Joint Engagement Read online

  “I don’t hold things back. Not to spare anyone’s feelings. Not when the stakes are high.”

  His gaze locked to hers, so intent, so focused. So trustworthy and steady. Still, she wavered. She was so tired of the fear of not trusting herself. Maybe that was more the issue here.

  “You think I can handle this?” she said flatly. He wasn’t the only one who could do steely.

  “If I said I’m not sure, would that piss you off?”

  She felt the blood drain from her face. So it was true. He did harbor doubts. The blood came rushing back, flushing her cheeks until they felt hot, as she realized that he had a right to his own opinion. It was up to her to prove him wrong. He took both of her arms then, pulled her closer. “But, then again, I’ve seen you hold your own, act when you needed to, and you did a damn fine job. It’s purely instinctual that I want to protect something I feel is...precious.”

  “You’d better not be charming me.”

  “I would, if it would help, sugar.”

  “Don’t call me sugar. It’s distracting,” she said, without meaning to, which only caused his gaze to intensify.

  “I can’t help it. You melt in my mouth.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that except, Oh, God. Standing this close, looking into his eyes, she saw no sign of deception, no wavering. He was either charming her, or he was telling her the absolute truth. She wished the stakes on knowing which it was weren’t so high.

  “What exactly are you worried about? Let’s get this out in the open so that I’m aware what you consider a liability.”

  “It’s mostly combat that worries me and the undercover aspect,” Beau admitted.

  “We’re thoroughly trained in the Coast Guard. Military training, Beau. I was trained hard, maybe not as hard as a SEAL, but I will not slow you down. We may be tasked with protecting the coast, but make no mistake, we’re no pushovers. You need to let go of your elitist attitude here. The Coast Guard is part of the military. You should give me the respect I deserve for that.”

  He rubbed at his forehead. “Damn, Kinley, you’re right. Sometimes I lose track of the fact that any other branch of the military may not be trained as thoroughly as the SEALs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do what needs to be done. They prove that every day by doing their duty. Maybe I was reacting to the fact that I want you to be safe, instead of giving you the due your time on the job and the abilities that you’ve already shown me that you are quite competent. But you will give me this. When we go into Cuba, we’re on our own. It’s a totally different situation than taking down go-fast boats from the deck of a cutter with canon and mortar fire at your fingertips.”

  “Granted,” she said.

  “Daniel is seasoned. He’s been undercover and in some hairy situations where he had to rely on his own abilities. I’m talking about experience here, not training. Is that clear?”

  “Okay, I will give you that as well. I will follow your lead, but I am resourceful and think quickly on my feet. I will not be a liability.”

  “I guess you can’t prove anything by sitting in the Bahamas and not being challenged in a job you’ve vowed to uphold in any capacity the US requires. Your boss and the commandant have faith in you. But, the strength of the attraction between us isn’t something to be easily dismissed. I think we can both hold our own. You can be a firebrand when you want to.”

  She fought the urge to smile then. How did he do that? He had concerns about her...and he was making her smile. “Firebrand? If you start calling me Red, I’m going to slug you.”

  “That might be worth it. You think you’re tough enough to take me?”

  “I’m soft enough to make you.”

  The corners of his mouth curved. “You are. I think nothing gets by you, not even me. Especially not me. You pull no punches and take no bull.”

  “I won’t let you down.”

  “I know you won’t and maybe you have a point with me skewing my feelings towards being a bit over-protective. I’m aware you can hold your own. You already have.”

  And that was just it. Looking at him, so steady, so strong-willed, so profoundly sure of himself, she could only hope that his trust in her wasn’t unfounded.

  Because she wanted to do right by him on the job. It was important to her.

  She needed that.

  The depth of need she’d developed for him so swiftly was more terrifying than failing. That was reason enough to step back.

  If only she had the strength.

  An hour later they had donned their married-Canadian-couple personas and were headed for their private plane. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Nadeau. Her name was Simone.

  “Whoa, almost forgot,” he said.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out the set of rings. He slipped the ridiculous diamond and band onto her finger, then shoved the gold band onto his.

  She swallowed hard at the way it felt to be connected to him, and it had nothing to do with the rings.

  And everything to do with her heart.

  Chapter 10

  Beau indicated Kinley should precede him up the steps, his fingers still tingling from sliding the rings on their fingers. The way she’d looked at him as he did it made his heart thump against his chest. Playacting. He was only playacting being married to her.

  Daniel was behind him with a very sour look on his face.

  Playacting or not, she was something in that high-class getup she’d chosen. The DEA undercover gurus had tried to pick something out for her, but Kinley had done a damn fine job on her own. He paused on the stairs and Daniel slammed into him, but his gaze was riveted to the tan sandal with the blocked heel. The shoe was elegant, expensive, leather and handmade, and it encased a sweetly feminine foot whose arched lines extended up a delicate ankle, a silken calf to the hem of a cream-colored dress with black diamond patterns on it. It was wrapped around a set of the most dangerous curves he’d ever seen and tied right under the bodice molded to her body. His fingers itched to see if that one flimsy string would bring the whole cool, collected facade crashing down with the fabric. Before she’d gotten on the plane he noticed the gold necklace nestled in the hint of her delectable cleavage. She looked nothing like the no-nonsense special agent.

  No, with her richly colored hair swept up under the elegant, broad-brimmed, rakishly angled white Panama hat and a pair of sleek sunglasses, she looked like she was born to a privileged and pampered lifestyle. Silken auburn strands drifted down, caught in the slight breeze blowing across the tarmac and brushing the nape of her neck, telling him that he was in way more trouble than he had bargained for.

  Damn.

  Kryptonite.

  Hitting him where it hurt. All those cyclone curves and auburn hair.

  “Could we, Jerrott?” Daniel groused.

  Beau watched as that sweet backside wiggled into the plane. Beau turned and gave him a wide grin, and hopped the stairs into the plane two at a time, then ducked inside, nodding to the pilot as he did.

  The older man just smiled and tipped his fingers to his forehead. “Ready when you are.”

  “We’re ready if Wescott would stop dawdling.”

  “Me?” he sputtered, then narrowed his eyes when Beau smirked.

  The pilot chuckled and closed the cockpit door as Beau made his way into the main section of the small private jet.

  Kinley was seated in the central area, where there was a large round table surrounded by four cushy leather chairs. There were also seats along either side of the plane, situated next to the windows.

  “Jeez, the DEA gets some nice toys,” Beau said.

  “Confiscated from some drug lord,” Daniel said, settling into a seat next to Kinley.

  Beau smiled at Kinley. She had both her arms and legs crossed, and didn’t look particularly happy wit
h him. Of course, he was supposed to be the so-cool-frost-gathered-around-him Ryan Nadeau, the obscenely wealthy independent software developer.

  Daniel rose to close the outside door and Beau leaned down.

  “You are transformed,” she murmured. “I could almost believe that you are as big a bastard as your profile says you are. The way you got out of the limo and left me to my own devices was well played.”

  Her eyes went over him and he felt the force of her green gaze. He knew how to play the part of a bastard.

  He grinned and leaned down, his voice a wisp of sound. “That queen-of-the-realm tone you’re using really turns me on.”

  She tried to maintain her frosty expression, but he saw her fight the smile. He extended his hand to her. “We need to buckle in for takeoff.”

  She took his offered hand. She was such a mix of uptight and cute, he never knew what to expect from her. He drew her up, but resisted the temptation to pull her directly into his arms. Wescott was a complete wet blanket.

  He led her to a window seat and waited until she got comfortable, but rather than taking the seat next to her, he sat next to the window on the opposite side of the plane. She looked surprised, and perhaps even a little disappointed. He smiled to himself and buckled up.

  When Wescott came back, he paused, looking surprised also that Beau wasn’t sitting next to her. He wasn’t worried about Daniel. Kinley wasn’t interested in him, but that didn’t seem to stop the frisson of heat that made his hand fist.

  He was making it a point to not crowd her. It was important that she understood he knew she could handle Daniel.

  The pilot came over the speaker with instructions for takeoff. As the plane accelerated, then lifted into the sky, Beau glanced over at Kinley. Her hands were in her lap doing a twisting little dance. He was sure it wasn’t fear of flying because she’d been completely relaxed on their way to the Bahamas from Norfolk. So she had to be worrying about the mission.

  She turned and met his eyes and he smiled at her, realizing that she wanted him close. He regretted that he couldn’t hold her hand.

  Despite the intimacy they shared, he had no idea who she really was. She was sharp, smart and, when it came time to step up and do what was needed, fearless. He wanted to know her better outside of work. Outside of the danger and the need to maintain in public a professional relationship. But he was starting to think that maybe...he could find out.

  He was completely floored with his next thought. As hot as she looked and as hot as she made him, he wanted to hold her hand. Oh, he wanted her. Kind of hard to deny that one, given the ongoing rock-hard state of his body. But now he wasn’t interested in getting naked with her simply to get naked. He didn’t just want her casually. Which was ridiculous, considering that’s how he’d operated on a regular basis. But, sitting here, reassuring her with his eyes, he wasn’t sure he’d ever had Special Agent Kinley Cooper casually. Not even from the first. That was a freaking first for him. Or at least, it had been a long time—okay—since...Jennifer. She had broken his heart. He hadn’t forgotten what that was like.

  But Kinley... If he let himself get too deep, he was afraid she would wreck him. Carve out his heart. Hollow him out.

  “Daniel, why don’t you fill us in on your contact and how this is going to play out,” Beau said to distract himself from that train of thought.

  “My contact is very elusive. I have never met him. He uses burner phones and gives me tips as he gets them. He has been one hundred percent accurate every time. He will get the information we need. He also gave me the name of a gun dealer in Havana who can help us out with weapons. The meet is set up for tonight at the La Casa del Luna. He will supply us with the doctor’s name.”

  “Risks?” Beau asked.

  “Minimal in my opinion. Like I said, he’s been totally spot-on. He offered to help because he lost a family member to the cartel. He wants them taken down.”

  “A dance club. Not loving that,” Kinley murmured.

  Daniel shrugged. “He chose the place. We have to go along with it. I’m not worried. We should be in and out with the information and on our way by about ten-thirty.”

  When Daniel got up to go to the bathroom thirty minutes later, Beau unbuckled his seat belt and slid over next to her. Yeah, apparently he was a stupid sumbitch. She started and turned to look at him. He curled his hands over hers. “There’s no need to be nervous. I have your back.”

  “Yeah,” she whispered. “That’s part of what makes me nervous. You’ll want my front and everything else in between.”

  He laughed out loud just as Daniel came out of the bathroom. Beau met his testy look, but he wasn’t budging. He’d had her for most of the flight.

  When the captain came over the speaker to let them know they were descending into Havana, Kinley’s hands tightened in his. He squeezed them as they waited until the plane touched down and the captain gave the all clear before they rose to depart.

  “Get the car and luggage,” Beau said to Daniel, who nodded, walked to open the hatch and disappeared through.

  Kinley took a deep breath near him. “We’ll have to buy clothes. They only had so many on hand that fit us.”

  “No worries. I’m sure you’re an amazing shopper.”

  “Why, because I’m a woman?”

  “Maybe, and it’s part of the mission, which you’ll take very seriously. So, you ready?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’m ready.”

  “And prepared?”

  “Like you were ever a Boy Scout.”

  “I was, as a matter of fact.” She snorted. “Scout’s honor.” He moved in behind her, herding her toward the door. He leaned in close to her ear. “I won all my derbies. It’s all about the wood.”

  She tried to huff, but it came out as more of a laugh. “Oh, man,” she muttered, giving him a rolled-eye look over her shoulder before she ducked, stepped out of the plane and onto the metal steps.

  He followed her, using her descent in heels as an excuse to touch her elbow in a steadying gesture. Given she could probably do cartwheels in those things, it was completely unnecessary. Pathetic, even.

  Wanting something with her was starting to get to him. He was walking a dangerous path with not only his own emotions, but with hers, too. The unknown here was how important her career was to her. What her priorities were where it came to him.

  He lost that train of thought as her whole persona changed as she hit the tarmac and headed toward the terminal. Her whole aura went from Kinley to Simone in a heartbeat. He made a similar transformation, changing the affable look on his face to that of a serious CEO and busy businessman.

  They sailed through customs and were soon searching for Daniel at the curb. When he pulled up in the Mercedes and came around to open the door for them, Beau took Kinley’s arm again, on the pretense of helping her into the car. It was late afternoon, but the fatigue was pulling at him. He hadn’t slept much last night, what with the attack.

  She settled into the seat like she’d been born into luxury and he settled next to her, closer than he should sit, but hell, they were supposed to be married.

  Why did that thought make his heart jump each time?

  “After shopping, I need a shower and some food. You?” Kinley asked.

  “That sounds great. When are you supposed to meet the guy with the guns, Daniel? I’m not too keen about doing anything, including meeting your contact, without some firepower,” Beau said.

  “Agreed,” Daniel said. “He’s not far from here. It shouldn’t take any more than half an hour.”

  “And your contact?” Kinley asked.

  “Not until ten-thirty at La Casa del Luna.”

  “Kinley’s right. Dance club. Not a great choice. Too many people,” Beau growled.

  “He’s a little bit on edge because of the cra
p going down with Montoya. The Las Espadas are hunting for him hard.”

  Beau still didn’t like it.

  “After we freshen up, Kinley and I can go get the guns while you scope out the floor plan and do some recon. Will that make you feel better?”

  It was on the tip of his tongue that no freaking way was he going to let her out of his sight. She turned to look at him and she saw it right there in his eyes.

  She looked a bit hurt and completely mutinous. He realized they would have to do the job, whatever that entailed.

  “Beau—”

  “I’m sorry. I just—” He shook his head. “Yes, you go with Daniel to pick up the weapons.”

  Trust. He’d meant what he’d said, but she was clearly calling him on it. “Get me something nice, shiny and deadly,” he said. The idea of being separated from her didn’t sit well with him, but not so much because of the trust issue. It was a knee-jerk reaction to something that was totally unreasonable and personal. They were undercover; she for the first time in a city that would not be that friendly if something went south. Until he had a better handle on who the players were and what the danger level was, he didn’t really want to let Kinley out of his sight. But Daniel was a seasoned agent and for that matter so was Kinley.

  Daniel eased the Mercedes through traffic and pulled over in front of a neocolonial structure with graceful arches. He stopped at the curb, and several bellmen immediately moved in their direction.

  He smiled at Kinley as his door was opened. He could see the fatigue etched on her face quite clearly now, and he was sure he didn’t look any better. For a woman who came to average height, she could move fast. He caught up to her and put his hand on her lower back as the bellmen held the lobby door for them.

  Kinley smiled when she saw the shops. “Go ahead and go up, the two of you. I’ll get this task done and be right up.” She was already focused on the job.

  He was all set to go in after her, or hover outside, just to keep an eye on her, but realized that trust was about more than believing her capable. It was also trusting her to take care of herself. She wasn’t exactly fragile or helpless. Which was a big part of why he was so drawn to her. But it didn’t make him feel any less conflicted. He wasn’t used to feeling so proprietary or worrying so much about anyone.