Kurt scoffed. “Losing your legs isn’t heroic. It’s just plain-ass bad luck.”
“Whatever.” Dan opened his car door. “If you’re not into her, I getit. But it wouldn’t kill you to have a little fun.”
“I’m a ball of fun.”
Dan grinned and shook his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow,boss.” He, Todd, and Jason were working security at the Ritz in Tysons Corner this evening for the wedding of a congresswoman’s daughter.
Kurt watched his friend drive off before getting into his truck. Maybe Dan was right, but he couldn’t muster any enthusiasm forthe idea.
Half an hour later, he entered Steele Security’s office on the fifth floor of a high-rise building in Arlington. The main lobby of the suite had a floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the Potomac, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument that never grew old.
From behind a counter-height mahogany desk, Tara Fujimoto—aka the world’s best business manager—looked up and greetedhim with a smile. “Hey. How was the range?”
“I killed the target.”
She flipped her long black hair off her shoulder. “Oh, good. We’re safe for another day.” Reaching for a small stack of paper, she said, “Scott called. Everything went well at Valerie’s ultrasound appointment.”
“Boy or girl?”
“No idea. They want it to be a surprise.”
Between his sister and half of his team over the last fewyears, it seemed as if everyone was having babies. Would he ever get to be a dad? Thirty-four wasn’t exactly ancient, but he hadn’t been on a date in years. Kind of hard to become a father when you’re celibate.
“Also, Caitlyn Brevard is in the break room with Todd,” Tara said, with no knowledge that she’d just dropped a bomb. “She wanted to know if you could fit her in today.”
“She’shere?”Kurt pointed at the floor, feeling thick in the head, even as his heart galloped.
“Yeah. She’s been waiting about ten minutes. Todd arrived early for your meeting and offered to get her a cup of coffee.”
I’ll bet he did.According to Jason, when Caitlyn had helped out on a mission for Steele a few years back, Todd had followed her around as if attached by a leash. Jason had ribbed Todd aboutit for months afterward. Kurt had worn the enamel from his back teeth trying to pretend he didn’t give a shit.
“Thanks.” Steeling himself to face her in person for the first time in twelve years, he squared his shoulders and turned toward the break room.
At the same moment, Caitlyn emerged with a ceramic mug in her left hand, and stopped several feet away. His heart skittered to a halt at thesight of her.
It shriveled and died when the large diamond ring on her left finger caught the overhead lights.
Caitlyn’s stomach cartwheeled at her first sight of Kurt.
He was more intimidating than she remembered, his expression darker, his muscles more defined—if that were even possible. The contours of his familiar, handsome face had become more rugged, more sharply honed, more deeplycarved. More beautiful.
She hadn’t expected seeing him again to make her…want. He shouldn’t have this effect on her, especially after so many years. There was no place for it in her life.
Ruthlessly shoving aside the messy feelings wreaking havoc on her system, she said goodbye to Todd and followed Kurt down the hall to his office, her feet sinking into the plush, brown carpet.
Kurt’s appearancewasn’t the only change. His gait was different too. Tighter, more constrained, less fluid and graceful. According to his company website, he was a disabled veteran. Whatever had happened to him, it had to be bad. She couldn’t imagine him leaving the PJs—Air Force pararescuemen—willingly.
Business must be good, though. The rent on this place had to cost a fortune. His office had the same incredibleview of the National Mall and the monuments as the lobby and was probably intended to impress the type of clients who were willing to drop wads of money on security.
He closed the door behind him and gestured her to a metal-framed chair. He rounded his desk and sat, his own chair squeaking in protest. Apparently not everything at Steele was top notch.
His wary brown eyes—so dark they almostappeared black—met hers across the desk. “It’s good to see you, Caitlyn, but why are you here?”
So, no small talk then. She pried her hands apart and laid them on her thighs. “I have kind of an odd favor to ask.”
“O-kay,” he said, drawing out the word. “You know I’ll help if I can.”
Shehadknown. That was the thing about Kurt. He didn’t know how to refuse someone in need. It was both his greateststrength and the thing that drove her nuts about him, because he couldn’t walk away even when the person didn’t want his assistance.
