“There’s my Liz,” he murmured as he scooped me up into those amazingly long arms of his.
“Oh, Doc,” I whispered as I collapsed against him.
I felt his free hand slide into my hair as he tugged my head back, bringing my gaze to his. “I missed you, My Elizabeth.”
My lower lip quivered. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“We’re okay,” he said as he brought my face closer to his. “We’re just fine.”
And just as his lips touched down against mine in a kiss that dissolved the world around me, one little sound pierced through the fold.
“Woooo hoo! That’s my girl!”
I’d recognize Marla’s voice anywhere.
22
DOC
Her hair tangled and wrapped around my fingers, like every inch of her wanted to make sure that I was every inch of me. I scooped her against my body, feeling her tip-toes balancing on the tops of my boots as more whoops and hollers rose from the girls. I even heard a couple of the guys clap their hands.
But Cap’s voice always had a way of dousing cold water on a situation. “Phase One is complete, but it’s time for Phase Two.”
Reluctantly, I pulled away from those luscious lips and let my forehead lean against hers.
“What’s Phase Two?” she whispered.
“Just listen,” I whispered back as I cradled her in my embrace, pulling her against me as I tucked her head beneath my chin.
Anything to remind myself that she was still there.
Still untouched.
Still breathing.
“What’s Phase Two?” Anna asked.
Cap didn’t hesitate. “Phase Two is: we’ve got half an hour to load the bikes up with our things. We have to get you girls out of here.”
“What?!” they all asked in unison.
Even my Liz furrowed her brow as she looked up at me. “What?”
Like Cap wasn’t the end-all-be-all source of knowledge for her.
It was a role I’d take on with honor, being her go-to for all things questions-related.
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The house has been compromised. A couple of windows were taken out. They got past Ranger’s perimeter outlines simply by attacking us from beyond them. It isn’t safe here any longer.”
“Come on,” Cap said as he herded us out of the panic room. “We’ve got twenty-nine minutes before we have to be out of here.”
“Where are we going?”
“What about those blankets you brought me? Those won’t fit.”
“Will we have enough room for the flowers you just got me? I’d hate to leave them behind.”
“Come on, I’ll help you pack. We can military roll most of your stuff.”
