F-Stop (35 page)
Authors: Desiree Holt
“You look good enough to eat.” His hands bracketed her waist. “In fact, I might do just that.”
“Idiot,” she laughed. “We have company coming. Didn’t you just say they’d be here any minute?”
“Spoilsport. I’ll make you pay for it later.”
“Promises, promises,” she teased as she eluded him and climbed up onto the deck.
When they’d finally gotten clear of the FBI, the DEA and a few other alphabet agencies, they’d spent the past two weeks tying up loose ends. Except for a brief period, Mike had been with her every minute. Coddling her. Babying her. Making sure she was okay. He hadn’t officially asked her to marry him yet. Hadn’t said the words. But she wasn’t worried. They both knew where things were headed and she was sure it would happen when the time was right.
She’d tried to object when he insisted on paying off the lease on her condo in Tampa and putting everything in storage temporarily.
“I’m not letting you get away this time,” he kept saying. “I learned my lesson the last time and it was painful, believe me.”
His own condo had never been more than a place to change clothes and looked as if a delivery van had thrown up in it. So for the moment they were staying on his boat docked in Chesapeake Bay, getting ready to leave for a week on the water. Then they’d decide where they were going to live. He had, however, gotten a commitment from her to join Phoenix’s Psi department, with the details to be worked out.
Eli Wright had insisted everyone, including Mari, get counseling to help them deal with what had happened. And he would cover the cost of it. Luckily he’d suffered no internal injuries, just the cracked ribs Troy had diagnosed. While painful, they certainly weren’t life-threatening. He wanted to take Sydney to a plastic surgeon to see what he could do about the scar she was sure to have on her face but she absolutely refused.
“It will remind me never to take anything for granted again,” she told him, “or get too complacent.”
Lissa, who had held up remarkably well, had finally had her meltdown but working with the counselor was doing her a lot of good.
Kat had also spent three days with Mari while Mike was off taking care of some obligation with The Phoenix Agency. Her sister had miraculously come through the situation with minimal trauma except for the finally fading bruise on her head and a lingering minor headache. But she’d been checked out and the doctor had said she was doing very well. So they’d spent three days together doing girl things and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Today Mike’s partners were going to join them for lunch so they could all catch up on everything. The married ones were bringing their wives and Kat had insisted the Latrobes bring the wonder dog, Xena. Mike had ordered the food from the restaurant at the end of the pier where the boat’s slip was, along with plenty of champagne to celebrate recent successes and happy occasions.
When Kat climbed the short stairway to the deck, the Phoenix group was already halfway down the pier, having elected to arrive together. Kat recognized the men who had risked their lives to save Mari and the Wrights.
And Faith, of course.
A slender woman shorter than Faith, with sun-streaked brown hair and a pixie face.
Another woman slightly taller than Faith with a well-toned body and a long braid of burnished red hair that hung down her back.
And beside her, trotting obediently, the massive black and white Xena the Wonder Dog, the Caucasian Ovcharka with Psi abilities.
They climbed the short ladder to the deck, Xena taking it in one great leap. Once they were all onboard, the men and Faith hugged Kat and Mike. Dan and Rick introduced their wives. As Kat looked at all of them, she saw such love and affection passing between the married couples she felt her throat tighten with emotion. Would she and Mike be able to achieve that?
Xena sat down on the deck between Kelly and Rick but her eyes were focused on Kat.
Kelly grinned. “Hold out your hand. I promise she won’t knock you over.” Kat extended one hand, the dog lifted a paw and placed it in her palm. Kat smiled and shook it. “Pleased to meet you, Xena.”
“She has a particular affinity for people with psychic abilities,” Kelly told her.
“We’re building a kennel behind the new house and I’m going to breed Ovcharkas, then train them for special individuals.”
“That sounds exciting.”
Rick squeezed Kelly’s shoulder. “Everything about her is exciting.” The tall redhead blushed and punched his arm playfully.
They all arranged themselves around the table, which had been set on deck. Mike pulled one of the bottles of champagne from the cooler, filled everyone’s glass and lifted his own.
“I have several toasts to make today,” he began. “First, to my partners, my brothers in arms, there are no others like you. I am blessed to have found you.” Everyone raised their glasses to take a sip of the bubbly liquid. Kat noted the men’s faces tighten with an emotion as strong as that between the couples.
“Next,” he continued, “to the wonderful Faith Halloran, for everything she did on this last chaotic episode to help the woman in my life.” He lifted his glass first toward Faith, then Kat.
The woman in his life?
Again the same feelings swept over her.
“I’m saving my last toast until after we get all the news on the table. So. Dan, you’ve been to Washington twice and also met with Eli Wright. You have the floor.” Dan tossed back the last of the champagne and set his glass on the table.
“Okay. Long story short. The FBI is trying to keep from having egg on its face, although not all the egg belongs to them.”
“What do you mean?” Kat asked.
“They would do a lot of things differently if they weren’t hamstrung by some of this country’s political policies. Not being able to go into Mexico once they knew that’s where the hostages were was a bad thing. It pissed off a lot of people.” One corner of his mouth kicked up in a grin. “Not the least of whom was our good friend Anthony Delaware. Then you have to factor in the San Diego office and you’ve got another bunch of unhappy people.”
“So how did you all resolve it?” Troy wanted to know. “I’ve been unavailable and unreachable so I know less than anyone here.”
“We’re going to keep Phoenix out of this and let the Feds take credit for the rescue without giving out any details. Then we’re going to bury the whole thing.”
“Which doesn’t make Eli Wright any too happy,” Mark put in. “Dan and I have met with him three or four times and that is one pissed-off dude.”
“But even he realizes we aren’t going to get anything by handing this to the media or making huge waves. It is what it is.”
“The good thing,” Mark added, “is that they’ve contracted with Phoenix to hire and train their security guards and put a whole new system in place. And he said he’d be happy to be a reference any time we need it.”
“But that doesn’t address what’s going to happen with the three Rips,” Faith said.
“What a group of slime bags.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Kat said, raising her glass and sipping from it.
“Right now they’re guests of the federal government,” Dan told her. “All the charges pending against them are federal charges. They just have to sort out which ones take precedence. The Department of Justice will be busy with this for a long time.”
“But won’t they just hire some high-priced lawyers and weasel out of it?” Mia asked. It was the first time she’d spoken since the recitation began.
Dan gave her a crooked grin. “They would if they could afford it. But the Feds have frozen all their assets, since so much of their money is tied up in the drug trade and money laundering. And the publicity surrounding them will be so negative, no one will want to touch it with a ten-foot pole just for the publicity value.” He shook his head.
“No, they won’t be seeing freedom for a long time, if ever. And remember, kidnapping carries the death penalty.”
“That’s their only bargaining chip,” Mark told them. “If they open up to the Feds and give them everything about Victor Herrera, the DOJ might take the death penalty off the table.”
“How’s your sister doing, Kat?” Faith asked.
“Much better than I expected. And Eli feels so guilty that she got caught up in it, he gave her a huge raise and moved her into a brand new condo building with top-of-the-line security.” She grinned at Mike. “Provided by you know who. I think she’ll be all right.”
“It’s just too damn bad Herrera gets off scot free,” Troy murmured.
“Not quite totally off,” Dan said. “The Feds shut down several areas of his operation including the money laundering, so he’ll take a big hit from this. And maybe the DEA can figure out a way to shut him down altogether.” Mia pushed her plate away and looked at Kat. “So, I understand you’ve agreed to be part of our new Psi department?”
“Whatever that means. I’m just honored to be included in it.”
“We’re trying to expand our resources,” Mia told her. “Would you consider setting up a testing project to screen for other remote viewers and bringing in someone you’d recommend to train them?”
Kat tried to tamp down the shiver of excitement. “I’d love to. And I know just the people I can contact to work with us. When can we get together and work everything out?”
“Faith and I are going to talk to Aunt Vivi about getting some of the trainers from The Lotus Circle to help with vision interpretations and expansion of telepathy too.
And Xena will be working with a local breeder to enhance the Psi abilities of the dogs and determine which dogs relate to which people.”
“Hold on a minute.” Mike held up a hand. “We have some other business to take care of first.” He uncorked another bottle of champagne and refilled all the glasses.
Then he looked down at Kat.
Her stomach did flip-flops at the look in his eyes. What was he up to now?
“First,” he said, “a toast to the Hallorans, the Latrobes and the Romeos for their unbelievably successful wedded bliss. A real inspiration to others.”
“You trying to tell us something?” Mark asked.
“That would be a yes,” he answered. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small box, set his glass down so he could open it and lifted out a solitaire diamond.
It was the most exquisite one Kat had ever seen. When Mike lifted her left hand and slipped the ring onto her finger, she had to struggle to breathe. All the air seemed to have left her lungs, yet her heart was beating fast enough to leap out of her chest.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m doing this in public so you’ll be too embarrassed to say no,” he teased. “Will you marry me, Kat? I screwed up once but I’ll never do it again.”
She could hardly get the words out, emotion clogging her throat and burning her eyelids.
“Go ahead,” Kelly said. “You owe it to the rest of the world to take him off the market.”
Mike’s gaze held Kat’s and what she saw in his eyes wiped away any lingering reservations she might have had.
“Yes. Oh yes, I’ll marry you.”
He lifted her from the chair to give him a better angle to press his mouth to hers in a scorching kiss. Everyone at the table clapped and whistled.
“We still have to talk about where we’re going to live,” he said when they finally broke for air. “And Kat will still be doing her remote viewing consulting in addition to working with us.”
“How about doing it through Phoenix?” Mia asked. “Now that you’ll be joining this great new Psi department, Kat, don’t you think it only makes sense to add the resources of the agency?”
She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “That sounds wonderful. I’d love to work with all of you, be able to use my gifts to help you with what you do. And draw on your resources to help the clients I bring in.”
Mike kissed her again but this time when they broke apart, she realized everyone else at the table was looking at Troy expectantly.
A look of horror crossed his face. “No. No way. Uh-uh. Mrs. Arsenault’s little boy is meant for the single life.”
“That’s what we all said,” Dan told him. He nodded at Mike. “Don Juan here fell the hardest. You can too.”
“Not in the plans,” Troy argued. “Not for me. I’m just saying, you know?” But Kat caught the eyes of the other women, all with the same idea.
Then Mike was kissing her again and she forgot to think about anything else.
About the Author
I always wonder what readers really want to know when I write one of these things. Getting to this point in my career has been an interesting journey. I’ve managed rock and roll bands and organized concerts. Been the only female on the sports staff of a university newspaper. Immersed myself in Nashville peddling a country singer. Lived in five different states. Married two very interesting but totally different men.
I think I must have lived in Texas in another life, because the minute I set foot on Texas soil I knew I was home. Living in Texas Hill Country gives me inspiration for more stories than I’ll probably ever be able to tell, what with all the sexy cowboys who surround me and the gorgeous scenery that provides a great setting.
Each day is a new adventure for me, as my characters come to life on the pages of my current work in progress. I’m absolutely compulsive about it when I’m writing and thank all the gods and goddesses that I have such a terrific husband who encourages my writing and puts up with my obsession. As a multi-published author, I love to hear from my readers. Their input keeps my mind fresh and always hunting for new ideas.
Desiree welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her
author bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com.
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