Unbound Pursuit (19 page)

BOOK: Unbound Pursuit

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She gave him a flat look. “As far as I’m concerned, Wyatt, your days of running on ops are really over. You spent a decade doing this. You’re going to marry me. Your priorities are shifting, and so are mine. I don’t want you out there on an op. I want you home, here”—she jabbed her index finger down at the blanket—“with me. Where you belong. And you and I will talk it over if I think I have to gallivant off somewhere to save the world. Fair enough?”

The corner of his lip twitched and he held her dark, unforgiving stare. “Fair enough. More than fair. This DEA op was a teachable moment for both of us. It helped us define what we do and don’t want in our lives and with one another. That’s as good as it gets. We’ll keep on talking and communicating, because that’s the most important part of any relationship. Staying together so you don’t fall apart.”

She gave him a warning look. “You’re hanging up your op spurs, cowboy. Once and for all.”

Amusement tinged his drawl. “Darlin’, for you, I’d turn this universe inside out. It’s a done deal. No more ops. You’re more important in my life than any mission.” He leaned down, taking her mouth, which was set in a stubborn line. Once Tal got the fur up on her neck, she didn’t back down until the situation was resolved. He liked her titanium backbone and the invisible set of balls she wore. Tal was the person he wanted with him in a gunfight. She’d always have his back. And he’d always have hers, too. As Wyatt felt her begin to melt beneath his coaxing lips, heard that little moan of pleasure deep in her throat, felt her arm coming around his shoulders, drawing him as close to her as possible, he lifted his mouth from hers, gazing into her barely opened eyes. “I love you, Tal Culver. Forever, darlin’ . . . forever . . .”

THE BEGINNING . . .

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Hold On

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Excerpt from

Hold On

B
y the third
day at the Kabul, Afghanistan orphanage, Army Sergeant Beau Gardner had been pleased to observe that Callie was less grumpy toward him. Between his rounds with Matt inside and outside the orphanage, he’d volunteered to help change diapers at the diaper station. He’d told Maggie, the owner of the charity, that he was good with babies and that if she wanted, he’d feed, bathe and diaper them if she wanted.

Well! She jumped at his offer and he found himself in what they called “the baby room” when he wasn’t on his security walks. And by now, he was used to the rhythm of the busy, overcrowded orphanage.

Beau was dealing with a three-month-old baby girl as her nine-year-old sister, Aliya, stood nearby looking on. She watched as he placed her tiny sister on the soft white blanket spread across the table where diapers were changed. He was busy talking to Aliya in Pashto, drawing her out, making her feel comfortable in his presence as he unpinned the soft cotton diaper from the gurgling baby girl. He smiled down at the little one, her green eyes wide with wonder as he gently removed the dirty diaper, dropping it in a nearby bucket of water and bleach. He’d also volunteered to clean dirty diapers and put them in the aging washing machine at the back of the orphanage, afterward.

Callie McKinley peeked in through the open door, her attention caught by the low, soft conversation between Beau and nine-year-old Aliyah. It seemed impossible that a man of his height and size could move so delicately as he slipped a fresh diaper beneath the baby’s bottom. She had to admit it, just watching him made her heart turn over with emotions she hadn’t felt for a long time.

Beau was truly a sight, she had to admit, with his tall, broad shoulders, his Kevlar vest over his long-sleeved blue tee. His jeans fit his body to perfection and Callie could no longer ignore it. But it was Beau’s low, crooning voice in that southern drawl of his that mesmerized both her and the baby. He was a Delta Force operator, a badass, yet he expertly pinned each side of the infant’s diaper into place with safety pins. He made sure her little crocheted booties were snug on each of her waving feet, brushed her black hair aside from her round face with his spare, calloused fingers.

“Are you done?” she now asked, coming into the room. Callie leaned over, giving Aliya a warm hug.

“Just about,” Beau murmured. He rearranged the baby’s wool pullover. “Cute little thing, isn’t she?” and slid one hand beneath the baby’s tiny neck and the other beneath her buttocks, lifting her up and handing her over to Callie.

“She’s adorable,” Callie admitted, gently taking the baby. “I’m ready to bottle feed her, now.”

Nodding, Beau said, “She’s all yours. I’ve got diapers to rinse out,” and he grinned, leaning down and picking up the tall plastic bucket filled to the brim with wet, dirty diapers.

Callie laid the baby against her shoulder, patting her back gently. “You’ve done this a time or two, haven’t you?”

“Told you before,” Beau said, smiling broadly, “I have two younger brothers, and my Ma put me to work as soon as I could handle a diaper, clean it, and replace it on my baby brothers. It wasn’t lost on her that I was good at it,” and he chuckled, moving past her and heading down the hall toward the laundry room.

Callie frowned, sliding her hand comfortingly along the baby’s back. Ever since she’d snapped at him a few days ago, he’d acted as if she no longer existed. No more hungry, longing looks in her direction from him. No more flirting with her. Yet, Beau had made himself quite indispensable around here, just like Matt Culver, another Delta Force sergeant, had. They were good men and brave soldiers, and they cared about this place and the kids. It wasn’t a game to them, although Callie didn’t fool herself. Matt was here because he was attracted to Dara. Her sister was definitely falling for the Delta Force sergeant, too—she could see it. And Beau had showed up to court her.

And now, Callie couldn’t still her curiosity about Beau Gardner. Any guy who could happily change a diaper got her attention!

He had just finished placing the diapers in the washer when Beau felt someone enter the laundry room behind him. He turned, seeing Callie standing there, frowning at him, confusion in her expression.

“What?” he teased. “Got another diaper job for me?” he asked as he straightened, turning on the machine.

“Are you doing anything tonight after we get back to Bagram?” she surprised him by asking.

At a momentary loss, Beau said, “No. Why?” He watched her move nervously from one foot to another. He stood there, hands at his sides, holding her clear, green gaze.

“Would you like to join me for some beer and pizza tonight?”

Well, hell, you could have knocked him over with a feather! Beau remained serious, trying not to let the surprise show in his face. He thought for sure after Callie had chewed him out days earlier, she wanted NOTHING to do with him. EVER. “Sure, I’d like that. Do you have a favorite place?”

The Books of Delos