Page 48 of Asher

“I’m not leaving my dogs. I can’t—”

“We’ll take care of Walter and Darling for you, no worries.” Alex released Kelsey and helped Marlowe to her feet and into her walker. He was certainly in a rush for her to leave.

While he hurried Marlowe out of the playroom, Libby stood in the hallway, waiting. Flushed and breathing hard, but smiling, like Mark had just made her dreams come true. Of course he had. Loving a man like him was easy for Libby. She was princess material. Blonde and blue-eyed. She was a doctor. She was smart, smart enough to know how to live.

I’ll bet she never refused a hug from Mark.

Stop. Just stop.Marlowe ordered her ornery inner-child.You had your chance and you blew it. You’re the one who pushed Asher away. Suck it up and move on.

Alex brought her to a dead stop instead of pushing her into the hall, like she half-expected.

Marlowe glared up at him, daring him to tell her good riddance.

“Thanks for staying with Kelsey,” he said gruffly. “For keeping her company while I was gone. I wasn’t there when I lost my Sara, and I’ll never forgive myself for letting her down. But you, Marlowe? You gave my wife your friendship, and you kept her mind occupied while I was gone.” Alex lifted her hand from the walker but didn’t shake it. Just held onto it and squeezed, like he was pressing his gratitude into her through his fingertips.

“It was my pleasure,” Marlowe whispered, instead of yelling,“Don’t touch me.”

Not this time and not with this guy. Unbeknownst to Alex, he’d given her a gift when he’d answered her text from Afghanistan, then followed that with a job offer that had become a passion. “Thanks for believing in me, Mr. Stewart. I couldn’t have done my job without you in my corner.”

“Yeah, well, if I’d known you were a woman—“

She squeezed back. “You would’ve done the same thing. You trusted me to deliver and I did.”

Alex leaned down to her level, his eyes sparking with anger. “And they caught you, and they hurt you, and that’s my fault. I didn’t ask enough questions. I was in a hurry to get those families out of Afghanistan, and I jumped to conclusions that nearly got youkilled. Sweetheart, that’s on me. I never send agents out alone, but I did, and I thank God that Asher prevailed where I failed.”

The fervor pouring out of this big man was so intimidating, Marlowe wilted. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t diminish what I did just because I’m not a guy.”

Unexpectedly, she found herself crushed against his broad chest. “I’m damned proud of you, but no one, man or woman, dies because of me.”

“Umm, okay then.” She pulled back because… hugs. She didn’t do hugs. Did she? Or maybe it was just hugs from certain people. Certain other women’s husbands. Hmmm… “I’ve got to go. Bye, Mr. Stewart. Bye, Kelsey. I’ll be back for my dogs.”

The hug with Kelsey was as unexpected as the one from Alex, but somehow warmer and gentler. “You tell that man of yours to bring you by anytime.”

“He’s not my—”

Kelsey cut her off. “Any. Time. You’re always welcome here, Marlowe.”

Well, okay then. By the time Marlowe made it back to TEAM headquarters, she was emotionally hammered. Especially after riding with Mark and Libby. There was a reason they had all those kids.

They accompanied her into the darkened building, but as they approached the front door, Marlowe turned her walker around and stared across the parking lot to the barns. “Someone’s out there. I can feel them watching us.”

“You’re right,” Mark answered. “TEAM overwatch has our backs. They’ll be with us until Alex confirms all clear.”

“How long will that be?”

“When he’s sure all loose ends are tied up. Don’t worry. You’re safe here. Nobody can get into TEAM HQ.”

They chatted while the elevator dropped to the medical level, which was more like a warm, cozy dungeon. No windows, but lots more light than any prison. At Asher’s room, Mark held the door and gestured Marlowe and Libby inside. Straightaway, Libby went to Asher and checked the monitors stacked on the pole beside him. There were two IV bags hanging off that same pole, one clear, the other dark red, most likely blood. All Marlowe had eyes for was the man in the bed, Asher, on his back, pale and still. She would’ve thought he was dead but for the machine tracking his heart rate, oxygen level, and plenty of other stuff, what she didn’t know.

“Oh, honey,” she breathed, walking slowly to his side. There she stopped. He didn’t open his eyes, had no idea she was there. His right shoulder and arm were swathed in bandages. Without thinking, she leaned forward and took hold of his left hand. It was warm, not cold. She needed that small comfort. “I’m staying.”

Libby shook her head, but before she shut Marlowe down, Mark intervened. He was a big, bull of a man. Everything about The TEAM agents was bigger and stronger. His brown eyes were fastened on her, but all Marlowe read there was kindness and concern. She readied herself for the upcoming argument. He’d side with Libby. Husbands always sided with their wives.

“Good idea, Marlowe,” he said. “I agree. Your face is the first thing Asher wants to see when he comes to. Libby? Remember when you woke up after that close call with the Russian mob?”

“This is different, Mark. Asher is—” She looked at Marlowe. “I’m sorry, but he’s still very weak.”

“So were you, babe,” Mark murmured, “and you were in shock. You thought you were still in that coffin.”

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