Holiday Op

Chapter Three

The cake tasted heavenly!

Strawberries layered with cream and frosting, delicate, spongy ladyfingers coated with candied sauce, held on a base of angel food cake, and surrounded by white chocolate icing. The man made a great choice. This was a perfect dessert.

Her mouth was on yum overload, and her senses could only feel one thing. Pleasure.

Halfway through the second piece, the delight began to give way to heaviness, and by the time she was three-quarters through, Kathryn Marie couldn't go on.

Pushing the plate aside, she put her head down on the table and wept.

The poinsettia was on the small table and she couldn't help thinking about all the loneliness and loss in her life. When she could take no more, she lifted her head. Picked up the plate, washed it, and then tucked the rest of the cake safely away.

A stray thought fumbled through her brain. Maybe she'd invite him over later.

That gave her pause. Did she like him? Yes. There was a sensibility-a warmth and generosity of heart. Her hormones kicked her. There was the chemical attraction too.

Walking over to her easel, she picked up a fresh piece of paper, secured it to the board, and looked over her paints. The one she wanted, blue, was all gone. If she really wanted more, she'd need to go to the store. She did have work commitments to keep. There was the piece she had to do for the Children's Ward at Scripps Green and the pencil studies for the Liver Transplant Art Auction.

The clock read noon. She needed to work. There was an entire day to get through and she was a woman of her word, especially when it came to commitments.

Routine would be the only thing that could keep her frightened and grief-stricken thoughts away. Slipping back into the clothes she had previously discarded, she felt ready to go. Grabbing her purse and keys, she locked up tight and headed for her car.

Maybe she'd buy a present for Devin.

An emotional pang hit her. Even this was hard.

Her sister had helped her pick out the Jeep when they were in high school. Granted, it had seen better days, but it still had the base stickers and all the usual growing up bumper stickers of support on it. GO NAVY! HONK IF YOU LOVE SEALS! KISS ME I'M SCOTTISH! Well, that one was partially scratched out. Boys had actually kissed her and her father hadn't been thrilled. Never make a Navy man mad. They have a multitude of modes, but their thoughtfulness and action could blow your socks off.

She smiled. Okay, there were too many good memories not to get lost in.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. A man in a gray SUV, whose eyes were focused on Kathryn Marie's actions, gave her the heebie-jeebies.

Jumping in her car, she hurriedly locked the door, clipped the belt, and turned the engine over. Shoving the Jeep into gear, she peeled out, but the SUV that had been so close to her apartment followed her.

Leading the driver on a merry chase, she drove through all of Coronado's favorite speed traps, but no cops were there to take the bait.

Fear laced into her like cold spikes. She didn't want to drive to a store and embroil a friend, or go where she would have to force someone to listen to her. What she wanted was someplace safe!

Her hands were turning the wheel. Mind and body finally shared the message, but she knew the direction she was going. They were heading to the Amphibian Base.

Devin hated leaving her. But it was work and as much as he bent the rules, he'd never break them. Respect for what one did came from who one was. That was a Dad-ism. He had a ton of them rattling around in his head.

He was glad he'd insisted she program his cellular number in her phone. With good reason, she was upset and he wanted to be there for her. It was a good sign she was willing to accept his help. Liking this woman, however big or small the complications, was worth it. That wasn't something he'd felt with other women. Kathryn Marie was special.

There was a creative quality that appealed to his soul and then there was the philanthropic aspect. His mom had been like that, and he admired her giving ways. On top of that, his heart had kicked him. She'd really caught his eye. He'd felt it in her art the first time he'd seen it in her sister's office. In person, the volume of that passion was louder and more tangible. Coupled with the fact she was a SEAL pup, there was a solid platform for building forward.

Man, he was thinking Big Picture-marriage, children, and the future. Holidays spent together, forevermore. The realization didn't startle him. On the contrary, suddenly it felt right.

Rolling up to the gate, he presented his ID. The guard saluted him, and Devin drove his Porsche through. It bumped over the lethal tire blades groove, and he drove the requisite 25 mph through the base. When he reached the EOD building, he pulled into a slot and killed the engine.

Time to work. He was ready.

The key to being successful in any discipline-know the science and the mechanics inside and out. Understanding how something works and why provides an opportunity to improvise if a variation or unknown variable were to come along.

Devin could roll with the punches. It definitely made life more interesting. Especially, when the woman-you-want-to-date shows up at work.

He opened the door of his classroom and stepped out into the hallway of the stark, utilitarian building. He looked left, then right, before spotting her standing at the far end by the door, beneath the exit sign; her back to the wall.

One of the men had come into his class and told him she was waiting outside in the hall. Devin had gone to full alert in a heartbeat. “Kathryn Marie?” He was moving before he was even aware. His buddies and the entire class had followed. Hey, he couldn't fault them. He hadn't ordered them to stay.

The door opened and Kathryn Marie's knees grew weak with relief as she saw Devin step through and turn toward her.

Her fingers still hurt from holding the steering wheel so tightly. Now, she was wringing them-she had to calm down. She took a step toward him, and another. And then he was there in front of her.

"Are you okay, Kathryn Marie?"

Squeak! Her eyes flew wide and her heart dropped as she saw the man who'd followed her come through the door at the other end of the EOD facility's hallway.

Devin was an immovable object. “Heard you were no longer a consultant for the D.C. Police Department. Something about not following protocol and interfering with an expert at a sensitive juncture-"

"Damn hotshot!” Blicksen mumbled under his breath. “I knew what I was doing. You should have let me do my job and take charge. Why couldn't you just shut up and take orders?” Blicksen's face darkened. “All I needed you to do was take the freaking steps I asked."

Man, this guy didn't let anything go

Devin stayed calm. “How many hours have you logged with IEDs and where were you trained in bomb disposal? This is my job and my life. I was given the task and I did it well.” He leaned his head slightly forward. “If I hadn't, you'd be dead and so would most of the people on that block."

"Son of a-"

Leaning back out of reach of a fairly amateur swing, Devin nodded to a buddy of his. “It's time to go, Blicksen. This is a government facility and you haven't been invited to this party. Your ID will only get you so far.” He wasn't going to make the mistake of mixing it up, fighting again. It was proper channels all the way.

"I need to speak to Miss Pente.” Blicksen remained adamant. “Now."

Devin glanced back at Kathryn Marie. “Then you can do it right here. In front of all of these witnesses, don't give me a load of bullcrap about it being official business, because I received a message from my CO that you are no longer associated with any law enforcement agencies. Remember, I mentioned that when you first came in."

"Fine.” Blicksen was practically on fire, his emotion read so loud. Finally, he seemed to swallow his anger and his voice became more rationale. “My girlfriend likes Miss Pente's paintings, and I want to ask her to do a commission, as a Christmas gift and…"

"For this you followed me around and scared me half to death!” Kathryn Marie cried. Now, she was pissed. “Why not call my gallery or go on the Web site and e-mail my agent? There are normal channels of communication."

Blicksen looked at his shoes. Reaching around, he put his hand on the door. With one look back, he said, “This is important.” He looked past her. “I could be pressing charges on your boyfriend here-for hitting me."

"I could have pressed the point you allowed a civilian into a secure scene. I bet your violation would outweigh mine.” Devin glared at Blicksen.

Her words broke into the silence. “He's…” She couldn't say he wasn't her boyfriend. Because even though it had been such a short time, it felt like he was and she wanted him to be. Licking her lips, she contemplated the idea. Inwardly, she was glad he had struck this Blicksen character. There were deceptive qualities about him. But, what could she do to help Devin now? “Okay,” she said to Blicksen. “We can talk."

Every eye swiveled toward her. Devin's face was the most priceless, like he'd been kicked in the gut.

"Tell me what you need.” Her voice was flat and businesslike. She could be cool, and in front of all these people that's exactly what she would be. Professional.

"A winter rose, also known as the Christmas rose.” Blicksen reached in his pocket and extracted a picture of a lovely blossom.

Kathryn Marie took it and examined the photo. “Five thousand dollars.” Business was business.

Several of the men coughed, covering their smiles. But Blicksen wasn't daunted.

"Agreed. I need it in three days.” Looking at Devin, he said, “It's almost our anniversary, too."

Kathryn Marie wondered what kind of macho thing men had about women and possessions, but she was willing to help turn this situation around. It had been caused by her fear, and she'd jumped the gun-so to speak. With a little understanding, she'd created a happy ending. At least, she hoped she had.

"I'll call you when it's complete.” Kathryn Marie accepted the card he handed her.

Blicksen nodded, and left.

When the door finally closed, the hallway was empty save Devin and Kathryn Marie. Military men could be as stealthy as smoke.

"I'd like to be there when you give him the painting, if that's acceptable.” Devin stepped closer. Slowly, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. She didn't protest. “You scared me."

"Me, too,” she replied. “I'd like you to be there."

"I don't scare easily.” Lips caressed the edge of her ear as he held her. His voice had a deep tenor and it made her heart race.

Pulling back with an even slower pace than the one he'd used for reaching out to her, she looked him in the eye. Studying those rich blue pools, she could spend weeks exploring their depths. Then, she smiled, leaned in, and kissed him.

Sweetness. Hunger. Titillation. And, pure passion rose within her.

She wanted to strip him bare and spend weeks, months, and years getting to know him. Why now? Why hadn't she met him before?

"Fate,” he said. “Fate brought us together."

"What?” She was confused. Had she spoken aloud?

"I was thinking about what my mother would say if I told her that I met the woman I want to-"

"You were thinking of your mother when you kissed me?” He didn't strike her as a momma's boy, but one never knew. Kathryn Marie started to wiggle away.

He held firm. “When we kissed, only one thought went through my head. She's the one I want to know better."

She stopped pushing against him. “Go on."

"Never have I wanted to spend time with one particular woman. I didn't connect with them here,"-he pointed at his head, then his heart-"and, here.” Brushing his lips over hers, he said, “Until you came into my life."

Her reply was to nod and rub her lips along his. “What, no words? I bare my soul and you nod?"

She smiled. “Get to know me. You have my permission to learn about every part of me."

"That's a date, then.” His phone buzzed. “I have to go back to work."

"I'm going to buy paint, and then go home and work, too.” She kissed him one more time. “When's our date for?"

"Every night for the rest of our lives.” He winked, and then he was gone.