Code Red by Susan Elaine Mac Nicol

one. I was
hoping you’d stay.”
    “Right,” she said. “The assignment is over.
No need to pretend to like me anymore.”
    “Aren’t you listening?” With one step, he was
in front of her. He moved his hands toward her and then pulled them
back, balled into fists, and dropped them to his side. “If it
wasn’t for you, I would have retired and moved to the beach months
ago. You changed everything for me.”
    “Well, don’t let me stop you now.”
    It was too much. Jess rushed from the
kitchen, grabbed her suitcase, and ran to the cab. It didn’t matter
that she didn’t have a plane ticket or that she was wearing a muddy
black dress. Nothing mattered. Kieran certainly didn’t matter.
Because, apparently, she didn’t matter to him.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    Another cold month in Ohneka. Jess would
leave this town and her boring life, but she needed that darn
degree first. She’d already sent applications for positions
everywhere.
    Nothing was worse than being alone in a town
where people offered a place at their holiday table to keep her
from eating alone. Yes, that was nice, but their hospitality
underscored how pathetic her life had become. Once she could quit
her job and begin entirely new somewhere else, she’d be happier.
She was sure of it.
    With fifteen minutes until the bank closed,
she started restocking her workstation. She knelt on the floor to
pull out more envelopes from a box under the counter.
    “I’d like to change some US dollars for
Canadian ones, please.” The voice sounded familiar, smooth like the
best Scotch whiskey sweetened with a hint of caramel. But that was
impossible. She’d stopped waiting for him to arrive weeks ago.
    “You’ll have to meet with the manager. He
handles all the foreign money transactions.” She lifted her head to
see Kieran standing at her window. His hair was longer and lighter,
but those green eyes still captivated her.
    Was he here to apologize? She couldn’t handle
that. She’d almost pushed his memory back with Robert’s, to the
depths of her mind where things stayed hidden and away from her
heart. Almost but not fully. No matter how much she wanted.
    “It’s official, I’m retired.”
    His grin radiated confidence. His eyes almost
liquefied her instincts, the ones reminding her that she was
official business to him. So, what was he here for?
    “Congratulations,” was all she said.
    “You don’t seem too interested in my return.”
He reached for her hand, but she held back, scared that her heart
would lead her back into hell.
    “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming
here?”
    “I thought I’d surprise you.”
    “I don’t do surprises too well. I need more
peace and stability and fewer combat situations.”
    “I’ve flown all the way out here to see you
for a chance to explain what I didn’t explain at my house. Can we
at least go to dinner?”
    Dinner and another flirtation that went no
place? She couldn’t do it. Her heart couldn’t handle him returning
to town for a little companionship before he headed off to warm,
sunny beaches. Because that’s what he was going to do. She couldn’t
believe otherwise.
    She shook her head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
    “I understand. I should have called and
explained everything, but I preferred to talk to you in person. I
always mess things up on the phone.” He sighed and slid a small
silver-wrapped box through the window. “Have a wonderful life, Red.
You deserve every bit of happiness you can find.”
    He turned and walked away.
    She looked at the box. In the attached
envelope was a letter from the Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency. He thanked Kieran for service and praised his dedication to
his position. He also commended Kieran for extending his time with
the service in order to stop a known assassin. Although his tactics
broke protocol in a matter of national security, and although funds
had been used to protect non-citizens, the letter continued, the
operative might not have