Kieran felt his heartrate rise, and he grew tongue-tied for moments before he could speak. “She is.” The words were whispered.
He saw Ian take a quick look at him. “Kier? Are you alright?”
“No. That asshole insinuated we were sleeping together because I asked them to give her some time before they questioned her. She was dye-bombed, and her cat is dead. She was in tears,” Kieran stammered.
“Do you want to take my suite, and I’ll take your room? You could use some rest,” Ian suggested.
“I’m fine. It’s late; she should be asleep anyway,” Kieran said.
At the hotel, Ian pulled up to the main doors. After grabbing his bag, he tipped the valet, and with Kieran, walked to the front desk. Key card in hand, they headed to Kieran’s suite. Inside, Ice and Troy sat in the living area, both working on their laptops. As the door opened, both men stood, weapons at their sides.
“Stand down. Anything I need to know now?” Kieran asked.
“Monique went to bed an hour ago. The hall is secured. A team is outside,” Troy said.
“Good, go to bed. Breakfast here at 0700.” Ian waved to Kieran and left with Troy and Zach.
Kieran walked into his room. After undressing, he stepped into the shower. The hot water beat down onto his stiff shoulders, and the soap washed the day away. Toweled dry, he slipped into a pair of pajama bottoms and headed out into the living area. He pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator and sat on the couch. Remote control in hand, he looked for some old television shows to unwind.
When the door to Monique’s room opened, Kieran stood to see her approach wearing a pair of purple silk pajamas. One look at her and his mouth went dry. “I’m sorry, did I wake you?” he asked.
“No, I heard the TV and wanted to see if it was you. None of your personnel watch TV,” she said.
“Can I get you something to drink?” he offered. She was stunning. His skin heated, and he did his best to tamp his growing desire. He was feeling light-headed.
“A water would be wonderful,” she replied.
He walked to the fridge and took out a bottle. “Ice? A glass?”
“That’s fine.” She worried her lower lip.
“Come sit.” He patted the couch. “Anything you’d like to watch?” His pulse rose.
She smiled. “I grew up on old American TV shows.”
His heart sped up. Even without a drop of makeup, she was beautiful. “Here’s the remote; flip to whatever you want to watch.”
Taking the remote from him, she noticed the Band-Aid below the bend in his arm. “Are you alright?” She ran a finger over it.
“I’m fine. Before I left DC, I had a medical test.” His eyes held hers.
“And this?” She drew a manicured finger along the scar on his belly.
Kieran’s skin erupted in goosebumps along the trail she drew. “I was shot in Afghanistan. My doctor checked my intestines. Everything was good.”
“I’d like to hear your story.” She cupped his cheek with her palm.
Kieran’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “That’s a story for another day.”
Monique pointed the remote at the TV and proceeded to move through the channels. The Animal Planet channel came up, and her hand started to shake. A cat that looked like Soleil filled the screen. The remote slipped from her fingertips, and a sob fell from her lips.
His chest seized with her pain. “I’m so sorry, beautiful.”
Monique reached for him, pulling his head down to her, and placed a kiss on his lips.
Kieran groaned, “Beautiful, I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
“What if I don’t want a gentleman?” She moved closer to him and lifted herself into his lap. Her eyes held his, now turning a deep violet from her tears and the reflection from her pajamas. “Kieran, you are my fantasy.”
