Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) (40 page)

With a look that didn’t please her as much as the touch of his hands, he said, “Pleasurable as this is, it seems fraught with… consequences.” His voice trailed off as he reached her breasts. He slid quickly over them, but she shook her head and pulled his hands back.

“No. No, I need to be dry all over, and no, we’ll avoid the consequences. I’ll grab shorts once you’ve got me dry. But don’t hurry.” God, I wish my side didn’t hurt so much. I really hope he likes me… this me.

In less time than she wanted, Beckie was standing in yellow shorts that she thought went well with Ian’s shirt, and Ian was beginning to place the tape. He started below her left breast and continued until Beckie said, “Stop. That’s enough. I always know it’s enough when I can’t breathe anymore.” Her laugh was short and sounded more like a gasp. “Now my bra.” She picked it up from the bed and slid it up her arms. “Can you hook it, please?”

As they walked toward the kitchen, Ian asked, “Do we do that every morning?”

“Well, I hope so. The tape needs to be changed daily.” She stopped and placed her hand against his chest. “I hope you don’t—”

“Mind? Not at all. But I worry that I need to give you equal time.” That’s the smile I love!

“That’s okay with me—”

“But I think we should wait.”

Her agreement came with a frown.

After thanking Boynton for breakfast, Beckie went with Ian to the hospital, where, prepared to have her stitches removed, she turned to find Millie, and Ian went to see Shakti, to discuss his progress.

Millie worried at the stitches in her lip, then said, “They’re fine. Be gone either tomorrow or the next day, and you’ll be good as new next week.”

“I thought you had to take them out?”

“No, they dissolve by themselves. Just takes time, like everything else. How about your ribs?”

“Still sore. Ian wrapped them for me this morning.”

“Now you’re home and not getting thrown around, you won’t need any more tape.”

“Okay. Why?”

“Don’t want to interfere with your ability to take a deep breath. Be careful lifting and stretching.”

“Oh. Okay. How’s Haleef?”

“Already being nursed to death by Noorah. She’s convinced he went with you just because of her, and now…”

Beckie laughed, but with shallow breaths. “How bad is she?”

“She has a severe case of hero worship, coupled with a minor dose of puppy love,” Millie said with a grin. “Or vice versa. Otherwise, she’s still recovering from—”

“Yeah, everything else.” Beckie was somber. “How about the other two?”

“They’re doing fine—”

“And Amy? I saw her at the plane yesterday, but—”

“She’s okay. You know that Abby’s gone with Sue, down south. Amy’s been staying with Tahirah, helping her and Noorah.” The doctor smiled. “Until last night, anyway. Noorah pulled a Beckie on us. We had to drag her away from Haleef’s bed so they both could get some sleep.” She gave Beckie a long look. “Speaking of that, Shakti said Ian stayed out last night.” Not waiting for Beckie to respond, she went on, “I hope you realize, even if your ribs feel okay, he’s not ready—”

“Ready for what?” Beckie flushed. “For making love?”

“Yes!” Millie had a funny look on her face, too. “Because of the skull injury, no other reason, Beckie.”

“Is that a doctor’s recommendation?”

Millie looked askance. “I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. Yes, it is.”

Beckie dropped her eyes to stare at her hands. “I’m sorry, Millie. That was uncalled for, and… I didn’t even mean it.” She raised her eyes. “If you’ll forgive me… How long?”

“Yeah, I remember you’re not all that much older than Amy.” She sat back in her chair and used the keyboard. “Almost six weeks.” She looked across the desk to Beckie. “Another month. Can you wait? I can prescribe other activities—”

“No! I’m sure it’ll be fine, thanks.” Beckie was sure her blush lit the room better than the morning sun.

Beckie spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon with Tahirah and Noorah in Haleef’s room. The young man was recovering nicely, according to the orderly, and further, “Enjoying the girl’s attention,” she told her, pointing to Noorah, fetching a fresh cup of ice water for him.

Haleef had been talked out about the events in London, first from Kevin’s questions, and then Derek’s and hers, and finally the police. He was anxious to telephone his family, especially Saliha.

Beckie agreed immediately. “Just remember the warning we got. You can’t say anything about what happened until you hear it from a public source.” He nodded and she handed him her phone. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to pick it up,” she assured him.

During those few minutes, she walked down the hall with Amy, trying to determine how much Abby’s departure had affected the girl. Unfortunately, Amy wasn’t willing to discuss Abby, or her life either, unless Beckie wanted to know what Tahirah or Nasir had been doing. While of some interest, Amy’s viewpoint agreed in most ways with everyone else’s, so Beckie politely walked her back and collected her phone.

In Ian’s room, she giggled as she told him about Millie’s discovering that he’d not been in the hospital the night before, but with another blush, she decided not to continue that thread. “Can you get out again tonight?”

“Indeed. I must. We have things to discuss.” The look on his face was too serious; she didn’t like what it might herald.

“Is everything okay?”

“Fine,” he said. “We can leave now.” He slipped the protective helmet on and then took her hand.

Boynton’s baked roast of lamb was as wonderful as Beckie had ever tasted; the bites melted in her mouth; neither she nor Ian could stop praising the meal.

“Please, that is enough,” Boynton finally told them. “I’m incapable of accepting any more praise until an equal amount of negative is sprinkled about!” They laughed with him and allowed him peace.

Afterwards, on the beach, Ian’s somber mood infected Beckie. She didn’t know what might have caused it; hoping it wasn’t anything she’d done, she walked along the beach in front of him, half-heartedly looking for shells. With the moon not set to rise for hours, the starlight wasn’t sufficient to illuminate either the beach or Ian’s mood and she finally walked back up beside him.

He patted the sand beside him, but when she sat, he took her hands and bade her turn to face him.

“This is difficult, Rebecca. I have been… I have fretted all afternoon.” He held his hand up, touched her lips. “No, allow me to finish.” He then fell silent, looking up and down the beach, before locking eyes with her. Her breath came in tiny gasps now; with no idea what to expect, she couldn’t see how what was coming would be an improvement. Has Millie said something about his injury? Are his folks okay? What has he hear—

“I think you should return home, Rebecca. I… I do not know what to do while you are here. I am terribly sorry.”

Beckie sat, unmoving. She supposed she kept on breathing, her heart beating, but it didn’t matter. He told her to go.

“Why, Ian?”

He didn’t say anything for the longest time, though Beckie admitted any measurable instant would have been impossibly long. Then, he stared down at his knees. “I must continue alone. For now, at least. Please.” He looked into her eyes, overflowing though she wasn’t crying. I fucking well won’t cry in front of him! “Monsieur Fereré will be ready tomorrow morning.” But why? echoed through her mind. “We should return.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Day Forty-one - en route Minnesota

ABOARD THE PLANE, BECKIE IGNORED Jean-Luc, certain he was just trying to keep her mind off Ian. That didn’t matter. She’d done all her crying last night, alone on that uncomfortable sofa in the hanger. She’d done all her agonizing last night, too, after Ian’s little kiss on her cheek. Wondering what she’d done to cause his change in feelings and if he was gone for good. Wondering if she should be.

With a wrench, she remembered Tahirah and Nasir. She snatched her phone from her pack and called Xia. Xia cut the conversation short; she was in the middle of refereeing an altercation between Nasir and Meili. Beckie didn’t explain; she agreed to call later. For the first time since she’d flown to the Nest with Patrice, she plugged in her iPod earbuds and listened to Dixieland jazz until she remembered she liked it because Ian did.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Day Forty-one - The Nest

AS USUAL, IAN JAMSE DEPENDED on the deVeel’s security system to announce him; he rapped on the door. In a few moments, Shalin had opened it and ushered him in to sit in her kitchen.

“Thank you, Shalin.”

“Tea? Or perhaps, coffee?”

“Either, as is more convenient for you.”

“The tea is brewed, but still fresh.” She poured a cup and placed it on the island countertop before him. “Shall I call Kevin?”

“Not yet. I feel…”

“Lonely? Perhaps stupid? But not foolish or justified, certainly?”

He studied her for a long minute. Average height, in her white shirt and shorts, her dark complexion was striking. This day, her black hair was loose, hanging straight down past her shoulders. He was glad she didn’t wear a scarf in the house. He sighed and turned to face the window. “I certainly feel some of those things, Shalin. Perhaps all.”

“Can you tell me why you did it?”

“I do not understand. Why I did what?”

Even with her coloring, he could see a blush before she turned to pour herself a tea. He sipped his, watching her over the rim of the cup.

“I’m sorry,” Shalin said. “It’s none of my concern.” She faced him, looking into his face. “Let’s start again. Tell me why you are discomposed.”

“I apologize. Perhaps…” He began to rise. “Perhaps I should leave. I do not mean to cause you of all people any concern.”

She hurried around the island to stop him, using her hands to press him into his seat. “No, Ian. You cause me no concern. Well, that’s not completely true, but as long as you’re healing…” He had by now reseated himself and Shalin stepped back. The concern in her eyes contrasted sharply with the smile on her lips.

“Maybe I should…” she continued. “No.” Ian looked up in surprise as Shalin picked up her cup. “I have to ask why Beckie has left so suddenly?”

Ian’s astonishment deepened. “I am unsure…” He stopped and then decided to answer her question. “I asked Rebecca to return home. For her safety. Why do you ask?”

She came around the island again; this time she sat sideways on the stool beside him, gazing hard into his eyes. “I wonder if the same thing happened to both of you.”

“Both of us?”

“You and Beckie. She’s terrified of losing you, you know. That’s why… That’s why you might have thought twice before sending her away. Especially without telling her why.”

“Again, you… your meaning evades me. Why do you think I failed to explain?”

“Just a feeling. A feeling brought on by her decision to leave before sunrise this morning. Elena returned last night and found her sleeping on the sofa in the ready room.”

Ian stared at the bottom of his cup. I wondered where she was when I searched for her.

Shalin took his hands in hers. “If you’re frightened of losing her, this is the wrong—”

“Why is she terrified? How do you know?”

“You need to ask Millie. She and Beckie… talked.”

“Hmm.” Behind him, a door opened. He turned around to see Kevin. “Good afternoon.”

“Ian. May I take him, Shalin?”

“I’ve done what I can, Kev. When will you be going?”

“We will let you know,” said Ian as he followed Kevin to the door.

The two men walked slowly to the dock. Neither of them paid much attention to the bright azure sky, or the deeper blue of the ocean. “I just talked to Derek,” Kevin said. “He’s finally gotten the contributors list for the soccer game. Top of the list by amount was the Arab League.

“However, that consortium of Christian churches came second, more than the Jewish sport organization. The churches provided just over one point two million pounds sterling to finance the logistics of the match.”