Page 5 of Hawk on the Hunt

She glared at him. “Just because you were a CIA agent? I don’t buy it. There are plenty of CIA agents living normal lives here in D.C.”

“That may be the case for others, but not for the men who were in the same program as I. It was top-secret. The things we know, the skills we have, they make us a target.”

“What things? What skills? So your program was classified. What CIA program isn’t? That still doesn’t mean you had to cut and run.”

“Damn it, Zara, why don’t you want to believe me? I’m telling you the truth. I had to leave to survive.”

She hit her fist against his chest. “You could have taken me with you!” The words were out before she could take them back.

“And put you in danger?” He shook his head. “Never.”

“You want me to believe you? Then tell me why somebody wanted you and the other agents dead! Give me something! Something tangible. Not these vague explanations,” Zara demanded.

For a long moment, he looked at her, and she could see the wheels in his head turning. “I’m sorry. I can’t tell you.”

“But you said yourself the program was compromised. And you’re not in the CIA anymore. And suddenly you’re back, four years later? Don’t you see how that doesn’t make any sense? Why stay away for four years, and then suddenly come back?”

“I came back for a couple of days two years ago.”

“What?” Shock coursed through her. She felt betrayed once more. “And you didn’t come to see me back then?”

“I did. But you were about to get married. I couldn’t stay. You had a new life…” He shrugged. Then he took her hands and looked at them. “You’re not wearing a wedding ring.”

She remained silent, still dealing with the news that he’d been back two years ago.

“What happened?” Dylan asked.

She shrugged and withdrew her hands from his. Her fiancé, Tim, had never measured up to Dylan. Tim was a nice man, but their relationship had never been as passionate or as exciting as her relationship with Dylan. The closer the wedding date had come, the more she’d realized that she didn’t love Tim, because her heart still belonged to Dylan.

“We broke up. I guess I’m not the marrying kind after all.”

4

Hawk scoffed. He recognized a lie when he heard one, particularly when it came from a person he knew so well. But who was he to question Zara’s words? Two years ago, unable to suppress his longing for Zara any longer, he’d traveled to D.C., only to find out that she would be getting married a month later. He hadn’t even attempted to see her then, knowing that he couldn’t stand in the way of her happiness. So he’d left again.

But it had hurt to know that she’d fallen in love with somebody else, and was ready for a lifelong commitment, while he’d never been able to move on. He’d had the occasional one-night stand, but he hadn’t met any woman he wanted a relationship with. He’d always told himself that the reason was because he was still on the run, but the real reason was because he still loved Zara.

But he had no right to make a play for her again. Nothing good would come of it, and he would only put her in danger.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for having hurt you. And I wish I could go back and change it, but the truth is you’re better off without me. Trouble follows me wherever I go.” He sighed. “I have to leave.”

He turned away from her.

“You’re leaving? Fine! Go ahead: leave! ‘Cause that’s what you’re good at. Leaving whenever things get too hard or too complicated.”

Dylan whirled around. “Damn it, Zara! That’s not who I am. And you know it. If I hadn’t had to run for my life back then, I would have asked you to marry me and put a damn ring on your finger. When I found out that you were getting married to another guy, it broke my heart.” He dropped his gaze so he didn’t have to see her facial reaction. He hadn’t wanted to say that, but now it was out. There was no taking it back. He might as well go all in now. “But it’s too late now. I hurt you, and I understand that I can’t fix what I destroyed between us. It doesn’t matter that I still love you. I know when I’ve lost.”

Without looking at her, he turned toward the door. He took one step, before Zara grabbed his arm, jerking him back forcefully.

“Damn it, Zara… don’t… please… let me go…”

He could have easily shaken off her hand and opened the door, but he didn’t. Feeling her hand on his arm brought long suppressed desires back to the surface.

Against his better judgment, he turned to face her. One look into her eyes, and he knew he didn’t have the strength to resist any longer. Without breaking eye contact, he pulled her into his arms, sliding one arm around her waist, and placing a hand on her nape. A breath rushed out of her mouth.

“You should tell me to leave,” he said without conviction.

“I can’t,” she whispered, and her raspy voice reminded him of how she’d always sounded when she was aroused.