Code Name: Nanny (SEAL and Code Name #5)(30)

Tate shot forward and caught her hand. “You’ve cut yourself.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Where’s the alcohol, Cara? Otherwise, I run you straight to the emergency room.” His face was impassive.

“Fine. The alcohol is beneath the sink, Dr. Clooney.”

Tate muttered as he banged through the cabinets and returned with alcohol, paper towels, and a bandage. “This could hurt.”

Summer appeared in the doorway, staring at Cara’s hand. “What could hurt?”

“She cut herself. The woman’s the worst patient on the planet, I warn you. Maybe you can keep an eye on this, since she’s likely to forget.” Ignoring Cara’s protests, he put the bottle on the table. When he glanced at the nearby list, his eyes narrowed. “You were going over this together, weren’t you? So Summer isn’t your normal, everyday nanny.” He took Cara’s hand grimly. “Which is it, Ms. Mulvaney? Private investigator or undercover state trooper?”

Summer looked at Cara. So much for secrecy.





[page]chapter 10

She’s FBI, Tate. I didn’t want to tell anyone until she had some hard evidence.”

The senator’s mouth set in a tight line. “I’m going to be your husband. I think that entitles me to full disclosure.” When he dabbed at the wound, Cara sucked in a breath, and he pulled away with a curse. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I hurt myself,” she said softly. “You were never to blame.”

Watching them, Summer realized they were talking on a deeper level, about things she wasn’t meant to understand.

“I told her about Los Reyes. Enough, anyway.”

Summer tried to read the senator’s face. “Cara feels her past makes her a liability to you. What do you think, Senator?”

“Keeping secrets won’t help my career,” he said grimly. “And rumors about an abortion?” He shook his head. “I’d be kidding if I told you it won’t make things rocky.” He stared at Cara. “I’m not asking you for any details. Your past is just that, over and done as far as I’m concerned.”

“Your staff and supporters may not feel the same way,” Summer said quietly. “Does this new situation change your feelings toward Ms. O’Connor?”

Tate stood angrily. “Are you sure you want to ask me that question, Ms. Mulvaney?”

“I’m sure, Senator.”

Seconds passed. Tate finally nodded. “I suppose your job means you have to ask cold-blooded questions like that, but the answer is no. This situation changes nothing, neither for me nor my staff.”

“Good. And call me Summer, please. It’s too early to rule anyone out, sir, so if Cara feels up to it, I’d like to finish going through this list. Tomorrow I’ll start profiles on the people in her building and run a search for recent large bank deposits, trigger incidents, that sort of thing.”

“‘Trigger incidents’?”

“Gambling problems, paid sexual partners, alcohol or drug use. Anything that could be a basis for blackmail.” Summer had seen it before, too often to count. Again and again her job had taught her that private indiscretions didn’t remain private, and secrets could become very dangerous weapons, indeed.

As Tate smoothed a bandage around Cara’s fingers, a muscle moved at his jaw. “You’re very efficient.”

“Just doing my job, sir.”

“Something tells me you’re hitting hard, and I like that just fine, because I want this bastard nailed. We’ve postponed our wedding twice because of my career and Cara’s schedule, but I’m not waiting any longer.” He looked down at Cara. “If you try, I fully intend to shanghai you without benefit of clergy or wedlock, and there goes my political career.”

“The senator shacks up with the assistant DA?” Cara’s lips curved. “That might sell a few papers.”

“A few million,” Tate said dryly. “The tabloids are breathing down my neck already, so we do this by the book. You wear the garter and I get to take it off you in front of family and friends.” Warmth filled his eyes as he stared at his bride-to-be. “Deal?”

Cara drew a slow breath. “These people won’t let go of me, Tate. Things are going to get messy.”

“Of course they are. Since when were you afraid of a good fight, Counselor?”

“Since you got involved. Since my family got involved, and I have to think of what this could do to Sophy and Audra. That terrifies me.”

Summer cleared her throat gently, painfully aware of a ticking clock and all the work to be finished. “Sir, I have to ask you this. Do you know anyone who might be holding a grudge against you? A former employee or a disgruntled aide? Even a political opponent who might be unstable?”

Tate rubbed his jaw. “Can I count the Speaker of the House?” He smiled at Summer. “A joke, my dear. Not to say that I don’t have a football field full of enemies, but our fights are generally held out in the open, where everyone can watch. The game is called politics, and everyone’s a Monday morning quarterback, you see.”

Summer laughed dryly. “Just for the record, sir, I wouldn’t take your job for a million dollars. I’d rather face down a bullet any day.”