Page 33 of Unintended Love

“So, how long are you going to be in Washington?” She really wanted to know the answer to this question.

“I have no idea,” he admitted with a shrug. “We have our first meeting tomorrow morning. All I have is a building address and the conference room number.”

She was curious as to which department he might be working for. They had never discussed this subject during their many video calls, even though their conversations were end-to-end encrypted. “Can you tell me which department, or the building you’re meeting in?”

“Since it’s not at any headquarters, I guess I can.” Clint rattled off the address of the building where she worked.

Her jaw dropped slightly, but her lips didn’t part. Did she dare say anything? This was Clint, though, and he was legally her husband. Ashlin glanced around the room, cataloging and classifying every person. She saw no threats, and they were quite far from any other table. She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss before she hugged him, then hid her face next to his ear and whispered, “That’s my building.”

“Makes sense.” His heated breath whispered into her ear. “We are contracted to Homeland this time.”

This time. Hmm. Must be they contracted with other departments at times. She wondered whether that included the Department of War. She’d heard rumors that Katlin Callahan Wolf’s husband, the owner of Guardian Security, often contracted through that department. She’d heard stories about Black Swan Team 1 working side-by-side with Guardian.

Leaning back, she changed the subject. “How did things go in Texas?” Ashlin knew Clint had taken his team there before coming to Washington.

“As well as could be expected.” She could see the pain in Clint’s eyes from the loss of his friend. He gave her a small smile before he added, “The funeral went well, even though this was the first time my team had done this together.” He stared at the Irish linen tablecloth, pausing for several seconds. “I did as I’d promised Javier, I took care of his wife and baby. They should be all set now.” He captured both her hands in his larger ones and smiled. “I don’t want to talk about that anymore. You said we needed to get to know each other better. What do you want to know about me that we haven’t already talked about?”

Damn! He was right. They’d spent hours on video calls, talking about everything and nothing. Surprisingly, they even agreed on politics and religion, the two subjects people were supposed to avoid on a first date.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I was nervous about seeing you again, in real life.” She scanned the room, not seeing anything, trying to simplify her feelings. If she could explain them to herself, perhaps she could describe them to Clint. Afraid she might see her greatest fear in his eyes; she didn’t look at him. “What if I’m not as…attractive to you or as exciting as I was in Las Vegas?” She wasn’t fishing for compliments. She was truly concerned that time and distance had made him change his mind about her. About their marriage. About the future she hoped the next few days might solidify. They’d both been drinking a lot in Las Vegas, and alcohol made her uninhibited.

Using two fingers, he gently lifted her chin until their serious eyes met. “Ashlin Marie Cartwright, I’m going to confess something to you that I wouldn’t tell anyone else in this world… I was more afraid of meeting you here tonight than facing a whole team of Taliban in Afghanistan. They meant nothing to me, except successfully accomplishing the mission. You mean everything to me. I was afraid you were going to come here and ask me for a divorce again, using the public restaurant, so I wouldn’t start screaming and yelling ‘no.’ My greatest fear is that you’re going to realize that I’m nothing more than just a soldier.” He grinned. “Admittedly, a well-trained one, but when it comes down to it, I’m still nothing but a gun toter. You are so smart, beautiful, funny… What the hell do you want with a man like me? You can have any man you want: a doctor, a lawyer, a billionaire businessman.”

Ashlin burst out laughing. Then, from the shock on his face, she laughed even harder. She placed her palms on his cheeks and held his head steady so he couldn’t look away. Her heart wanted to say how much she loved him, but she wasn’t quite ready for that. Not tonight.

“Clinton Everett Riggs, you are such a fucking idiot.” She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss without releasing him. “What the hell do you think I am? I guarantee you I have more weapons on my body than every person in this half of the restaurant put together. Do you believe for one second that a doctor would tolerate my job? When you get right down to the nitty-gritty, I’m an assassin, and my doctor date has taken an oath to save all the assholes I’m sent to kill.”

She didn’t let up. “Look over my right shoulder at the man with the one-hundred-dollar haircut, the thousand-dollar suit, and the two-hundred-dollar manicure. I guarantee he has an international law degree and is using it as a lobbyist. He’s doing his very best to impress the secretary across the table in the too-small dress she’d bought on an end-of-year sale at the mall. He’s hoping to get lucky in the next two hours and probably will. He is a three F man.”

Clint smiled. “Find ’em, fuck ’em and forget ’em. He’ll probably have a bourbon, neat with a single drop of water, with his fraternity brothers or coworkers around ten thirty as they discuss the night’s conquests.”

“Yes.” She nodded in agreement. “And he’d turn me in to the nearest Capitol police district for being armed inside the Beltway and brag about what good thing he’d done. Can you truly picture me with a man like him?”

It was Clint’s turn to burst out laughing. “He’d lose his erection the minute you turned into Lady Tiger in bed.” He pulled her closer and gave her a long, slow kiss that lit every nerve from her lips to her clit. “I enjoy playing with Lady Tiger in bed.” Another long, slow kiss. “On the couch.” Quick kiss. “Up against the door.” He slid his tongue over hers, then quickly retreated. “But my favorite was on that soft rug in front of the fireplace.” He leaned in for another kiss, but was interrupted.

“Two perfect pours.” The waitress set two mugs, black Guinness sitting on top of pale, golden Harp. “What can I get you for supper tonight?”

“Bangers and mash,” they said in unison, then chuckled.

The server gave them a sly smile. “Shall I get two orders to-go?”

“No.” Clint shook his head side to side, never taking his eyes off Ashlin. “I’m getting to know my wife tonight.”

Chapter 13

Clint stepped out of the restaurant behind Ashlin into the cool May breeze. She rubbed her palms up and down her biceps. He immediately took off the summer wool navy-blue blazer he’d chosen to wear with black jeans and black dress boots. He pulled his button-down shirt from his waistline, so it covered the pistol and holster he carried at this small of his back, before draping the coat over her shoulders.

“Thank you,” she said when they stopped at the corner of the brick restaurant. Clint wasn’t sure whether she was thanking him for the jacket or for the supper.

He wasn’t willing to end the evening just yet. “My hotel is only a couple of blocks from here. Can I interest you in a nightcap? They have a very nice bar with a piano player tonight.” He hesitated before he added, “My suite also has a full bar if you’d rather someplace quieter.”

This was the part of the evening that most worried Clint. It was still early even for a work night. Her words earlier in the evening, putting a halt to sex, still gave him pause. He didn’t want to push Ashlin into bed until she was ready for it again. He, on the other hand, had been half hard since they landed in the D.C. area.

Ashlin turned to face him and slid her palms up his chest and around his neck. “I love that pub, but the later in the night it gets, the louder the customers become.” She lifted onto her toes and gave him a sweet kiss. “I’m sure your hotel has room service. I could use some chocolate.”

She surprised him when she turned and grabbed the taxi that had just dropped off another couple at the pub. He crawled into the back seat right after her and quickly gave the driver the address.

Hand-in-hand, they strode across the lobby to the elevators. Inside, alone, she whirled around and once again wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, she didn’t release him or the kiss. With a tiny bounce, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his hips.