Beyond The Limit (9 page)

She tried to make light of what had just happened. “Hey, you know I invited you out on this ride today. Just think, you could have been shot at, too.”

Grimacing, Pete looked up at the hills, which once again appeared deserted. “That isn't funny. Next time, though, I will go with you or you'll take a security escort.” Pete gave orders to his driver to ask Hesam's mounted troops to search the hills for the Taliban immediately. He cursed himself silently. Cali Roland was fully capable of taking care of herself, he told himself harshly. There was no way he could become her bodyguard. His pounding heart wouldn't settle down, however, and he scowled.

As Cali leaned down and carefully checked each of Bat's slender, gleaming legs for injury, she said, “Why? Because I'm a woman and can't handle things alone, Major? I need a man to do it for me?” She twisted to glance up at him as she lifted one of Bat's rear legs to look at his pastern. There was a small, bloody cut there. She'd have to take care of it once they got back to the stalls.

“No,” Pete said, unhappily. “It doesn't make good sense for anyone from the site to ride out into the hills by themselves.” He rested the M16 on his hip.

Hakim continued to gaze up at the hills, skimming the slopes anxiously, his own M16 in hand.

Cali lifted her horse's last leg and inspected it closely. She chose not to reply to Pete's comment. He was obviously stressed, and she didn't want a fight with him. Her shoulder still tingled where his hand had briefly rested. Fighting the sensation, she said, “I'd have got off some rounds if I wasn't skidding down those hills at Mach 3 with my hair on fire.” She released Bat's leg and gave him a well-deserved pat on the shoulder. Looking across the horse's neck at Pete, she added, “But I decided running was a better option. There were eleven of them and one of me.”

“Did you see their faces?” Hakim interjected.

Shaking her head, Cali said, “No, not really. I saw the AK-47s they were carrying, though.”

“That is the Taliban's weapon of choice,” Hakim stated, frowning.

“Isn't it unusual for them to be out and around in the daylight?” Cali asked as she rounded the Arabian and checked the saddle girth.

“Yes, according to Hesam,” Pete answered, dividing his attention between Cali and the hills above them. She could have been killed. Gritting his teeth, he fought the harsh emotion that flooded his chest at that thought. He was not going to fall for Cali. His heart could not stand the resulting anguish. Plus, she had not worn a Kevlar vest to protect herself. Again.

“I think,” Hakim said, “that because so many of Sheik Hesam's men are working on the power plant site, there are far fewer patrols in the hills than before. The Taliban knows that and is getting bolder.” Shaking his head, he muttered, “And that is not good.”

“No kidding,” Cali said, remounting. She settled into the saddle and looked at Pete, who still seemed anxious. “Well, now we know, huh? Maybe we should drive over to Hesam's village and tell him what happened. He might have a plan or something up his sleeve.”

Sighing, Pete said, “I'm going to have to.” He glanced at his watch. Dammit, his time was at a premium. But he couldn't have Taliban horsemen harassing the site, either. Trying to tamp down the terror he felt over Cali's near miss with death, he looked up at her. “You want to come along?”

“Love to. I'll ride Bat back to the site, clean up a bit then join you, okay?”

“You weren't even wearing a flak jacket to protect yourself, Cali,” Pete said, motioning toward her. “Again.” The time when bandits had attacked the trailers, she hadn't been wearing one, either. Anger laced the concern Pete didn't want to feel.

“So sue me. I didn't think—”

“I know you didn't, dammit. But I need you alive, not dead.” Pete wanted to add that he wouldn't tolerate such a lapse of security by one of his people, but he didn't. He'd broach this topic with her later, when both of them were calmer.

Cali watched him spin on his heel and growl at Hakim to get in and head back to the security trailer. Brows rising, she picked up the reins and nudged Bat forward with her heels. Pete's voice was laced with something other than exasperation. On the way back across the busy construction site, Cali had time to ponder over that last look the major had given her.

If she wasn't wrong, it denoted a man who cared more than just a little for her. Now, how did she feel about that discovery? Maybe she was mistaken. Cali had been known to read men wrong in the past. Russ had fooled her completely….

Her pulse accelerated with fear. Fear of intimacy. With a shake of her head, Cali refused to believe the major cared for her at all except as a business partner.

K
ERWIN
E
LLIOT THUMPED
his index finger on a report lying on his desk. “According to this, Major Trayhern, you're asking for a helicopter.”

“Yes, sir,” Pete said. “We're two months into this project and, frankly, having to come to Kabul every two weeks to give progress reports is costing us a lot of time.”

Elliot's thick gray brows rose. “Oh? I consider these meetings essential to tracking the various projects I'm responsible for.”

Hearing the banked anger in his tone, Pete was glad Cali was with him for support. “Sir, with all due respect, I think we may have lost sight of the mileage to and from Kabul. Ms. Roland and I spend four hours, one way, on a dirt road rough enough to jar a person's teeth loose. Then we spend another four hours driving back to the site. That kills a whole day.”

“So you're wanting to add an unbudgeted helicopter to your supplies list? So you can fly here to see me bimonthly?”

“Yes, sir, I do.” Pete felt sweat running down his rib cage.

“I can see the handwriting on the wall, Major. If I give you a helicopter, every other project team will want one. Your request is not within budget, and I can't authorize it.” Elliot glanced at Cali. “How about you, Ms. Roland? Why doesn't your company provide a helo, instead?”

Cali stirred. “Because a helicopter was not in our budget, either, Mr. Elliot.”

The man grunted and gave them each a hard look. “What you're suggesting is a money hemorrhage, as far as my accountants are concerned. Sorry, Major. You're going to have to bite the bullet on this one.”

Frustration thrummed through Pete. “Sir, I don't like having our management team spending two whole days away from the site each month.”

Shrugging, Elliot said, “I can't help it, Major.”

Damn.
Pete nearly mouthed the word. “Perhaps we can send our report by courier instead? Or see you once a month instead of twice?”

“Major, these meetings are crucial for my team to follow the various projects. You know that.”

“Yes, sir, I do. But I'm sure you can appreciate my dilemma.”

Elliot gave him a faint smile. “Yes, I can appreciate your concern, but there's nothing to be done about it.”

“Thank you for your time, sir.” Pete glanced over at Cali. “Do you have anything else to discuss with Mr. Elliot?” He saw her green eyes widen. Strands of red hair dipped rebelliously across her brow. Pete's heart always took off at an unsteady gait when Cali's gaze met his.

“No, nothing more, Major Trayhern.” She rose and shook Elliot's hand. “We'll see you in two weeks.”

 

“W
HERE ARE WE GOING
?” Cali asked as she walked at Pete's shoulder down the crowded street in Kabul. The afternoon sun was brutal, the July heat unrelenting. Desert-camouflaged Humvees, manned by U.S. Marines, moved slowly up and down the avenue. Horses and donkeys pulling carts clip-clopped along, their heads down, ears twitching. The odors of Kabul were half intoxicating, half revolting to Cali. The refreshing scent of mint warred with the sharp tang of lemons. Both were used in many dishes. Diesel fumes from passing trucks made her choke.

“I'm going to see an old friend of mine,” he said. They wove among streams of women carrying baskets of bread and other items from a nearby market. Children of all ages roamed the streets. Taking a left down a narrow alley, Pete added, “I'm not done trying to find us a chopper.”

Cali grinned. “I didn't think so.” The walls of the three-story buildings rose around them. The alley was dirty, human and animal fecal matter clearly present. Paper and other debris littered their dusty path. When the fragrant smells of curry and tomatoes filled the air, Cali looked up. A second-story window was open, and a woman was cooking over a brazier on the balcony. A breeze stirred, feeling good against Cali's damp skin. After wiping her brow, she settled her hard hat back in place.

“While I see my friend, you can do some business at the Roland Construction office down the next street. How about we meet at a little restaurant near here. I found it when I was coming up here on company business while stationed near Kandahar.” He took out a pad and pencil from his pocket and wrote down the name and address. Ordinarily, he'd never suggest such an intimate place, but they'd missed lunch and his stomach was growling with hunger.

“Oh.” Cali hesitantly took the piece of paper. “Dinner?”

“We'll pay separately, don't worry.”

She smiled and tucked the paper into her jeans pocket. “Of course. What time, Major?” Cali could spend an hour in the small company office and contact her parents plus hand in some paperwork to the manager who ran it.

“An hour? Will that give you time to handle your paperwork?”

“It should.” Cali almost said,
Take me with you,
but held back. Blantant curiosity—and possessiveness—flared inside her. Everything about Pete Trayhern intrigued her, but she had to let him be. She lifted her hand and waved. “See you later.”

 

T
HEY SAT
in Fatima's Place, an open-air restaurant off the beaten path in Kabul. The sun was low in the sky, causing ribbons of red, orange and gold to streak the western sky. No traffic disturbed them, since the restaurant was not on a main, paved road. Locals came here to enjoy simple meals of basmati rice, kebabs or curried lamb. Cali and Pete ordered Kebab Murgh, chicken marinated overnight in yogurt, turmeric and garlic, with just the right touch of cayenne pepper. The black tea served just before the meal was dark and delicious, with a bit of honey stirred in.

“Heck of a day, huh?” Cali said to Pete as they were served their food. The round table was covered with a red-and-white-checked cloth. To add to the ambience, a small alcove housed clay pots filled with brightly colored flowers, and a small fountain spewed out erratic jets of water.

“Yeah, but a good one, I think.” He sipped his tea and gave her a triumphant look.

“You look pretty happy. Something happen?” she ventured, savoring the spicy seasoning on the well-cooked chicken breast.

“Do I look happy?” Pete was surprised, since he prided himself on keeping his emotions off his face. As Cali watched him, he tried to stop dwelling on her glistening lips. He forced himself to pay attention to cutting up the fragrant chicken on his plate.

“A little. Pleased, maybe?”

“Do you always mind read?”

“Only when I have to.”

“Now I
am
in trouble.” Pete chuckled, then looked down at his food again. Did Cali realize how beautiful he found her? How perfectly shaped her mouth was?

“Relax, Major. I'm a great keeper of secrets.”

He chewed thoughtfully and allowed himself to meet her sparkling green eyes. “You are. We've been working together for some time now, and I know very little about you.” God knew, he wanted to know everything. When she raised her hand gracefully to wipe her lips with her napkin, he swallowed hard. Beauty in motion.

As she debated how much to tell him, Cali saw the interest in his eyes. Was it professional or personal interest? She didn't want to misread him as she had Russ. And she didn't dare show Pete how nervous she was. “Well, I don't play golf. I know a lot of execs do, but I find chasing a little white ball around on a green silly.”

“Finally we agree on something.” Pete grinned. Their jobs at the site had them at loggerheads on a daily basis. He had come to respect Cali's way of resolving problems.

“Red-letter day.”

“Possibly. So, you don't like golf. I know you like to ride horses.”

“I grew up riding.”

“Why do you enjoy it?” Pete wanted to know so much more.

“It gives me a sense of freedom. I love nature. I like being out in it, rain or shine. I notice you like to ride, too.” Although he never rode with her, Cali had seen Pete riding with Hesam's security almost daily. He was good at forging loyalty with Hesam's men, who obviously felt the major was one of them.

“Two things we agree on.”

Shaking her head, Cali finished off her chicken. “Frightening, isn't it?” Squelching laughter, she looked up to see his eyes gleaming with merriment. For just an instant, Cali found herself wishing they didn't work together. Why couldn't she have met him somewhere else?

“Don't let it go to your head, Ms. Roland.”

“Not likely,” she answered dryly. The waiter came over to their table, dressed in baggy, dark red pantaloons and a white shirt and apron. Cali handed him her plate and thanked him in Pashto. The young man bowed and removed Pete's plate. A minute later he was back, serving them steaming coffee and dessert.

Pete dipped his spoon into his firni, a custard pudding flavored with cardamom and rose water, and topped with ground pistachios. “I got us a helicopter.” He didn't mean to sound as if he was gloating.

“What? You did? How?” Cali's eyes widened.

“An ex-gunny sergeant of mine, Joe Hazeltine, married a local woman here in Kabul. He runs a garage and is the world's best scrounger. I told him about our problem of time and distance, and he said he knows of a Canadian merc team that has a helo. He said they're crazy as loons, but he can talk them into letting us hitch a ride a couple times a month. They work up in the north as well.” Pete smiled. “I won't tell you what the deal was, but he said they'll go for it.” In case the matter ever became public, Pete wanted to protect Cali and her company. This idea was his alone, and if Elliot found out about it, he'd be damned unhappy.

“Wow,” Cali whispered, impressed. “You scrounged around among the locals and came up with a Band-Aid fix.”

“Something you've done many times on jobs yourself, I'm sure.”

Cali grinned and sipped her coffee. “Construction in foreign countries often makes for strange bedfellows. Yes.”

“I like the idea of not wasting two days of our time twice a month,” he growled. He watched as a soft breeze lifted strands of hair across her smooth brow. His hand fairly itched to reach out and thread his fingers through them. Cali was all-business. There was no flirtation, no come-hither looks. And hell, maybe what he felt was just an unfulfilled daydream on his side of the aisle. After his disastrous history with women, why the hell would he want someone as powerful and confident as Cali Roland to return his fevered yearnings? He had to be crazy. Or maybe lonely. Yeah, that was it.

“You look like you're daydreaming,” Cali said. “A penny for your thoughts?” She saw Pete's cheeks turn a dull red.
Oops.
Had she stumbled onto some of his secrets? Mouth curving, she asked, “Are they X-rated? If so, you can plead the Fifth.”

“I'll take the Fifth.”

Cali decided to hell with it. “You look lonely. Maybe you have a significant other waiting at home?” She had no right to be nosy, but her curiosity was eating her alive. Someone as good-looking and intelligent as Pete Trayhern
had
to have someone. Heart beating strongly in her chest, Cali held her breath waiting for his answer.

Turning the cup slowly in his hands, Pete murmured, “No, no one. Relationships aren't my thing.”

“I see.” Cali nearly choked on the cooling coffee. Furthermore, she knew she was blushing. Oh, would she ever get over that teenage trait? “I don't know of any relationship that's easy.”

Shrugging, Pete said, “I seem to draw women who like to betray me.”

Placing her cup on the table, Cali tried to tread lightly. “Betrayal? As in lying to you?”

“Yes, that.” Pete scowled. “Go figure. One of the things I value most in life is the truth. So what do I do? I get involved with women who lie to me.”

She heard the hurt in his tone even though he was trying to be flippant about it. “You tell the truth and they lie?”

“Yes.” Pete fought against the softness that came to Cali's green eyes. He had to resist, dammit. But the hard walls around his heart weakened as he drowned in her compassionate gaze. His words came out haltingly, as if torn from him. “When I was in Annapolis, I fell in love with someone, a midshipman in my class. Her name was Barbara. We agreed to get married when we graduated, but after graduation, she told me that she loved someone else. I asked her how long the other relationship had been going on.” Pete shook his head. “Barbara had been seeing the other guy for six months and I never knew it, never caught on.”

“Ouch.”

“Really.”

Cali saw the wounded look in his eyes. “People can fall out of love. Maybe she was afraid to tell you?”

“No, not Barbara. She was—is—an opportunist. I finally figured that out about a year after we split. The other guy's father was a corporate multimillionaire. She was after money. She wanted to marry power.”

“Well, my track record isn't much better,” Cali admitted.