Agent Reis slid into his nondescript blue sedan and pulled away from the curb. Once Reis's license plate disappeared around the corner, Carson hauled Nikki into his arms. "About time he figured out you couldn't have done something like that."
She trembled in his arms. "How could you be so sure?"
"I just knew, damn it." His arms convulsed tighter around her. "Although now there's not a chance you're going anywhere alone."
Nikki eased her head back to look up at him, not too far since she was tall, a perfect fit. "I'll worry about right-handed threats later. Right now, I'm so relieved at this sliver of hope."
"Fair enough. But I'm going to come back after work so we can all discuss more serious security."
Carson palmed the small of her back on the way up the side steps leading to the garage apartment. He scanned the single room efficiency, an open space with a futon, kitchenette and cubicle bathroom. Only one entrance in and out, with an alarm on the door as safe as she could be without him parking his butt with her 24/7, something she wouldn't allow anyway.
Although damn, what he wouldn't give for the pleasure of simply watching her sleep.
She slumped against the door frame. "Ohmigod, I knew I was stressed, but didn't even begin to know how much until now."
"You have reason to celebrate."
"Are you offering to celebrate with me?" Her loaded question broadsided him.
They were standing on the threshold of more than her apartment.
He cupped her face, fingers threading back into her loose hair. "What do you think?"
And somehow he was kissing her. He should pull away and make sure she wanted— Her lips parted under his and yeah. Just yeah. He tasted her and a hint of the barbecue they'd had for lunch.
Her hands skimmed along his back and up to loop around his neck. "No mustache," she murmured against his mouth. "Feels different."
"It's going to be different this time, too." His hands slid lower to cup her amazing bottom he'd admired as she climbed the mast. Hell, to be honest, he'd been checking her out since she'd strutted past him in shorts while subbing for a sick member of the squadron volleyball team.
All the reasons he should stay away faded under the onslaught of driving need to claim her as his, finally, totally, and damn it, memorize every second of the feel of her toned body under his hands because he wouldn't be idiot enough to treat her so recklessly again.
"Carson," Nikki whispered against his mouth, tugging him back to the present. "Either that's a phone ringing in your pocket or you're really happy to see me."
"Both." He dropped another quick kiss before pulling back. He fished out his cell phone, looked at the LCD panel and winced. "The squadron. I've got to take it." He flipped open his phone. "Hunt."
"Captain Seabrook. All hell's breaking loose here, sir. We need you back ASAP. There's been a bombing in the barracks overseas, the barracks housing our guys."
His gut burned raw with each forced even breath. He needed a status report. "SITREP?"
"One confirmed dead, more expected, but it's chaos there and here."
His gaze snapped straight to Nikki and her furrowing brow as she somehow picked up on his tension even though he'd kept his face neutral. Her father was over there along with so many of their friends, and there wasn't a thing he could do except be the bearer of the horrific details. With the taste of Nikki still on his lips, he was torn with the need to keep her close in case the news involved her.
But duty didn't give him that option.
"Hold down the fort. I'm on my way."
And he prayed when he came back to the Price home that it wouldn't be for an official notification visit.
Chapter 9
Six hours later, the phone rang on her mom's kitchen wall.
Slamming her memory journal shut, Nikki launched from her chair at the table to snatch up the cordless receiver and kicked herself for not placing it beside her, but she wasn't thinking clearly right now. Carson had told her there was a bombing overseas and to keep her pregnant mother away from the television until he could get details.
Please, God, let her father be all right.
And if her father wasn't okay, let her be strong enough when the time came to tell her mom. At least her mother was upstairs resting after supper, so Nikki would have time to pull herself together if the worst...