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Her heart started to race. "Drew—"
He shook his head, cutting her off. "I know. I need to stop. Megan is in the next room."
"Even if she wasn't, we couldn't—we shouldn't. It was a mistake the first time."
"No, it wasn't." He paused for a long moment, his fingers sliding through her hair. "I like you, Ria, and I'm concerned about you. I think you're into something way over your head. I suspect it involves Megan, and knowing the threat is international, I can't help noticing the fact that Megan's looks are not exactly all-American. She has an exotic beauty, one that reminds me of some of the native women I met on the island."
She swallowed hard, Drew's words reminding her that the very intelligence she liked about him could unravel everything.
"Nothing to say?" he asked.
She shook her head and stepped away from him. "No. I can't tell you anything more without your promise. Can you make it?"
The length of time it took for him to answer was her answer.
"That's what I thought," she said, feeling suddenly sad.
"Hold on."
Before he could say anything more, Megan opened the bedroom door and came back into the living room, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement. "I just had the greatest idea."
Ria had the distinct feeling that whatever was coming next was not going to be great at all.
"I have to write an essay on someone who makes a difference in the world, and I couldn't really think of anyone I could actually talk to, and then I thought, wait a second—Drew works for the Coast Guard. He saves lives. That's making a difference in the world. What do you think?"
"Uh, sure," Drew said distractedly. "You can interview me if you want."
"I need more than an interview. I need photos, too. Maybe of you in your helicopter." She gave him a hopeful smile. "Could I come to the Coast Guard Station and see you at work, maybe take a ride in a helicopter?"
"You can definitely get a tour of the station, and you can sit in the helo, but I can't take you up unfortunately. We only take civilians up for very special reasons."
"It would still be cool," Megan said.
"I'll check my schedule tomorrow and see if I can set it up."
"That would be awesome. The paper is due on Monday, so this week maybe?"
"Got it."
"Great." Megan skipped back into her bedroom.
"Sorry about that, Drew," Ria apologized. "Megan put you on the spot. You don't have to do it. It's too much trouble."
"It's not too much trouble. I'd like to show Megan around the Air Station. As I said before, you need to stop trying to make decisions for me, Ria."
"Fine."
He stared back at her. "Are you going to come with Megan?"
The last thing she wanted to do was set up another date with Drew, and she had a feeling that Megan's request for a tour was not just based on her need for an essay subject. She was determined to get them together.
"If you can do it tomorrow afternoon, I can make it," she said. "The rest of the week will be busy with work."
"Then let's plan on tomorrow afternoon. I get off at four, so come then." He paused. "How are you going to get there?"
"We'll take a bus or a cab. Don't worry about that."
"I'll give you a ride home afterwards."
"All right," she said, knowing it was pointless to argue.
"Give me your number in case something changes," he said.
As she rattled off her number, she couldn't help thinking that the more she tried to push Drew away, the closer he seemed to get.
Drew slid his phone into his pocket and grabbed his coat. "I heard what you said, Ria. I need to think about everything you've told me. Because you're right; I won't make a promise I can't keep." He gave her a long look. "Just give me a little time, all right? Don't disappear on me."
She stared back at him. "I won't make a promise I can't keep, either."
Chapter Thirteen
Ria and Megan arrived at the San Francisco Coast Guard Air Station just after four o'clock on Tuesday. The sight of a security gate and armed guards sent a little chill through Ria's body. She hadn't really thought of Drew as law enforcement, but rather as a pilot. In truth, he was both. She'd been crazy to tell him she'd broken a law. He wouldn't be able to forget that, and he probably also wouldn't be able to commit to keeping her secrets. With any luck, he'd come to realize that the less he knew the better.
