Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart) (30 page)

“You need to tell him,” Tommy said softly.

“I know…I just don’t want to add more to his shoulders.”

“I don’t deny he’s going to worry himself silly, but he deserves to know and honestly I think he might surprise you.”

She turned and caught Tommy’s hand. “I know you’re a triage doctor…but if I am…when the time comes….?”

“I’ll be there, Bethany. I don’t care where I’m at on God’s green earth, I’ll be there.”

She grinned and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Thanks, Tommy,” she whispered. “For everything.” She darted away and hurried back to Ethan.

She sat with him right as Connery returned.

“Well,” Connery said. “I’ve got some news all of you might find interesting.” He inclined his head towards the door. “Come with me.”

They rose and followed him out of the mess hall.

They entered a small office that barely fit all of them. “Well, you won’t have to worry about the goon squad following you. We’re holding them here under the Patriot Act. I think there’s a big can of worms we just opened, but that’s above my pay grade.”

“Cordova will only replace them.”

“That concerned me too. For all I know, someone might be waiting out there right now. So, here’s the plan.” He pulled out four sets of fatigues and then held up a key. “Miss, looks like you get to drive that Humvee after all.”

“Yay!” s
he said, grinning. She took the key from him.

“Unfortunately, I’m afraid the smallest set of fatigues I could find are too big for you.” He handed her a shirt.

She put it on over her jacket and the sleeves were a good two inches too long. “Well, I’ll just make due.”

“I have covers and even some standard issue glasses,” he pointed to the thick black plastic frames that were a throwback to the ‘50’s. “I’m not sure about the hair though unless you two want to go back to high and tight.”

“Don’t you dare,” Bethany said to Ethan before he could respond. “Don’t even think about it.”

Ethan lo
oked at her a moment, his mercury eyes sparking. “Sorry, Lieutenant, but she outranks you.”

Connery laughed and nodded. “In about an hour, there are about six Humvees leaving for various locations in the city, primarily to hotels around the convention center. West 2012 is getting ready to kick off tomorrow.

Nathan looked up sharply. “Be still my heart.”

“What’s that?” Bethany asked.

“Only the largest military conference on computers and just about every electronic gadget you could imagine. I’m going to be in hog heaven.”

Ethan groaned. “Oh God, we’ll never get him out of there.”

“That’s the idea,” Connery said handing passes out to them. “Cordova wouldn’t dare make a move on you in there. I managed to pull some strings and get you two rooms in the Omni right across the street from the convention center.”

“Wow,” Ethan said. “That must have taken some doing. With the convention, everything must be booked up in the entire town.”

“Very nearly. But this should have you covered for the five days the convention is going. Give me the keys to the Tahoe. I’ll see that it’s dropped off tomorrow at the proper location.”

“Thanks,” Nathan said, handing him the card with the address.

Ethan gave him the keys. “We just need to get our stuff.”

Connery nodded. “If you need anything more, just give me a call, you have my cell.”

“Thank you so much, Lieutenant,” Ethan said and shook his hand.

“Not a problem. Glad I could help.” He paused and nodded to Bethany. “Besides, I’m willing to pay to see driving like that.”

Bethany laughed. “We will be in touch, Lieutenant, just to let you know how we’re doing.”

“I hope so.” He exchanged handshakes and then showed them where their Humvee was parked. Nathan and Tommy got their things out of the Tahoe.

Bethany found a bathroom and put the fatigues on over her clothes. They still looked absolutely huge on her. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and put on the cap then the heavy black frame glasses. “Ugh! I look awful.” But there was no help for it. She left the bathroom and joined the guys at the Humvee.

“Not regulation,” Ethan said giving her ponytail a gentle tug.

“I know, but I don’t have anything to put my hair up and it’s too thick to fit under the cap.”

“Cover.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not a cap, it’s a cover.”

“Oh give me a break!”

He chuckled and winked at her.

Ethan examined the convoy critically
, but had to admit this was the best he had felt about their safety in a while. His gaze fell on the gate they would soon leave through. Despite feeling a bit more confident, his shoulders sagged. Nathan had been right, he was exhausted. The constant fear, always having to stay alert, looking over his shoulder….

I can’t breathe anymore,
Bethany had said.

He knew exactly what she had meant. He felt as if he couldn’t catch his breath either.
When will this be over?
His gaze fell on Bethany.
When will I just be able to love her?
Ethan abruptly remember the offer his captain had made.

I know you’d hate a desk job, Lancaster, but we have some rookies who could really benefit from your experience.

The offer was suddenly very attractive. He had enough excitement to last him for a lifetime. Again his gaze focused on Bethany, an idea pushed its way forward and his lips lifted.

“Lancaster,” Connery said from behind him.

“Yes?”

Surprisingly, the man did not meet his gaze. He stared at the ground and shuffled uncomfortably. “Here,” he mumbled and handed him a piece of paper.

Ethan scowled at the uncharacteristic behavior. He took the paper and realized it was hard. It was a room key. The envelope had a room number written on the outside.

“Remember I said I pulled some strings?”

“Yeah,” Ethan said suspiciously. There were actually two card keys. Both envelopes had OMNI written on them.

“That first one is yours.”

“I really appreciate this, Lieutenant.”

“Consider it a gift.” Connery glanced up and looked at Bethany. “You have yourself one special lady.”

“Don’t I know it,” Ethan replied, smiling.

“That’s good,” Connery replied finally meeting his gaze. “But you both need a break. It’s about damn time too.”

“What are you saying, Lieutenant?”

Connery grinned at him. “You’ll see. Just remember, that first card is yours. You’ll understand when you see it.”

“Okay,” Ethan said uncertainly. He put the first card in his pocket. “I’ll give this one to Nathan.”

Again Connery held out his hand. “Bring this asshole down, devil dog, and the world will be a lot better off.”

Ethan shook his hand.

I wanted to make a difference here at home.

“I will, Lieutenant. You have my word.”

“
Hoo-rah.” Connery said softly. He grinned and strode away.

“Ethan!” Bethany called. “Let’s go!”

He watched Connery’s departing back for a moment then squared his shoulders and joined Bethany in the Humvee. Their drive to the hotel proved uneventful. Ethan watched for a tail, actually everyone in the Humvee did, but there was nothing obvious.

They finally reached the hotel and parking attendants directed them to an area reserved for military vehicles. They parked and grabbed their bags. Following the others in their group, they entered the hotel.

Ethan, since he had the card keys, avoided the front desk and motioned for the others to follow him to the elevators. Once the doors closed, he handed the second card key to Nathan.

“Connery gave me these right before we left.”

“Twentieth floor?” Nathan asked.

Ethan shrugged. “I have no clue. He said it was a gift.”

The elevator doors opened and Ethan quickly found their rooms. He opened the door and sucked in his breath.

You’ll understand when you see it.

The room was larger than the second safe house. Bethany entered, wide-eyed. It was a suite with a kitchenette, a wet bar, and separate living area. He opened a door and discovered a huge bedroom with a king bed. A private balcony overlooked the bay.

“Wow,” she breathed. She darted from room to room. “Ethan, this place is gorgeous!”

He could only agree.

“How did Connery manage this?”

“I have no idea, but I’m not complaining.” He entered the kitchenette and discovered clean pots and pans in the cupboards along with a full sized fridge. “Oh, you are so in trouble.”

Bethany followed him in
, but pulled up short at his words. “Why?”

She took him seriously
, but he shook his head, grinning. “Later,” he said, guiding her back into the other room. He tossed his bag in the corner. “I made you a promise and I mean to take care of that first.”

****

Bethany awoke to the wonderful smell of eggs cooking. She blinked open her eyes noting she was alone in the bed, the door to the bedroom closed. But to her frustration, her stomach rolled. She flew out of bed into the bathroom, but she didn’t have much to retch from her stomach.

Damn it! It’s not fair!
She knew Ethan cooked breakfast for her, but her stomach wasn’t going to allow her to eat it. She cleaned up and left the bathroom. Her gaze fell on the phone at the bedside. She dove back into bed and quickly dialed the number to the room next to theirs.

“Hello,” a voice said brightly.

“Tommy, it’s me.”

“Bethany? You okay?”

“No. Listen, I only have a minute, but I need to ask you something.”

“Of course.”

“I haven’t been able to get the test yet, but I think you’re right. I just tossed my cookies at the smell of food.”

“Have you told Ethan?”

“Not yet, but I will. Tommy, I need to eat, but I can’t.”

“I saw a pharmacy on the way in. Wait – how are you smelling food?”

“I think Ethan is cooking breakfast.”

“How did he get food to cook?”

“I don’t know, but I can smell it.”

“The concierge,” he said after a moment. “I have an id
ea. Expect me at your door in twenty minutes.”

“Okay,” she said. “But what do I do in the mean time?”

“Dry toast,” Tommy said. “If he’s cooking breakfast, he’ll probably have toast for you. Don’t put anything on it. Next to crackers, dry toast is the best.”

“Okay, thanks Tommy.”

“Twenty minutes.”

“Okay.” She hung up the phone and stared at the door.

Ethan knocked softly then opened it. “Hey, you’re awake.” His gaze traveled over her reclining naked on the bed. “I was going to tell you to come eat your breakfast, but if you promise to stay just like that for the next five days I’ll bring it to you – every morning.”

She laughed
, noting that he wore fatigues, but had left the shirt unbuttoned. “And you,” she said crawling out of bed and walking toward him. “Look as yummy as that breakfast smells.” She slid her hand up his rock hard abs to his chest, enjoying the feel of the muscle under her hand.

Ethan chuckled and pulled her close. She rested her head against his chest and sighed in contentment.

“Come on,” he said softly stroking her hair. “Get dressed before your eggs get cold.”

She nodded and he returned to the kitchen while she pulled on her jeans and a tee-shirt. She walked into the living area. Ethan had set her plate on the small table that separated the kitchenette from the living room. She was also happy to note that he had made toast. She sat, picked up the toast and nibbled on it. The food smelled wonderful and she was starving
, but her stomach balled into a knot. She tentatively tried a small bite of eggs. Her stomach knotted tighter. She sighed miserably.

“I wasn’t sure how you liked your eggs,” Ethan said as he joined her at the table with his own plate. “I figured scrambled was the safest bet.” He paused and a worried frown blurred his brow. “What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t look at him. “My…my stomach’s all screwed up.”

“Last night, at the mess hall, you went to the bathroom.”

She nodded, still unable to meet his gaze. “I haven’t been able to keep any food down for the past day.”

His hand closed on hers, warm and strong. “Is it stress? Have you talked to Tommy?”

“I have talked to Tommy, but it’s not stress.” She finally looked up at him. “Ethan…I think I’m pregnant.”

Ethan didn’t move, he only stared at her, his eyes wide.

Bethany waited, but he didn’t utter a word.
Say something! Anything!

She was prepared for anger, she was prepared for joy
, but him looking at her in stunned silence absolutely unnerved her. Finally, she could hold his gaze no longer and looked away.