Spy Games (Tarnished Heroes #1)(96)

Sarah sniffled and she squinted at him, deep lines marring her brow. Was that the wrong thing to say? How did he fix this?

Shit, Matt was going to kill him…

Sarah pitched forward, spilling into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. He dragged her across his thighs, holding onto her.

“I’m sorry?” he said and laughed.

Sarah sputtered a laugh against his neck. She cupped his cheek and looked up at him, a million different things swirling in the depths of her eyes. “Shut up and kiss me, okay?”

“Okay.”

He pulled her closer and gently pressed his lips to hers. There were so many things in life he didn’t do well, regular, normal people stuff. Telling the woman of his dreams he’d been in love with her his whole life rated pretty high up the not-prepared-for list, but for Sarah, he’d do it. He’d try to be the man she needed.

“I love you, Rand,” she said against his mouth. “I don’t know what that means or where we’re going, but I love you.”

Those were the best words he’d ever heard. Rand leaned in and captured her sigh, squeezing her even tighter.

“Come on, you two,” Matt growled.

Sarah tensed in Rand’s arms, and he peered over her head at Matt. He gestured behind him at the stairs, where a very small pair of eyes watched them.

“At least be civilized adults and close the GD door.” Matt huffed and tugged the door shut.

Sarah buried her face against his shoulder and Rand grinned.

Their lives weren’t perfect, hell, they weren’t even normal, but they had each other—and that was the most important thing on his list.





Epilogue


A month later


Mitch scaled the stairs to the apartment on the third floor.

This was utterly ridiculous, and yet without her, he’d likely be eating lead right about now. The investigation into Charlie was slinging shit all over him, and without Irene and Carol in his corner, Mitch was pretty sure he’d have been hung out to dry. He owed her more than he could ever repay her for.

Mitch knocked on the door. This was stupid. He should leave the flowers and go. That way he could say they’d been a delivery.

The door swung open and Irene stood there. Unlike most days, she wasn’t wearing the severe suit. Yoga pants and a tunic shirt made her seem…more feminine. Approachable.

“Mitch?” Her brows lifted.

“Um, hi. Irene. I…wanted to say thank you. Again.” He held out the bouquet.

“Oh.” She took the flowers and blinked at them. “These are…nice. Um, but I’m headed to the airport.”

“You are?”

“Yes.”

“When are you coming back?” He had another session with the director on Monday. He was counting on Irene being in his corner.

“Don’t worry.” She chuckled and nodded inside the apartment. “I need to go check on my sister, if my cab ever gets here.” She frowned at the clock.

A small suitcase and coat sat by the door.

“I could…um, take you if you like?” Mitch wanted to bolt, but that would be the coward’s way out. The way of his father and brothers. Mitch wanted to be someone better. Someone who did the right thing.

“That’s awfully far out of your way.” She checked her cell phone.

“Please?” A ride to the airport was the least of what he could do. “Let me do something useful. The flowers were a bust.”

“If you don’t mind. I’m cutting it close.”

“Sure. Here, let me.” He picked up the suitcase and held the door for her.

She locked her door, and he led the way down to his car. In a matter of minutes, they were on the road headed for the airport.

“Where you going?” Mitch asked to fill the silence.

“My sister’s recovering from treatment at a hospital in Switzerland. I’m doing a quick in-and-out trip to check on her.”

“Switzerland?” Mitch glanced at Irene’s serene face. Nothing shook her, not what they’d been through or this. “Is she…okay?”

“She’s going to be.” Irene smiled in a way he’d never seen before. It was warm. Nice. And he wanted to see it again.

“I’ve never heard you talk about your sister.”

“I don’t.”

“Oh.”

“It’s…nothing personal. Just…”

Mitch glanced at Irene, relaxed, out of her work clothes. Things clicked into place. She was always the one-woman army. A stone wall. An immovable force.

“I get it,” he mumbled.

One of the things he admired about her was her strength under fire. Her determination to do what was right, even when it put her at odds with the others. That woman and the one in his car were two different creatures, and the same.

In a similar light, he avoided any and all connections with his family. The election campaign was picking up. Soon his father, Senator Fowler, would gear up for his run at the presidency. Most people didn’t care about bastard kids these days, but the President of the United States was held to another level. The court of public opinion would be an unforgiving thing.

“You should give the flowers to Carol. I know she could use a pick-me-up.”