Page 50 of Undefeated Love
Katlin grinned at him. “Positive. Please don’t ask any more questions. The less you know, the less you can tell.”
“Mrs. Charbonneau,” the coordinator behind the small counter quietly called out in her direction.
Katlin recognized her new name, but she’d been expecting it. She approached the desk. “Yes, I’m Mrs. Charbonneau.” She spoke with a very heavy French accent.
“Yes, ma’am. Your plane is ready to board.”
“Thank you.” She pointed to the couple who had been essential to her life during the past month while she physically healed. “I’m just going to say goodbye.”
“Mrs. Charbonneau?” Jaysun asked.
Katlin gave him a Cheshire smile. “That’s what my French passport says.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to know.”
She gave him a hug goodbye. “No, you really don’t want to know.”
CHAPTER21
Two MonthsLater
Katlin Gone Eight Months
Alex sat on the edge of Aleta’s bed, kissing her. Even though he’d been in her room many times before, it felt strange. He thought it might be perhaps because he hadn’t had sex in nearly ten months…the night Katlin walked out on him. Several years ago, he’d had a friends-with-benefits relationship with the assistant state’s attorney each time he’d visited the Chicago office…before Katlin had reentered his life three years ago. Since then, she’d been the only woman he wanted in his life, or in his bed.
But his Kat was gone, and nobody would tell him if, or when, she’d return. Even if she came back to Washington D.C. and her job at Homeland Security, Alex had no idea if she would ever come back to him. He’d fucked up and he knew it. But until he was able to talk to her face to face, he didn’t know if he had a snowball’s chance in hell of her ever returning to him.
Eight months ago, he’d received the diamond ring he had given her, but she’d been gone from his life for almost two months before that. Ten months was a long time to go without sex, especially since he’d been getting laid relatively regularly for years before that.
He’d convinced himself that he had to move on from Katlin.
Aleta’s hand went to his cock, encouraging its readiness through his khaki slacks. Almost by rote, his hand moved up to cup her breast.
It felt wrong. Alex had to fight his brain, or maybe it was his heart, to keep his hand there. Her breasts were so much smaller than Katlin’s that they felt foreign. Guilt rushed through his body, shrinking his half erect cock.
His phone rang with the Guardian emergency ring tone.
Alex dropped his hands and quickly stood. “I’m sorry, Aleta, I’ve got to take this.” In truth, he was thankful for the interruption. Secretly, he wasn’t sure if he could get a full erection. Everything about tonight felt off. Wrong.
Aleta waved him out of the bedroom. She gave him a sensual smile. “I’ll be here waiting when you’re done.”
He moved all the way to the other end of her house. He didn’t know, or give a damn, what emergency had arisen. He was simply thankful for it.
He glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was from Top Cooper. “What’s the emergency?”
“I found her.” Alex could hear the smile in the older man’s voice.
Refusing to get excited, he asked, “Are you sure or is this another false sighting?”
Three months ago, Alex had traced her tracker to the San Diego Naval Medical Center. As the app had brought him closer to the OB/GYN floor, it was as though he felt her presence through their undeniable connection. His mind had raced with possibilities. Katlin had always had reproductive problems. Had they worsened? Was she there for a complete hysterectomy, taking away her chance of ever having a child? Especially his. Since high school, she’d talked about filling a house with children. Had that possibility just been taken away from her? From them?
Alex had asked but, being one of the most guarded floors in the entire hospital, he received no answers. Even his company computer genius couldn’t find any trace of Katlin ever being there.
Afterward, Alex, Barry, and Top doubled their efforts to find Katlin.
Had Top really found her?
“I’m looking right at her.”
