Page 26 of A Soldier's Temptation
When she walked into the living room, John and Colin had their heads close together. John was stiff, his face set in stone and Colin was flailing his hands around like one of those inflatable arm guys. Debating whether she wanted to interrupt their discussion, she hesitated in the doorway. “What’s going on now? You’re like little kids fighting over a toy. Seriously.”
Startled, they turned toward her with guilty expressions on their faces.
“Are you ready?” John asked.
“Yes, I am. But I want to know what you were arguing about. Something’s going on. This is my life, remember? I have a right to know.”
They exchanged glances and John shrugged his shoulders.
“Well?”
When Colin nodded at Shadow Four, he went into the hall and left them alone. “I wish you’d reconsider about going to the safe house. But since it’s clear that you won’t, you will need to listen to John.”
“I already said I would.”
“Remember you said that, because the first time you don’t listen, or go out when it’s not absolutely necessary, you’ll be going to the safe house.”
“And if I don’t agree?”
“It will be the safe house for you now.”
“You can’t make me go.”
“Actually, we can. You’re a witness in a federal espionage case, I can and will do whatever it takes to protect you.”
Recognizing a brick wall when she saw one, Ari gave in. What choice did she have? “Fine. I’ll accept your rules. But after the trial, all bets are off.”
“We’ll see,” Colin replied.
John was smirking again. Seeing them standing next to each other was like looking at a couple of cover models for GQ magazine. They were the same height and build, but that was where the similarity ended. John was dark while Colin was light, with blond hair and blue eyes. The two of them must have had women lined up at their door in college. If things were different, she might have been attracted to Colin. But he made her feel like she was one of those too stupid to live women in bad books for being taken in by Paul.
“Do you have everything you need, Baby?”
“Yes, except for Mr. Darcy’s bowls and food.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Colin’s surprised expression at John’s use of the endearment. Was it bad she was glad?
“I grabbed them while you were packing. See?” he said as he held up the bag of dry food and a plastic bag with the dog bowls.
“Thanks. Are we done, Colin? Or do you still need me?”
“You can go. I know where you’ll be if something comes up. Remember what you promised.”
“I don’t think John would let me forget even if I wanted to. But what happens to the rest of my stuff? How do you keep people out now that the door is broken?”
The first, truly genuine smile she’d ever seen from Colin totally lit up his face. Probably a good thing he didn’t do it more often. He’d never get anyone to believe he was an FBI agent. He was just too pretty.
“We’ll put up some wood until the door can be replaced. One of the agents on your detail will check on it every few hours too.”
“When will I be able to get more stuff?”
“After it’s cleared, I’ll let you know.”
“I hope it doesn’t take too long.”
It was obvious that Colin was tired of her questions and wanted to get back to work when he turned to John. “Take good care of her.”
“I will, you don’t have to worry.”
It was odd to walk away and leave Colin and Shadow Four standing in the disaster that had been her home. It was even odder to follow John to his apartment, but she didn’t have a lot of options. She could either stay with him or go to a safe house that was located God only knew where. Blaming the tears swimming in her eyes on Mr. Darcy’s latest stink bomb, she hoped she’d made the right choice.
