“Let me know when you land. And let me know the minute you find anything.” Mack closed the program with a tap of the touchpad.
“Calling the senator.” Addy dialed his cellphone. His voicemail started playing right away, and she left him a concise and urgent message. Disappointed, she looked at Mack. “Voicemail. Hopefully he’ll call back.”
Mack started to speak when his phone rang, pulling his attentionaway. He glanced at the screen. “It’s the ASAC from the local office.”
“I want to hear.” Addy slid closer.
“Deputy Jordan,” Mack answered. “I’m with Agent Leigh, and you’re on speaker.”
“We had a report of a man fitting Razo’s description outside the bodega,” the ASAC said. “He’s looking for a driver for tomorrow. We thought you’d want in on the bust.”
“You thought right.” Mack’s frustration evaporated as excitement burst onto his face.
“Your hotel’s right on the way. I’ll pick you up.”
“I’ll be in the parking lot waiting.” Mack ended the call but didn’t look at Addy.
She assumed he planned to leave her at the hotel for her safety, yet she wasn’t staying behind. She got up and grabbed her jacket.
Mack held up his hand. “I know you want in on this, but it could be a trap set by Razo. I’d rather you stay here.”
She crossed her arms. “I want to go.”
“I know you do, but would you please stay here?” He stood. “You should wait for the senator’s call back anyway, right?”
She held up her phone and smiled at him. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but these things work anywhere.”
Despite the tension in the air, he laughed. “I can’t decide for you, but I would do my job better if I wasn’t worried about you.”
She wanted to be present for Razo’s arrest, but she didn’t want to distract Mack. To endanger his life. “All right. I’ll stay.”
He swept her into his arms with the force of a small cyclone. “Thank you,” he whispered against her hair. “I know you’re doing this for me, and I appreciate it.”
He leaned back, his eyes filling with what felt like a familiar fondness for her. Sure, he’d been looking at her in a similar way for days, but this was different, and memories of such feelings were pressing in on her.
“I gotta go,” he said, but looked like he wanted to stay.
The reality of the situation settled in. She was sending him off to potentially deal with a lethal killer, and she wouldn’t let him go without a kiss. She slid her hands into his hair and drew his head down. His mouth formed a surprised O, but she kissed it away. He responded with gusto, tugging her closer. Kissing her with abandon. As if this were the very last time he could.
She forgot everything. Everything but the fact that she was married to him. And the new realization that she wanted this man’s touch and love in her life again soon. Wanted it very much, and his response said he wanted the same thing.
He groaned and pulled back. “As much as I want to stay here, I have to leave.” She relaxed her arms, and he stepped free. “I’ll call as soon as I know anything.”
“Be careful.” She cupped the side of his face. “Razo wouldn’t hesitate to turn a gun on any one of you.”
Chapter 23
AS ADDY PULLED UPto the JH Ranch, she knew Mack wouldn’t be happy with her decision to drive out to Senator Noble’s ranch on her own, but she had no choice. The senator called and said he was hopping a plane in two hours and either meet with him now or don’t come at all. So of course she had to go.
The tall wrought-iron gate stood open, and she rolled slowly down the winding drive. Since she really didn’t believe Noble could be involved in gunrunning, she didn’t think she was in danger, but she remained aware of her surroundings just in case. She drove past pastures with neatly painted fences, but dark shadows stopped her from seeing if alpacas grazed in the enclosure.
She approached a large two-story home that could be located in any affluent neighborhood in suburban America. Totally not the sprawling single-story house she’d expected to find on a ranch. She could easily imagine Mack’s comments if he were here. He seemed to be a true cowboy through and through, and calling this place a ranch wouldn’t sit well with him.
She parked and checked her sidearm, her bulky gloves in her jacket pocket making it hard to access the gun. She’d forgotten to take them out before leaving Oregon. She didn’t need them here, so she tossed them onto the seat and peered in the mirrors.
Certain she was safe, she got out and hurried through a brisk wind to the double front door. A carriage-style light casta warm glow over the sandstone pavers at her feet. She rang the doorbell and turned to look out over the property that seemed to go on forever. She’d researched the senator and read that the land had been in the Noble family for generations. It had at one time been a cattle ranch, and a forest fire had destroyed the original house.
The door opened, and she grabbed her ID as she spun to find the handsome senator standing tall, towering over her by a good six inches. Physically fit, he wore a crisp white shirt, black dress pants, and a politician’s smile. His eyes were a deep blue, his hair silvery gray.
