Page 61 of The Hero
He watched as she did her best to smooth out the wrinkles and looked around for something to pin it to the wall.
“There’s a bowl of tacks on my dresser,” Kendric said.
Marlowe laughed. “Do I dare ask why?”
“No.”
She chuckled again. She really didn’t care why her husband had a random bowl of thumbtacks in his bedroom. Picking up a red one, she pointed to an empty space above the headboard. “There?”
“Perfect.”
She didn’t think twice about putting a small hole in the document. Later she’d get it framed, and the hole would add just a little more character to the already ragged document.
“Perfect,” Kendric said. “Now, come to bed.”
He held out a hand, and Marlowe hesitated for only a beat before reaching for the hem of the T-shirt she had on. It had a silhouette of Bigfoot with a mountain next to him and the wordMAINEin big block letters underneath. It had made her smile when she’d seen it in the gift shop, and she hadn’t been able to resist.
She dropped it onto the floor and shoved the scrub pants over her hips. She wasn’t wearing a bra. She’d tossed the prison-issue bra while still in Cambodia, and she didn’t really need one anyway. When she climbed under the covers next to her husband, he immediately turned onto his side and gathered her into his arms. They both sighed with contentment.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep without you ever again,” he murmured into her hair. “Before meeting you, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t wake from a nightmare. It’s a miracle.You’remy miracle.”
Marlowe didn’t bring up how he’d screamed for her on the plane, or in that farmer’s barn in Cambodia. She didn’t like remembering thedesperation she’d heard in his tone. If it helped him sleep, she’d spend every night for the rest of her life right where she was.
“Welcome home, Punky,” he said softly.
She sighed with contentment. Shewashome. For most of her adult life, she’d felt as if she were a dandelion seed blowing in the wind. Not having a place to settle, always going with the flow, from one job to another. But being in Maine, with Kendric ... it was like she was finally where she was meant to be.
She felt his lips on her temple and smiled, snuggling into him even more. Having his bare skin on hers felt divine. Made her think about their tryst in that barn in Cambodia. Made her remember how he’d felt inside her. How he’d made her come.
She wanted that again. But for now, she reveled in the feeling of being safe. And loved.
Chapter Twelve
Bob felt almost like his old self again. The past week and a half had been spent getting to know Marlowe without the pressure and stress of being fugitives on the run. They’d slept in, watched TV, visited with their friends, and spent three days with her brother, who’d shown up the day after they’d arrived in Newton.
It was obvious how close brother and sister were. They’d heard Tony’s side of how terrified he’d been when he’d learned of Marlowe’s imprisonment, and how he’d done everything legally possible to get her out. When that hadn’t worked, he’d turned to Gregory Willis. Apparently, the FBI agent had seen the advantage of Tony owing him a favor in the future. And, coincidentally, Willis also had a friend who’d been incarcerated for political reasons in Beijing in the past, and it had taken two years of negotiations to get him home. Turns out, he was especially sensitive to someone being locked up abroad for something they didn’t do.
The reunion between Tony and Marlowe was emotional, and everyone who’d witnessed it—basically all Bob’s friends, who’d also been visiting at the time—had been thoroughly moved.
The atmosphere changed a bit when Tony found out that Marlowe and Bob had gotten married while overseas.
The man wasn’t happy at first, assuming Bob had taken advantage of his sister’s desperate situation. Bob had managed a few minutes to sit down with him privately and reassure him that in no way would he everhurt his sister. That Marlowe was his first priority. His sincerity must’ve gotten through to the man, because when he left to go back to his job and family in DC, he’d shaken Bob’s hand and told him to look after Marlowe. It felt like approval, which meant the world to Bob.
His stitches had already been removed, and while he was stiff and a little sore, and still needed to take the antibiotics he’d been prescribed for at least another ten days, he felt pretty damn good.
Marlowe was putting on some of the weight she’d lost, with the help of Carlise, June, and April. The three ladies had been awesome, coming over every day, bringing delicious meals, then staying to get to know Marlowe. Watching her click with his friends’ women had made a warm feeling bloom deep inside Bob. He wanted everyone to get along, because if they did, the chances that maybe Marlowe would want to stay increased. And Bob really wanted her to stay.
He hadn’t talked to her about Ian yet, but after a conference call with Tex, he knew it was time. Tex had finally found a post on a dark web auction site for the coins Ian was trying to sell, and it seemed there were some interested buyers. He’d also informed Bob and his friends that Ian was still in touch with a couple of locals who were on the dig in Thailand.
Without having to be told, Bob knew that meant someone could mention Marlowe’s escape to Ian—if they hadn’t already. And that would make the man justifiably nervous.
Marlowe needed to be brought up to speed, so she could watch her back and have a say in what happened next.
He hated to bring up bad memories, as it seemed she was settling into life here in Newton extremely well, but it had to be done. He just hoped the news wouldn’t scare her back to her family in DC.
The more time Bob spent with Marlowe, the more hewantedto spend with her. And it wasn’t about sex, although he was looking forward to getting the all clear from his doctor to make love to her again.
No, it was about waking up with her snuggled next to him. About teaching her how to cook, and laughing together when her attemptswere complete failures. It was about watching Marlowe get to know his friends and their women, and seeing her blossom with her newfound freedom.
