Feeling the Heat Read online

  He crossed his arms over his chest and met her stare head-on. “At this point, Kalina, you can believe whatever you like. For me to deny it wouldn’t matter since you wouldn’t believe me anyway.”

  “And why should I?” she snapped.

  “Because I have no reason to lie,” he said simply. “Have you ever considered the possibility that I could be telling the truth? Just in case you need to hear it from me—just like I had nothing to do with your father’s plan to keep you out of Beijing, your orders to go to Bajadad were not my idea. Although I embrace the schedule change wholeheartedly. You’re a good doctor, and I can’t think of anyone I want more on my team. We’re dealing with a suspicious virus. Five people have died already and the government suspects it might be part of something we need to nip in the bud as soon as possible. However, we won’t know what we’re dealing with until we get there.”

  He watched as her whole demeanor changed in the wake of the information he had just provided. Her stiffened spine relaxed and her features became alert. No matter what, she was a professional, and as he’d said, she was good at what she did.

  “What’s the point of entry?” she asked, moving to stand in front of the desk.

  “So far, only by ingestion. It’s been suspected that something was put in the water supply. If that’s true, it will be up to us to find out what it is.”

  She nodded, and he knew she completely understood. The government’s position was that if the enemy had developed some kind of deadly chemical then the United States needed to know about it. It was important to determine early on what they were up against and how they could protect U.S. military personnel.

  “And how was it detected, Micah?” she was calm and relaxed as she questioned him. He moved to sit on the edge of his desk. Not far from where she stood. He wondered if she’d taken note of their proximity.

  He wished she wasn’t wearing his favorite perfume and that he didn’t remember just how dark her eyes would become in the heat of passion. Kalina Daniels was an innately sensuous woman. There was no doubt about it.

  “Five otherwise healthy adults over the age of fifty were found dead within the same week with no obvious signs of trauma,” he heard himself saying. “However, their tongues had enlarged to twice the normal size. Other than that, there was nothing else, not even evidence of a foreign substance in their bloodstream.”

  He saw the look in her eyes while she was digesting what he’d said. Most terrorist groups experimented on a small number of people before unleashing anything in full force, just to make sure their chemical warfare weapon was effective. It was too early to make an assumption about what they would be facing, but the researcher who was already there waiting on them had stated his suspicions. Before 9/11 chemical weapons were considered a poor man’s atomic bomb. However, because of their ability to reach millions of people in so many different ways, these weapons were now considered the worst and most highly effective of all forms of warfare.

  “Have you ever been to Bajadad?” she asked him.

  He met her gaze. “Yes, several years ago, right after the first democratic elections were held. It was my first assignment after leaving college and coming to work for the federal government. We were sent there on a peace-finding mission when members of the king’s household had become ill. Some suspected foul play. However, it didn’t take us long to determine it hadn’t been all that serious, just a contaminated sack of wheat that should never have been used.”

  He could tell by the look in her eyes that she’d become intrigued. That’s how it had always been with her. She would ask a lot of questions to quench that curiosity of hers. She thought he’d lived an adventurous life as an epidemiologist, while, thanks to her father, she’d been deliberately kept on the sidelines.

  In a way, he was surprised she was going to Bajadad. Either the old man had finally learned his lesson or he was getting lax in keeping up with his daughter’s whereabouts. He knew her father had worked behind the scenes, wielding power, influencing his contacts, to make sure Kalina had assignments only in the States or in first-world countries. He’d discovered, after the fact, that her time in Sydney had been orchestrated to keep her out of Beijing without giving her a reason to get suspicious.

  Micah stood and decided to shift topics. He met Kalina’s gaze when he said, “I think we need to talk about last night.”

  He watched her spine stiffen as she once again shifted into a defensive mode. “No, we don’t.”

  “Yes, we do Kalina. We’re going out on a mission together, and I think it’s going to be important that we’re comfortable around each other and put our personal differences aside. I’d be the first to admit I’ve made a lot of mistakes where you’re concerned, and I regret making them. Now you believe the worst of me and nothing I can say or do will change that.”

  He paused a moment, knowing he had to chose his words carefully. “You don’t have to worry about me mixing business with pleasure, because I refuse to become involved with a woman who doesn’t trust me. So there can never be anything between us again.”

  There, he’d said it. He tasted the lie on his tongue, but knew his reasons for his concocted statement were justified. He had no intention of giving her up. Ever. But she had to learn to trust him. And he would do whatever he had to do to make that happen.

  Although she tried to shelter her reaction, he’d seen how his words had jolted her body. There was no doubt in his mind she had felt the depth of what he’d said. A part of him wanted to believe that deep down she still cared for him.

  She lifted her chin in a stubborn frown. “Good. I’m glad we got that out of the way and that we understand each other.”

  He glanced down at his watch. “Our flight leaves in a few hours. I would offer you a ride to the airport, but I’m catching a ride with someone myself.”

  She tilted her head back and looked at him. “No problem. I reserved a rental car.”

  Kalina looked at her own watch and slipped the straps of her purse onto her shoulders. “I need to be going.”

  “I’ll walk out with you,” he said, falling into step beside her. He had no problem offering her a ride if she needed one, but he hadn’t wanted to appear too anxious to be in her company. “We’re looking at a twelve-hour flight. I’d advise you to eat well before we fly out. The food we’re going to be served on the plane won’t be the best.”

  She chuckled and the sound did something to him. It felt good to be walking beside her. “Don’t think I don’t know about military-airplane food. I’m going to stop and grab me a sandwich from Po’Boys,” she said.

  He knew she regretted mentioning the restaurant when he glanced over and saw the blush on her face. Chances were, like him, she was remembering the last time they’d gone there together. It had been their first night back in the States after Australia. He might not recall what all they’d eaten that night, but he did remember everything they’d done in the hotel room afterward.

  “Whatever you get, eat enough for the both of us,” he said, breaking the silence between them.

  She glanced over at him. “I will.”

  They were now outside, standing on the top steps of the Centers for Disease Control. “Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you on the flight. Take care until then, Kal.”

  Then, without looking back, he moved to the car that pulled up to the curb at that very moment. He smiled, thinking the timing was perfect when he saw who was driving the car.

  He glanced up at the sky. He had a feeling someone up there was definitely on his side. His cousin, Senator Reggie Westmoreland, had called him that morning, inviting him to lunch. Reggie, his wife, Olivia, and their one-year-old twin sons made Washington their home for part of the year. It was Olivia and not Reggie who’d come to pick him up to take him to their house in Georgetown. She was a beautiful woman, and he could just imagine the thoughts going through Kalina’s mind right now.

  * * *

  Kalina stood and watched Micah stroll down the steps tow
ard the waiting car. He looked good in a chambray shirt that showed the width of his broad shoulders and jeans that hugged his masculine thighs, making her appreciate what a fine specimen of a man he was.

  He worked out regularly and it showed. No matter from what angle you saw him—front, back or side—one looked just as good as the other. And from the side-glances of several women who were climbing the steps and passing by him as he moved down, she was reminded again that she wasn’t the only one who appreciated that fact.

  Oh, why did he have to call her Kal? It was the nickname he’d given her during their affair. No one else called her that. Her father detested nicknames and always referred to her by her first and middle name. To her dad she was Kalina Marie.

  She tried not to show any emotion as she watched a woman get out of the car, smiling brightly while moving toward Micah. She was almost in his face by the time his foot touched the last step, and he gave the woman a huge hug and a warm smile as if he was happy to see her, as well.

  No wonder he’s so quick to write you off, she thought in exasperated disgust, hating that seeing Micah with another woman bothered her. He’s already involved with someone else. Well, what did you expect? It’s been two years. Just because you haven’t been in a serious relationship since then doesn’t mean he hasn’t. And besides, you’re the one who called things off. Accused him of being in league with your father…

  Kalina shook her head as the car, with Micah in it, pulled off. Why was she trying to rehash anything? She knew the truth, and no matter how strenuously Micah claimed otherwise, she believed her father. Yes, he was controlling, but he loved her. He had no reason to lie. He had confessed his part and had admitted to his involvement in Micah’s part, as well. So why couldn’t Micah just come clean and fess up? And why had she felt a bout of jealousy when he’d hugged that woman? Why did she care that the woman was jaw-droppingly beautiful, simply gorgeous with not a hair on her head out of place?

  Tightening her hand on her purse, Kalina walked down the steps toward the parking lot. She had to get a grip on more than her purse. She needed to be in complete control of her senses while dealing with Micah.

  * * *

  “Sorry to impose, but I think this is the only seat left on the plane,” Micah said as he slid into the empty seat next to Kalina.

  Her eyes had been closed as she waited for takeoff, but she immediately opened them, looking at him strangely before lifting up slightly to glance around, as if to make sure he was telling the truth.

  He smiled as be buckled his seat belt. “You need to stop doing that, you know.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Doing what?”

  “Acting like everything coming out of my mouth is a lie.”

  She shrugged what he knew were beautiful shoulders. “Well, once you tell one lie, people have a tendency not to believe you in the future. Sort of like the boy who cried wolf.” She then closed her eyes again as if to dismiss him.

  He didn’t plan to let her response be the end of it. “What’s going to happen when you find out you’ve been wrong about me?”

  She opened her eyes and glanced over at him, looking as if the thought of her being wrong was not even a possibility. “Not that I think that will happen, but if it does then I’ll owe you an apology.”

  “And when it does happen I might just be reluctant to accept your apology.” He then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, this time dismissing her and leaving her with something to chew on.

  The flight attendant prevented further conversation between them when she came on the intercom to provide flight rules and regulations. He kept his eyes closed. Kalina’s insistence that he would conspire with her father grated on a raw nerve each and every time she said it.

  Moments later, he felt the movement of the plane glide down the runway before tilting as it eased into the clouds. Over the years, he’d gotten used to air travel, but that didn’t mean he particularly liked it. All he had to do was recall that he had lost four vital members of his family in a plane crash. And he couldn’t help remembering that tragic and deep-felt loss each and every time he boarded a plane, even after all these years.

  “She’s pretty.”

  He opened his eyes and glanced over at Kalina. “Who is?”

  “That woman who picked you up from the CDC today.”

  He nodded. “Thanks. I happen to think she’s pretty, too,” he said honestly. In fact, he thought all his cousins and brothers had married beautiful women. Not only were they beautiful, they were smart, intelligent and strong.

  “Have the two of you been seeing each other long?”

  It would be real simple to tell her that Olivia was a relative, but he decided to let her think whatever she wanted. “No, and we really aren’t seeing each other now. We’re just friends,” he said.

  “Close friends?”

  He closed his eyes again. “Yes.” He had been tempted to keep his eyes open just to see her expression, but knew closing them would make his nonchalance more effective.

  “How long have the two of you known each other?”

  He knew she was trying to figure out if Olivia had come before or after her. “Close to five years now.”

  “Oh.”

  So far everything he’d said had been the truth. He just wasn’t elaborating. It was his choice and his right. Besides, he was giving her something to think about.

  Deciding she’d asked enough questions about Olivia, he said, “You might want to rest awhile. We have a long flight ahead of us.”

  And he intended on sharing every single hour of it with her. It wasn’t a coincidence that the last seat on the military jet had been next to her and that he’d taken it. There hadn’t been any assigned seats on this flight. Passengers could sit anywhere, and, with the help of the flight attendant, he’d made sure they had sat everywhere but next to Kalina. The woman just happened to know that New York Times bestselling author Rock Mason, aka Stone Westmoreland, was Micah’s cousin. The woman was a huge fan and the promise of an autographed copy of Stone’s next action thriller had gone a long way.

  Micah kept his eyes closed but could still inhale Kalina’s scent. He could envision her that morning, dabbing cologne all over her body, a body he’d had intimate knowledge of for two wonderful months. He was convinced he knew where every mole was located, and he was well acquainted with that star-shaped scar near her hip bone that had come as a result of her taking a tumble off a skateboard at the age of twelve.

  He drew in a deep breath, taking in her scent one more time for good measure. For now, he needed to pretend he was ignoring her. Sitting here lusting after Kalina wasn’t doing him any good and was just weakening his resolve to keep her at a distance while he let her get to know him. He couldn’t let that happen. But he couldn’t help it when he opened his eyes, turned to her and said, “Oh, by the way, Kalina. You still have the cutest dimples.” He then turned to face straight ahead before closing his eyes once again.

  Satisfied he might have soothed her somewhat, he stretched his long legs out in front of him, at least as far as they could go, and tilted his seat back. He might as well get as comfortable as he could for the long flight.

  He’d been given a good hand to play and he planned on making the kind of win that the gambler in the family, his cousin Ian, would be proud of. The stakes were high, but Micah intended to be victorious.

  * * *

  So Micah had known the woman during their affair. Did that mean he’d taken back up with her after their time together had ended? Kalina wondered. He said he and the woman were only friends, but she’d known men to claim only friendship even while sleeping with a woman every night. Men tended not to place the same importance on an affair as women did. She, of all people, should know that.

  And how dare he compliment her on her dimples at a time like this and in the mood she was in. She had to work with him, but she was convinced she didn’t even like him anymore. Yet in all fairness, she shouldn’t be surprised by the comment abo
ut her dimples. He’d told her numerous times that her dimples were the first thing he’d noticed about her. They were permanent fixtures on her face, whether she smiled or not.

  And then there was the way he’d looked at her when he’d said it. Out of the clear blue sky, he had turned those gorgeous bedroom-brown eyes on her and remarked on her dimples. Her stomach had clenched. It had been so unexpected it had sent her world tilting for a minute. And before she’d recovered, he’d turned back around and closed his eyes.

  Now he was reclining comfortably beside her. All man. All sexy. All Westmoreland. And seemingly all bored…at least with her. She had a good mind to wake him up and engage in some conversation just for the hell of it, but then she thought better of it. Micah Westmoreland was a complex man and just thinking about how complex he could be had tension building at her temples.

  She couldn’t help thinking about all the things she didn’t know about him. For some reason, he’d never shared much about himself or his family. She knew he had several brothers, but that fact was something she’d discovered by accident and not because he’d told her about them. She’d just so happened to overhear a conversation between him and his good friend Dr. Beau Smallwood. And she did know his parents had died in a plane crash when he was in college. He’d only told her that because she’d asked.

  Her life with her military father was basically an open book. After her mother had died of cervical cancer when Kalina was ten, her father had pretty much clung to her like a vine. The only time they were separated was when he’d been called for active duty or another assignment where she wasn’t allowed. Those were the days she spent on her grandparents’ farm in Alabama. Joe and Claudia Daniels had passed away years ago, but Kalina still had fond memories of the time she’d spent with them.

  Kalina glanced over at Micah again. It felt strange casually sitting next to a man who’d been inside her body…numerous times. A man whose tongue had licked her in places that made her blush to think about. Someone who had taken her probably in every position known to the average man and in some he’d probably created himself. He was the type of man a woman fantasized about. A shiver raced through her body just thinking about being naked with him.