Yes, if anyone was looking from the outside in, she’d be the picture of innocent beauty. His injuries attested she had experience fighting that he wished he could give to all of his men. Though some might be fooled by her beautiful face and sweet smile, he knew she wasn’t a woman he should underestimate. That assumption wasn’t even based on her impressive fighting skills. He’d glimpsed it earlier, but in the brighter lights of his living area it was even more obvious. There was something in her eyes that was … disturbing and spoke of internal pain and anguish.
She walked past him and into the kitchen. He edged closer to her, wanting answers more than anything. He also had to make sure she wasn’t going to kill him.
Opening the freezer, she pulled out an ice pack and turned to him, holding it aloft. “What hurts the most? Your hand or your head?”
“Head,” he admitted.
“Definitely need some ibuprofen then as well. Where do you keep it?” She closed the freezer and opened a cupboard. “Glasses and bowls,” she muttered, moving to the next cabinet door.
Braden moved quick. He wrapped his hands around her waist, spun her and pushed her against the fridge, trapping her hands at her sides and pressing his body against hers to hopefully stop her from lashing out. He kept his legs firmly together to prevent her from getting any ideas about kneeing him.
She blinked up at him and let the ice pack fall to the floor. “I like it,” she said. “Quick and decisive. Not ready to admit defeat, despite the humiliation of recently being beat up by a girl.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him again. She was so good at mocking him, but instead of burning with humiliation, he was burning to stay close to her and kiss her long and slow. That wasn’t smart on so many levels. “Maybe Papa’s right and you will be an asset.”
“I need some answers,” he growled. An asset? He was busy. His Navy career was taking off, and he was committed to protecting America. He wasn’t taking a break to help the Delta family, but he couldn’t deny that odd premonition earlier about why she was here. He stared into her blue eyes and felt a tug he’d never felt in his life. He had the worrisome thought that this woman could bait him, tease him, trick him, and ultimately get him to do anything she wanted him to do.
“You don’t need to prove anything to me though. I’ve seen your file, read all about your commendations, training, and skills. Plus, I already told you,” she tantalizingly wet her lips with the tip of her tongue, “we’d get to know each other better and … chat. I was just kindly trying to get you some ice and ibuprofen so you could be more comfortable and heal quicker.”
“I don’t trust you,” he said softly, unable to stop his gaze from tracing over her face and studying the smooth skin, expressive blue eyes, thick eyelashes, and those lips that he wanted to taste more with each passing moment. He blinked. He needed to clear his head and focus like he would at work or on a dangerous mission. This woman was very dangerous. He was unsure if she was a physical or emotional danger to him. Probably both.
“You’re smart to be leery,” she said. “It is acrazyworld out there. But I promise you the Delta family are trustworthy and I, for one, have your back.”
He studied her, unable to stop the laugh that gurgled out. “You just broke my hand, my rib, and gave me a concussion. Great teammate.”
“Oh, don’t complain, handsome. You’re better than that.”
He shook his head and redirected. “Admiral Delta told me not to go after your family or your all-important secret. Why are you coming after me now?”
“We’re concerned about Admiral Seamons.”
He nodded. He was concerned for his inspiring leader as well. “That makes sense, with his wife being arrested and all the rumors about King Frederick.” He should step back and release her, but it was much too exciting being close to this threatening and alluring woman. She smelled like coconuts and sunshine. He should not let himself notice how she smelled or think of her as alluring. She was like Black Widow as a blonde.
“We’d appreciate any inside information you have and you keeping an eye out for us.”
“A phone call wouldn’t have sufficed?” He arched his eyebrows. Admiral Delta was concerned for his friend. Did he think Braden could protect him from the inside? An eye out? Did Admiral Delta somehow know about Braden’s ability to see people more deeply than most wanted to be seen?
“I’ve been begging for this assignment for a couple months now.”
“What assignment?” She’d said something about Jessie asking for the assignment earlier.
“Investigating Admiral Seamons and making,” her voice got low and husky, “contact with you.”
Investigate? So they weren’t here to protect his CO but to join with those who speculated that if his wife was in cahoots with Frederick, the admiral would be too. Braden would not support that, knew they were wrong, but the way she said “contact” shot a thrill through him and overrode everything else for the moment.
Heat started in his chest and threatened to engulf him as Maddie arched up onto her tiptoes, her incredibly blue eyes focused on his. Any injuries were pushed to the back of his consciousness as he released his grip on her hands and cupped her face gently. Her face was soft under his palms and fingertips. After he devoured her incredible lips, he wanted to take his time trailing kisses along her smooth cheeks and then down that tempting neck.
The scraping sound of the back door opening brought his head up.
Maddie’s gaze sharpened. All traces of desire disappeared. “Expecting someone?”
He shook his head.
Maddie edged around him, yanking the pistol from her hip. Braden turned to face whoever was coming so he could protect her. Though he wondered if any protection offered by him was superfluous to the training Maddie obviously had.
Two masked men rushed into the room, each holding guns. Braden’s stomach clenched. What a night to not be carrying his pistol. He’d never make it to the bedroom to retrieve it in time to protect her.
“Drop it,” the one man snarled.
Two rapid shots rang out as Braden tried to shelter Maddie with his body. The taller man slammed against the wall and released his gun, blood running down his shoulder. The other man’s pistol flew in the air and blood sprayed the nearby window from the hit to his hand. Both guns clattered harmlessly to the floor.