My Spy (45 page)

“You're pushing. You promised that—”

“To hell with what I promised. We've had enough time to think about this, Annie. Speaking for myself, I'm crazy in love and I'd marry you tomorrow. If we were going to back out, we'd have done it by now.”

He pulled her against him and kissed her hard. When Annie was cross-eyed and breathless he pulled away. “Stop worrying about problems that may never happen. There are better ways to spend your time.”

She took a jerky breath, trying to clear her head. “I'm trying to protect both of us, don't you see?”

“I see perfectly. You're good at taking care of other people, but it's time you took care of yourself.”

“We can discuss it tonight.” Maybe then her heart wouldn't be climbing into her throat. “How's your leg?”

“I've got full range of motion back. They're going to put me
through a few more weeks of testing at Bethesda to check the partial knee replacement, and they want to do something to my shoulder. Thermal capsular shrinkage, they called it.”

“Must be a new technique.”

“Brand-new. They heat the ligaments surgically, then tighten them so my shoulder won't go out of place again.” Sam ran his thumb gently over her cheek. “Except for that, I'm tough as nails. The truth is, I've never felt so strong, and I owe that all to you.”

He looked strong, she thought. In fact he looked overwhelming. And if he kept doing that thing to her cheek, she'd forget how to breathe. Right now she had to keep her head and do what was right for both of them.

Even if it hurt terribly.

She turned away as the Renwick Gallery and the Old Executive Office Building flashed by. They passed a sweeping lawn, a fountain, dignified white columns, and then the limousine slowed.

Annie's breath caught.

She whirled, staring at Sam. “The White House? You wouldn't
possibly
arrange that without telling me.”

“Not the White House. He was there last month.” Izzy didn't bother to conceal his pride. “I hear he made quite an impression.”

“You
were
?”

The SEAL shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “It was no big deal. I wasn't going to make a fuss about it. A lot of people were there.”

Behind him Izzy raised five fingers.

Annie tried to digest this new piece of information as the Ellipse faded behind them. “So where
are
we going?”

“You'll see. It's right around the corner.”

Annie watched ghouls and goblins race along the sidewalks, waving bags that would soon be heavy with treats. If they
weren't headed to the White House, then where? What could be more important than an official reception at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

A Navy function? A press conference?

She knew Sam hated protocol and formality almost as much as he hated trying to take things easy. He'd never look forward to an evening of fuss and forced politeness.

She frowned as the limo slowed. The chauffeur opened the door.

Taylor was waiting, flanked by a distinguished, white-haired man in a uniform with even more medals than Sam had.

Leave it to Taylor to arrive on the arm of an admiral.

Taylor swung her omnipresent Louis Vuitton bag across the seat, then slid in, elegant as ever in spike heels and a little black suit. “I hope we didn't keep you waiting,” she said breathlessly. “Admiral Howe was just pointing out a possible plot complication for my next book, and we totally forgot the time.” She studied Annie with a critical eye, then nodded. “You look just right.”

“Just right for
what
?” Annie muttered. “Sam won't tell me a thing.”

Taylor smiled faintly. “You'll see.” She flicked the glittering silver charms, slanting a glance at Sam. “What did she say?”

Sam's frown was answer enough.

“I was just speaking with Admiral Howe about how nice it would be for you to have the ceremony at the White House.”

Annie felt her face go pale.

On the other side of the spacious interior, the admiral took a seat and looked at Sam, raising an eyebrow.

“Annie, I'd like you to meet my commanding officer, Admiral Ulysses Howe. Admiral, I'm pleased to introduce Annie O'Toole.”

The admiral took Annie's hand in a firm grip. “I feel like I know you already. Your sister told me about that prank you played on the senior girls' gym class.”

“What prank?” Sam looked interested.

Annie ignored the question. “Maybe you can tell me where we're going, Admiral Howe. It seems to be top secret.”

“I'm afraid my lips are sealed. This is Sam's event, and he's calling the shots.”

The limousine cruised into a turn, passing Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Napoleon, and an adult in a gorilla suit. “Washington as usual,” Admiral Howe murmured. “Evil, egotism, and monkey business wherever you look.” He smiled at Annie. “But we won't talk about that. I hope you're enjoying your accommodations, Ms. O'Toole.”

“Everything is lovely. If the hotel keeps sending me roses, I might never leave.”

Izzy cleared his throat.

Admiral Howe fought a smile.

“What?” Annie looked from one man to the other.

“The roses aren't from the hotel,” the admiral said carefully.

“But I thought—” Annie glanced at Sam. “Why didn't you tell me?”

Sam looked at her, his heart in his eyes. “I was getting around to it, but we kept getting interrupted.”

“You sweet idiot,” she said lovingly.

“Macho idiot hero,” Izzy corrected as Annie touched Sam's cheek tenderly.

Admiral Howe nodded. “Did you ask her yet?”

Sam looked up, blinking. “I, uh—”

“Speak up, son.”

“I was trying to,” Sam said grimly. “Then things started getting crowded in here.”

The admiral's eyes narrowed. “Why wait until you were in the car?”

“Only way I could be sure she wouldn't run away.”

Annie felt her face flush. Did
everyone
know that Sam was pushing her to marry him—and that she couldn't come up with an answer?

“Forgive me, Ms. O'Toole,” the admiral said gruffly. “I'm old, rude, and stubborn. Sometimes I forget that people need to live their own lives.” His gaze drifted for a moment, fixed through the windows on a place that seemed far away from Washington and their polished limousine.

Thanks to Sam and Izzy, Annie now knew something about the events leading up to the attack at the Navy's safe house in the mountains. That explained the sadness she saw in the ad-miral's eyes.

After a long silence, he seemed to pull himself back. “It's good to have you back, Commander.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Have you given any thought to that matter we discussed?”

“I'm considering it, sir.”

“Take as long as you need.” The admiral's eyes narrowed. “Which means you have three more days to make up your mind.”

“I'll keep the matter in mind, sir.”

Annie frowned. Why did Sam look so thoughtful?

The limousine slowed in front of an old three-story brick building. Beyond the small circular drive, Annie saw broad steps packed with children in navy uniforms.

“I don't understand.” She leaned closer to the window. “This looks like a school. Who are those children smiling and waving?”

“They're
my
kids,” Sam said gruffly.

As the children rushed toward the car, Annie's amazement grew. She watched Sam's whole face light up, wreathed in the broadest of smiles. These were the children whose lives he'd saved on the school bus, she realized. They were more important than a Navy press conference or a private dinner at the White House.

His
kids.

Emotion left her throat knotted as she stared at him, fiercely proud.

She trusted this man completely. But how could she trust herself? The things she felt were too new, full of racing highs and jittery lows. Annie's life had always been scheduled, planned, with her resort taking all her focus. Now Sam had turned that careful core inside out.

Annie stifled a sigh.

Every time she looked at Sam, her heart skittered painfully.

Giving him up was going to be the hardest thing she'd ever done.

S
URROUNDED
BY
SCREAMING
CHILDREN, SAM
ESCORTED ANNIE
UP the steps. He stopped often to grip a hand or press a shoulder. Twice he stopped to wipe away tears of a crying, overwrought child.

Annie felt her own eyes start to blur. He could be a politician, she thought, except campaigning would be sheer torture for him.

Inside the school more children surged out of classrooms, followed by their beaming teachers. The building was old, with high ceilings and small windows, but every inch was scrubbed and gleaming. Sam's discomfort seemed to vanish as he moved purposefully through the rows of clapping schoolchildren.

Admiral Howe chuckled as he moved beside Annie. “I do believe that man could be president if he wanted. I've been told his appeal to female audiences has gone right through the roof.”

Annie frowned.

“Of course, we both know that running for political office is the
last
thing Commander McKade would ever consider.”

Annie's frown eased just a little.

“I think he'd prefer having a few broken bones.” The admiral paused. “Of course, with an attractive physiotherapist like
you
to keep him in line …” He stepped in front of Annie, bringing her to a halt. “So are you going to marry the man or not?”

Annie felt her face fill with heat. “I haven't—that is, we both need more time. It's not something to rush into.”

“Don't take too long, my dear. I know you've got two careers to deal with, and no, it won't be easy. You're two smart, stubborn people and there are bound to be sparks.” He looked off into the sunlight for a long time. “When you lose someone close, you understand how precious time is and why it's a crime to waste it. So do us all a favor and marry the man. If you don't put him out of his misery, he'll be no use to me,” he said gruffly. “You'll laugh and you'll fight. You'll hurt when he's gone and you'll worry that he's in danger.” His voice hardened. “But that man over there will make it worthwhile, Ms. O'Toole. Men just don't come any finer than that.”

Annie turned, following his eyes. Sam was on one knee, gravely accepting a bouquet of misshapen paper roses from a little girl with gapped teeth and crooked pigtails.

The children began to clap. Through a blur of sound, Annie heard the admiral's echoing words.

Do us all a favor and marry the man.

Heaven knows, part of her wanted to.

But another part of her was huddled weak-kneed in a corner, frozen with fear. Marriages didn't last today, not even those with perfect odds. And Annie didn't want to fail, not with something as precious as Sam's love.

Why couldn't they just go on as they had, exchanging silly notes, talking too long on the phone, meeting whenever they could? That way was safer. That way no one could get hurt.

Marriage was too big, too permanent, and a good way to get hurt.

The clapping grew thunderous as the school principal escorted Sam into a classroom where pictures covered every available surface.

In crayons, paint, and markers, the children had captured the SEAL as he'd looked when he'd been publicly released from
the hospital in Bethesda. Other pictures showed Sam receiving a medal from Admiral Howe, Sam on
Good Morning America
, Sam on
Oprah.

Annie swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump in her throat.
Put him out of his misery or he'll be no use to me.

She watched Sam sit down in the middle of a big rug, ringed with children who stared up at him in awed silence. He blinked, just a little, as a teacher handed him the pile of getwell cards they had made right after the accident but been unable to send, not knowing where he was.

“They're still frightened, you know.”

Annie looked up at Izzy. “Why? He's fine. Thanks to the surgery, he might even be stronger than he was before the accident.”

“You and I know that, but these kids still aren't sure. He almost died saving them and they saw every brutal second. Their teacher tells me they thought he was dead, and nothing anyone said would change that. They thought the grown-ups were hiding the truth to protect them, so now they just want to see him up close, to touch him and be sure he's really okay.” His mouth worked for a moment. “Lots of them still have nightmares about that bus ride.”

Annie understood that. She still had some nightmares of her own after that firefight on the mountain. How much worse for a child who didn't understand. Fair or not, these kids felt responsible for Sam's injuries and needed to know he was safe.

Her throat tightened as Sam bent down and tugged a small boy with untied sneakers onto his lap. Another boy wriggled up beside them, pressing a stuffed lion into Sam's hands. They were joined by two little girls with a plateful of homemade cookies.

“He's as good as they get,” Annie whispered. “Those kids know that.”
So do I.

“But you meet everyone in your line of work.” Izzy shrugged.

“Real A-list people. Football heroes. Movie stars. Plastic surgeons and billionaires. Compared to them, Sam's just a regular, average—”