Valor on the Move

Shane’s frown morphed into the placating half smile that the Secret Service must drill into its agents during training. “Of course you can go. Let me give them the heads up downstairs and put in a call to the Joint Ops Center at headquarters. They monitor all the protectees’ locations. We might want to enlist one of the uniforms to come with us.”

Rafa’s heart sank. “I don’t think we’ll need to. Seriously, there’ll be no one around. And no one’s even interested in me.”

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

Grumbling to himself, Rafa waited. If someone else came, it would… What? Ruin your date that’s not a date? Rafa should just abort. This was a terrible idea. They could go back up to the kitchen and eat the food there. It wasn’t even that fancy. He should have made something better than roast beef sandwiches, even if he’d made the garlic horseradish mayo himself and even borrowed a bread maker from Magda for the sour dough buns. They were still just sandwiches. Why had he ever—

As Shane reappeared, Rafa attempted a smile.

“Okay. I’ll drive you in the Suburban. Since it’s a pop-up at this hour, we should be fine without another agent. Just this once.”

Rafa knew that was what they called it when a protectee went on an unplanned excursion. “Great.” Rafa stuffed his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t fidget. “Cool. Thanks.”

The ride to the river was quiet and didn’t take long. Rafa directed Shane, who kept his eyes on the road and the mirrors, and his hands at ten and two on the steering wheel. Since he was the only agent, he didn’t wear the radio earpiece, but when they arrived at the falls, he called in immediately and had a terse conversation that lasted no more than ten seconds.

Then there was silence as they sat in the front seat of the Suburban. Rafa had been right—there didn’t seem to be a soul around for miles, and the little waterfall gleamed in the moonlight, the river flowing over the rock formations. Maybe they could go for a hike, but he supposed it would be too dark in the woods.

Shane cleared his throat. “So here it is. Do you want to get out?”

“Oh. Yeah.” Rafa’s palms were slick, and he tried to breathe steadily as he climbed out of the vehicle. This had been a dumb idea. What had he thought would happen? He’d take Shane to the river under the moon and…what? And nothing.

Part of Rafa wanted to just tell Shane to take him back, but that would make him look even more foolish, so he grabbed his pack and left it on a rock before picking his way to the water’s edge.

“Careful.”

Rafa bit back a sigh of irritation. “I know. I’m not going to fall in or anything.” When he glanced behind, Shane was standing with his hands clasped in front of him, his head turning as he steadily surveyed their surroundings. Rafa sighed again. “There’s no one here. I’m sure it’s fine.”

Shane pressed his lips together into a thin line. “I still have to do my job.”

“No one wants to kidnap me. Trust me.”

Shane’s nostrils flared. “Why do you do that?” He turned to survey the trees beyond the Suburban.

“Do what?”

After a long moment, Shane answered, “Put yourself down.”

“I don’t.” Rafa bent and picked up a stone to toss into the river, which rushed by with a low hum.

His back still turned, Shane made a noise that might have been a snort.

Rafa wanted to ask Shane what was so great about him, but it was far too needy to say those words out loud. He tossed another rock. “Of the first kids, I’m just not the one people pay attention to. My sister’s always been a little wild. Christian is the hot one and Matthew’s the athletic one.” He shrugged. “I’m the other one.”

Shane was quiet for a few moments as he continued surveying the trees. “Maybe that’s the way you’ve wanted it. To stay hidden. But that doesn’t mean you’re not just as important.”

Rafa couldn’t help but smile and feel…well, good. “You’ll get along great with Ashleigh when she comes back. She says I don’t value myself enough.”

Shane’s back was still turned to Rafa and the river. “Sounds like an intelligent young woman.”

Rafa smiled. So Shane thought he should value himself more too? “Yeah. Ash is awesome. I’m really lucky.”

“You must miss her.”

“Of course, but she’s having an amazing time in Paris. She’s interning at Vogue. My dad pulled some strings. At first she didn’t want me to ask him, but I convinced her that people use their connections all the time.”

Shane faced Rafa again, and his brows drew together. “You don’t worry?”

“Huh? About what?” Rafa picked up another stone.

“About being apart for months. Pretty girl like that in Paris with all those French guys?”