It amused him to listen to her talk of the operation ahead as casually as the way she followed one of her recipes. In a way, she reminded him of Jazz, who could talk strategy and make it sound like music. He knew that she would get along with his SEAL brother.
“If we follow the trail around this lake,” he said, “then we’ll get to Elbasan first.” The cache they were looking for was between Elbasan and Tirana.
“It’s a long hike from here. Most of Tirana is hilly, perfect to hide a weapons dropoff. It’s going to take at least a day.” She rubbed his arm. “Or more, with your injuries.”
Hawk knew she was concerned about his bruised ribs. He ran a finger down the curve of her cheek. “I can do this, sweetheart. Trust me.” He had to tell the truth now. “I’m a Navy SEAL, so I’m quite used to a lot of pain.”
“A what?”
“Navy SEAL,” Hawk said. “It stands for sea, air, and land, and I—”
“I know what a SEAL is,” Amber interrupted. “You said you’re one.”
He stroked her soft skin again. “Yeah.” He didn’t blink when she shone her flashlight at his face, looking at him closely. He cocked his head. “Don’t look any different, do I?”
“You’re a soldier?”
Hawk shook his head. “See, you don’t know what a SEAL is. I’m a sailor, sweetheart. You know…NavySEAL.”
She waved the flashlight away. “What’s the difference? You’re military.” There was disbelief in her voice.
“Don’t let my frog brothers hear you say that. Plenty of difference. When I have time, I’ll have to teach you.”
He waited as she stood there thinking about what he had just told her. He knew she had thought he was a part of Jed’s outfit and, being Amber, had him all figured out in her head. Or so she had thought.
“Frog brothers?” she muttered. “So you can swim?”
Hawk chuckled. “Yeah, I can swim. I’ll take you sometime, too.”
“But I can’t swim, except doggy-paddle.”
He hadn’t thought of that. “Okay, then I’ll teach you.” He took hold of her hand. “What I was trying to say was that I’ve been trained to do this.”
“Hmmm. I knew there was something about you. I guess I can teach you to cook.”
That was his girl. Always had to compete. Hawk grinned. “Deal,” he said.
Lily put away her cell phone. “That was my contact telling me that he’s waiting for Amber and Hawk,” she said. “He’ll call me again when they cross the border.”
“Good,” Brad said as he poured himself a glass of wine. “What would you like to drink?”
“The same thing,” Lily replied. It would help relax her.
“To Amber and Hawk,” Brad said, holding up his glass for a toast.
“To us,” Lily said, smiling.
Brad studied her for a moment, his eyes searching. “This teasing has to stop eventually, Llallana.”
“Eventually,” she agreed, and finished her wine in one gulp. “I want more.”
“More…wine?”
“More…everything. Call me Lily, Brad.”
He carefully put down the glass. “What are you doing, Llallana?”
She didn’t want to tell him that he’d won. That she yearned to feel something besides hatred and fear one more time in her life. That she was tempted to give in to this need for him. She knew that if she went through with this, she would hate herself in the morning, but she wanted him and couldn’t deny it any longer. For once in her life, she wanted a man to satisfy her.
