Will you come back here tonight, and we’ll do it all over again? Plus more erotic embellishments?” He added mockingly, “Provided that Varak doesn’t kill me.”
He was actually joking? “You bastard.”
“I admit I’m a little raw about your having to use such a sleazy excuse as Varak to come to me. Particularly since I’ve discovered that you’ve become an obsession.” He added softly, “I’ll come to you with no excuse at all. From now on, I won’t be able to leave you alone. Expect me.”
“The hell I will.” She left the hut and strode toward Hajif’s place. She’d wanted to hit Novak. The news that the possible strike on Varak might be temporarily averted had thrown her from despair to relief, then to anger. He was annoyed that it was Varak that had been the impetus to bring her to him? Screw him. She had been in a turmoil of emotion all night. Scared to death that he might get killed, then having probably the most erotic sexual encounter she’d ever experienced.
She had reached Hajif’s hut, and she stopped to get a breath and calm down. It wasn’t sunrise yet, but she knew that it was almost time for Novak to go to the museum to meet with Joe Quinn. She couldn’t hide away here. She would wash, change her clothes, and be on her way there, too. Eve would expect her, and it wasn’t professional to do anything else. Though she knew Novak would have made certain Eve was guarded, if Joe was going with Novak, Jill should be there to protect and support Eve.
Screw Novak.
But please keep him safe today, dammit, she added quickly
Chapter
16
I’ll call you as soon as we know anything,” Joe said. He kissed Eve and headed for the door, where Novak was waiting. “Don’t worry. I checked Novak’s security arrangements, and you’ll be fine.”
“Yes, I’m really worried about that,” Eve said dryly. “I’m not the one who’s going to be checking out land mines.”
“I know what I’m doing, Eve,” he said quietly as he glanced over his shoulder. “You know that’s true.”
“I know, but that doesn’t help much.” She gestured impatiently. “Get out of here. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll get back. Keep safe.”
He nodded, and his glance shifted to Jill. “Make yourself useful. Watch over her.”
“I will,” Jill said. “Why do you think I’m here? I realize she’s my responsibility.” She was trying not to look at Novak. The anger she had felt was dissipating, lost in the panic, and she tried to hold on to it. “Good luck.” Her gaze shifted to Novak. “You, too, Novak. Don’t do anything stupid. You promised Gideon.”
He smiled mockingly. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll definitely see you later, Jill.”
Then they were both gone.
And Jill found herself going to the door to watch them go down the path. Her hands clenched into fists. “Look at them. They can’t wait to get out there and play their war games. They could get themselves blown up.”
“Yes, they could.” Eve came over to stand beside her. “And it’s really getting to you.” Her eyes were on Jill’s face. “Maybe more than I would have thought.”
“And it’s not bothering you?” Jill shook her head. “I know better than that. I’ve never seen anyone as crazy about a man as you are about Joe Quinn. I didn’t expect you to be this controlled.”
“I have to be controlled,” Eve said quietly. “Joe is a detective, and he’s in danger every day. I face this too often to let myself fall apart every time he walks out the door in the morning. It’s his job, and it wouldn’t be fair to him. And he’s fantastically efficient at that job, and that helps.”
“Is he really that good with land mines?”
“Yes, trained by the SEALs, and he kept up with advances. He’s done work on cases where he had to defuse them. And once when we were in Scotland, he got rid of a number of them planted on the road bordering a lake we were exploring. He knows what he’s doing. So I trust him with those damn bombs as well as everything else.” Her lips twisted. “Even though at times like this it nearly kills me. Particularly since this time I’m to blame for his being here.”
“No, you aren’t. I am,” Jill said in frustration. “Joe knows that, everyone knows that. Which is why I should be going with them today.” She raised her hand. “Mistake. You don’t have to tell me