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Kaylee was totally unfazed by the excitement at the market. She seemed to think it was a game, and explained that she wished she had a bow-and-arrow like her Minecraft character. “I’m really good at shooting spiders,” she said confidently. “Creepers are a little tougher.”
“Maybe we’ll get you one for Christmas,” I said.
Archer gave me a pointed look.
“Um, Christmas in 2029,” I quickly added. “When you’re a teenager.”
After dinner, the three of us retired to the penthouse office to go over the plans for tomorrow one last time. Archer would take Kadyrovic up in the helicopter. I would stay on the ground, like any other tour. I would close the office for lunch, but in reality I would be heading to the airport.
“I will take them up to a safe altitude, then lock the cyclic stick in the forward position,” Archer explained. “Then I’ll grab the chute from underneath my seat and bail from the cockpit. The helicopter will crash within twenty or thirty seconds. Harrison, you will be waiting somewhere in the crash zone to evacuate me and the parachute. Then it’s straight to the airport, and celebratory pints in Bucharest before our connecting flight back to the States. Easy peasy.”
“If it all goes according to plan,” Harrison muttered.
There was an uneasy, somber mood among everyone that night. It was like nobody knew what to do with themselves. Once Kaylee was asleep, Trish told us that she was still shaken up and was going to bed early. I caught the subtext in her words: she didn’t feel like having sexy times tonight.
I was a little disappointed, but I understood. My nerves were on edge tonight, too. I always struggled to relax the night before a really big mission.
But after brushing my teeth, I didn’t want to crawl into my own bed. So I went down to the other hallway, knocked softly on Trish’s door, and then let myself in. She was sitting up in bed, fiddling on her phone.
“Hi,” I said.
She smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, but I’m not really in the mood for anything tonight. Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay,” I said, closing the door behind me. “I’m not here for that.”
She frowned. “Then what are you here for?”
Wordlessly, I slid under the covers with her. I pulled her over until she was resting against my chest, then I gently caressed her back.
“Sometimes a guy just wants to cuddle,” I said.
She laughed. “Cuddling is always good! As long as you keep your pajamas on. No trying to tempt me.”
“Deal.”
Trish clung to me, and I savored the way she felt. She probably thought I was there to comfort her, when in reality it was the opposite. Her presence was soothing. It helped me to stop worrying about tomorrow.
“Are you worried about tomorrow?” she asked softly.
I snorted. “You read my mind. Being with you helps.” I trailed my fingertips up the back of her neck. “When I’m with you, I feel like I don’t have to worry about anything in the world.”
She let out a happy noise, and clung a little tighter to me.Yeah, even if sex was on the table, I would prefer to cuddle. This is so much better than making love.
“Can I ask you something?” I said.
“Uh oh,” she replied. “What is it?”
“It’s nothing bad. Just a small favor.”
“Anything.”
I reached over my neck and removed my Army dog tags. I cupped one of her palms and dropped them inside.
“Keep this for me? Until we meet at the airport.”
She stared at the tags in her hand. “Of course. I’ll keep them safe.”
As she draped them over her own head and tucked the tags inside her pajama top, I felt myself relax. I had been worried she might not agree. Even though it was just for a day, it felt like a big commitment. Like giving someone a key to my apartment.
