Colorado Abduction - By Cassie Miles & Marie Ferrarella Page 0,59
Nicole and the other SOF women. She remembered Lisa Ayers’s sad eyes. How would that delicate, waiflike creature deal with all of these rescuers? And what about Nicole, being held against her will? Carolyn wished with all her heart that there was another way to deal with the situation, but she knew Logan would never negotiate.
She stepped away from the table. “Good night, boys. I’m going to bed.”
“That’s the right idea,” Burke said. “We need to be rested. It’s all going down tomorrow night.”
A deep rumble of masculine voices echoed his words. These were men at the edge of battle, fierce and determined. Unstoppable.
She’d barely gotten into her bedroom when Burke slipped through the door. He caught hold of her hand and yanked her into his arms. His lips were hot. Her body responded to his urgent need as she kissed him back and drew his tongue into her mouth. His hands slid under her sweatshirt. His touch against her bare skin set off a chain reaction of desire.
And yet she pulled away from him. “Wait a minute.”
“Am I being too rough? Did I hurt your bruise?”
“I’m not in pain,” she assured him. “I just wanted to have a say in what happens next.”
He reached up and ran his fingers through her unbound hair. “Soft as silk,” he murmured.
She’d had time today for washing and conditioning, even though it was difficult with her aching left arm.
“Burke,” she snapped. “Pay attention.”
“I’m listening.”
All she wanted was to be heard. “Your tactical support team is even more overpowering than a roomful of cowboys.”
“Adrenaline,” he said. “Our mission went off with precision. It’s a satisfying feeling, even though we were dealing with the tragedy of a murder.”
“I felt invisible, and I hate that. It’s not normal for me. I’m accustomed to being in charge.”
“I’ll make you a deal, Carolyn. In this room, you’re the boss. I’ll do anything you want.”
His pseudonegotiation made her smile. “What if I tell you to hop on one leg and squawk like a chicken?”
“That’s a little kinky.” He leaned close and nipped at her earlobe. “But I’ll do it. Whatever turns you on.”
Her need for control was overwhelmed by a more powerful desire. She placed her cell phone on the bedside table. The call to her mom would have to wait.
“I want you in my bed. All night.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
THE NEXT MORNING started much like the day before, except with fewer doubts. Carolyn glowed with a pleasant certainty. Burke was the best, most skillful lover she’d ever known. His passion took her to sensual places she’d never been before.
For the moment, she didn’t mind not being the boss. She’d gotten out of bed, dressed and readied herself for the big day when the ransom would be paid and Nicole returned.
In the kitchen, she was sipping Polly’s excellent coffee and had almost finished a plate of scrambled eggs and toast when Dylan joined her.
“We got another tape,” he said.
“Where did it come from?”
“Just like yesterday, it was hanging on a fence post near the road. Whoever is dropping these tapes off is doing it before dawn and disappearing. Corelli says there’s no point in checking satellite surveillance. The mountains and trees make it impossible to identify the guy.”
Taking her coffee, she followed him into the living room where Burke stood by the television. The sight of his big, muscular body gave her a warm feeling of possessiveness. My man. He’s my man. And she wouldn’t trade him in for a multimillion-dollar distribution contract.
Corelli pushed a button, and Nicole’s image appeared on the television screen. She was wearing a different blouse—cotton with blue flowers. The same faded sheet hung behind her.
“Monday morning,” she said. “It’s getting close to Christmas. I miss doing the decorating.”
As she reached up and pushed her hair off her face, Carolyn noticed two things. This gesture wasn’t any sort of clue. And Nicole was wearing her wedding band on the wrong hand. This wasn’t a trick of videotape reversal. Carolyn knew the ring was on Nicole’s right hand because she wore her wristwatch on her right wrist.
“Anyway,” Nicole said, “I want to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything that’s happened. Still, there might be a silver lining. I’m always an optimist. Right, Dylan? Maybe this is all for the best.”
When the screen went blank, Carolyn felt an ominous chill. There was something very different about Nicole. She looked the same as yesterday—clean and healthy. But her attitude had changed. And why change her wedding ring to