Kissing Mia should be far from his thoughts. He had to be careful that his feelings for her wouldn’t overwhelm him and make him miss something that would keep her safe.
ChapterTwelve
Mia was an emotional wreck, a twenty-vehicle pileup on the M25 motorway as they hurried through the cold air over to Joseph and Holly’s house. The fury at her father acting so horrific was overriding the beautiful feelings Zeke inspired, and that made her even more angry. She’d gone through emotional roller coaster after emotional roller coaster the past few days. Was it too much to ask to have her own father on her team? Did he even ruddy care about her? He wasn’t overly profuse in his love of his daughter, and they’d gone head to head often when she was a teenager, but to ask if she’d slept with Zeke and to act like every man clamored at her feet because she was some loose woman? It stung down deep that he would treat her like that.
They walked past Alivia, who was out on patrol. She was a tough lady. She lifted a hand to them but kept moving. Alivia and her husband Klein owned a successful construction business. Alivia had explained they had several homes in various stages of production right now, but usually they had over a dozen. Things had slowed down with interest rates being so high and the harsh winter in Colorado made every stage of the building process harder. But she and Klein didn’t mind things slowing down a bit as they were newlyweds and liked to spend time with Klein’s Granny Vance who had dementia.
Joseph and Holly walked into the house in front of them. “Give us a minute,” Zeke said. Joseph nodded and shut the door behind him. “Are you okay?” Zeke asked, his breath misting in the chilly air.
Mia stared up into his handsome face. Who would’ve thought this tough man could be so … sweet? Well, sweet was pushing it, but definitely considerate.
“I’m angry,” she admitted. “And embarrassed. I’m sorry he treated you like that.”
He shrugged. “I don’t care how he treats me. I’ve had Recruit Division Commanders and BUD/S instructors who make your dad look like a nice guy.”
She smiled. She wanted to ask him about his own father, but he kept going.
“I’m only worried about you.”
Blinking up at him, she could hardly believe how invested Zeke seemed to be in her. She felt like she knew and trusted him above any man she’d ever known. That should be crazy after such a short time, but he was the rock, the excitement, the safety, and the romance she needed in her life. He was happiness during the nightmare her life had become. He was the only bright spot she could see right now.
She flung her arms around his neck and pulled herself close. Zeke startled slightly, but then he settled, leaned in, and wrapped his arms around her back.
“Sorry. I know touch is hard for you and I’m so impulsive about it,” she said.
“It’s not hard for me to touch you.”
“Really?” She grinned. It felt fabulous to smile that cheekily. “I have an idea. For later. When we’re alone.”
“Really?” His voice got low and husky, and it sent her stomach tumbling. His hands trailed across her back, and she shivered. “Are you cold?” he asked with concern.
“Not with you close.”
He grinned, and then he lifted her off her feet and held her suspended in the air.
She cried out in delight. “I’m like an ankle-biter in your burly arms.”
He laughed and set her back down. She wondered if he’d kiss her, but he just smiled. “Even with everything going on … you make me happier than I’ve ever been, Mia.”
“I feel the same.” She wanted to beg him to know. Was this going to last? Was it just a quick fling for him or for her? From what she could tell, he didn’t have flings. She did. Her dad would be the first to say that she flitted from man to man. Her “flavor of the week,” he liked to call them. But she’d never felt like this about anyone. Never. She didn’t know how, and honestly she might not survive the week so it could be a moot point, but after this mess was through, she had to figure out a way to stay close to her Rambo.
The door opened behind them. “Okay, you two, we have some serious business,” Holly said.
Zeke smiled down at Mia. He bent low and whispered in her ear, “Whatever your idea is, I think I’ll like it. Maybe I’ll come up with my ownideas.”
She laughed, leaning into him, hoping he would like her idea and absolutely certain she would like his. There was still so much she didn’t know about Captain Zeke Hendrickson. She prayed she’d have time to learn it all. Despite their serious situation, he’d shown her a lighter side that enthralled her as much as his serious side.
They walked into the main area with Holly. Joseph was making himself a sandwich. There was a spread of sandwich ingredients on the counter and a pot of chicken noodle soup on the stove. Joseph and Holly’s house was so welcoming and warm.
Everyone made sandwiches and dished up soup. They told Mia some astonishing stories as they ate, about the Delta Protection Detail and how the deceased and awful dictator King Frederick who’d terrorized northeastern Europe late summer and early fall had been after some secret weapon that Papa Delta and the family had protected for years. They told her about how Papa Delta actually died, not at the hands of a kidnapper who he’d rescued Hudson from, but a mercenary trying to get the weapon and his two sharpshooters in the trees. It was all quite mad, but explained why the Delta family were so ruddy strong and why Zeke and his unit had come to the valley. The most interesting part to her was Zeke didn’t grow distant throughout the conversation. He participated and stayed close by her side.
After they finished eating and cleaned up, Zeke called his friend Chaos and the guy easily agreed to come to Summit Valley and stay with the Deltas for Christmas, if “Mama Delta” promised to make him cookies. Holly laughed and agreed. He had to find somebody to take over his flight instruction, but he should be there by tomorrow night.
Then they got down to business philosophizing about who the stalker might be, patterns of how he’d captured the other girls, what they needed to be on the lookout for. Zeke and Joseph separately contacted people they trusted in the military, government, and even some private security to check into Blaine, Thomas, Alden, anything their associates could find out about the Sneaky Stalker, and even checking into the rest of her father’s security guys. Even Charlie. Charlie surprised her. No way was that open and friendly chap someone they needed to worry about, but she supposed it was good to cover their bases.
She fell asleep on the couch at some point. Voices and dishes clanking woke her. It was dark outside. She looked up to find Zeke working on a laptop computer, her feet resting against his warm thigh muscles.
“Sorry.” She straightened and sat up, brushing her fingers through her hair. “If you don’t like touch, you probably hate somebody’s feet on you.”