“For sure.” He somewhat relaxed as she told him Chandler and Kylee’s story about running for their lives and infiltrating the high-class soiree at her grandparents’ house with King Frederick. Then she pried him for any information about Admiral Seamons and his wife.
The miles and time passed too quickly as she asked him questions about his time in Summit Valley and what he knew about how her brother Colt and the writer Bailey had gotten involved and fallen in love. She rounded up the story with what she’d heard from her mom and seen on her visits home.
They grabbed gas and some snacks and he hoped when they got in the car she’d let him ask more about her, but she continued with the family stories: Alivia and Klein, Thor and Shelly, Greer and Emery, Esther and Sheriff Reed, Aiden, the Navy SEAL and Melene. They were all great stories and gave him a lot more insight into the Delta family and the secret they were protecting, but as they drove into Chicago, he knew she’d shared all these stories to keep from telling him more about her.
“Nothing from Papa yet?” he asked.
“Oh … he called when I used the bathroom at the gas station.” Her voice sounded almost guilty. “You’re to drop me off at the Chicago Executive Airport. It’s just a bit north. I’ve got directions. There’s a plane waiting to get me and the zip drive to Colorado where Papa and my parents will be waiting impatiently to hear my sass and humor, see my beautiful smile, and study the contents of the zip drive.” She smiled brightly.
Braden was back to tightly gripping the steering wheel. “And I’m coming with you?” He hated that he’d made that a question. His confident personality sometimes vacated the scene when he wasn’t certain if she even wanted him around or if she was pushing him away to keep her secrets safe.
“Papa said they identified the body at your house and the Navy and police are anxious to talk to you and provide security for you. You’ll be safe, but you probably shouldn’t let anyone know where you decide to stay until everything settles down and they figure out who tried to kill or kidnap you.”
“I’m not worried about me being safe.” Braden gritted his teeth. “I’m worried about you.”
“Ah, you sweet man.” She actually had the nerve to pat his knee like a little boy. “Don’t you worry that handsome head of yours about me,” she drawled the words out with a deep South accent. “I can keep myself safe. Excuse me I need to respond to this text from Papa.”
It was quiet in the vehicle while she texted, for what seemed to be a very long time. Her phone chirped and she told him, “Take the next exit.”
He took the exit and at the next stoplight turned to look at her and put it all out there, “Maddie. I’m worried about your emotional and spiritual health. I’m worried you’re going to ditch me and I’ll never see you again.”
She didn’t look at him. She hugged her arms around herself. “What’s meant to be will be,” she said softly. “Papa needs me in Colorado, and he needs you to shadow Admiral Seamons and anyone he associates with. The Delta secret and keeping King Frederick from it has to be our priority right now.” She finally glanced at him, her blue eyes begging. Begging for him to leave her alone, or to do the job Papa Delta needed him to do? “Please, Braden. I don’t want to ditch you, but this all happened pretty fast and furious. We both could use some time apart and see if these feelings for each other grow or fizzle.”
They wouldn’t fizzle for him. He knew it.
“We have to put our duties first right now,” she said.
The light must’ve turned green as someone honked behind him. He pulled forward, mulling over what she’d said. She didn’t want to ditch him. It had all happened fast, and he knew pushing her was not a great idea. Not with the issues she seemed to have. They drove for a while as he battled the need to be with her. Giving her space sounded like a horrible idea.
“I’ll give you the space you need,” he finally conceded. “I won’t like it, but I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.”
Silence filled the car as he tried to think how to tell her how serious he was about her.
“Turn left at the next light,” she said.
He nodded and made the turn. They drove for a while and finally he knew what he had to say. “Maddie, I will honor your request and give you space, but please know that none of what I’ve said to you has changed or will change. You are the most incredible woman in the world to me. I want to be close to you, protect you even though you don’t need me to, share our secrets, build a life together.”
She stiffened next to him but said nothing.
Braden drew in a steadying breath.
“Turn left at the next light,” she said quietly.
He got in the left lane.
“Crazy that Papa still doesn’t trust Seamons after the guy gave us the zip drive, took yet another bullet, and protected us.”
Braden tried to honor her redirection as he turned at the light. “I hope Admiral Delta learns to trust him. Admiral Seamons is a great man.”
“I hope you’re right about him,” she mused. “If not, that zip drive might be giving us the complete wrong information or putting the people who investigate the names or locations in danger.”
“I am right,” he insisted. “Seamons would never betray your grandpa or his country.”
He saw the airport entrance up ahead on the right and pulled into the other lane.
Neither of them said anything as he pulled into the parking lot.