Page 14 of Cole
“Who is ‘us’?” she asked. “Where are we going?”
“This time, you need to trust me,” said Cole. “We’re going somewhere that he’ll never find you and can’t get to you. You’ll disappear into thin air.”
“And the nuclear device he plans to use?” she asked. Angus stood and nodded at her.
“I’ll be taking care of that.”
Cole ordered the room service and Hala took a shower, taking the offer of using some of Bailey’s clothing. While they were doing that, Bailey pulled Angus into the other bedroom.
“What did you mean by that? What did you mean that you’d be taking care of that?” she asked.
“Bailey, I can’t let that sit out there in the desert. Someone has to destroy it.”
“Not you!” she said in a quiet yell. “They know the location. We can destroy it remotely. You know we can. Our technology is far more advanced than when you were with us.”
“Let me just talk to Luke and the others. We’ll make a plan and be long gone when it happens. If I need to come back with them, I will. I have to Bailey.”
“You said you weren’t with Navy Intelligence any longer. But you used an alias. You didn’t tell me the truth. You are with them, aren’t you? You’re still active duty.”
“I didn’t lie Bailey. I’m not active duty any longer but I am working on a contract with them. Specifically to find that nuke for the SEAL team that I’m assigned to. That’s why I was here. When those hostages were taken, I wasn’t originally part of the group. I snuck in, pretended to be one of them, then got them out.”
She felt the panic rising in her chest and leaned forward, gripping him around the waist, her head resting against his heart. She heard the thump-da-thump-da-thump of his heart.
“Bailey,” he whispered.
“Kiss me again,” she pleaded. He looked down at her, pulling her face from his chest.
“Bailey, I will kiss you whenever you like but we need to talk about what all this kissing means.”
“It means I care for you, I like you, I’m attracted to you. Is that enough for now?” she asked with tears in her eyes.
“For now,” he smirked. “I feel the same, Bailey but we’re looking at a twenty-year age difference.”
“I don’t care. I don’t care and you know as well as I do that this has worked for dozens of other couples on the property. Please don’t refuse me.”
“I couldn’t refuse you even if I wanted to,” he smiled. He bent down, kissing her more passionately this time as she woundher arms around his neck. When he pulled back, her face was flush and Cole was standing at the door, clearing his throat.
“You wanna tell me why you’re sucking face with my sister?” he frowned.
“Because I care a great deal for her and she feels the same. So, when we return home, I’ll officially be asking your father for permission to date her.”
Cole stared at Angus, then at his sister’s blissfully happy face. Just as he was about to say something, Hala walked in wearing Bailey’s jeans and t-shirt. Her wet hair was piled high on her head and her pink cheeks glowed.
“What did I miss?” she asked with a smile. Cole stared at her and laughed.
“Not a damn thing.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
As they quietly ate their dinner, Angus kept smiling at Bailey, noticing the way she chewed her food, a delicate, soft chew with her mouth closed. Very lady-like. What he also noticed was that Cole was smiling at Hala, taking in every movement as well. When they had a spare moment alone, Cole took his sister aside.
“He’s a lot older than you, Bailey. Not just a few years.”
“I know,” she said. “Hala is older than you by a few years. Does it matter?”
“No,” he smiled. “I guess it doesn’t. I’ve always just wanted you and Ambry to be happy. I mean, you were little when Angus left the company. You don’t really know anything about him.”
“And I am happy. Angus and I are getting to know one another, albeit in a foreign country running from bad guys. But that doesn’t matter. We’re all happy, Cole. Our sister, Ambry? She’s totally giddy with triplets.”
