Celine grabbed the bread and threw together a couple more sandwiches. A few minutes later she went upstairs to a spotless bedroom and a shirtless Aaron.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I kinda need to use, you know...” She nodded towards the toilet.
Instead of getting all embarrassed, he stood to his full height and crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed. “That's fine, just try not to touch anything, okay?”
“Sure.”
“That didn't come out right.” He dropped his arms and shifted to his left foot. “Listen, this is kind of my sanctuary. When I'm overseas, everything is so polluted and nasty. But when I'm here, I can keep everything clean and it makes mefeel...better.”
Her heart lurched at his confession. She knew she was a little bit untidy. Her friends had bemoaned that fact regularly. But this wasn't her house and it obviously meant a lot to him. “Thank you for telling me. I'll try to do better, but I can't make any promises, I'm afraid I was born a mess – at least that's what my dad says.”
He came to her then, and cupped her cheek, stealing her breath right out of her body.
“That's enough for me.”
Celine jumped back, at a loss for how to react. “Your food is in the kitchen. I'll be down in a little bit.”
“Take your time. Oh yeah, check the sink vanity, there's something in it for you.”
Celine stared at her reflection over the mirror, totally dejected at her appearance. Her hair had dried with a big fat crinkle all the way around and hung in limp hanks. With absolutely no make-up, she looked washed out. She was supposed to make him want her like this? Dejected, she pulled open the drawer under the sink. It took her a full minute for her mind to register what was there. Reverently, she reached in and caressed the mini-blow dryer and round brush. He'd even bought her a curling wand. Filling up the rest of the drawer were all kinds of make-up, powders, and brushes.
She lifted the strawberry flavored lip gloss and twisted off the top, inhaling her favorite scent. He’d noticed.
No, she hadn't really tried with him, at all. But she would. And he'd have to tell her to her face that he didn't want her. No military commanders involved this time.
Chapter 21
Aaron staredat his kitchen and shook his head. She'd made him sandwiches alright, two heaping sandwiches over-packed and falling apart. There were more crumbs on the counter than in the loaf of bread.
Maybe she was right and she just couldn't help it.
But she'd been thoughtful enough to make him supper in the first place. He grabbed the plate with a smile, enjoying the warm sensation in his chest.
The conversation with Merc had left him hungry to be back with his team, but every time he saw Celine he forgot that longing. She blew so hot and cold from one minute to the next he had no idea where he stood, but he intended to find out.
Aaron polished off the sandwiches, wiped down the counter, tossed the plates in the dishwasher and put the food back in the refrigerator. The clock on the wall mocked him – only fifteen minutes had passed. He stepped into the living room and called out, “Celine?”
“Be down in just a minute.”
He glanced at himself, cursing as he realized he'd forgotten to put on a shirt. She wasn't one of his teammates who he could walk around in front of in only his shorts. Noni would have his ass for the lack of respect for a lady.
She deserved better.
He noticed his truck parked out front. Well, he could start off by doing his job and protecting her. If anyone figured out their location, the truck would be a beacon. He grabbed the keys and jogged outside. The sun had disappeared and in its place was a large pale moon, filling up the night sky.
He cranked the truck, keeping the lights off, and drove it around behind the shed. No one knew about this place except for him, and now Celine, but that didn't bother him so much, he kind of liked sharing his place with her.
They should be good, he'd called from a secure line to another secure line, making it nearly impossible to trace or track their location. He hadn't even told Mr. K where they were. There was no way Daniel or Eli could track them. But that didn't mean he wouldn't be prepared just in case.
Aaron ran inside. “You okay up there?”
“Fine.”
“I'm going to be outside for a few minutes checking on a couple of things. Just come to the front door and yell if you need me.”
“Okay.”
Aaron went to the shed, grabbed his lasers and headed into the woods. There was only one way into this place, and that was the same road he'd come up. Behind the cabin, past the crest, was a sheer rock wall that dropped nearly two hundred feet. Dense, heavy foliage packed in on the sides. Its defensive position was one of the reasons he’d chosen the location.
