His stomach did a curious little flip-flop he hated to acknowledge was fear.
What on earth possessed you? She was squarely in front of him again, her gaze fixed on the center of his chest, each cheek sporting a bright spot of pink. To let him get so close? What if hed shot you in the neck, or your face? Her eyes lifted and flashed at him, diamond bright with fury. Did you even think about that?
Forgetting he couldnt, Corbett tried to draw a deep breath. He hissed shallowly, then pressed his lips together and waited until he had control of the pain again. Because he knew she was right, he tried his best to explain what was inexplicable. But how could he explain what had made him hesitate when he didnt know himself?
I didnt want to spook him, I suppose, he said tightly. Afraid he might blow the attempt againtry to run for it. I wanted to take him alive.
And he could have kicked himself for the last sentence when she looked up at him and he saw the bleakness, the stark fear in her eyes. His tired mind cast about for words that wouldnt make her feel worse than she already did, but he rejected them all as platitudes. Meaningless clichés. The one thing he thought of doing that might conceivably ease her heart and mind, he also rejected. Because he hadnt the right. She was dead on about his not being her teacher anymore, but he wasnt her lover, either. He wasnt even her friend, not really, even though he cared for her. A lot. But he had no right to take her in his arms. No right to hold her against his heart, stroke her hair, kiss her tear-damp eyelids, whisper reassurances against her lips before he kissed them, too.
No, he had no right.
But, oh, how I want to.
Andyou had no idea he was your son? she asked it in a hesitant whisper.
Overwhelmed by his thoughts, he could only shake his head.
Corbett, Im so sorry-I didnt mean to shoot him. If I could have hit him harder-disabled him-maybe he wouldnt have been able to go for the gun
He couldnt stand it. He clutched her by the arms, and the remaining roll of bandage fell once more to the floor. Her anguished eyes stared up at him as words grated harshly from between his tightly clenched teeth.
Stop it. Juststop it right now. You did what you were trained to do. What I trained you to do. You did what you had to do to save another agents life. My lifeas it happens. His attempt at a smile was a miserable failure.
Her gaze didnt waver. The fact remains, she said softly, I shot your son. I may have killed him. He could still die, Corbett. And I will be the one who killed him. How could you ever forgive me for that?
He couldnt answer her. Shaken to his very core, Corbett finally did the thing hed told himself he could not do. Must not do. He touched her lips with his finger to silence her, then with great care and gentleness, folded her into his arms.
Carefullygentlynot because of the pain of his fractured ribs-he no longer felt that-but because his need to hold her was so fierce, so intense, so terrible it frightened him.
And that was something he couldnt let her, or anyone, know.
Chapter 5
Time passed. Lucia had no idea how much, only that she willed this moment to go on and on, knowing the sharp, bright stab of happiness was too intense to live beyond thata single moment, knowing whatever powerful emotion had moved Corbett to embrace her would pass, and that when it did the joy inside her would turn to equally intense pain.
And so her reasoning mind bolted for cover like a terrified bunny huddled in darkness, believing it meant safety, while her tired body snuggled into the dangerous haven of his arms.
Lucia His breath sighed unevenly through her hair, and she felt his fingers there, too.
No thinkingno thinking
Wonder lay on her like soft wool as she lifted her face to the warm hollow of his neck and shoulder. She felt the beat of his pulse on her lips, felt his heart thump against the thick bandage wrap that lay between his chest and hers. She felt the textures of the bandage with her palms, andwhen had she put her arms around him? She felt his hand on her back, moving slowly downward to her waist, then below, felt the pressure, subtle at first, then more insistent, pressing her closercloser.
Someone was shaking. Was it her? Was it him? Panic lurked. A whimper threatened.
No thinking!
Obeying only that directive and stubbornly blind to all consequences, she moved her head, brushing her lips over his skin, savoring the feel of it, the warmth and smoothness, then the roughness of beard, the hard ridge of jaw. She heard his breath catch, then stop. She held hersand his mouth came searching. Her lips parted, and his breath flowed gently over them. She held herself still
In the stillness they both heard it: the rhythmic thumping, too firm and steady to mistake for their galloping heartbeats.
In the stillness they both heard it: the rhythmic thumping, too firm and steady to mistake for their galloping heartbeats.
Lucias eyes flew open in time to see the helicopters shadow flit across the skylight. She felt Corbetts body stiffen. He lifted his head and his hands came gently but firmly to grip her shoulders and hold her away from him.
Sounds like our ride has arrived, he said, and his voice had a ragged edge shed never heard before. Just for an instant his eyes burned into hers, before she nodded and stepped back, fingers pressed to her lips, trapping the tiniest of whimpers behind them.
Ive left some clothes for you-here on the dressing table. Theyll be too big-especially the boots, but theyll keep your feet warm. Put on both pairs of socks-that should help. As he spoke, he was reeling in the trailing end of bandage.
She took it from him, carefully avoiding his eyes while she brought the end of the bandage to the one just below his collarbone, tied and pulled the knot tight and tucked in the ends. My things
Yes, of course. I imagine youll find them on board before you.
She lifted her eyes in an unspoken question, but they got no farther than his mouth, captivated by the lips that a moment ago had been a breath away from kissing hers. Now they seemed like the perfectly sculpted lips of a classical statue. That they moved when he spoke seemed magical to her.
Its quite likely Adam ordered the chopper diverted to your flat, as backup in case of unexpecteddevelopments.
She nodded. He touched her arm and turned to go, then hesitated. She held her breath, but at that moment from the bedroom came the polite trill of a telephone. He said, Quicklyplease. Then went out, closing the dressing-room door behind him.
Alone, enveloped in the scent that was so evocative of him it made her ache, Lucia let her defenses crumble. Eyes closed, she groped for something solid to hold on to and found the dressing tablegripped it and leaned on her hands while the shudders raced through her body, responses to emotions too overwhelming even for tears.
Dont think. Dont feel.
Since she was too tired to do either, she opened her eyes and found the neat pile of clothing Corbett had laid out for her: Black knit pants, ivory wool turtleneck pullover, black-and-ivory ski jacket. Après-ski boots and two pairs of soft, ultrawarm socks. Thermal-lined gloves, and even a black woolen cap to keep her ears warm. Hed thought of everything.
A small hiccup of laughter burst from her as she picked up the cap and touched it to her lips, then slipped it over her head and her still-damp hair and carefully adjusted it to cover her ears.
Hello, Edward, Corbett said, cradling the phone awkwardly between jaw and shoulder while he picked up the pullover hed laid out on the bed.
Good gad, Corb, I just heard. Are you all right? What the devils going on? They said youd been shot?
Yes, well, good luck I was wearing body armor, eh? Corbetts grin was wry. He pressed the speaker button and put the phone down on the bed, then pulled the shirt over his head. As he eased it over his bandaged ribs, he could hear his brothers snort of vexation.
Luck? Dont tell me you were expecting something of the sort? And you let Lucia-
Precautions were taken, Corbett said patiently, slipping automatically into the placating manner hed employed with his elder brother since childhood. Lucias fine. Im fine. Everyones fine.
Yes, well, Mums quite beside herself. Even Apu has been showing signs of concern, if you can imagine it. You might give them a ring, you know.
Cant do it now, Im afraid. Ive a chopper waiting. Do me a favor, wont you, and let them know Im quite all right, occupational hazard, et cetera
Off again, are you? I dont spose you care to let your next of kin in on where youre going and when you expect to return?
Sorry, Corbett said, mentally rolling his eyes at the petulance in his brothers tone, you know the drill-client privilege and all that. Though he could and often did lie to his brother without a second thought, he didnt enjoy doing so. He told himself it wasnt that he didnt trust Edward-he did, as much as he trusted anyone. It was just that he was a firm believer in the old adage that the best way to keep ones secrets was to keep them-to oneself, that is.
Must be off. Ill be in touch. He thumb-clicked the off button, cutting off whatever protests Edward was preparing to make.
Adam crossed the helipad at a jog to where Corbett waited in the wash from the choppers rotors, shoulders hunched against the cold, hands thrust deep into pockets of his long overcoat. He withdrew them to clasp Adams firmly in both of his and leaned closer to make himself heard about the noise. How did it go?
Adam hitched a shoulder and grinned. Right as rain, mate.
No trouble, then?
Nothing me and the boys couldnt handle.
Ah, Corbett said, nodding absently.
Just got word from the airfield. Citations juiced up and waiting for you.
Good. You cleared us for Salzburg?
Yep. Youre good to go. As soon as-
Both men turned together as, right on cue, the elevator door slid open. Adam wondered how being gut-shot would compare to the twisting pain he felt in his belly, watching Lucia step out of that elevator and come toward them. Her eyes went straight to Corbetts and his stuck to her like limpets. This was it, the beginning of the end. Adam was about to put the two people he loved most in the world on a chopper and send them off to a private hideaway together. He guessed the odds they wouldnt figure out they were crazy in love with each other at slim to none.