CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Dawn brought with it a renewed conviction in Colette, the knowledge that she’d made the right choice in deciding to testify no matter what the consequences. Splashes of gorgeous colors lit the eastern sky, filling her with an optimism she hadn’t felt for months.
Within hours they would be at the safe house. Safe. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt truly safe. She frowned, realizing that wasn’t exactly true.
She could remember the last time. She’d felt safe while in the circle of Hank’s arms. She looked over to him, her heart expanding as she stared at the picture he made with her daughter sleeping soundly on his chest.
The pale predawn light softened the harshness of his features. Forbidding when awake, slumber brought a more subdued strength coupled with a relaxed softness that touched Colette in her heart.
At that moment Colette knew she’d done the unthinkable. She’d broken her promise to him. She didn’t understand his rules of seduction at all. She’d somehow managed to fall in love with him.
Leaning her head against the seat, she closed her eyes and swallowed a moan. How could this have happened? How on earth in the space of two days had she managed to lose her heart to Hank Cooper?
She frowned. Had it happened in two days? Or had the seeds of love been planted before she’d lost her memories, in those days she and Hank had shared while in hiding?
He’d told her they’d basically been strangers, forced into pseudo-intimacy because of their positions. Yet, when she’d made love with him, she’d felt the stirrings of familiarity, as if they’d been lovers many times before.
She looked at him again. Lover or liar? And if he was lying about their past relationship…why?
She suddenly found herself staring into the dark depths of his eyes. “You’re staring,” he said.
“Yes…I…” She flushed, grateful he couldn’t read her mind. “I’ll take Brook now. You held her nearly all night.” She took the baby from him and cuddled her sleepy warmth close.
She stared out the window, confused by her thoughts. She didn’t want to be in love with Hank. He was nothing like her idea of the prince she’d dreamed of as a young girl.
She wanted to be in love with Brook’s father, whoever he was, wherever he was. She needed to believe that Brook had been conceived from the fire of a forever kind of love, not the temporary spark of a one-night stand or a lust connection.
Hank had made it very clear from his rules of seduction that he wasn’t looking for any kind of a relationship. He’d made it perfectly clear he was a lonerand intended to stay that way. He wouldn’t want a wife, to raise another man’s daughter. He certainly wasn’t a forever kind of man.
Perhaps she was just fooling herself and pretending to love Hank, she thought. After all, at the moment he was the only stable, safe harbor. Probably her feelings for him were natural under the circumstances. With this thought in mind, she relaxed somewhat, hoping it was just a matter of time before she found Brook’s father, found her one true love.
The morning hours passed slowly. Twice the bus stopped for gas, allowing the passengers to grab something to eat and stretch their legs before continuing the journey.
With each hour that brought them closer to San Bernardino, Hank seemed to grow more distant and more tense. Brook grew fussy, as if subtly picking up Hank’s tension.
By the time they pulled into the San Bernardino bus station, a stirring of responding crankiness raked through Colette. Her body ached from the hours cramped in the seat, her arms were exhausted from wrestling Brook. She was irritated by Hank’s withdrawal and anxious from his wariness.
“I’ll make a quick phone call, then we’ll rent a car to get to the safe house,” he said once they’d left the bus.
Colette nodded and followed him to a pay phone. He deposited a quarter then punched in a series of numbers. “Yeah, it’s me,” he said into the receiver. “We’re here and on our way to grandmother’s house.” He listened a moment or two, then uttered a goodbye and hung up.
“‘Grandmother’s house’?” Colette repeated as they walked toward the rental car counter.
“The safe house used to belong to one of our agent’s grandmother. Since the government bought it, we’ve always referred to it as grandmother’s house.”
Their conversation ceased as he went about the business of renting the car. Once they were settled in a midsize sedan, Colette attempted conversation again.
“So how far is it to grandmother’s house?” she asked, patting Brook’s back as the little girl fussed wearily.
“About fifteen minutes from here.” He eyed the baby and frowned. “Is the kid all right?”
“Her name is Brook,” Colette snapped. “Why do you have a problem calling her that? And no, she’s not all right. She’s tired of being held and cranky because her schedule is all topsy-turvy.” She sighed. “I guess I’m just a little cranky, too.”
“Cranky is allowed after a long bus ride.” He offered her a tired half smile. “Once we get to the house we can relax and you can get Brook back on some sort of schedule.”
“How did you get chosen for this particular assignment anyway?” she asked.
“This is what I do…what I’ve done for the past ten years. I guard witnesses, keep them safe until they testify in court against people who don’t want them to speak.”
