It had been fun teasing him, particularly because he had been so cool about everything she’d thrown at him. Quite an implacable operative, determined to protect Dr. Nadine Kincaid, no matter how foolhardy she was. Of course, if he really knew Nadine, the cool and collected half of the egg, as she liked to tell exasperated friends and family of theirs, he’d know by now there was no way in hell the person next to him could be him.
She just loved the way he looked at her, those blue eyes attentive and assessing. She had a feeling not much escaped them. He played the upset fiancé very well. It made her wonder what kind of operative he was because she could usually spot any undercover Fed Boy. She was impressed by how easily and smoothly he slipped into this skin.
Those little personal touches. The way he held her hair up when she heaved and gagged. She had exaggerated a bit, but the puking was real. Emptying one’s guts wasn’t exactly a pleasant thing but she was prepared to go through it, even without Walker by her side. It was just pleasant, though, to have a partner. Usually, she worked alone until her team took over, at the end of the assignment, to “clean up,” as they called it in the business.
It had been so difficult not to laugh at that first time she called him ‘Honey Bun Bun,’ though. She wanted to test him and yeah, he was so indeed a macho alpha male itching to take over the whole operation. He wasn’t liking a woman taking charge, doing all the heavy lifting, but too bad, so sad. This was her party and he was the crasher.
There was no other way to penetrate this scientist-kidnapping scheme. She could imagine the Feds just sitting around waiting for the kidnappers to jump on their victim and then the usual shoot-out or chase. Yawn, bleagh, boo. She had just shook her head when Nadine had told her what was happening. Hadn’t they noticed the scientists had disappeared with the most remarkable ease, as if they had been lured by someone they trusted?
In her world, it was better to insert oneself into the arena. One had to play the kidnappers’ game and also still be in control. Granted, some of GEM’s operandi modus could be a little bit unusual to outside operatives, but their agency was mostly female agents, and Nadia liked to add, with much more creative minds. In many situations, the usual male set-ups offered very few opportunities, other than the unsavory act of being a girl toy for groping hands. GEM operatives had been known to work around a tough problem as old women acting as pimps, art delivery agents, interpreters, and from a few years back, one of her sister operatives became famous for being a goat herder mounting a SEAL attack on a convoy carrying kidnapped young girls crossing a border in South East Asia, saving dozens of lives from becoming victims of the meat market in that country. Good old Vivi. She was her hero.
Nadia peeked up at Walker. He was wetting down more napkins to wipe her face and neck. This man had his own different way of operating an assignment too. She was very sure he was armed. The lining of his jacket had a hidden pocket. She just hadn’t figured out what was with that belt. Yeah, a partner like him was something different.
As if he was aware of her watching him, he turned his head, his gaze catching hers. That look again. So deep. So assessing. And a little bit moody, as if he was getting mad at her. It sent little shivers up her spine.
“Are you cold?” He asked. “Would you like another sip of water?”
She shook her head and let tears well up in her eyes. “I’m going to die.”
“Of course not.”
“But what if I am?”
“I won’t let you,” he assured her. “I’ll make them get you help somehow.”
Her tears were flowing and it was obviously making him very uncomfortable. She sniffed.
“I’m so sad,” she said.
“Please don’t cry.”
Movement from the Russians.
“Jesus, she’s crying,” Sergei said. “I hate crying women. Look, it’s probably morning sickness. You aren’t going to die. Your Baby Bun Bun is just acting up.”
“Christ, you just said Baby Bun Bun,” the driver muttered.
Sergei threw his arms up in the air. “She has made us all crazy idiots with her jabbering. How can she be a fucking scientist?”
Nadia cried harder. “Honey Bun Bun, I’m afraid for Ba...baby B-Bun B-B-Bun,” she sobbed softly. “Everything is so fuzzy. I can’t see you!”
“Walker, do something!” Ivan ordered. “Make her stop or she’ll start vomiting again. She’s acting delirious. Comfort her with some loving phrases so she’ll quiet down, man.”
Walker just blinked at her. Hesitated. He looked like a man who was going to hate himself. She looked up piteously.
“It’ll be okay.” He paused. “My darling Kissy Kibble. I’m right here, my Kissy Kibble Love Puddle.”
Nadia closed her eyes and pretended she fainted. She had to. There was no way she could look back at him after being called that. There was complete silence in the car.
“Is that really what Americans say to each other in bed?” Ivan asked, sounding disgusted.
He won this round, Nadia admitted, her eyes still closed. She was beginning to think he did have a sense of humor after all. She kept quiet as she listened in to the conversation going on.
“We’ll be at the place in ten minutes or so,” she heard Sergei say. “Walker I hope you can carry her up the stairs to your room. Vadim said she can rest tonight.”
“It’s the honeymoon suite,” Ivan commented, with more sneer than laughter, “for the Honey Bun Bun and his Love Puddle.”
“Who is Vadim?” Walker asked. “I thought Nadine said she was meeting with Dr. Kantor? Is that the same person? Why isn’t he getting a doctor to take care of my Nadine?”
