Page 10 of The Rough Ride

“Yeah, I went back for all the tests, and they said it didn’t take. Their exact words weremedically unsuccessful.” He fumbled for his wallet as the waitress placed the check on the table.

Liz dragged in a calming breath. The air was thick with the smell of grilled burgers and fresh coffee. Her ears were ringing. “You, um, didn’t think that was worth mentioning when we were together in Iraq?”

He cocked his head and gave her a puzzled look. “It’s kind of a moot point, don’t you think? It didn’t work.”

Her brain swirled with unfinished thoughts. By all thatwas holy, she needed to tell him about Ella. But how? She had no idea.She had to think.

Nick shoved some cash in with the bill and leaned toward her. “The days of me dropping you off at your mother’s house are limited, I hope. Soon, we’ll live under the same roof.”

The very thought sent another zing of desire between her legs. “Dream on, soldier.” She slid out of the booth and stood.

“I have my ways, Liz.” An ornery smile crept across his face as he joined her.

Oh yes, he had his ways.Slow, erotic, pleasuring ways that might be responsible for my current situation. Was that even possible?Ways that would have her moaning in public any minute now if she gave him half a chance. Her traitorous breasts started leaking. She crossed her arms and chuckled. “Get over yourself, Flannery.” She swatted his hand away from her butt.

“Gotcha thinking, didn’t I?” He held the door for her as they walked outside.

“Maybe a little.” She grinned.

“You let me know when I need to report for duty, babe.” He unlocked his truck for her. “I’ll wear my flag boxers and be there ready to serve.” He laughed and shut the door.

Liz letherself in at home, leaned back against the door and closed her eyes.Oh. My. Goodness.

All this time she’d believed that Ella was another man’s child. She yanked the hair tie from her brunette ponytail and let it billow loosely around her face as she massaged her temples.

In all their years apart, she’d only stepped out once onNick. Just one night. After a frustrated, testy phone call when he’d reminded her that women didn’t wear signs proclaimingthey didn’t want kids.

She’d been so furious with herself for encouraging him to look around that she’d gone to the officer’s mess hall and whooped ass on a group of younger officers at the dartboard. Spitting mad, she’d pictured the women Nick was dating as the bullseye on the board. She’d annihilated all of them, and it hadn’t hurt that her fellow soldiers had celebrated every victory with a sip of tequila.

She wasn’t drunk. She’d known exactly what she was doing, and it had felt damn good to join in on the fun and comradery rather than sit in her quarters reading nerdy military material and missing Nick. Again.

And she would’ve been fine if she’d just gone back to her bunk, but she’d agreed to have coffee with the hot officer who walked her home. The minute they’d hit the shadows, she kissed him. If Nick could do it, so could she.

But every kiss, every sigh, she’d compared and pretended he was Nick. Yeah, they’d taken precautions, but she’d always figured the condom must’ve broken.

She’d awakened at dawn with a tequila headache and orders to report to a plane leaving for Iraq at 0900 hours—same base as Nick. She never gave the officer another thought until she woke in Germany after the minefield. A noise from the kitchen roused her from her thoughts.

“Oh, there you are,” Arlene mused. “I thought I heard you come in a few minutes ago. You missed Ella’s feeding. I used the milk you brought home from work.”

A fresh wave of guilt washed over her. “Mom, I owe you a cruise to the Greek Islands. I’m so sorry I dumped Ella on you like that. It’ll never happen again. Please forgive me.”

Arlene cocked a hip and raised one eyebrow. “Did you tell him about our girl, honey?”

“No, but I found out Nick tried to have the vasectomy reversed after Paris, Mom.”

The silence said it all. You could’ve heard a pin drop.

9

Nick arrived at the senator’s home in McLean, Virginia promptly at 10:00 a.m. Even the trees swayed with power and dignity as they guarded the front of the massive three-story residence of the Richardson family. He avoided the circle drive and parked his truck in the back near what he assumed was either the kitchen door or the old servants’ quarters. Either way, it wasn’t the kind of neighborhood where a vendor gained entry through the front door.

He stepped out of his truck and surveyed the height and breadth of the building. It would take him all day, maybe longer, to secure this place and get it online with his newly designed security system. Good thing Derek was coming to help him. This graceful behemoth would protect like a fortress once they completed the installation.

Nick spotted Derek’s van and waved him into the driveway. Derek parked next to him and leaped out with a wry smile on his face.

“Dude, I’m going to need a bunch of new suits to work in this neighborhood.”

“We’ll ask Mrs. Richardson about the dress code. Since you’ll be working days with the kids and the nanny, maybe you can get away with relaxed business or casual Friday. How’s Maggie?” Nick hoisted several bags of equipment over his shoulder.

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