Page 58 of Unintended Love

He squeezed her against him and pressed into the kiss, deepening it as he hugged her even tighter.

Ashlin loved him. She’d said the words.

He loved her, too. He wouldn’t have married her back in Las Vegas if he hadn’t had feelings for her. During their video calls, his feelings had deepened as he’d gotten to know her better. Sometime in the last several days and nights together, she had filled his heart with something he’d never realized was missing.

Clint broke the kiss and stared into her beautiful, gold-green eyes. “I love you. I’ve always liked you and looked forward to holidays more because you’d be there. I fell in love with you during that wild time in Vegas. Those were two of the best days of my life. I have to be honest with you; I wasn’t that drunk the night we got married. If I didn’t have serious feelings for you, I would never have married you. That fun, crazy you who decided to wear a Betty Boop outfit instead of a traditional white wedding dress was the topper. I fell deeper in love with you during each video call. These past several days, I’ve seen another facet of your personality, as a team member and as a leader. I love that part of you, too. Ashlin Cartwright Riggs, I love you. All of you.”

He couldn’t tell whether he leaned down or she stretched up, but when their lips met in the middle, it felt right. Special because it was the beginning of something new. He could kiss her for the rest of his life. And could because she was his wife.

Ashlin finally broke the kiss. “I’m sorry, but I seriously need to sleep.” She gave him one quick kiss, then rolled onto her side, her back to his chest. Clint pulled the blankets over their fully clothed bodies and wrapped himself around her. She loved him.

“Clint,” she said without moving. “I wasn’t drunk either that night. I had switched to water before we went up the Eiffel Tower at Paris to watch the nighttime water show across the street at the Bellagio. I’ve liked you for years, especially after you were such a good sport when Xena and I beat you on the long range that Christmas Eve.”

He smiled, then whispered into her ear, “I let you win.”

“I know,” she said on a long exhale.

Her next breaths were slow and steady. She was asleep. Clint closed his eyes and inhaled her shampoo and body wash. He was asleep on his next breath.

Clint woke up at the sound of the wheels lowering. He wanted to lie in bed, holding Ashlin forever, but that wasn’t possible tonight. They both had jobs to do before they could lie down and get some serious sleep.

As soon as they landed, a little after three in the morning, Ashlin and Kira dashed out the door before the plane was attached to the tug. He wished he could have watched her operate since Van’s C5 was parked close to their hangar, but the windows were blacked out in combat mode.

Just over an hour later, Black Swan and their experimental helicopter were tucked side-by-side in the secure hangar. Everybody was dragging, ready to go to bed as they stepped out of the now-protected hangar. They passed armed guards without a word and trudged aboard a minibus, which drove them through the leaping base to what looked like a high-end hotel.

“Leave it to the Air Force to build their barracks based on the Waldorf-Astoria,” Kayla commented. “Before getting selected for JAFSOS, as a Marine, I slept in barracks that were older than my father.”

“I don’t know whether it’s true or not, but I’ve heard that the Air Force will build the barracks, family housing, commissary, and exchange as the first buildings on a new base, then they go back to the Pentagon and tell them they need more money so they can build the runways,” Mick offered.

“Shhh. Don’t tell our secrets,” Ashlin said jokingly. “But I will confess that the Air Force takes care of its people much better than what I’ve seen from the other services. Oh, by the way, the Air Force doesn’t have barracks; we have dorms like a college. It only makes sense because most of our airmen are college-aged.”

“The accommodations at the Riggs Corporation aren’t bad at all.” Dog smacked Clint on the shoulder as they exited the bus. “We live better in Ethiopia than on any Army base. Thanks for that, boss.”

“Good to know,” Clint admitted. His family had tried to make it as comfortable as possible for the troops to live in Ethiopia. Staying in a third-world country wasn’t easy but they tried to add as many American amenities as possible to make it feel like a home. They took on many missions because no one else would or could. They wanted their men relaxed the minute they got back to base camp. He suddenly wondered whether the Olympic-sized swimming pool would be completed by the time they returned home.

As the entire team dragged their butts into their temporary housing, Clint stopped in the foyer. The place looked more like a fraternity house than military barracks. The open concept included a large living room with a fireplace, several seating arrangements with televisions in each, and a game room that compared to an expensive arcade. At the far end was a fully stocked bar with several televisions hanging from the ceiling, rivaling any sports bar. Each area was decoratively separated by half-walls and open spindles in modern designs.

On the other side was a commercial-grade kitchen. A restaurant-sized subzero freezer and matching refrigerator sat next to what seemed like acres of marble counters that were coordinated with the blue-and-gray cabinets. Islands in the same stone as the countertops separated the galley from the dining room, which had actual dining tables like Clint’s mother had in her diplomatic houses.

He was flabbergasted at the luxury.

“This way, Ladies and gentlemen,” their military escort called from the elevators. “Starting tomorrow morning at zero eight hundred, the chef will be on duty.” He pointed toward the dining room. “Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served twenty-four hours a day. I was told that you will primarily be working at night, but he is capable of cooking to order.” He handed out room assignments, calling Clint and Ashlin last. “I understand the two of you are married, so I have assigned you one of the senior master sergeant’s suites. It has a king bed rather than a queen, unlike all the other quarters. Good night, sir and ma’am.”

Clint followed the MP to the outer door and then locked it. Ashlin had already started checking all the windows and other doors on the main level, closing the blinds and turning off the lights. Subtle lighting, such as dimmable overheads, was left on in case anyone needed to come into this area before the meeting time.

“Let’s call it a night,” Clint suggested when he met Ashlin in the middle of the room.

“I’m all for that.” She picked up her bags and headed to the elevators. “We have a briefing at nineteen hundred hours, but we’re not needed until then.” She looked up at him with tired eyes. “You won’t hate me if I sleep until then, will you?”

“Never. I’m going to be in bed right beside you.” He looked at the kitchen. “I wonder if they do room service?”

Chapter 23

Ashlin lay perfectly still on her stomach on top of a hill to the east of the terrorists’ camp, the way she’d been taught in sniper school. Through her thermal scope, it looked empty. The only heat signatures at all were coming from the hot spring, except the trickle of water that would eventually cool before it made its way to the lake three miles away.

“I have no human heat signatures, either,” Kayla announced after several team members, including Ashlin, reported no activity. She wore her tiny communication bud inside her left ear. She’d learned years ago that the recoil from a bullet exiting her Barrett fifty-caliber rifle could knock out an earpiece. The training sergeant threatened to make her pay for it.

“Hold for twenty minutes,” Clint ordered. “Next satellite in twelve minutes. We’ll know more after the analysts take a look.” Hearing Clint’s voice sent a river of warmth through her whole body. Then she remembered where they were and what they were doing. She needed to focus on the mission, not her loving husband.