directly involved.”
“And how do you know Kruger?”
“My team discovered evidence of a terrorist cell from Rwanda that’s operating in the U.S., probably near New York. The group calls itself Hatari, and it’s being financed by Kruger.”
Espionage wasn’t her thing. Cells and sleepers and terrorist plots were beyond her sphere of influence. “How does this affect me?”
“We don’t know.” He swept his arm across the surface of the water, sending a shimmering ripple toward her. “At this point, all we can do is conjecture. Since I’m the leader of the group that found out about the Hatari plot, they might think they can influence me by kidnapping you. Or Kruger might want to get the attention of the CIA through your father.”
“Convoluted.”
“Very,” he agreed. “I picked up one potentially useful fact from your dad. According to the CIA, Kruger is involved with the oil business.”
“And why is that useful?”
“It gives a possible focus for our target. If the Hatari plot is to blow up a building, Kruger might direct them toward the offices of one of his business rivals.”
“In New York?”
“As far as we know.” He eased through the water, moving closer to her. “And there are a lot of oil companies who have offices in Colorado. Kruger might be closer than we think.”
“What should we do?”
“I’m not taking any chances.” He was beside her with his hand resting on her shoulder. “Until this is over, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
His neatly trimmed hair was slick and wet like a seal. She reached up to stroke his temple. If she wanted to avoid getting close to him, she should climb out of the tub right now. Instead, her hand slid down to his nape, and she gazed into the depths of his dark eyes. “You haven’t asked me to marry you since we’ve been together.”
“Your dad gave me his blessing.”
“Oh, no, you didn’t.” Annoyed, she dropped her hand and pushed away from him.
“Actually, I—”
“I can’t believe you asked him.” Her irritation mounted. “And he gave you permission. What is this? The Middle Ages?”
“I didn’t mention marriage.” He pursued her through the water. “He said that you told him I proposed, and he thought it was a good idea for us to be married.”
“Of course he did.” She splashed him. “My father doesn’t think a woman can be complete without a man.”
He splashed her back. “Not just any man. Richard approves of me. He researched my background.”
“Just like you did with him.”
“Guilty,” he said.
“Well, I hope you two spies live happily ever after.” She groped at the side of the hot tub, trying to lay hands on her towel. “I’m out of here.”
“Wait.” He caught hold of her arm. “I’ve got a different kind of proposal. It’s not about getting married.”
She bobbed away from him, keeping her distance. “What is it?”
“We’ve never really gotten to know each other. When we talked over dinner, I think that was the longest sustained conversation we’ve ever had.”
“So?”
“While I’m acting as your bodyguard, we have to stay together. Let’s use this time. It’ll be a courtship.”
“A courtship?” She couldn’t help smiling when he used that old-fashioned word. A professor or a nerd might refer to dating as courtship, but Troy was a studly marine intelligence guy whose muscles had muscles. “Do you intend to woo me?”
“I could woo.”
“And why does that sound dirty?”
“I want to spend time with you, and I promise not to bring up the topic of marriage. No stress. No pressure.”
She didn’t make the mistake of thinking that this proposal came without a concession on her part. “And what do you want from me?”
“I want to be with you when you give birth. I want to see my son being born.”
His request touched her. A lot of men went running when they thought of a woman in labor. The mere fact that he wanted to participate said good things about
“And how do you know Kruger?”
“My team discovered evidence of a terrorist cell from Rwanda that’s operating in the U.S., probably near New York. The group calls itself Hatari, and it’s being financed by Kruger.”
Espionage wasn’t her thing. Cells and sleepers and terrorist plots were beyond her sphere of influence. “How does this affect me?”
“We don’t know.” He swept his arm across the surface of the water, sending a shimmering ripple toward her. “At this point, all we can do is conjecture. Since I’m the leader of the group that found out about the Hatari plot, they might think they can influence me by kidnapping you. Or Kruger might want to get the attention of the CIA through your father.”
“Convoluted.”
“Very,” he agreed. “I picked up one potentially useful fact from your dad. According to the CIA, Kruger is involved with the oil business.”
“And why is that useful?”
“It gives a possible focus for our target. If the Hatari plot is to blow up a building, Kruger might direct them toward the offices of one of his business rivals.”
“In New York?”
“As far as we know.” He eased through the water, moving closer to her. “And there are a lot of oil companies who have offices in Colorado. Kruger might be closer than we think.”
“What should we do?”
“I’m not taking any chances.” He was beside her with his hand resting on her shoulder. “Until this is over, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
His neatly trimmed hair was slick and wet like a seal. She reached up to stroke his temple. If she wanted to avoid getting close to him, she should climb out of the tub right now. Instead, her hand slid down to his nape, and she gazed into the depths of his dark eyes. “You haven’t asked me to marry you since we’ve been together.”
“Your dad gave me his blessing.”
“Oh, no, you didn’t.” Annoyed, she dropped her hand and pushed away from him.
“Actually, I—”
“I can’t believe you asked him.” Her irritation mounted. “And he gave you permission. What is this? The Middle Ages?”
“I didn’t mention marriage.” He pursued her through the water. “He said that you told him I proposed, and he thought it was a good idea for us to be married.”
“Of course he did.” She splashed him. “My father doesn’t think a woman can be complete without a man.”
He splashed her back. “Not just any man. Richard approves of me. He researched my background.”
“Just like you did with him.”
“Guilty,” he said.
“Well, I hope you two spies live happily ever after.” She groped at the side of the hot tub, trying to lay hands on her towel. “I’m out of here.”
“Wait.” He caught hold of her arm. “I’ve got a different kind of proposal. It’s not about getting married.”
She bobbed away from him, keeping her distance. “What is it?”
“We’ve never really gotten to know each other. When we talked over dinner, I think that was the longest sustained conversation we’ve ever had.”
“So?”
“While I’m acting as your bodyguard, we have to stay together. Let’s use this time. It’ll be a courtship.”
“A courtship?” She couldn’t help smiling when he used that old-fashioned word. A professor or a nerd might refer to dating as courtship, but Troy was a studly marine intelligence guy whose muscles had muscles. “Do you intend to woo me?”
“I could woo.”
“And why does that sound dirty?”
“I want to spend time with you, and I promise not to bring up the topic of marriage. No stress. No pressure.”
She didn’t make the mistake of thinking that this proposal came without a concession on her part. “And what do you want from me?”
“I want to be with you when you give birth. I want to see my son being born.”
His request touched her. A lot of men went running when they thought of a woman in labor. The mere fact that he wanted to participate said good things about
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