Once a Marine (20 page)

Very happy to have them in the city, BD suggested they stay at the apartment. Knowing what a skinflint Jack was, BD expected him to jump at the chance for free lodging. He didn’t disappoint her.

“Free? Great!” Jack was thrilled. “We’ll stay a full week, in that case.” His New York hosts had offered hotel expenses for three nights only.

Kelly laughed with joy. “Hooray, a real vacation for once. Thank you, BD. You have no idea how much I need one.”

“I can imagine. I volunteer to baby sit so you and Jack can go out on the town a couple of nights.”

“Oh, God, I have an angel for a sister-in-law. I am forever in your debt.”

BD chuckled at Kelly’s response to her offer. “I’ll figure out a way to make you pay someday. Jack is my witness.”

* * *

The two new pilots Joe hired met Rafi in Minneapolis. Smart, clear-headed, young guys. Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Rafi was impressed. Joe hit the mark in his assessment. These pilots were unmarried, would locate anywhere they were needed, and loved to fly. No better recommendation in Rafi’s book. They’d be put straight to work as pilots for Cruz Aero, with no involvement in any of his and Joe’s extracurricular activities.

With Bravo Delta on his mind constantly, Rafi had doubts about his own continued commitment to dangerous undercover work. Big bucks or not. This past weekend he got away with imparting little information to her by keeping her busy, and then this Springer charter came out of nowhere. He doubted he could get away with keeping secrets much longer if he was serious about having a life with her.

She had a mind of her own and her own aspirations. That was good; he liked that about her. But if she did achieve her goal to be the international sales and marketing director for the clothing company, where did that leave him? He enjoyed being footloose. But could two footloose people ever build any kind of a satisfactory family life?

He wanted marriage, kids. They never talked about kids. That was way down the road and would mean that at some point BD would have to put her career on the back burner. He was cool to the idea of his kids being raised by a series of babysitters. He knew the value of being brought up in a two-parent family, how important it was for kids to have that security. Mom there when they got home from school.

He was willing to give up some of the things he loved doing, so she should be willing to budge on some of hers, right? Hell, they were good together, but he didn’t even know if she was in love with him. He planned a future with BD with no input from her whatsoever. Yeah, she said she was his girl, but
his girl
was a hell of a long way from a marriage proposal.

Troubled that he didn’t know much about her history with Nick, the asshole, he needed more information about that relationship. She’d been with the jerk almost three years. How come they never got married? Had kids? Why did she stick with him so long? BD must be holding back on him.

Back in the LA hangar he picked up the phone to call her, checked his watch, and grumbled. “Dammit, it’s too late. I’ll have to wait till morning.” He would definitely call her, keep in touch, not leave her flapping in the wind, wondering where he was or what he was doing. “I’ll call her in the morning.”

* * *

BD fumed. It would be great if he’d just, for once, call her and let her know where he is, and what he’s doing.

Did she hope for a miracle? He’d only been gone a day. Up to her neck with almost more than they could handle for the catalog, she sat mooning about Rafi instead of concentrating on work. The phone rang.

She winced at another interruption. “BD James here.”

“Ms. James, there’s a Mr. Cruz on line one for you.”

Her heart gave a happy bounce, and then she thought it might be an emergency.

She punched line one. “Rafi, what’s the matter? Is something wrong? Are you OK?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, sunshine, I’m trying to mend my ways. You want me to stay in touch. I’m in touch. How’s my girl?”

The teasing grin in his voice captivated her, filled her with welcome buoyancy. “Your girl is busy and harassed, but she’s fine. How’s my guy?” She’d never called him that before, the words foreign on her tongue, awkward.

His warm chuckle put her at ease. “How would I know? I’ll ask him when I see him.”

Smiling into the phone she leaned back in her chair and let the relaxation take over. “Smarty pants.”

“I miss you, Beautiful.”

“You’ve only been gone a day.”

“I miss you every day we’re not together.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, now you’re supposed to say you miss me too.”

“I do miss you, Rafi.” More than she cared to admit.

“Good, that’s very good. I told Joe I’d fly every charter between here and New York. He thinks I’m in love.”

She sat forward so fast the chair nearly flew out from under her. A lump the size of her fist sat in back of her throat, making it impossible to answer him.

“Beautiful?”

“Are you…in love?”

“Very likely.”

She swallowed. “Rafi, is that why you took me to meet your family, because you love me?”

His next words were delivered in the softest tone quality she’d ever heard him utter. “Yes, sweetheart, I love you.”

Tears stung. She gripped the phone so hard it was a wonder it didn’t crack. Involuntary sobs escaped her. He loved her. He just said it. He loved her.

“Beautiful? Are you crying?”

“Damn you, Rafael Cruz.”

“Damn me? Why?”

“How can you be so dense? I’m crying because I love you. Because there’s twenty-five hundred miles between us, and because you could have told me when we were together.”

He didn’t answer for a few moments. “I never said it to a woman before, sugar. Yes, I should have told you, but I didn’t know how you’d react. I’m a coward.”

She rolled her eyes. “How can you say that? You go out in the jungle with a virtual target painted on your back, and you tell me you’re a coward?”

He chuckled. “I have another confession, Beautiful. You scare me more than any bad guy or gun I’ve ever faced. That’s the truth.”

She shook her head with wonder. “You could uproot an oak tree, and I scare you? I don’t get it.”

BD heard a long sigh. “I’d rather go before a firing squad than have you break my heart. Sounds irrational, but there it is.”

“Oh, Rafi, I don’t want to break your heart.”

That could very easily happen if she told him the truth about her screwed-up relationship with Nick and how she’d allowed him to maneuver her into doing things Rafi would find repugnant. Based on what Jill told her, his values were rigid. What would he think of her drastic measures to avoid pregnancy? Would he consider it the same as abortion?

“I’ll make a deal with you, sweet cheeks. I won’t break yours if you don’t break mine.”

“How could we possibly say it would never happen? I don’t want it to happen, neither do you, but it happens all the time between people who love each other.”

“How old are you, Beautiful?”

“I’m twenty-nine. Why?” She chuckled. “Am I too old for you?”

“You’re just right for me, but I’ll be thirty-seven in a couple of months. The question is, am I too old for you?”

Her heart fluttered when she pictured the perfect specimen of man on the other end of the line. “You’re just right for me, Cruz. I love a man with some mileage on his odometer.”

“Christ, I gotta get back there.”

“Yes…and no dangerous stuff in the meantime.”

That was a hard one. He paused and swallowed. “No dangerous stuff.”

He heard the faint skepticism in her voice. “Is that a promise?”

He clamped his jaw, took a deep breath through his nose. “You got my back to the wall. It’s what I do. It’s what I know.”

“Rafi.”

“OK, it’s a promise. We need to have a long conversation, and lay down the ground rules.” He looked up as Bert entered his office holding a hand-lettered sign:
Silverstone on hold. What should I tell them?

Shit, talk about bad timing. Rafi held up a finger. “I got an important call on hold. It’s a big customer. I’ll call you tonight after I close the office. Will you still be awake?”

“Rafi, I love you.”

“And I love you. I’ll call you tonight.”

BD dropped the phone back in its cradle. He loves her. He’ll call her tonight. Why did she have an ominous feeling?

She took a couple of gasping sobs, lowered her head, grabbed hair in each hand, and leaned on her elbows. She jerked when her office door opened. Enzo entered.

His face registered alarm. “Why do you cry?”

She dropped her head on folded arms, her response muffled. “Rafi loves me.”

“He loves you, and you cry?”

She nodded into her arms.

“I never understand women. You cry if he loves you. You cry if he doesn’t love you.” He placed his fingertips on her head. “Explain to me. Please.”

She raised her tear-stained face and giggled at his perplexed expression. “Oh, God, Enzo, where do I start?”

* * *

BD’s phone rang on the dot of ten, seven in LA. She widened her lips into a smile when she saw the name on her screen. Rafi kept his promise to call.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Beautiful. See how good I am at keeping promises?”

She smiled and leaned against the headboard. “So far, so good. What was the important call? Did you pick up some good business?”

“As a matter of fact I did. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

She bolted upright. “Tomorrow? That’s great! How long will you stay?” Anticipation bubbled through her.

“Only one night. I gotta leave the next morning. Joe will be with me. Is it OK for him to bunk in that third bedroom for the night?”

She could think of no reason why Joe shouldn’t stay there for one night. “I don’t see why not. Nobody’s using it now. Why is Joe coming?”

“The job is for both of us. We’re doing a protection and transportation detail for a diplomat.”

Uneasiness nagged at her. “It’s not dangerous, is it?”

He chuckled. “It’s very routine. Nothing for you to worry about.”

She had to give him points for not adding the condescending words: “your little head.”

“Can you tell me more about it?”

“Sure. I can’t give you names, but we’re picking up a small delegation in the Caribbean to bring them to New York for a UN conference. The next day we’re taking them back.”

That sounded easy enough, but something still troubled her. “Why do they need protection?”

“Nearly everyone with a public face needs protection these days, sugar. It’s good for my business, seldom dangerous, and it pays well.”

“Will you be able to stay another night when you get back?”

“No can do. We’re going straight to Houston to pick up some cargo on the way back to LA.”

BD heard his groaning sound of regret. It mirrored her disappointment. “Rafi, I guess I should be glad you’re coming instead of focusing on how short the visit will be. It’s hard.”

“Speaking of hard and coming—what are you wearing, Bravo Delta?”

She laughed. “Oh, no you don’t. Forget the phone sex. It’s not my thing. What time will I see you and Joe?”

“Our flight will get us there before noon. It’ll take a couple of hours before we make it to the city. Could you leave a key with the doorman for me? We’ll be there when you get home from work.”

“That’s good. We’ll have time for a nice dinner before—the other thing.” She pressed her lips together and imagined a twinkle in his eye.

He heaved a sigh. “This is why I don’t call you. It’s too damn frustrating.”

“I think you can handle it, big boy.”

“Are you my girl?”

“Uh-huh. Are you my guy?”

“Nobody else’s.”

The next day before noon, BD and Enzo faxed the finished copy and photos for the new catalog to Shari. She’d have them on her desk by the time she got to work. That should make her happy. Enzo took the originals down to the lobby of the building and dropped them into the FedEx pickup box. They would be in Shari’s hands by ten the next morning.

She and Enzo left the office to find lunch. BD told him Rafi and his partner would be spending the night at the apartment. “Would you mind taking Joe to dinner? I’d like some time alone with Rafi. They’ll only be in the city for tonight.”

Enzo readily agreed. “Sure, no problem. Dinner—or would he like to meet some nice girls?” He raised his eyebrows and flashed a sly smile.

She shook her head with emphasis. “Definitely dinner only. Joe’s a happily married man. He and Rafi have a flight early tomorrow morning.”

He pushed out his lips. An insouciant Italian expression crossed his face. “How happy?”

She smacked him on the arm. “Very happy. They’re expecting a baby. I know his wife, Jill. She’s a tall, beautiful blonde, by the way. Like Ava.”

He nodded. “Ah.”

“Joe’s a tall, beautiful blond too. You’ll make a lovely couple at dinner.”

Rafi swung her off her feet the moment she was in the apartment door. He planted a white-hot kiss of ownership on her mouth and crushed her against his chest. When they came up for air he brought his lips to her ear. “I love you, Beautiful. You’re mine.”

She rolled her head back and graced him with a mouthwatering smile. “Uh-huh.”

He turned, made quick introductions. “Joe, Enzo. Enzo, Joe. Now get lost.” He tilted his head toward the door, carried BD down the hall, through the living room and into the kitchen. Masculine laughter, and then a closing door confirmed the two men were gone. Plopping her onto a chair, he waved his hand with a flourish. “Dinner is served.”

Her look of big-eyed delight at the bouquet of daisies in the center of the table nearly blew him away. Exactly the reaction he’d hoped for. Boxes of Chinese takeout surrounded the flowers. “You like?”

Hands crossed over her heart, she nodded. “I like.” BD picked up the nearest box. She took a whiff of the contents and rolled her eyes. “Smells heavenly.”