Definitely not since Con died.Even before then, visible joy had been more his brother’s purview.But while Ford had pursued quieter forms of contentment, was it possible that Connor had been using his outward exuberance as a shield?As a buffer from the harshness and negativity he didn’t know how to handle?
Only recently, observing how Natalie navigated the world, had Ford begun to recognize her flash and distraction as protective barriers.As the sacrificial coating that insulated her soft heart.
He loved all of it, all of her, and wasn’t quite ready to start sharing.
Much like their time in Nice, those few days in Marseille had been like living suspended in time, out of the flow of normal life.A last reprieve to enjoy each other before they faced the harsh realities of the real world.
Of course, Erik’s kidnapping and the cloud of danger above Nat’s head had cast a pall over every moment.As much as Ford tried to distract her—and frankly, himself—from the looming confrontation, she’d been jittery.
When the green light came from the embassy, Gretchen graciously put up the money for a private jet to bring her and Ford to Los Angeles, and he decided not to wonder how she could afford it.The privacy had been a relief.For about twelve hours, he and Nat had been able to relax a little, temporarily freed from worry about her enemies.
All that was about to change.
Someone with the right resources could’ve figured out their flight details and be waiting for them right now.B&A didn’t have a large footprint in LA like they’d had before Ford moved to Geneva.The few local protection specialists they had in town were booked with long-term clients.Good for business, not great for him.But Emma’s boyfriend ran the West Coast operations for Steele Security.They were a newer, smaller company operating in the same sphere as Beaumont, though there was enough work for them to be more cooperative than competitive.Jason had assured Ford he’d have a team protecting the area in and around the general aviation terminal well before they landed.
That made Ford feel marginally better, but his unease had grown the closer they got to LA, because at some point soon the fucker who’d taken Erik would be in touch.If his hired guns weren’t at the airport today, he’d find another way.Natalie was understandably impatient to hear from Erik’s kidnapper, but Ford couldn’t see how she’d get her brother back without putting herself in danger.
He swallowed past the hard knot in his throat and took a deep breath.When he had himself under control, he paused to take in Natalie’s sleep-softened features.She was so beautiful it hurt.And so tough.Yet her physical and mental wounds were still healing, and he almost wished the flight were longer so he could let her rest.But the sleek plane had stopped taxiing, and the flight attendant was already working to open the door, so he gently squeezed Nat’s hand and said her name softly.“Hey.We just landed.”
She groaned and made a pouty face, curling toward him.“Too soon,” she murmured.
He smiled, his heart swelling.God,he loved this woman.In the tiny apartment in Marseille these last few days, they’d slipped easily back into each other’s arms and a selfish part of him hadn’t wanted it to end.
At the front of the plane, the door opened with aclunkand the fuselage filled with the sound of engines and the stink of exhaust.
Nat’s eyes flew open and she sat up, suddenly wide awake.“We’re here.”Unlatching her seatbelt, she stood and grabbed her bag from the luggage closet.
“Wait up.”Ford followed, heart trying to escape his chest.As soon as they stepped out of the door, everything was going to change, and he wasn’t sure he was ready.Not to mention, he wanted to check the scene before she stepped out.“Let me go first.”
She rolled her eyes, softening the aggrieved response with a forbearing smile.“You really think I’d just barrel out there, caution to the wind?”An undercurrent of disappointment belied her light tone.
Cupping the nape of her neck gently, he said, “I think you just woke up, and you’re excited to see your family and friends, and you’re worried about Erik.That’s enough to distract anyone.”Her muscles relaxed beneath his palm.“Also, before we rejoin the real world, I wanted a chance to do this.”
Leaning down, he kissed her softly on the mouth, far too aware that he might not get another chance.With an urgent sound, she dropped her bag and gripped the back of his head, tugging him closer.He wanted desperately to drink her in, to memorize the feel of her hip beneath his palm, her one-of-a-kind scent, the little humming sound she made when he nipped at her lower lip.He didn’t want to stop.
“Hel-lo,” the flight attendant said.
Feeling his face flame, Ford broke the kiss and looked up.Nat huffed and turned toward the door too.But the attendant wasn’t looking at either of them.His attention was laser focused on the tall Black man wearing a gray “Go ’Hoos” tee, who had to duck and turn slightly sideways to get his shoulders through the doorway.
“Jason!”Natalie’s voice had turned thin and squeaky in a way that Ford didn’t like at all.She gave a self-conscious laugh.“Hi.”
So this was the famous Jason Chin.Ford wanted to hate him on sight, but the man had saved Natalie’s life, and his grin was too big and friendly.
“You look much better than the last time I saw you.”Jason leaned in for a quick hug.
She pulled away, her cheeks bright pink, andnowFord hated him.“Thanks to you,” she said.
Jason scowled and tugged at his hair.“Not sure about that.I don’t know if I can forgive myself for leaving you behind.”
A little hand wave absolved him.“Pretty sure I embarrassed myself so much that I gave you no choice.”
If Ford wasn’t mistaken, the big man’s cheeks had darkened.What.The.Actual.Fuck?He stepped forward with his hand out.“Ford Beaumont.Nice to meet you in person.”They’d talked on the phone to plan this homecoming, but had never crossed paths in the field before.
Jason gave him a firm handshake, no macho bullshit, and a genuine smile.“Jason Chin.”He nodded toward the nose of the plane.“Thanks to your quick thinking, there are some really happy people in that terminal right now.”
Ford nodded.He wanted to be one of them, but all he felt was dread.
Two hours after landing, Natalie locked herself into the tiny bathroom of her West LA apartment, put her back to the door, and took a deep breath.Her parents had been hovering nonstop, alternating between elation and disbelief at her reappearance, and agony over Erik’s disappearance.
