Anne stood back and listened as Declan’s Defenders explained to their benefactor, Charlie, what they’d found and their plan for continuing their search through the internet and a proposed trip to Waylon Pharmaceuticals the following day. Her mind and heart felt bruised as she contemplated what they’d learned. Unscrupulous people were willing to test an anticancer vaccine on innocents. Cancer—it had killed her husband. She knew more than most the tantalizing hope a vaccine or cure could bring to millions. To have that hope twisted into this perversion was more than wrong. It was evil.
Charlie nodded. “Chef Carl has dinner prepared for you all. Please, come eat.”
Anne’s belly rumbled. The food they’d eaten at lunch had long since been converted into fuel and burned.
As they started up the stairs, Charlie waited for Anne to catch up to her. “What’s on the agenda for the National Security Council this week?”
Anne stiffened. “I don’t normally discuss the agenda with people outside work.”
“Then answer this…is there an issue that could be directly impacted by recent events?”
Anne shrugged. “Almost anything can be directly impacted by the recent events. But I’ll review the agenda once more to see if there is anything that is so controversial it warrants trying to kill a staffer in the West Wing.”
“Good.” Charlie said with a firm nod. “Politics can get downright bloody if you let them get out of hand.”
Anne hid a smile. Charlie was opinionated, but she really cared about people, and wanted the best outcome for them.
“How did Mr. Halverson get involved with Trinity?” Anne asked.
Charlie shook her head. “I don’t know. He wanted the best for the people who worked for him and he got involved with the political arena in Washington, DC. I think he was frustrated with the corruption and the fact politicians could be bought. I’m sure that when he discovered Trinity played a part in our country’s leadership, he probably took it as a personal challenge to expose and eliminate their influence.”
“I don’t know why he asked me to keep an eye out for people who might be involved with Trinity.” Anne laughed, though she saw no humor in the situation. “I work hard at my job and try to do things right for our leadership. I want what’s best for our country.”
Charlie draped an arm over Anne’s shoulder. “That’s why John chose you to help him. Your heart is in the right place. That’s not always true for other members of our government.”
“Why would this person who’s texting me think I can help stop something horrible from happening? I’m not a trained military person. I don’t know martial arts and I don’t carry any kind of weapon.”
“You’re smart and you notice things. My husband obviously trusted you, and this person knows it. And you have the right people around you now who can have your back and provide that support you need when things go south.” Charlie tilted her head back toward the war room. “Declan’s Defenders are all good men. They fought for the country as Marine Force Reconnaissance and now as private citizens concerned for the well-being of their nation.”
Anne nodded. “I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have Jack and his team helping me with this situation. Thank you for that.”
Charlie hugged Anne briefly. “My husband would have wanted me to carry on his legacy. I only wish he’d involved me before his death. I’m playing this by ear. I have no idea how deeply he dug into Trinity. I assume it was deep enough to get him killed. Which leads me to think he struck a nerve. Someone in a position of power might have connections with Trinity and my husband was getting too close to the truth.” Her lips formed a tight line. “I want to find the one responsible for putting a hit out on my husband. And when I do, I’m bringing him and his entire organization down.”
Anne could feel the determination in the older woman’s hold on her shoulders. If anyone could find the leader of Trinity, Charlie Halverson was the woman for the job. She had the right people working for her. It could be nothing more than a matter of timing, hard work and a little luck.
The entire team gathered around the enormous table in the formal dining room of the Halverson mansion, along with Grace. Three other women joined them.
“Anne, you haven’t met some of the other members of our little family here,” Charlie said. “Riley Lansing is Grace’s former roommate.”
A petite woman with black hair and hazel eyes held out her hand to Anne. “I understand Snow is working with you to figure out who is texting you about a potential attack. I assume the target is the White House or the West Wing, since that’s where you work.” She shook her hand. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
“Riley works at Quest Aerospace,” Charlie said. “And she was trained to be a sleeper agent for the Russians.”
Anne’s eyes widened. “A sleeper agent?” She wondered if being in the same room with the woman compromised her own job.
Riley smiled. “My parents raised me that way, but I was a lost cause because I grew up in America. This is my country. Not Russia. I’m raising my brother here and want only the best for this place I call home.”
“And you might not have been formally introduced to Mack Balkman.” Charlie continued. “He’s one of the Declan’s Defenders who helped Riley recover her brother when he’d been kidnapped.”
“Hi, I’m Emily Chastain.” A pretty young woman with strawberry blond hair and blue eyes held out her hand. “I’m with Mustang. I teach Russian at the university. Mustang helped me when there was an incident at the Russian embassy. I wouldn’t be alive today if he hadn’t come to my rescue.” She smiled up at the former marine with brown hair and brown eyes.
Mustang held out his free hand. “Frank Ford. But you can call me Mustang.”
“I’m Gus.” A black-haired man with deep brown eyes stepped up to her. He brought with him a woman with equally black hair and brown eyes. “This is Jasmine. Can we eat now?” He winked.
Jasmine held out her hand. “He’s only this rude when he’s hungry.”
Anne shook the woman’s hand, taken aback by how firm her grip was and how strong she seemed. “Are you the one who had dealings with Trinity?”
Jasmine shot a glance toward Gus, who held out a chair for her to sit.
He nodded silently and tipped his head toward the seat.
Jasmine shrugged and sank onto the chair. “Yeah.”
The rest of the group took their seats.
Anne sat next to Jack, across from Jasmine and Gus. She unfolded her napkin and spread it across her lap before she looked directly at Jasmine, curiosity pushing her to speak. “Jasmine, would you have any idea why this woman who is texting me won’t just come out and meet me face-to-face?”
The other woman’s lips thinned. “If she’s a former member of Trinity, her life is on the line. Usually, the only former members are dead members.”
A chill rippled down Anne’s spine. She reached for Jack’s hand beneath the table and held on to it. No wonder her texting woman remained out of sight or in disguise. “How would she know what’s going to happen at the White House if she’s left Trinity?”
“From what Gus has told me, she doesn’t know exactly what’s happening, or if what was planned has changed,” Jasmine said. “She could have been the one assigned for the attack and decided she didn’t want to be a part of it. In which case, she knows they’re going to make a move, but they would have changed when, where, how and who, based on her defection.”
Anne nodded. “That makes sense. But why would someone come after me? I don’t know anything.”
“You’re receiving texts from someone who might be a former Trinity assassin.” Jasmine stared across the table at Anne. “They have a vested interest in finding your informant. They’re probably hoping you can lead them to her.”
Anne shivered.
Jack’s hand tightened around hers.
Carl, the chef, brought out tray after tray laden with food. He’d prepared roast beef, potatoes and carrots along with freshly baked yeast rolls, asparagus and a pasta salad.
Talk about what had happened to Millicent and the close call on the Metro filtered around the room until everyone had a chance to fill their plates. Silence fell over the table as they ate the delicious meal.
When Carl returned to the table with crème brûlée, a collective groan sounded from the people gathered around.
When Jack passed her the dish, Anne stared at the dessert longingly but held up her hand. “I wish I could, but I can’t. I’m completely full. I need to walk off what I’ve already eaten.”
“Me, too.” Jack’s glance swept the gathering. “Please excuse us. We’re going to get some air and then call it a night.”
Declan nodded. “I don’t blame you. It’s been an eventful day.”
Jack stood and helped Anne to her feet, his hand settling at the small of her back.
She had to admit she liked how warm and comforting it felt. Even more, it caused a spark of desire to grow deep inside. A spark she hadn’t thought she was capable of since her husband’s death. Jack had changed that in just the day she’d known him.
As they started out of the room, Declan called out, “Gus and I will visit the pharmaceutical company tomorrow and let you know what they have to say as soon as we’re done.”
“Thanks,” Jack said. “Good night.”
Jack led the way to the study where a French door led out into a rose garden.
As soon as she stepped out of the house, Anne drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Wow, Charlie has a great chef.” She patted her belly. “I’ll have to work out twice a day for the next month to make up for that.”
“You don’t have to make up for anything. You look like you need to put some meat on your bones.”
She snorted softly. “Most women on Capitol Hill think you have to be model thin.”
“You already are, and most people are wrong.”
She laughed, the sound catching in her throat as a sob escaped. Anne pressed a hand to her chest. “Why is this happening to me? And poor Millicent…she didn’t do anything.”
He turned her to face him. “Did you think that it might be that you were meant for this mission?”
“But I’m not like you. I’ve never hit anyone in my life. I don’t even like to squish bugs.”
“If you didn’t care, you’d have quit before we got started.”
“How do you know? These people who are after my informant might have come after me anyway.” She shook her head. “I can’t help but feel I’m the wrong person for this job.”
“I wish you weren’t in this position.” He cupped her cheeks in his palms and tipped her chin up. “Because it’s so dangerous, not because I don’t think you can handle anything thrown your way. I think you’ve held up remarkably well under the circumstances. No one knows how they will react when things go wrong, until those things go wrong. You’re amazing. Taking it one step at a time…one breath at a time.” He bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m impressed.”
She covered his hands with hers and turned her face into his palm, pressing her lips to his skin and loving the heat and strength of him. “I couldn’t do it without you.”
* * *
WHETHER IT WAS her soft cheek against his palm or the starlight shining down on them, Jack couldn’t say which was more potent. Either or both had him lowering his face to hers, touching his lips to her soft mouth.
And he drank in her essence, filling his soul with her in his arms. He’d tried to resist, but he couldn’t. She didn’t realize just how strong she was. To every curve ball thrown her way, she’d reacted with speed and agility. This woman might not think she could handle what was happening, but she’d already proven she could. She was smart, pretty and determined.
Jack skimmed the seam of her lips with his tongue. When she opened to him, he swept in, took her in a long, sensuous caress.
Anne’s hands slipped up his chest and into the hair at the back of his neck, pulling him closer.
She felt so warm and soft against him he could barely breathe.
He explored her mouth, then her cheek and the long line of her neck down to where it connected to her shoulder.
Jack wanted more, but they were out in the open. Anyone could look out the window and see them standing in the garden. This wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be kissing her. He was supposed to protect her, not take her to bed. But that was where he wanted her. In bed, naked and moaning his name.
Finally, he broke away and stepped back until his arms fell to his sides. “We should call it a night,” he said, his voice husky, his heart pounding against the wall of his chest as if it was trying to escape.
She pushed her hair back from her face, her blouse stretching over her chest as she moved. Then she nodded. “You’re right. We should.” She turned toward the house.
Jack didn’t move. He knew he should let her go to her room alone. That was the right thing to do.
When she turned back to him, she asked, “Aren’t you coming?”
“I’m going to check on something before I hit the sack.”
She nodded, her gaze lingering on him. Then she left him standing there in the starlight. Alone.
Jack waited until she was inside and safe before he turned his back to the house and closed his eyes. What was he thinking, kissing her? Didn’t he know how this would end? If he got involved, she’d end up like the other women in his life he’d ever cared for. He could not let that happen to Anne.
Giving her a good ten-minute lead, he entered the house and retreated up the stairs to his bedroom, grabbed a pair of shorts and crossed the hallway to the bathroom.
After a cool shower that did nothing to quell his desire, he gave up and left the bathroom to return to his room.
As he reached for the door handle, the door beside his opened.
Anne stood in the doorway wearing an oversize T-shirt that came down to the middle of her thighs. Her eyes flared as she took in the fact he was only wearing shorts and carrying the clothes he’d changed out of.
She drew in a deep breath, stepped out of the doorframe and came to him. “Jack, I have no right to ask this… We’ve only known each other for a short time…” She stared down at her hands twisting together and then looked up into his eyes, her kiss-swollen lips parting. “What I’m trying to say is—”
Footsteps sounded on the stairs below.
Anne’s eyes widened. She reached out, grabbed his hand and dragged him through the doorway into her room. Once they were both inside, she closed the door and leaned against it, staring up at him. “I really don’t want to be alone tonight.”
She stood before him, in that damned T-shirt, looking so vulnerable and sexy Jack couldn’t think straight. If he had a functioning brain cell, he’d step past her and leave.
But he didn’t…have a brain cell…he didn’t leave.
He couldn’t pull his gaze away from her long legs peeking out from under that T-shirt. “You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, his voice choked with desire.
A smile curled the corners of her lips. “Oh, I think I do.” She held up her hands. “I’m not asking for forever. I don’t expect commitment. I just don’t want to be alone.”
“You could ask one of the ladies to stay with you for the night,” he suggested, though he really didn’t want her to choose that option.
“I don’t want one of the ladies to stay with me.” She stepped toward him. “I feel safest when I’m with you.” She took the clothes from his hands and dropped them on a chair. Then she laid a hand on his bare chest, her gaze following her fingers as she curled them into his skin. Her voice lowered. “But that’s not all I feel.” Then she lifted up on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his. “I feel warm…no…hot.” She laced her fingers behind his head and pulled him down to her. “I can’t unfeel that heat. It won’t go away with a cool shower. I tried.” She shook her head. “I can only think of one thing that will help.”
His groin was so tight. His shaft pressed against her soft belly. He clenched his fists by his sides, afraid if he placed his hands on her, he’d be a goner. There would be no going back. “What will help?” he murmured against her hair.
She took his hands and wrapped them around her waist, shifting them lower to cup her bottom. “Just say you don’t want me, and I’ll leave you alone.”
He chuckled. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?” Jack dug his hands into her flesh. She was so soft, but firm. As if of their own volition, his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, crushing her slowly against his body.
“You…me…whatever feels right.” She pressed her lips to the pulse beating wildly at his throat. “This feels right.” She kissed his throat and traveled lower to press her lips to his collarbone. “And this.”
Jack moaned. “You’re killing me, Bellamy.”
“As long as you let me, I’m going to do a whole lot more,” she murmured against his skin.
“And I thought you were a proper businesswoman, all stiff and starched.” He slid his hands lower, cupped the backs of her thighs and lifted her.
Anne wrapped her legs around his waist and rested her arms across his shoulders. “I’ll take this as a yes.”
“Yes, I’ll stay with you. No, you don’t have to commit. And maybe I’m interested in the whole lot more you alluded to.” He kissed her lips, her eyelids and her cheeks as he walked her toward the bed. Then he leaned over, depositing her on the mattress, her legs draping over the side. Then he stared down into her eyes. “How far are we going?”
Anne pushed up on her elbows, a half smile lifting one side of her mouth. “All the way?”
He straightened.
Her brows dipped. “Am I being too forward? It’s been a long time since I seduced a man.”
“Let me guess…since you were with your husband?” He shook his head, turned away and reached for his pants. He prayed he had protection stored in his wallet. He hadn’t been with a woman since he’d left the military. Hell, he hadn’t wanted to be with a woman until now.
He fumbled with his wallet, flipped it open and let out a sigh of relief when he found the little packet tucked into one of the hidden pockets.
Hands circled him from behind.
He hadn’t heard her move from the bed, but Anne stood behind him her front pressed to his back, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she’d removed the T-shirt.
With a groan rising up his throat, he turned in her arms and held up his find. “We might be heading into wild and crazy territory, but not without firm roots in reality.”
“Whew,” she said on a sigh. “And I thought I’d blown my chances.”
“I thought I was blowing mine, if I couldn’t find one.” He tossed the packet onto the bed and angled her chin upward. “Now, where were we?”
“You’re overdressed,” she whispered, her fingers sliding beneath the elastic of his waistband, pushing the shorts over his hips.
Jack took over and stepped out of his shorts, his shaft jutting forward.
Anne stood before him, wearing only a pair of lacy pink panties.
He raised an eyebrow. “Now who’s overdressed?”
Anne slid her fingers beneath the elastic of her panties and dragged them very slowly over her hips and down her thighs. Then she kicked them to the side, lifting her chin at the same time.
With a beautiful, naked woman standing before him like a gift, all of Jack’s patience flew out the window. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. Depositing her on the mattress, he crawled up her body and leaned on his arms over her. “Who’d have thought you were a beast beneath that straitlaced suit?”
He bent to nibble on her earlobe.
“You should never judge a woman by the clothes she wears,” she said, her hands sliding up over his shoulders to weave into his hair.
He claimed her sassy mouth with his and kissed her until he was senseless and eager to move on to tastier parts of her body. Starting with the long, slim line of her neck. He kissed a path over her collarbone and down to the swell of her right breast. For a long moment, he paid homage to the nipple, flicking it with his tongue and then rolling it between his teeth.
Anne arched her back off the bed. Her fingernails dug into his scalp every time he touched his tongue to the tight little bud of her nipple.
His shaft hardened, throbbing with his own need. But he wanted her to lose herself first. With that goal in mind, he moved to the other breast and treated it to equal torture and pleasure until Anne moaned softly beneath him.
With Anne thrashing against the comforter, Jack moved down her body, tonguing each rib and leaving a trail of kisses down to the tuft of hair at the juncture of her thighs.
As he cupped her sex, her fingers curled into the blanket and she drew her knees up, digging her heels into the mattress.
Jack loved that she gave herself with such abandon, her soft moans making him even hotter and eager to consummate their first time together. Parting her folds, he thumbed the strip of flesh between.
Anne sucked in a sharp breath, her body rocking with each stroke of his hand.
Replacing his thumb with his tongue, he swept across that nubbin of nerves and then flicked and swirled until she writhed beneath his mouth.
Her body grew rigid and she remained steady, her breath held and her fingers digging hard into his shoulders.
Then she was dragging him up her body, her hands sliding over his backside, feverishly stroking him. “Don’t make me wait another minute,” she growled. Her hand reached out to her side, slapping at the mattress until she found what she was searching for. She grabbed the little packet, tore it open and pulled out the little piece of protection.
Without missing a beat, she slid it over his staff and down to the base. “Now,” she said. “Do it. Now.”
Jack chuckled, though it cost him. He was so hard he could barely draw in a breath. He settled himself between her legs and nudged her with the tip of him. “Are you sure about this?”
“Oh for Pete’s sake.” She gripped his hips and pressed him into her, not slowing to accommodate his size, or to give herself a chance to get used to him. She slammed him all the way in, and held him there, her hands tight on his buttocks.
“Is that how you like it?” Jack bent to kiss her forehead as he pulled back.
Again, she brought him home. Then she settled into a rhythm, pushing him back and pulling him in.
Jack let her for a short time, holding back his own release. Then he took control, pumping in and out, loving the feel of her channel constricting around him. He made love to her until he pitched over the edge, his body stiffening, sensations rocking him in waves until he collapsed on top of her and rolled to the side.
For a long moment, he lay with her in his arms, his hand smoothing over the soft skin of her hip. “Wow,” he said when he could get his vocal cords to respond.
“Wow,” she echoed.
Then he laughed and she joined in, snuggling close to him, their connection unsevered.
Jack held her close, ignoring the nagging thought in the back of his head. He cared for her. And by caring for her, he’d doomed her, just as he had the other women he’d dared to love.