Roberts, Sarah - Action Hero Junkie [Movieland] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (17 page)

Mia stuck out her tongue. Then she grinned at him. “You’re just jealous because I’m more macho than you are!”

Aiden quirked his brows. Laughter gleamed in his electric-blue eyes. He flexed his bulging biceps but didn’t say anything. Mia looked at him. He was gorgeous. His uniform was a little dusty, but he wasn’t rumpled and streaked with sweat and dirt like she was.

Mia knew she looked a fright. She thoughtfully scratched an insect bite on her arm as she shot a longing glance toward the exit. She really wanted a shower, being all sticky and sweaty and fragrant, but Aiden and she had been ordered to go directly in to see the general.

Mia pouted. She was a civilian. She had shower rights.

Aiden hadn’t missed that glance of hers. He eyed her sternly. “Come quietly, or I will put a stronghold on you, sweetheart.”

Mia grumbled but she went.

The general was waiting for them. He glanced at Mia’s streaked, dirty appearance, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he stared fiercely at her, his hands clasped behind his back. He rolled his unlit cigar between his teeth. “I want you to recount every detail of your capture and escape, Dr. Haven. Any detail could be of vital importance.”

“Yes, sir.” Mia resigned herself.
Report first. Shower second.
She decided to omit that she and Marti had been snatched out of a theater by on-screen goons. But she told the general everything else that she could remember.

When she told about the dramatic meeting with the commandant, she ignored Aiden’s low growl, and also his muttered curse when she described the fun-house torture room. She just kept pulling stuff out of her memory for the general. He asked questions here and there, which triggered more details that she hadn’t even realized she knew. She even told the general about counting the doors in the cell block corridor.

The general’s bushy eyebrows twitched upward. His hard eyes warmed with a gleam of approval. “Very good, Dr. Haven! That’s solid information we didn’t have.”

It didn’t take long for her to tell everything she knew about the cave and Cadero’s men. But the general grilled her for more details— like how many men had she seen, and what kind of weapons were they armed with, and could she find the cave again? He seemed a little disappointed that she couldn’t do better with her answers. At last, Mia just spread her hands helplessly. “I’m sorry, general. That’s as good as it gets.”

“All in all, you’ve done very well, Dr. Haven.” Then the general turned to Aiden. He bared his big teeth around his cigar, his expectation obvious. “All right, Smith! Tell me about this Cadero.”

While Aiden made his report, Mia played with one of the knives hidden under her sleeves. She caught a few odd glances tossed her way from the uniformed personnel, but she ignored them. Mia grinned to herself. A kickass mama, who could take down a bad guy with a knife thrown at the throat, didn’t care about the opinions of others. She was an action-movie
goddess! She could make or break her own rules. She rocked!

She sighed. She let her inner bravado sag into disgruntlement.
I stink and want a shower!

The general barked a few more questions, but she could see that he was pleased with Aiden’s report. He was smiling and rolling his cigar around between his teeth. “Well done! The attack will commence at 0500 tomorrow.”

For several minutes, Mia had been thinking hard, and not just about warm water and soap bubbles. She spoke up even though she felt a little sick to her stomach. Her thoughts hadn’t been Happy Meals. “General, I’d like an extra word with you.”

The general turned to her. She easily detected the impatience shading his expression. He was an important, busy man with important business to take care of, after all. However, he was polite. “Yes, Dr. Haven? What is it?”

“I volunteer myself as the medic for this mission.” Mia saw the surprise on the general’s face, and she straightened her shoulders. Mia discreetly slipped the knife back up her sleeve. She didn’t think it looked professional to be toying with it. Not when she was making a serious pitch. “I am experienced at triage, probably better than anyone you have on the hospital staff.”

“No!” Aiden’s bellow was explosive. He started forward. “General, sir—”

The general waved Aiden back. The general’s fierce old eyes, cold and speculative, locked squarely on Mia. “While I applaud your dedication, you’re a civilian, Dr. Haven.”

“Yes, sir, but I am a civilian who is known to Cadero and also to your people. I feel that I am uniquely qualified, sir.” Mia could feel her heart beating fast. She wanted the general to say yes so badly. She didn’t look directly at Aiden, but she could see him out of the corner of her eye, and he didn’t appear happy. Correction—he looked furious.

The general nodded thoughtfully. “You have made some valid points, Dr. Haven. In addition, as you are temporarily attached to the base field hospital, it will not disrupt the regular hospital staff routine to move you into the slot.” He rolled his cigar between his teeth. “Very well, Dr. Haven! You will be the acting field medic on this mission. Smith, dismissed!”

“Thank you, sir.” Mia smiled gratefully at the general.

“Thank you, general, sir!”

It didn’t sound like Aiden was grateful.

While Aiden was still saluting, Mia turned on her heel and started walking quickly away. But she wasn’t quick enough. She heard rapid footsteps overtaking her and then felt a large hand circle around to tightly grip her upper arm. She was jerked to a stop.

Mia looked up, ready to blast Aiden. But whatever she was going to say shriveled under the fiery glare he leveled on her. Mia thought she actually heard his teeth grinding together as he growled at her. “We’re going somewhere we can
talk
, Mia.”

Before Mia could think of any really good excuse to avoid “the talk,” they had walked all the way to Aiden’s quarters. As soon as they were inside, Aiden pulled Mia around, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her.
“What the hell are you thinking, Mia?”

Mia twisted loose. She snarled back at him. “
Do not
manhandle me! I’m armed, and I’m cranky, and I know how to hurt you!”

Aiden threw his hands up into the air. He looked wild-eyed. “
Mia!
This isn’t a walk in the park that we’re talking about! This is a hazardous mission, a dangerous operation, a perilous task! You could be hurt! You might even be killed! Have you even thought about that?”

“Yes, I have! And ditto for you!”

He looked blank. “Well, yeah! But–but doing a mission—that’s my job!”

“And it’s my job to see that you don’t bleed out while you’re doing
your
job!” Mia folded her arms over her chest. She saw his gaze drop to the plumping movement of her breasts. She was outraged. “Aiden! Stop staring at my bosom! We’re having a disagreement, remember?”

Aiden’s gaze shot back up to her face. His cheekbones flushed. “I know what we’re doing! I won’t allow you to put yourself in jeopardy, Mia! That’s my final word!”

Mia stared at him.
He did not just say that. He did not just go Neanderthal!
She realized her jaw had dropped, and she snapped it back up. “You won’t
allow
me? Is that what you said, soldier boy?” She advanced on him and poked a finger into his chest. He didn’t even wince, of course. “You won’t
allow me?
Since when do I have to ask your permission for anything? I’m a grown woman. I’ve been making my own decisions. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time!”

“Taking care of you is my job now,” he said quietly. His electric-blue eyes were heated with certainty, but he was frowning at her, like he knew he was missing something.

Mia shook her head. She could see that he didn’t get it. She felt herself starting to shake inside. “No, Aiden, it isn’t. Not if you think you’re going to dictate to me. Not if you think you’re the only one who has a right to make decisions.” Her throat was closing up, and she barely got out the last part. “
Not if you think I’m just a freaking job!
”

He looked shocked. “Mia! I don’t think of you like that!” He reached out for her.

Mia batted away his hands and quickly stepped back out of his reach. “No, Aiden! This can’t be fixed with a rub and a tickle.” She backed up some more.

He looked confused and worried. He eyed the increased distance between them and then looked back up at her face. “Uh, Mia?”

“I’m going to bed! Alone!” Mia spun and ran into the bedroom and slammed shut the door. Her chest hurt, and her eyes ached from unshed tears. She covered her face with her trembling hands.

Mia bent over, gasping for breath. What had she just done?
The Breakup. Le Divorce. Phantom of the Opera.
Cold slid down her spine. She was suddenly very, very afraid. Action flicks had happy endings. Chick flicks didn’t. She was a chick, and her flick had flopped big-time.

She half wished that Aiden would come barreling through the door. She straightened. She waited, standing still in the middle of the bedroom, watching the door. But it didn’t open. She heard quiet, rustling sounds and then some creaking. She realized that what she was hearing was a heavy weight settling onto the sofa.

Aiden wasn’t going to follow her. He was going to sleep on the sofa.

Listlessly, Mia pulled off her clothes and dragged herself to the shower. Under the hot spray of water, the dirt ran down the drain, but the black cloud hanging over her didn’t. She toweled off and crawled into the bed. After she lay down, she pulled Aiden’s pillow into her arms. Mia buried her face in it. She could smell his masculine, musky scent on the pillowcase.

She cried herself to sleep.

* * * *

Aiden lay on the hard sofa, his muscular arms crossed under his head. Scowling, he stared up into the dark at the ceiling. He couldn’t wrap his head around what had just happened. What
did
happen? He and Mia had been talking, and all of a sudden she had blown up!

He had a right to be upset. She shouldn’t have volunteered for the mission. He brushed aside the established fact of her bravery and her medical qualifications. He knew all that. He just couldn’t endure the thought of her being in danger. He wanted her to be safe. That’s all. How could that be wrong?
But Mia is Mia. I can’t hold her back. I don’t want her to change!

He heard the shower go on and then heard it shut off. A few minutes later, he heard a whimpering, sobbing kind of sound. The hairs stood up on the nape of his neck. He jerked up from the sofa, ramming his bare feet to the floor. Then he just sat there, making helpless fists out of his hands on his tight, bunched thighs.

He couldn’t go to her.

Aiden set his elbows on his knees and dropped his head, running his hands over his short hair. She had made it clear. She didn’t want him.
It’s killing me.

He heaved a huge sigh. Slowly, he rotated his body, easing back down flat on the sofa, and settling his legs on the stiff cushions. Hundreds of memories of Mia, and of being with her, flashed one after the other through his mind. Aiden smiled to himself. His friend Caesar had gotten it wrong. Whatever time he and Mia had together, whether their relationship went on or it ended now, it had all been worth it.
No matter what happens, I don’t regret one minute!

And suddenly he realized something. Mia had been trying to tell him that they were equal partners. They shared safe times, and they shared dangerous times. Nothing mattered except that they shared them together.
That doesn’t mean I’m not still mad at her for volunteering for this mission!

Mia had been marked. She was too well-known to the enemy. That was what was bothering him so much. Even as a medic, she would be a prime target.

Usually he slept like a baby before a mission. He didn’t think he’d get much sleep that night. The air was cool against his nude body. He wished that he was wrapped around his warm woman.

* * * *

The dull roar of the helicopter enclosed them all. The troops sat on the hard benches on either side of the airship. They had black camo streaked over their faces, they had guns, and they were all waiting to jump into battle. Mia was deathly afraid. Adrenaline buzzed through her. One of her knees was jumping up and down all by itself.

Over the noise of the helicopter, Aiden shouted into his communication unit. “I’ve gotten word, Mia. Marti has been retrieved.”

Mia closed her eyes and nodded. She felt enormous relief. At least that part had gone right. “Thank you, Aiden.”

He pulled off his comm. unit and put his mouth close to her ear. “
I wish you weren’t here!
”

Mia glared at him. She didn’t take off her own communication unit. She didn’t care who overheard her. “I’m the medic, remember? I’ve been assigned to this mission, too!”

Aiden just looked at her. He put his comm. unit back on. Stoniness settled over his features. His chiseled lips were clamped tight. He didn’t have to say anything. Mia figured he was thinking about how she had made her case with the general. Their first really big argument. It hadn’t ended in make-up sex, either. Misery weighed her down.

Aiden was still staring at her, but he didn’t look angry anymore. His locked gaze looked sad. Mia sniffed.
I am not going to cry.
She turned away from the intensity in his baby blues. She couldn’t face him anymore.