Promises (11 page)

“Say yes.
 
Have dinner with me.”
 
He rubbed soft circles against her palm with his thumb, hypnotizing her.

Dumbfounded, she stared into his rich green eyes.
 
“I don’t know.”

Her heart beat in an uneven tempo, yet strangely different from the one Travis caused.
 
Two attractive men, two totally different reactions, both extremely pleasant.
 

He closed the space between them, placing a feather-light kiss against her lips.
 
She felt like her feet were sliding out from under her.

Travis was to blame for this.
 
From the moment he invaded her life, her heart was on permanent flutter, her palms were constantly sweaty, and her knees were as weak as water.
 
If he hadn’t shown up and thrown her hormones into such a tizzy, stirring up old romantic dreams, she’d know what to do about Ted.
 
Actually, she wouldn’t have had to do
anything.
 
If it weren’t for Travis, Ted would never have begun this frontal assault.

“I want to get to know you, Jill,” he whispered, pulling away from her lips.

Jill?
 
No, that wasn’t right.
 
She was Barbara McBride, art dealer and woman in hiding.
 
As sweet and stirring as his kiss was, she couldn’t risk getting involved.
 
Not with him, not with Travis, not with anyone.
 

She cleared the longing from her throat.
 
“I’m awfully busy with my work.”

“Even you have to take a break sometime.”
 

She liked his quirky grin, but found herself comparing it to Travis’ roguish one.
 

Blast that man for getting her so worked up in the first place.
 
His constant sexual innuendoes and suggestive comments had her so uptight, she felt like she’d explode with need.
 
The rat actually seemed to take great delight in driving her crazy.
 
Heck, she’d probably even think Uncle Joe would look good about now.

Rocky stirred, pulling her from her mental ramblings.
 
Standing on the porch, his ears perked up, he studied the front door intently.
 
Her rat of a houseguest must be awake and was no doubt watching them from the window.
 
Well, he could watch until his eyes were full.

“Is it because of your friend?”
 
Ted’s voice brought her attention back to his handsome face.

“No.
 
Yes.”
 
She sighed heavily.
 
“It’s complicated.”

He nodded and put a little more space between them and released her hand, the sweet, shy man resurfacing.
 
“If things should become uncomplicated, I mean, if you
—
”
 
He paused and exhaled a soft exasperated breath.
 
“My dinner offer still stands.”

She placed her palm against his smooth cheek.
 
“Thank you.
 
I’ll remember that.”
 
Lifting up on her tiptoes, she returned his gentle kiss with one of her own.
 
He was such a nice man.
 
If things were different, if her life wasn’t such a mess, she would go out with him.
 
Her type or not.
 
If anything, to remind her there were other men on the planet.
 
Men who could probably live up to a few of her ridiculous fantasies and weren’t lying, cheating rats
—
or FBI agents.

With a shy grin, he took several awkward steps backward and cleared his throat.
 
“I guess I’d better get back to the office.”

“Thank you for checking up on me.”
 
She smiled and turned to climb the stairs.

“I’ll be seeing you.”
 

She watched until the sedan turned the corner out of sight.
 
Feeling a little lightheaded and somewhat satisfied at being wanted by someone as nice as Doctor Stamens, she floated up the stairs.
   

Although Travis had fallen asleep while Bobbi talked about curtains, his instincts were still tuned-in to everything around him.
 
The crunch of gravel beneath tires had him instantly alert.
 

Ready to move at the first sign of trouble, he watched the exchange between Bobbi and her visitor.
 
He seemed familiar, but Travis couldn’t quite place the face.
 
Unable to hear their words, he concentrated on observing every movement and gesture the man made.
 

Travis flexed his hand, wishing he had a gun.
 
His nerves pulled taut as the beanstalk of a man pressed closer to her.
 
When he lowered his head and their lips met, Travis moved for the door, ready to toss the clod across the drive.
 
It wasn’t an earth-shattering kiss by any means, but it happened nevertheless.
 
Didn’t she know the danger?
 
Didn’t she realize he could be working for Steele?
 

One last glance out the side window and his hand fell limply from the doorknob as she popped up on her toes and returned the man’s kiss.
 
Taking a step back, he ran his fingers through his hair as the weight of what he’d been about to do left the unfamiliar taste of jealousy lingering in his mouth.
 

Jealous over a kiss.
 
A kiss he wanted.
 

“You are one sorry sap, Reid.”
 

Slowly, he sat down on the arm of the couch and waited for her to come inside.
 
He needed to tame these dangerous feelings and get back to work.
 
It was time for a hefty dose of the truth.
 
Their safety depended on them being honest with one another, and he had to tell her about Jase.
 

Bobbi breezed in through the door leaving Rocky lounging on the front porch.
 
Travis ignored the faint blush of her cheeks and the sparkle of her unnaturally bright blue eyes.
 
He folded his arms tightly across his chest.
 

“Oh, you’re awake,” she said with a silly grin.

“Who was that?”
 
His voice remained calm as his fingers dug deeply into his biceps.

“Ted Stamens.
 
The doctor who sewed up your leg.”
 
She closed the door behind her.

“What did he want?”
 
He forced the question through his lips, though he already knew the answer.
 
The doctor wanted Bobbi.

“He was worried about the storm and came to check on me.
 
And you.”
 
She glided past him and started down the hall.
 

Gritting his teeth, silently telling himself he needed to know everything so he could keep her safe, he asked, “So what is this guy to you?”

She paused and looked back over her shoulder.
 
“A friend.”
 

“That looked like a lot more than a friendly kiss to me.”
 
The comment slipped out before he could stop it.
 

She stuck her chin in the air.
 
“It happens to be none of your business.”

That’s where she was wrong, but she didn’t know it yet.
 
“I happen to think it’s very much my business.”
  

Her hands fisted against her hips.
 
“I don’t know what sort of trouble you’re in,
Mark
, but Ted’s not part of it.
 
Just because I let you stay here, doesn’t give you the right to poke your nose into my life.”
 
She huffed off across the living room.

“Your Irish temper is showing, Bobbi.”
 
He clamped his eyes closed.
 
Damn it!
 
That wasn’t how he wanted to tell her.

Her steps halted, and she slowly turned back around.
 
“You knew,” she hissed.
 
“All along, you knew who I was.”

Trying to calm a potentially explosive situation, he kept his voice low and steady.
 
“And you knew who I was.
 
Now, we need to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”
 
She spun around and started toward the kitchen once again.

“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?”

“I have absolutely no interest in what you have to say,” she called back over her shoulder.

“It’s about Jase,” he said softly.

She froze at the mention of her brother’s name.
 
Turning, her gaze locked with his.
 

It killed him to do it, but he had to tell her.
 
“He’s dead, Bobbi.”

She shook her head slowly as she stumbled back into the room.
 
“No, he can’t be.”
 

Her strangled words ripped at his heart.
 
“I’m afraid so.”
 
He took two long strides, pulled her wilting body into his arms, and held her tight.
 
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.
 
I’m so sorry,” he whispered into her hair, holding back his tears for his lost friend.

She trembled as her tears soaked the front of his shirt.
 
So many times he wanted her in his arms, but not because of this.
 
If he could only soak up her pain, if he could make everything all right again, if he’d only been there for Jase when he needed him.
 

For a few moments, he stroked her hair and continued his senseless wishing, cursing himself a million different ways, until she flattened her palms against his damp chest and pushed away.
 

“No.”
 
She sniffled, shakily shoving her bangs from her forehead.
 
“He isn’t dead.
 
I’d feel it.
 
I’d know it.”
 
She swiped at her face and hurried to the bedroom.

Stunned, he stood motionless for a second or two then followed her.
 
She was in shock.
 
A completely natural response, except one that might prove to be a problem.
 

Stopping in the narrow doorway of the little bathroom, he watched her remove her contacts.
 
“Denying it won’t do any good.”

She spun on him.
 
“He’s not dead.”

He knew she would deal with it in her own way sooner or later, but they didn’t have time for later.
 
Right now he had to keep her safe, and visiting doctors weren’t safe.
 

“I need you to pack the essentials.
 
We’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow.”
 
Orders issued, he turned and limped away.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He stopped at the foot of the bed with a deep sigh.
 
Why was he not surprised?
 
“Yes, you are.
 
It’s only a matter of time before Steele’s men find you.”

She stomped out of the bathroom, fury blazing in her eyes.
 
“They won’t recognize me.”

“I did.
 
And once they get a close enough look, they will too.”

She placed her fists on her hips, her chest heaving.
 
“Well, they’re not going to get a close enough look.”

Taking one long stride, he towered over her.
 
“You’re damn right they aren’t, because you’re leaving with me.”

“Oh!
 
You’re just like Jason.
 
Always telling me what to do.
 
Well, get this, Mr. Big Bad FBI Agent,” she said, poking him in the chest.
 
“I’m not a kid anymore and I’m not going anywhere.
 
With you or anyone else.”
 
Tossing her head back, she pushed passed him.

Shooting out his hand, he yanked her back against his side.
 
“Like it or not, you’re leaving.”

“No, I’m not!”
 
She jerked hard against his tight grip and almost freed herself, but he refused to let go even as his injured leg crumpled beneath him, sending them both to the floor.
 

Cradling the back of her head so she wouldn’t crack it against the hardwood flooring, he took the brunt of the fall on his elbows.
 

She pounded against his chest, railing at him.
 
“Get off me, you Neanderthal!”
 

Grabbing her wrists, he pinned them against the floor above her head.
 
“I promised Jase I’d protect you if anything should happen when he went undercover and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Oh, you big oaf!
 
I don’t need your protection.
 
Now, get off!”

“Not until you calm down!”
 
His only consolation to the mind wrenching pain shooting up his leg was her soft supple body pressed beneath him.
 
They had to stop getting into these awkward positions.
 
It only served to add fuel to his desire, making him want more and more.

“Oh, I should have let you bleed to death.
 
I should have fed you to Rocky.
 
Or better still, I should have shot you myself and finished the job!”

Her squirming and squiggling to get out from under him sent waves of prickly heat across his skin.
 
Hoping she wouldn’t bite, he shut her up the best way he knew how.
 
He captured her mouth with his, pressing firmly as he glided his tongue across the edge of her lips.
 

The furious female growled in outrage before melting into him.
 
With a tiny moan she opened to him, allowing him into the sweet warm haven of her mouth.