening cock to settle down. Now wasn’t the time for an erection.

“We’re almost there,” Liberty said.

Her husky voice made Adam close his eyes and swallow a groan. Hell, how was he going to keep his hands off her, if just her voice made him want to drag her into his lap?