Page 101 of Fear No Evil
“Yes, sir.” With those breathless words, Maggie let herself out of his office, tore past the secretary, and flew down the hall. She couldn’t get to the courtyard fast enough. Jake had better be there like he said he would. Of course, he would be there. Jake’s word was his bond.
To think he’d quit his career so they could be together! She had nearly done the same. My goodness, if Jake hadn’t gotten to Gordon first, they would both be unemployed!
Maggie drummed her fingers as she rode the elevator to the ground floor. Leaping out, she headed straight for the courtyard between the old CIA building and the new one. She’d eaten many a meal alone in the covered picnic area off to her right. Therest of the courtyard was a large semi-circular lawn, comprising shade trees, picnic benches, landscaped gardens, and even a koi pond bookended by stone sculptures, ironically reminiscent of little mountains.
Spotting Jake admiring the crimson-colored fish in the pond, her heart gave a backflip. “Jake!”
Her tone had him whirling with a wary expression. Several people at the picnic tables watched her descend on him. Conflicting urges seized Maggie as she got closer. Falling back on her default mode of a tough girl, she punched him in the arm. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“Ow!” But he was trying not to smile as he rubbed his arm. “Which part?”
“You resigned from the Teams. You turned in your notice to the Agency. And you told Gordon not to letmequit!”
“So, all of it.” Jake searched her face earnestly. “Did you quit?”
“No!”
“Phew. I’m glad I got to him first.”
Maggie marveled at his selflessness. “Jake!”
He pretended to flinch. “Are you going to hit me again?”
“No.” She softened abruptly, took a step closer, and wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart swelling with gratitude. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Yes, you do.”
She blinked back sudden tears. “How’d you know I was going to resign?”
Glancing at their audience, Jake lifted a hand to stroke her cheek. “Because I know you, Lena. When you say you want something, you give it 110 percent. But I also know you were born to do your job. And I don’t want you quitting it because of me.”
She wrested his hand from her face but held on to it. “So you quit instead.” She shook her head at the irony. “You gave up your career…forme?”
He cocked his head, his gaze watchful. “Can you still love me if I’m not a SEAL?”
She rolled her eyes. “Jake, I loved you when you were a scrawny linguistics major. But what are you going to do now?”
He smiled smugly. “Number one, protect you. Consider me your personal bodyguard.”
PTS would never cripple her again.
“Number two, I’m starting up a nonprofit that brings food to those who don’t have enough. Between the Peace Corps and the Teams, I’ve learned a lot about acquisition, distribution, and sustainability. I’ll set up the infrastructure wherever you’re assigned and hire locals to run it, so the company keeps working after we relocate.”
Desire overwhelmed all decorum. Lifting a hand to the back of Jake’s head, Maggie pulled it down so she could kiss him. He obliged with a smile on his lips, kissing with the same promise that she’d tasted under the trees on El Castillo.
The sound of clapping tore them apart. They both regarded the picnic tables where their all-male audience was just finishing up their coffee break. At Maggie’s stern glower, they suspended their applause and got up hastily, taking their trash with them.
Her gaze fell on the briefcase one of them had left behind. Suddenly, she was back in Paris, staring at the Adidas backpack with dawning horror.No way.Her gaze flew to Jake’s, who must have read her mind.
“It’s okay.” He raised his voice to address the departing employees. “Hey, one of you forgot your briefcase.”
They all turned around. A chubby male threw his hands up, then hustled back to collect it.
As he toted it off, Jake pulled Maggie close again. “There, see. We’re safe. We have our whole future together.”
Her gaze locked on his lips. “Where were we?” She wanted that kiss to continue forever.
“You were about to propose to me,” he stated with certainty.