DeliciousDanger (11 page)

Well, hell! Control, Latrobe. Control.

He was starting to wonder if they should even ask Kelly
about the trip. He was enough of a seasoned warrior not to let sex get in the
way of a mission despite their new and fragile relationship. But here he was
concerned about her and her safety. He’d just have to see how it played out.

Kelly led them into a cool, high-ceilinged living room with
old-fashioned, comfortable furniture in warm greens and yellows. Rick took a
large armchair set to one side, distancing himself from their hostess so his
mind was on what they were here for. He leaned back in the chair and rested the
ankle of one leg on the opposite knee, focusing on the business at hand.

When everyone had been served refreshments, Kelly perched on
a straight chair and stared at them with an uncompromising look. “I’m not much
for small talk, folks, so why don’t we get right into this. Why are you really
here and what do you want from me?”

“Rick has told us about his meeting with you and Xena at our
airfield,” Dan explained. “And we’ve done a little research on the Caucasian
Ovcharkas.”

She tilted her head, looking from one person to the other,
her gaze still puzzled. “Mia and I discussed that but I can’t believe your
interest in the dogs brought you all the way up here.”

Mia smiled at her. “I know this seems totally off the wall
to you but let me give you some background.” She launched into a brief
description of the agency, what it did, the special gifts she and Faith had and
the new Psi department they were establishing.

“As you can imagine, we aren’t a highly publicized
organization,” Dan put in. “Sometimes we work for Uncle Sam on the QT,
sometimes for high-profile corporations. No one wants their name in the paper.”

“Same here,” Kelly nodded. “My dogs are very special,
usually mistaken for household pets. Unless the owner is in danger. So you’re
what…interested in the dog? In my kennel? I still don’t understand.”

“Can you tell us a little bit about the training?” Dan
asked.

It took a lot more explanation from Dan about their
operation before Kelly was willing to share information, about either the dogs
she trained or Xena. The better part of two hours passed before they stopped
verbally dancing around each other and the conversation began in earnest.

When Mia took over and told her about Psi abilities both she
and Faith had, Rick saw sharp interest flash in Kelly’s eyes.

“That’s actually what prompted this trip,” she added. “We’d
like to know a lot more about the relationship between you and Xena and
anything special you can tell us.”Under Mia’s gentle prodding, Kelly related
incident after incident in which Xena has sensed danger—scented it was the way
she put it—when there was absolutely nothing to indicate it. Warily she
explained the mental connection she and the dog had established, how they were
able to communicate silently with each other. How Xena often invaded her dreams
to send her messages.

Rick watched her stop periodically, as if waiting for the
skepticism she was sure would come. When everyone simply nodded at her, she
looked confused.

“You don’t look shocked. Any of you.”

Mia smiled. “Like I said, paranormal isn’t new to us. We’ve
gone through the same thing, Faith and I. I wish she could have been here today
to listen to this. She’d be just as excited as I am.”

“But don’t you still get people looking at you as if you’re
crazy?”

“Sometimes. But then we have our successes to point to. And
we don’t exactly run around taking out front-page ads.” She looked at Dan and
Mark, who nodded at her unspoken question, then crossed her legs and leaned
forward. “Kelly, I wonder if we could persuade you and Xena to come to Maryland
to our offices so we can do some testing. Nothing outrageous but, like I said,
it may be possible that this could be a valuable addition to the department
we’re building. So many things are happening that we’re having to grow faster
than we expected.”

“I’m not sure that’s possible. What would it involve? And
what would you expect of me afterwards?” She waved her hand at the window and
the land beyond. “I have obligations here. A business to run.”

“We understand that,” Mark broke in. “But we discussed
briefly incorporating Ovcharkas into our operation if we could learn enough
about them. And there may be situations where you and Xena could be valuable.”

“Even if she’s a one-person dog?”

Mia grinned. “Now, you know that’s not really the case any
longer. She’s made a connection with Rick. There may be times, if you were
willing, that Xena could be a real asset in some of the missions Rick takes
on.”

Kelly shook her head. “No. Xena never goes anywhere without
me and I couldn’t make myself that available.”

“What about if you just tried it once?” Rick asked, watching
her carefully.

She swung her head toward him. “What do you mean?”

He chose his words carefully, gauging her reaction. He still
wasn’t convinced himself this was such a good idea. “I have a little trip
coming up that may have some inherent problems. I know something’s wrong but I
can’t put my finger on it. If you and Xena came along, you’d be my edge. My
live radar detectors, so to speak.”

“You mean the trip to Iraq, right?” she asked.

Rick cleared his throat. “Yes. That’s the one.”

Kelly stared at him.“And you want me to go with you?”

He nodded.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Not in the least. I have a shipment to deliver to a private
security force we’ve trained over there and something’s going on. I need all
the help I can get to watch my back.”

No one said anything as they all waited for Kelly to make
the next move. At last she shook her head.

“I’m sorry. It’s just not possible.” She looked directly at
Rick. “Even if I could arrange to have someone take care of the animals for me
it wouldn’t be for more than a day or two. I think I already stretched my
assistants to the limit when I took my trip to Florida. Most of our dogs are
about ready to move on to their owners and the last of the training is very
tricky.”

“I understand,” Mark said, “but—”

“And certainly the last place in the world I plan on going
is Iraq.” She let her gaze travel over everyone else in the room. “I can’t
imagine you even asking me that.”

“You’d simply be accompanying Rick on a cargo delivery,”
Mark said. “You and Xena.”

“I’m not trained for whatever might crop up,” she pointed
out, something Rick had been aware of since the suggestion was made. “I’d
probably be more of a liability than an asset. Both of us.”

“Our problem is there’s an element of, call it treachery, we
can’t pin down,” Rick told her. “If Xena and I do have a link, I’d be hoping
she could help identify it.”

“No, I’m afraid not. I’m sorry you’ve made the trip up here
for nothing. If you’d told me over the phone the real purpose of the visit I’d
have saved you the trouble.”

She rose from her chair. The visit was over.

“What about coming to Maryland at your convenience to let us
do some tests?” Mia asked. “Show you some of the things we’re doing. We’re
really looking for people who can help us find others with psychic gifts and
train them to use them.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Will you do at least one thing for me?”

“What’s that?”

Mia handed her a slip of paper. “Here are the telephone
numbers for Faith, her Aunt Vivi and me. Will you at least think about this?
Maybe call and talk to us about how you might fit in?”

“That much I can do.”She folded the paper and slipped it into
her pocket, then looked pointedly at her watch. “Meanwhile, there are things I
have to take care of.”

Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry
, Rick thought as
he unfolded himself from his chair. He let the other go on ahead of him,
hanging back to steal a private minute with Kelly. When he started toward the
door Xena was at his side at once, teeth gently holding onto his khakis. She
tugged at the material, then bumped her head against Rick’s hand.

“She’s telling you to be careful,” Kelly explained.

“Actually, I think she’s telling me to spend the night.” His
eyes when they turned to her were hot and hungry.

Kelly blushed a deep shade of rose. She looked at the others
and he knew she was wondering if they’d heard. And what their reaction might
be.

“My business is my business,” he said in a low voice. “If it
would embarrass you, I’ll understand. But I feel it’s important for me to stay
here tonight.”

“But how will you get home?” She looked outside. “They’re
all leaving. With your transportation.”

Rick grinned. “I’m valuable. Ed or Mike will pick me up
tomorrow.” He touched her cheek. “Don’t make me beg. I’m a desperate man.”

Xena was whining and tugging on Rick and he wanted to kiss
the dog.

“Maybe I’ll pick up some of her mojo,” he grinned.

“All right.” She kept her voice low. “But only because Xena
insists.”

He walked out to the helicopter to say goodbye to the
others.“I think we came on a little too strong,” Dan said.

Mia made a face. “No kidding. From trying to get her
interested in the program to throwing her into your little project is a big
stretch. I can’t think of many people who’d jump at the chance to go to Iraq.”

“Let’s give her a little time to get over the shock of our
visit. Then you can call her again and see if you can exert your unbounded
charm on her. Get her to come down to the office.” He looked at Rick.“Maybe you
can give her a call when you get back.”

“Actually I’m spending the night.” He swallowed a laugh at
the look on everyone’s face.

“That must have been some dinner,” Dan commented with a
grin.

“We’re not discussing this, okay? Just be sure Ed or Mike
picks me up at nine tomorrow morning.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Maybe some of the dog’s influence will rub off on me. I’ll tell you, guys. I
have a bad feeling about this entire Iraq situation. A really bad feeling.”

* * * * *

Rick gave in to the demands of his body and napped on
Kelly’s big, soft bed while she exercised the dogs and fed them. The sound of
the shower running woke him. He looked out the window to see the sun beginning
its descent to the horizon. He pushed himself upright, wishing he had a
toothbrush. His mouth felt like used tires, an aftereffect of the pain
medication. Maybe Kelly would share her mouthwash with him.

He walked over to the window, testing his body, feeling a
little less sore than he had when he’d arrived. He wouldn’t be up to any
calisthenics tonight, but he had plenty of ideas how they’d manage just fine.
When he thought of the things Kelly could do with her educated mouth and her
sweet tongue his aches and pains were nothing compared to the sharp pain in his
groin.

He’d been with many women in his life. Some might even say
too many. But none of them had ever touched something deep inside him the way
Kelly Monroe did. Or so quickly. Whatever was between them was like dry
kindling that had burst into flame the moment they’d met.

Maybe it was the dog. Stranger things had happened, for
sure. But whatever the reason, he wanted this woman with a fierce hunger, and
not just for an occasional tumble in the sheets. He’d always believed the life
he lived was bad for steady or permanent relationships, but Mark and Dan seemed
to be making it work well for them.

“I see you’re finally awake.”

He heard Kelly’s musical voice behind him, turned and
smiled.

“I should apologize for flaking out in the middle of the day
like that,” he told her.

“No apology necessary. Your body took a beating and needs to
recharge. Would you like to take a shower before dinner?”

“Yes, but first I want to say something.” When he was
standing in front of her he cupped her chin and locked his gaze with hers. “I
know this is fast, Kelly. If it’s too fast for you, then tell me. But I’m not
taking what’s happening here as anything casual.”

A pale blush colored her cheeks but she didn’t take her eyes
from his. “And I could have told you to get on that helicopter and go home. I
felt the same thing you did the other night. Life can be fragile. Why don’t you
shower and we’ll see where this goes.”

She even had an extra toothbrush and a razor in the bathroom
cupboard and set them out with the towels. When he came back into the bedroom,
towel knotted at his hip, he was only mildly surprised to see her sitting on
the bed cross-legged.

“Were you afraid I’d pass out in the shower?”

She shook her head. “I was afraid I might change my mind if
I waited until later.” She cocked her head. “How’s your body?”

He laughed. “As compared to what? I think it’s getting
better.”

“Then why don’t you come over here and we’ll see if we can
improve it a little more.” She rolled off the bed and pulled the covers back,
patting the mattress. “Make yourself comfortable.” She grinned. “And lose the
towel.”

He’d been semi-hard after the shower, just thinking about
her. Now they could have used his cock for a hammer. He tossed the towel aside
and lay down on the cool sheets, watching her. She removed her clothes slowly,
tempting him with each bit of herself she exposed. Full breasts with dark, rosy
nipples already pebbled. He could see the pulse of anticipation at the delicate
hollow of her throat.

He wanted to scream at her to hurry when she unzipped her
jeans and slid them down her thighs as slowly as a stripper teasing a customer.
Then she stood there wearing only a rich purple thong and every bit of blood in
his body rushed to his groin. He reached out a hand to her.

“Come here, pretty girl. I have a present for you.”

Kelly grinned. “Yes, I believe you do. And it’s mine to play
with as I choose.”