Her profile was lovely as she faced the fireplace. “I do. But they have dimmed the past year or so—like you, it’s hard to see past what might be coming. Still...” She hesitated, then tapped her knee with her fingers. “I’d love to marry and have a family someday. While my grandmother is still alive so she can be a part of my children’s lives. She’s been such an integral part of mine. But not many men are interested in marrying someone who isn’t whole.”
That last part made him jerk in his seat. Did she really see herself that way? He would have never guessed. She carried herself with such confidence and poise. “Not whole? Is that how you think people see you?”
She shrugged. “I’ve heard it quite a bit of late. My grandmother and Dr. G never allowed me to think less of myself after the accident. They made sure to give me the tools to thrive and told me I could accomplish whatever I wanted if I put in the time and effort. And frankly, I took a lot of pride in the fact that people were fascinated with me as a prodigy.”
“But now you’ve chosen to listen to the naysayers?”
Another shrug. She still wouldn’t turn her face toward him. How odd. Most of the time he felt as if she was looking straight at him. Or through him.
Several seconds passed before she dipped her chin, and her fingers began to tap again. “I know it’s silly. But there are times I wonder how on earth I’m supposed to meet someone and get to know him as I’m touring the world playing the piano. There’ve been plenty of admirers from afar over the years, but I don’t have any real friends other than Melanie. There’s no time.”
“Well, now you’ve got me, too.” His superiors would scold him for saying it—and letting it happen in the first place. If only his job didn’t still hold many secrets.
That smile of hers could melt an iceberg. “You’re sweet, Rick. I greatly appreciate your friendship and have enjoyed getting to know you.”
“But... ?”
She frowned. “But what?”
He laughed at the expression on her face. “Sorry. It sounded like there was abutin there, like you were about to tell me we couldn’t be friends anymore.”
She waved a hand toward him. “Heavens, no.” Those lovely fingers were tapping at full speed now. “I think I wanted to tell youthat I’d love to get to know you better, but then I second-guessed myself because that would sound awfully forward and unladylike.”
The uncertainty on her face twisted in his heart like a knife. “I’d like that too.” But was it a good idea? How were they going to navigate the dangerous waters ahead?
“I hear the hesitation in your voice. You’re concerned. Like I am.” She pulled her knees up under the blanket and circled her arms around them. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Rick. And not just because you’re a spy.” Her laugh was light. “I love your heart. You’ve jumped in and helped every step of the way. You rescued Melanie. You protect me and encourage me and support me. But I’m scared. More than I care to admit. These times are so uncertain.”
Oh, to keep her safe! To have that right because she belonged to him. But with who she was, and what they all were doing, was keeping her safe even possible? He didn’t mind risking his own neck, but hers? “I’m scared too.”
Because there was a very real chance that none of them would escape this alive.
Melanie’s legs werestiff.She’d been leaning up against the door to her room in the suite. She wasn’t even sure how long she’d stood there. But she couldn’t move.
In front of Chaisley and Rick, she’d done her level best to show that she was strong. The attack hadn’t gotten to her. That the news of Rick working for the SIS didn’t faze her. That the ever-growing danger around them didn’t scare her.
But it was all a lie.
Everywhere they went, she saw Nazis ready to arrest them.
She worried every time Rick disappeared in the night.
And then ... every night, the memories of the attack overwhelmed her.
Tonight had been harder to hide it than ever before. As soon as they’d returned to the hotel, her legs had started to shake, and her insides quivered.
They were safe. No one could get to her here.
But the memory of that night wouldn’t leave her alone. It screamed in her mind that she was vulnerable. Weak. She shouldn’t be there.
If anything good had come out of the attack, it had given her more resolve to help those less fortunate.
The bad often outweighed that good.
Then the voices inside her would start to fight.
This was Chaisley’s battle, not hers. What business did she have trying to save people when she couldn’t even save herself?
She shook her head. No. That wasn’t the truth. She was just as passionate about this as Chaisley. She wanted to be a part.
