in love n war

8/6/2019 in love n war

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IN LOVE AND WAR

Chapter OnePrint this Page

Captain Kyle Jackson lay sprawled on the cot. Dried blood covered his fists. A purple bruise adorned his right cheekbone above three days worth of bristling beard stubble.Grime streaked the wild colors of the Hawaiian print shirt hed donned for the mission.Hed posed as a tourist, but the Juarez Cartel hadnt bought the act. Theyd had the local

police pick him up. Judging by his appearance, theyd had the cops do more than that.

"Seor Magnum!" The guard rapped his nightstick against the cell bars. "You have avisitor."

The man on the cot didnt move.

For the first time since shed heard the news from Intelligence yesterday morning, AngieGonzales experienced a surge of pure fear. There hadnt been time before. Shed shovedher emotions aside, finessed her way through a morass of red tape and called in everyfavor shed been owed just to get here. Until two minutes ago, she hadnt been sure thatthe tip theyd received had been legitimate.

But the man in the basement jail of this Central American police station was definitelyKyle Jackson. Angie would know him anywhere, regardless of his appearance. Her heartrecognized his presence.

Thats because she had been in love with him from the moment they had met.

Dear God, had she gotten here too late?

No! He couldnt be dead. Otherwise, she would have sensed it. Shed known hed beenalive ten years ago, even after everyone else had given up and believed the official story.

"It was a training mission. A damn dress rehearsal. They must be wrong."

"Im sorry, Angie. Theres no mistake."

"Kyle cant be dead. I wont believe it."

Vic slid his arm around her shoulders. "He knew the risks. We all do."
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She leaned into her brothers embrace. Vic was a member of Eagle Squadron. One of theelite commando units of Special Operations Delta, so Angie was well aware of thedangers soldiers like Kyle faced. "Does Sarah know yet?"

"I was hoping youd help us tell her. Shes going to need a friend."

Yes, Sarah Fox would need their support. Losing Kyle would devastate her. She was,after all, his fiance.

And Angie was Sarahs best friend. So no one, especially Kyle, had known of her love for him. Shed been prepared to accept his marriage, because she loved him enough to want him to be happy. Yet she had never been able to accept his death.

Kyle hadnt died on that training mission. Instead, hed spent the next six years in aMiddle East prison. Thoughts of Sarah, the woman hed planned to marry, had kept himalive. Then hed returned home to find she had already married another man.

It was the only time Angie had seen Kyle cry. Shed tried to be there for him, becausehed needed a friend.

Afterward, a friend was all hed wanted her to be.

As shed discovered, no prison made of steel or concrete could match the walls that KyleJackson had built around his heart.

Chapter Two

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Angie dug her nails into her palms and focused on Kyles chest. In spite of his wounds,he appeared to be breathing. She permitted herself a moment of fierce joy. Confirming hewas alive had been the hardest part, but the rest wasnt going to be any cakewalk. "Theseconditions are deplorable. This man needs medical attention."

As she spoke, the rhythm of Kyles breathing seemed to change. Though the cot was inthe dimmest corner of the cell, Angie got the impression his muscles had tensed.

Or was that merely wishful thinking on her part?

"You! Magnum." The guard rapped the bars again. "Get up!"

That was the second time hed called Kyle Magnum. Either that was the alias he wasusing, or it was a reference to the garish shirt. Angie suspected it was the shirt. "Hesunconscious," she said, switching to Spanish. "He could be in a coma. I insist you bringin a doctor."


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The guard grunted a curse, retrieved a mug from his desk and flung the contents throughthe bars. Liquid that looked and smelled suspiciously like beer spattered on the floor andthe side of the cot. Several drops hit Kyles face, but he didnt flinch.

Had she been wrong? Was he worse off than he looked? Angie withdrew her phone from

her suit jacket, forcing herself to concentrate on her role in order to keep the panic at bay."This is outrageous. Im calling the American consulate. If you wont provide a doctor,they will."

The guard turned his back on his prisoner to glare at her. "Do not make trouble or youwill join your friend. This is not your country. Your government has no power"

That was all he had time to say. In a blur of motion, Kyle leapt from the cot, thrust hisarm between the cell bars and hooked his elbow around the guards throat.

"Kyle!" Angie cried.

He used his other hand to tighten the vise of his elbow, holding the guard suspendedagainst the bars. The man kicked and clawed to no effect before finally going limp. Kylelet him drop to the floor and turned his attention to Angie.

His sable hair stuck up in wild tufts all over his head. Dried blood darkened a split in hislower lip. His hands continued to flex, as if preparing for another fight. Hed never looked more deadly, yet his eyes shone with the gentle, goldtinged hazel that had alwaysreminded her of a forest in springtime. No blood or grime or passing years could dim hisappeal for her. It was in the alert spark in his gaze, the stubborn lift of his chin, thestrength in his broad shoulders

"What" His voice was raw. He tried again. "What the hell are you doing here,Gonzales?"

No hello. No thank you. Not that shed expected either. Im here because I love you, youidiot. "Isnt it obvious, Captain Jackson? I came to rescue you."

Chapter Three

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Kyle studied Angie through the cell bars. "You shouldnt have come. I was doing fine."

"Sure you were. I know how you enjoy confined spaces."

"Dammit, Gonzales, this was too much of a risk. What were you thinking? To smuggleme out in an ambulance?"


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"That was the plan until you decided to take out that guard." She slipped her phone back into her jacket and smoothed her skirt, then grabbed a ring of keys from the desk andtossed them to Kyle. "Now well need to improvise."

He shoved the fallen guard aside as he opened the cell door. "I didnt have a choice. He

threatened to lock you up."

Had he? She hadnt even noticed.

Kyle picked up the guards nightstick, although Angie didnt think the piece of wood wasto be much help against the armed police who stood between them and the way out. Heunlocked the door that led to the stairwell and motioned her forward. "How did you getthe cops to let you in, anyway?" he asked. "Most of them are on the cartels payroll."

"Yes they are, so they were already accustomed to the direct approach."

"Whats that mean?"

"I bribed my way in."

"Intelligence must want me back bad."

"Dont get a swelled head. I had to take up a collection around your office for the bribe."

"And no doubt you itemized every cent. How much of the cash have you got left?"

"Not enough to outbid the cartel. Theyve got dibs on your butt."

"Its your butt Im worried about. What the hell possessed you to"

She held up her palm. "Do we need to get into that again? Im just doing my job, Kyle."

"No, youre not." He caught her hand. "Your job is behind a nice, safe desk at State.Gonzos going to kill me when he finds out what youre up to."

Gonzo was her brothers nickname. "Vic already knows. He and the guys were supposedto meet us at the border."

"Couldnt Eagle Squadron get someone else to do their dirty work?"

It was difficult to concentrate on his question when her pulse was racing the way it wasnow. He was right. She seldom left the comfort zone of her desk at the State Department.Her work was done behind the scenes. She wasnt adventurous like her brother, or toughlike Kyle. Whatever injuries hed sustained from the police beating didnt appear to beaffecting him. He stood straight and tall, and his grip on her fingers was strong.


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That was another reason for her elevated heartbeat. Regardless of the circumstances, thesimple touch of his skin against hers echoed through every nerve in her body. How couldhe look so good to her when he was such a mess? It wasnt fair. He likely didnt evenrealize he was still holding her hand.

Or so she thought, until she felt the warmth of his lips on her knuckles.

Good Lord. Was that a kiss?

Chapter Four

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Angie had learned the hard way not to get her hopes up. Too many years of running intothose walls around Kyles heart had made her develop some impressive defenses of her own, so her mind scrambled to find alternate explanations for what shed just felt. Thescab on Kyles lip could have been itchy and hed rubbed it against her knuckles toscratch it. Or he might have been scratching his beard stubble. Or stress could have madeher imagine the whole thing.

After all, why would Kyle kiss her hand? That wasnt something he would do to a friend,a pal, a buddy like her. It wasnt something he would do, period. It was toocourtly.Tender. And totally inappropriate considering the fact they were unarmed, outnumberedand hiding in the stairwell of a police station.

Kyle was practical. The success of his missions was his priority. It was why he was sucha valuable asset to Army Intelligence. Shed been kidding about needing to take up acollection to help him. Of course, he would have known shed been kidding, because thatwas the way they always talked to each other. Like buddies.

"On second thought, maybe Ill kill Gonzo when we get out of here," Kyle said.

"What?"

"If he knew you were coming, he should have stopped you."

Kyle was regarding her over the top of their joined hands. It was hard to see hisexpression because his hair had fallen forward again. She licked her free hand andsmoothed down his hair. "He couldnt. Apparently, Special Ops was all out of peoplewho could speak Spanish so I had to volunteer."

Kyle snorted. "Right."

"Besides, they promised to pay me overtime."


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"Now that explains it." He released her hand. "Hope you held out for double time and ahalf."

Angie felt the loss of contact like a cold draft. It helped clear her head. What on earth wasshe doing? Mooning around like a lovestruck teenager because hed been holding her

hand? Not only was that pathetic, it was selfish. There was no time to think about herself.

It wasnt only her fears about Kyles physical condition that had made her pull out all thestops to mount a rescue. Being locked in any jail for even an hour would have to betorture for him. She hadnt wanted him to be haunted by his previous imprisonment. Shedidnt want him to think hed been forgotten this time. Enduring those six years of beingdead to the world had left plenty of scars, although Kyle would be the last person toadmit it.

"While Id love to prolong our stay here so I can put more time on the clock" she said"I need to get home to feed my cat. The night shift should be coming on duty any

minute now. It could present our best chance to"

As if on cue, a door squeaked open above them.

Chapter Five

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Kyle jerked his head toward the first floor landing just as a set of leather boots came intoview on the stairs. He gestured for Angie to stay behind him. She got no more than aglimpse of a man in a light brown police uniform before Kyle pushed the nightstick through the staircase railing and jabbed it between the mans ankles.

The policeman crashed to the basement floor. The fall only stunned him. Before he could push himself up, Kyle tapped him on the side of the head with the nightstick to finish the job. He withdrew the pistol from the holster at the mans waist, then popped out themagazine, checked the ammunition and clicked it back into place. "Okay, lets go," hesaid as he started up the stairs.

Angie breathed deeply a few times, hitched up her skirt so that she could step over thedowned man and sought to be as matteroffact as Kyle. "How many bullets are in thatgun?"

"Enough."

"I counted more than a dozen men on my way in. If youre hoping to shoot your wayout"

"Not if I can avoid it. I dont want you in the middle of a firefight." He knelt on the thirdstep from the top of the staircase so he could peer beneath the door. He remained as he


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was for what seemed like an hour, but what could only have been half a minute. Rising tohis feet, he crooked his finger at her. "As soon as I open this door, I need you to make alot of noise."

She paused on the step beside him, a new worry stealing into her mind. Had these few

days in captivity already affected his mental state?

As if hed guessed the direction of her thoughts, a dimple appeared below the bruise onhis cheek. It wasnt much of a smile, but on Kyle it was as good as a grin. "No, Im notcrazy. Dont you trust me, Gonzales?"

With my life, Kyle. My heart, too, if only you would take it. "Why do you want me tomake noise?"

He turned her to face away from him, looped his arm in front of her waist and lifted her back against his body. His breath puffed across her ear. "Because Im abducting you."

Angie was swamped by sensations. Sometimes, she forgot how large Kyle was. Shewasnt a small womanthough her Spanish father had given her his name and his dark hair, shed inherited her height and her blue eyes from her mothers Danish ancestors.Still, in Kyles embrace, she felt almost delicate. He held her suspended effortlessly.From shoulder to thigh they fit together perfectly, as if theyd been made for each other.

Dont think about it! she ordered herself. She anchored her fingers around his arm andstruggled to make sense of what hed said. "Uh, abducting?"

"Just act scared."

"I wont be acting."

He gave her a squeeze and flung open the door.

Chapter Six

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"Nobody move!" Kyle shouted in Spanish, waving the gun around the room. Hetightened his other arm on Angies waist. "Stay where you are or Ill kill her!"

In spite of his threat, several policemen reached for their guns.

Kyle fired past their heads, shattering the front window of the police station. The mennearest to it ducked reflexively as glass showered the floor.


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Angies brain finally lurched into gear. Of course! How else were they going to get pastall these weapons? She screamed and fluttered her hands, hoping to ruin the mens aim or at the very least, distract them. She realized Kyles ruse wouldnt work for long.Someone was bound to notice that he was doing his best to hold her away from the mensguns instead of using her as a shield. The element of surprise would only buy them a few

seconds at most.

It was enough. With her dangling from his grasp like an oversized rag doll, Kyle sprintedacross the floor. The police belatedly opened fire, but he had already reached the corridor that led to the stations rear exit.

"Put me down!" Angie gasped. "Well be able to move faster."

Instead of setting her on her feet, he swung her forward as he released her, giving her aflying start toward the door. "Run!" He turned and fired down the corridor to discouragetheir pursuers. "Ill catch up to you."

She had no intention of leaving him, but she didnt waste time arguing. A policemanemerged from an alcove beside the door and brought his gun to bear on Kyles back.

Angie wasnt trained in combat. Not like her brother or Kyle. Or Sarah, the woman Kylehad wanted to marry. Most of the battles she fought were against bureaucracy. Wordswere her weapons. The closest shed come to martial arts had been a few slowmotionlessons in Tai Chi. So it was nothing but instinct that guided her motions as she lifted her skirt and kicked out.

Her shoe flew off and whirled through the air, but her foot connected solidly with the

mans wrist. It knocked off his aim. The bullet burrowed into the wall beside Kyleshead.

Kyle spun and fired, dropping the man before he could get off another shot. "I told you toget out of here, Gonzales!"

She shook her head. "Not without you."

He leapt to her side and shoved open the door just as splinters exploded from thedoorframe.

Kyle squeezed off a few more rounds behind him, then grabbed Angies hand and hauledher outside.

The night air was thick with humidity, the buzzing hum of insects and the sound of shouted commands from within the building. A floodlight on the wall beside the door revealed a row of police vehicles surrounded by a chainlink fence topped by coils of razor wire. A gate topped by more razor wire appeared to be the only way out.


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Unfortunately, it was chained shut.

Chapter Seven

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Angie couldnt see any way out of the compound, but Kyle didnt slow down. She kickedoff her remaining shoe to keep up with him as he led her to a van at the end of the row of

parked vehicles. He smashed in the drivers window, reached inside and unlocked thedoor.

She brushed through the crumbs of glass that covered the seat and clambered over thestick shift to the passenger side. She didnt see what he did to the ignition switch, yet shewasnt surprised when she heard the engine turn over. Kyle was trained to do whatever ittook to accomplish a mission.

The engine roared as the van shot backward.

She risked a peek between the seats. They were accelerating. Through the windows in therear door she could see the gate coming up fast. Policemen were running toward it, their weapons trained on the van. "Kyle, look out!"

He reached over to push her head down. Bullets tore through the back of her seat and punched spiderweb holes in the windshield. Kyle spun the wheel, swinging the van in atight circle as he shifted into a forward gear. The police scattered.

"Hang on, Gonzales!" he yelled.

The front bumper rammed the gate dead center. Metal screeched and buckled. The chainthat held the gate together didnt give, but the vehicles momentum was enough to tear one side from its hinges. Sparks flew from the undercarriage as they scraped past thefence. An instant later they were clear.

The van hurtled forward. Above the squeal of the tires and the noise of the engine, sirenswhined to life. Kyle wound through the streets, turning at random, taking full advantageof their head start to put distance between them and their pursuers.

Angie lost track of time. All she knew was that when he finally slowed to pull into adarkened gas station, she could no longer hear any sirens.

She could hear her pulse, though. It was banging in her ears like thunder.

Kyle shut off the engine and twisted to look at her. They had reached the outskirts of town. There werent any streetlights among the buildings. The only illumination wasfrom the moon, making his battered face seem even grimmer than it had in the jail cell."Are you okay?" he asked.


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Of course, she wasnt okay. They could have been killed. She was so scared, her teethwere chattering. "Just pppeachy."

He stroked her hair, then smoothed his palms over her shoulders and down her arms."Were you hit?"

She wiped her eyes. His touch steadied her. "No. You?"

"Im fine."

"That was some driving."

"That was some screaming."

She tried to laugh, but it came out as a sob. "Why did you stop?"

He cupped her chin. "Were out of gas."

She felt a tremor in his hand. Hed said he was fine, but

"Gonzales." His voice roughened. He leaned closer.

Thats when she saw the fresh blood on his shirt.

Chapter Eight

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Angie jerked her chin from Kyles grasp to focus on his shirt. Blood glistened in themoonlight that came through the bulletriddled windshield. "Youre hurt!"

He looked at her mouth. "Mmm?"

"Why didnt you tell me?" She tore open his buttons. Had she thought shed known fear before? That was nothing compared to the terror that froze her heart now. She spread hisshirt apart, dreading what she might find but determined to do something. Anything.They couldnt have gotten this far only for her to lose him now.

"Its no big deal."

Thank God, she could see nothing wrong with his chest. In fact, it was perfect. Beautiful.Broad and muscular, as if sculpted by a master. Although the skin above his ribs on theleft side was smeared with blood, there was no hole. "Sure. Youre such a tough guy,

bullets dont bother you."

"Nope, I get paid extra for them."


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His attempt at humor made her vision blur. She blinked to clear her eyes. "Well, thatexplains your brilliant plan to abduct me. If youd run any slower, you could havecollected enough bullets to retire."

"Youre just ticked because you didnt get to drive."

She stretched past the steering wheel to ease the shirt off his shoulder. "We would have been halfway to the border if I had."

"Ive seen the way you handle a car. My grandmother gets more speed out of her walker."

Blood beaded along a line that angled across the top of his biceps. His sleeve was ripped.She carefully peeled it farther down his arm, braced one knee on the gearshift consoleand leaned across him for a better look.

He grasped her hips. She assumed it was to steady her. "Stop fussing," he said. "Its just a

scratch. A piece of razor wire came through the window when we rammed the gate."

The line deepened to a ragged gash above his elbow, where a rivulet of blood ran downhis arm and soaked into his bunchedup shirt.

Her stomach rolled at the sight. She felt a stinging ache in her own arm. She swallowedhard. "You call that a scratch? Dont be a wuss." She stripped his shirt off completely,tore a wide piece from the side that was dry and wrapped it firmly around his wound."My cat draws more blood than that."

"Hey, I liked that shirt."

"It was a fashion crime. No wonder the cartel had you thrown in jail."

"Speaking of the cartel, if youre finished playing doctor, I need to get some gas."

"Ill help."

"Stay put. After three days in that basement cell, I could use the air."

She touched her fingertips to his chest. "I understand."

"Yeah, I know you do." He was silent for a while. He pressed his hand over hers,warming her palm against his skin. "Gonzales?"

"What?"

"Thanks for coming to get me."

"Thats what friends are for."


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He tightened his jaw, his nostrils flaring as if he were in pain.

Chapter NinePrint this Page

Angie had wrapped the gash on Kyles arm, but how could she have forgotten about hisother injuries? Once again, she pulled away from his grasp. "Is it your ribs? The police

beat you up pretty badly, didnt they?"

Instead of replying, he shoved his door open and stepped out of the van. He rubbed hisface hard, then rounded the hood, walked past the gas pump and disappeared into theshadows of the gas station. She heard the tinkle of breaking glass.

Concerned, she opened her door and followed him. Shed gone only a few feet before shewas reminded shed lost her shoes. She continued across the dirt yard more gingerly."Kyle?"

He emerged from the shadows with a crowbar in his hand. "I thought I told you to stay put."

"I thought you might need help."

"Right, because youre my friend," he muttered. "My buddy."

"Why are you so cranky?"

"You got involved in this situation because of me. Its up to me to get you out. Thatswhat Im trying to do."

"It was my choice to come. Dont feel guilty."

He returned to the pump. It was an oldfashioned mechanical model. He used thecrowbar to pop open the lock and turned it on. "Then dont feel sorry for me."

"Sorry for you?" She moved beside the van on her tiptoes, trying to avoid the rocks in thedirt. "What gave you that idea?"

"Im no genius like Sarahs husband, but I can recognize a pattern."

Surprise left her momentarily speechless. This was the first time shed heard him mentionthe man his former fiance had married. Hed spoken easily, as if Sarahs desertion no


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longer hurt, yet how couldnt it? Regardless of how brief this latest imprisonment had been, it must have stirred painful memories of the other one. "Pattern?" she asked.

He started filling the tank. "I realize I was a mess when I came back from the MiddleEast. I appreciate the way you stood by me. It couldnt have been easy for you, trying to

be a friend to both Sarah and me."

No, it hadnt been easy. Shed loved them both, so shed understood both sides. "I onlywanted to help."

"You did. You kept me sane."

It was a perfect straight line, but she didnt even consider making the obvious quip. "Itwas your own strength that helped you recover, Kyle."

"And yet youre still trying to take care of me."

"Im not."

"You must have pulled strings to organize my rescue."

"Not alone. The guys from Eagle Squadron wanted in on it, too."

"Sure, but you took point. You bandaged my arm and now you worry about my bruises.Youve been doing that for four years. Im a big boy. I dont need your pity, anymore."

I never acted out of pity, Kyle. I acted out of love.

The words shed held inside rose from her heart to her lips.

But there was so much to say, where should she start?

Chapter Ten

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Angie pressed closer to the van, watching the play of moonlight on Kyles bareshoulders. Even when he did something as mundane as pumping gas, she still couldntget enough of him. Her fingers tingled with the urge to touch him. Her throat was thick with the words she longed to say.

I love you, Kyle. I have from the moment we met.


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Only, the first time theyd met had been at her best friends engagement party. Angie hadmade herself smile and shake Kyles hand and hoped that no one had noticed how

breathless his touch had left her. What choice had she had? The only way she could keep both people in her life was to hide her feelings, which was excuse number one. Andtheyd seemed happy, providing excuse number two.

I love you, Kyle. No matter what they said when you went missing ten years ago, I knew you hadnt died because I felt you in my soul.

When everyone else had been struggling to handle their grief, confessing her feelingswould only have caused more pain. A third excuse. Shed been glad when Sarah hadgone on with her life and found another man to love, and not just for Sarahs sake. Shed

been delighted because it had meant Kyle would be free when he returned.

I love you, Kyle. If youd chosen me, I would have waited forever.

But he hadnt chosen her, and he hadnt been free, either. The broken engagement thathad delighted her had shattered his faith in love. How could she have revealed that her sympathy for him and the friendship she offered were totally selfserving? She wouldhave lost his trust. Being his friend was the only way she could stay close to him, soshed accepted the role and had protected her heart with excuses.

Angie had acquired a vast supply of those. Each one was like a piece of armortheywere heavy to carry, they hampered her freedom, yet they had grown vital to her survival.In its own way, love was as perilous as war.

Kyle returned the nozzle to the pump and tightened the gas cap. "Did the team give you

coordinates for the rendezvous?"

His tone was all business, as if he were speaking to a fellow soldier. Now, wasnt it agood thing she had that armor on? She withdrew her phone from her suit jacket, punchedup the map Eagle Squadron had loaded and held the display toward him.

He grasped her wrist to study the screen.

As always, the sensation of Kyles skin on hers warmed her to her bones. Oh, Kyle. Dont you feel that? Do I really need to tell you? She lifted her free hand to smooth hishair. "Kyle, Ive never pitied you. I"

Her words trailed off. The tiny red dot from a laser sight was moving across his forehead.

Without another thought, Angie shoved him backward.

Gunfire erupted from the darkness.


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Chapter Eleven

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Kyle wrapped his arms around Angies hips and tackled her to the ground. Bullets struck the dirt beside them. He clamped his hand above her elbow and dragged her underneaththe van with him. "Slide to the drivers side and get in," he ordered. "Ill distract them."

"No! I wont leave you."

"Dammit, Gonzales. Just do what I say for once, okay?"

"But I wouldnt be able to start the engine, anyway. Theres no key."

"Hell, you think Id let you drive?"

"Then why"

"Make you go first?" he finished.

"Yes."

"Because otherwise, I might trample you. Hasnt anyone told you that you run like agirl?"

A bullet struck close enough to send a spray of grit against her bare feet. She pulledherself forward with her elbows and inched past him on her belly. "Fine. Just dont try todo something noble."

He stretched his arm in front of the rear wheel. He appeared to be reaching for thecrowbar hed used to unlock the gas pump. It was lying on the ground half a foot fromthe van. "No problem. Chivalry is highly overrated."

She hesitated. Selfpreservation was trumped by her fear for Kyle. "That crowbars nomatch for a gun."

"If we had a bullhorn maybe you could talk the cartels boys to death."

"You dont think theyre police?"

"No, there arent enough of them. And I didnt hear sirens."

He was right. From what shed seen of the lowbudget local authorities, they wouldnthave weapons with laser sights, either. "Wheres that pistol you stole?"


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"In the van." He wedged his shoulder against the tire and made another quick butunsuccessful snatch for the crowbar. Bullets hit the dirt where his hand had been. "Butits empty," he added. "Just in case you had any ideas about playing Annie Oakley."

She pressed her cheek to the ground to look behind the van. Muzzle flashes pierced the

darkness on the far side of the gas station with each round that was fired. They seemed to be drawing nearer. "Kyle"

"Got it!" He finally grabbed the crowbar. An instant later, he sent it skimming across theground and into the gas pump. The impact knocked the hose loose. Gasoline trickledfrom the nozzle to the dirt.

A fresh volley of bullets hit the back bumper. One struck the steel frame, raining sparksfrom the undercarriage.

Angie looked from the sparks to the spreading puddle of fuel. Understanding dawned.

"Youre certifiable, Captain Jackson!"

He groped for a rock and flung it at the nozzle. The trickle of gas turned into a gurglingflow. "I do my best."

As quickly as she could, she slithered the rest of the way from beneath the van and threwherself through the open drivers door.

Kyle was right behind her. She was still scrambling over the gearshift when he crammedhimself behind the wheel.

The engine roared to life just as the gasoline puddle ignited.

Chapter Twelve

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Flames whooshed from the gasolinesoaked dirt. "Kyle!" Angie screamed.

"I see it. Brace yourself!" He popped the clutch and fishtailed out of the lot.

Her head hit the roof as the van bounced onto the road. She twisted to kneel on her seat,and looked through the bulletpocked windows in the rear doors.

The flames had spread along the hose to the gas pump. It was glowing like a torch. Thegunfire had stopped. Maybe the men from the cartel had given up.

The hope was shortlived. A set of headlights appeared on the far side of the gas station.A black SUV burst from the shadows. It was nearly to the street when the stationsunderground reservoir exploded.


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Angie covered her face with her hand to shield her eyes from the fireball. The force of the blast lifted the rear wheels of the van off the ground. The black SUV was tossed into theair.

Kyle slung his arm across her back to hold her in place. "Hang on!"

She hugged the seat. Her teeth clacked together hard as the van thumped back down. TheSUV cartwheeled past them, spinning like a giant toy, until it crashed into a palm tree.

Kyle swerved around the wreckage and sped out of town.

It took a while for Angie to uncoil from her crouch on the seat. It took longer for her heartbeat to steady itself. She stared at the empty road in front of them, distantly aware of her scraped knees and ringing ears.

But the physical discomforts meant nothing. Against all odds, they were still alive.

She turned her head to watch Kyle drive. The binding over the gash on his left arm wasdull with dirt. So was his chest. The bruise on his cheek appeared darker. The moon was

beginning to set, so she couldnt see much of his expression. Yet there was enough lightto see the gleam of his teeth.

He was smiling. What an impossible man. Before she could stop herself, she punched hisshoulder.

"Hey, what was that for?"

"You could have barbecued us!"

"I didnt," he pointed out.

"Remind me never to let you plan a distraction."

"It was spectacular. Admit you enjoyed it."

"Enjoyed it!" She hit him again. "I should have held out for hazard pay."

He caught her fist in his hand. "Dont worry. With any luck, Ill have you home in time to

feed your cat."

She looked at the darkness beyond their headlights. "Do you know where youre going?"

"Sure. You showed me a map on your phone, remember?"

"My cell phone! We must have left"


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"Relax. Its in my pocket." He pulled her phone from his jeans and passed it over.

It still carried the warmth of his body. She swallowed. "Thanks."

"Thanks for pushing me out of the way when the bullets started flying."

"What are friends for?"

Kyles smile faded. He yanked the wheel hard to the right and drove off the road.

Chapter Thirteen

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Kyle steered across a rockstrewn hillside and coasted into what looked like a bean field.Clouds of dust drifted past the headlights. The crest of the hill concealed them from theroad. Angie barely had time to absorb the fact that they were no longer moving before theheadlights flicked off, along with the engine.

"Whats wrong?" she asked. "Why did you stop?"

"Give me a minute."

She laid the backs of her fingers across his forehead. "I could drive for a while if youneed a rest."

"Im not tired."

It sounded as if he had spoken through his teeth. She dropped her hand to his shoulder and found his muscles were humming with tension. She kneaded the knot at the base of his neck. "Youve done more than enough. I wasnt counting on your help when I

planned this rescue."

"If you believe I would have let you do it alone, then you dont know me at all."

Oh, she knew him. Every proud, stubborn inch of him. "Okay, blowing up the gas stationwasnt that bad an idea. Im grateful for your, ah, creative thinking."

"Hey, what are friends for?"

That was what shed just said to him, only she hadnt said it as if she were chewing amouthful of broken glass. Obviously, he was angry. She caressed the place where shed

punched him. "Im sorry I hit you."

"Did it make you feel better?"


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She considered the question. Yes, acting on her impulse had made her feel better. Shewasnt sure why. "I didnt want to hurt you. I guess I needed aan outlet."

"An outlet," he repeated. His voice sounded strained.

"Sometimes in tense circumstances, emotions can get confused."

He fisted one hand on the steering wheel. "Im not confused. Im thinking more clearlythan I have in years."

By now, her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Though the moon was almost down, starsstill twinkled above the field, lending a silvery sparkle to Kyles eyes. She touched her fingertip to one of the lines that bracketed his mouth. "Dont be angry with me."

"If Im angry, its at the situation, not you."

"I understand."

"No, I dont think you do, Angie."

"Then explain it to me. We can spare a few minutes to talk this out. I can feel how tenseyou" Her voice trailed off.

Hed called her Angie.

That was a first. Hed called her Gonzales from the time Sarah had introduced them.Hed joked that it was to help tell her apart from Gonzo. Shed never asked him to call

her anything else, because shed hoped that his use of her surname would mean he wouldtreat her like one of the guys. It also would be a constant reminder to her of the distanceshe had to keep between them.

But shed always longed to hear her given name on his lips.

She looked at Kyles mouth.

It was only inches from hers.

Chapter Fourteen

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Angie moistened her lips. They tingled. Merely having them so close to Kyles made her breathing hitch. Shed yearned for his kiss for so long, how could she be sure this wasntmore wishful thinking?


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This was no dream. It appeared he was going to kiss her for real.

Then again, would it be real? Or would it simply be an outlet for his tension, no moregenuine than the punches shed given him?

Shed known all along that these few days of imprisonment would have stirred up painfulemotions for Kyle. Shed seen evidence of that in his brief displays of ill humor, and inthe way his muscles had hardened whenever shed touched him. The last time hedescaped from a prison, hed come home to loneliness and heartbreak.

Was that why he wanted to kiss her? Was he confusing her with Sarah? Was he trying to purge his emotions?

Did it matter?

Hell, no. Angie would take whatever she could get. Sure, one kiss wouldnt change the

pattern of a decade.

But it was a start.

Chapter Fifteen

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Angie laid her palms on Kyles chest.

"Dont push me away, Gonzales." His lips brushed across hers as gently as his whisperedwords. "Please."

She slid her hands to his shoulders. "Not on your life, Captain Jackson. This could turnout to be one of your better ideas"

That was all she had time to say before he tightened his grip on the back of her head andfitted his mouth over hers.

Dreams couldnt compare to reality. In Angies fantasies, Kyle had never had a three days growth of unshaved whiskers that bristled against her skin. There hadnt been ascabbedover split in his lower lip. He hadnt smelled of dust and gasoline, nor had they

been parked on a bean field in a bashedup, bulletscarred van.

Yet it made no difference. This was the man she loved. She greedily absorbed everysensation, unlocking her heart to store each detail of the kiss inside. She knew that thingscould revert to normal when they got home, but she wouldnt think about that now. Shedidnt want to consider where they were or how much time they had, either, so she lacedher fingers behind his neck and pulled him closer.


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The van rocked as his knee clunked hard against the gearshift and one elbow tapped thehorn. The kiss became a shared smile. Kyle drew her lower lip between his teeth and bitdown gently. She countered by pinching his earlobes. He licked her nose. She tickled hisarmpit.

With a growl, he threw one leg over the console, clasped her face in his hands and kissedher as if

As if he really meant it.

Angie no longer felt like smiling. She closed her eyes against a rush of tears. Maybe thiswasnt such a good idea. Now that shed tasted him, how could she be content to bemerely his friend?

Kyle lifted his head. His breathing was as ragged as hers. "Do you feel that?"

Yes, Kyle, its love. Two hearts beating together

Gradually, she became aware that it wasnt her heartbeat she heard. The van wassqueaking. The bumping she felt wasnt from her pulse. It was from the tires rollingacross clods of dirt.

"Were moving," Kyle said. He pushed himself off her and climbed back behind thewheel. "Guess I knocked it out of gear."

So much for their romantic interlude. She wished she could have laughed. Instead, shewiped her cheeks. "We should get going, anyway."

"Yeah, we" He swore as he pumped his foot to the floor. "Weve got no brakes."

"What?"

"The fire must have melted the lines."

The van nosed downward. Angie heard the whistle of air past the windows. They wererolling downhill, picking up speed at an alarming rate.

He flicked on the headlights.

They had gone past the field. The headlights reflected from bare rock. Beyond that, therewas only darkness.

Angie dug her fingernails into the dashboard. "Uh, Kyle, is that a cliff? "


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Chapter Sixteen

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"Thats a cliff, all right!" Kyle stomped on the clutch, started the van and jammed thegearshift into reverse. The engine screamed. Pebbles and dirt flew from the tires.

For an instant they hung motionless. The edge was no more than twenty yards ahead, a pale line against the dark void of the sky. Angie tried to convince herself that it would beall right. Theyd broken out of jail. Theyd dodged bullets. Theyd escaped an explosion.There was no way they were going to be done in by gravity. Especially after theydfinally

She gritted her teeth. She would not think about that kiss.

The darkness was drawing nearer. Theyd started to slide forward once more. Kylegoosed the engine. He managed to slow their descent, but it was clear now that hecouldnt stop it. The tires had spun down to bare rock. They had nothing to grip.

Angie pushed her feet to the floor, as if she could will the vehicle to stop. She shoutedover the noise of the engine. "If you have any more brilliant ideas, this would be a goodtime."

"Jump. Ill try to keep it steady."

"Did you say"

"Jump!" he repeated. "Flatten out when you hit. Grab whatever you can."

"What about you?"

He fought to keep the wheel straight. "Tell Eagle Squadron the cartel hired El Gato. Hesgoing to kill our envoy to Rocama."

"I dont give a damn about your mission!" she shrieked. "Its not worth your life."

"Get out now. I cant hold it much longer."

"Im not going anywhere without you."

"Gonzales"

"Open your door, Kyle."

"Dammit, the longer you argue, the less chance youll have."


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"I wont leave you!" She pushed her door open. Its weight ripped the handle out of her hand as it fell forward. "We go together or not at all."

"Angie"

"On three. Ready?"

"Okay, okay." He was practically standing on the gas pedal now. He shoved open hisdoor. "And you called me certifiable!"

She gripped the doorframe and balanced on the running board. "One! Two!"

Before she could get to three, Angie felt a hard shove in the center of her back. She was propelled clear of the van. Even as she flew through the air, she realized what Kyle haddone.

She hit the ground on her side and skidded across the rock until she came to a stopagainst a jutting boulder. She rolled to her knees just in time to see the vans taillightsdisappear over the edge of the cliff. "Kyle!"

There was no reply. Only the sound of tearing metal and breaking glass. It seemed to goon forever, echoing from the darkness. She crawled to the edge and looked over just asthe gas tank exploded. For the second time that night, she had to shield her eyes from afireball.

Flames lit the floor of a narrow valley. There was no sign of movement among the rocksand scattered wreckage.

No sign of life.

Chapter Seventeen

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Angie stared at the burning wreck below until her eyes stung and her throat swelled shutfrom the smoke. No one could have survived the fire or the fall from the cliff. In her head, she knew that, but in her heart she wouldnt accept it.

She didnt care how things looked. Kyle couldnt be dead. The connection theyd forgedwas too strong. She would know if it had broken. She would have felt it snap, wouldntshe?

Youll come back to me, Kyle. Just as you did before. I wont give up.


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She pushed to her feet and looked around, searching for a way down to the valley floor.The light of the fire didnt reach this far, yet she was able to distinguish more shapes thanshe had earlier. Streaks of orange tinted the eastern sky. Dawn wasnt far off.

Almost fortyeight hours had passed since shed heard that Kyle had been captured. Two

days of agonizing, desperate hope. They couldnt end like this. She wouldnt believe it."Kyle!" she shouted.

Her voice was as raw as her emotions. Nevertheless, she continued to call as she movedalong the cliff until she reached the spot where the van had gone over the edge. Shetraced a skid mark with her toes.

Hed lied. Hed never intended to jump with her. Hed only wanted to give her the extraseconds that had saved her life. The stubborn, maddening, ridiculous man. When she sawhim again, she was going to punch him so hard

But first, she was going to kiss him senseless, as she should have done a long time ago.

Her tears overflowed. They dripped from her chin, they trickled under her collar and theyseeped into the corners of her mouth. What a fool shed been. For ten years shed been

playing it safe and biding her time, but all the armor in the world couldnt protect her from the pain she felt now.

One by one, the excuses shed hidden behind peeled away. So what if Kyle had chosenSarah first? That had happened before hed met Angie. Sarahs connection with himcouldnt have been as strong as hers. The fact that Sarah hadnt waited for him proved it.What if Angie had listened to her heart and had fought for him from the beginning? What

if shed won? She could have saved them all years of heartache.

It wasnt only Kyles fault he continued to view her as a friend. Angie had never encouraged him to see her any other way. They both were responsible for the pattern of their relationship. For all she knew, he was as dissatisfied with it as she was.

Love, like war, was no place for cowards. Shed been so afraid of losing Kyle that shednever tried to win him.

Too bad the realization had come too late.

"No!" she said. "I wont believe it." She backed away from the edge of the cliff.

And tripped over Kyles legs.

Chapter Eighteen

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26/30

Angie windmilled her arms but couldnt regain her balance. She came down besideKyles hip with her legs draped over his.

He lay on his back in a patch of low brush. Blood smeared a rock beside his head. Helooked as lifeless as hed first seemed in the jail cell.

"Dont you dare die on me, Kyle Jackson!" She knelt beside him and touched her fingertips to his neck, searching for a pulse. But her hand was shaking too badly to senseanything. "No way. Were not done yet, buddy."

His arms were flung out to his sides, his fingers lax.

"Wake up. Its almost dawn." She grabbed his hand and squeezed it between hers."Weve got to make the rendezvous."

Though he still didnt move, his skin was warm. That had to be a good sign. Sobbing, she

pressed her ear to his chest. "Kyle, please. Dont leave me again."

There was no mistaking the heartbeat that thudded beneath her cheek. She felt its echoesall the way to her soul.

Her tears flowed faster, soaking into her hair and mixing with the dust that covered hisskin.

"Angie?"

She lifted her head, and found herself looking into a pair of hazel eyes as gentle as a

forest in springtime. "Kyle!"

He touched her face. His brow furrowed. "Youre crying. What"

"Are you all right? No, thats a stupid question. Of course, you arent. You hit your head.Theres blood on the rock." She shoved herself off him and dried her face on her sleeve."I shouldnt be lying on you. You could have broken bones."

He lifted his hand and cautiously probed the back of his head, then flexed his arms andlegs. Ignoring her protests, he pushed up on his elbows. "Im fine. I just got knockedout."

"Like Im supposed to believe anything you say after you promised you would jump withme."

"I did jump."

She pointed past him. Her arm trembled. "Do you see where you landed? Another splitsecond and you would have gone over the edge!"


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He shrugged. "So I cant count."

"You" The pattern was starting again. Angie swallowed the retort she wanted to make.Without another word, she braced her hands on the ground beside Kyles shoulders,leaned over and kissed him.

She tried to be careful. He likely had a concussion, and the split in his lip must be sore.But how on earth could she hold back when shed wasted too many years already?

Kyle responded with more enthusiasm than she would have believed possible. In spite of what theyd just gone throughor maybe because of ithe wrapped his arms around her and pulled her firmly down on top of him.

Their bodies nestled together as naturally as if theyd been lovers forever. For a few priceless minutes the world faded

"What the hell? "

The mans voice had come from directly over her shoulder.

Kyle rolled Angie off him and sprang to his feet.

Chapter Nineteen

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Angie had been too immersed in the kiss to hear anyone approach. Evidently, so hadKyle. A pair of large men stood not two yards away from them. Theyand the rifles theyheldwere silhouetted against the dawn sky.

Had the cartel found them? This was her fault. Shed known they were a long way fromsafety. She should have realized the potential danger of indulging her feelings. Shescrambled to her feet.

Kyle placed himself in front of her, shielding her with his body. His fists tightened, butthe rest of his muscles seemed oddly relaxed. "Your timing sucks, Norton."

"No, Id say it was perfect. Better me than Gonzo. Youre already beat up enough."

Angie belatedly recognized the voice. She looked past Kyles shoulder.

Sergeant Jack Norton gave her a twofingered salute along with an easy smile. "Hey,Angie. Is this guy giving you trouble?"


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She clutched Kyles arm, her knees suddenly weak. After all the emotions shed had todeal with in the last fortyeight hours, who would have thought that relief would hit her the hardest?

These men werent from the police or the cartel. They were soldiers from Eagle

Squadron.

"Jack," she said. "What are you doing here? How did you find us?"

"We followed your phone."

"My phone?"

"We put in a tracking device along with that map."

She looked at Kyle. He didnt appear surprised by Jacks revelation. "You guessed?"

"Its what I would have done."

She poked him in the ribs. "Thats why you gave it back to me, isnt it?"

"I wanted to make sure you were found," he said, catching her hand. "Wheres the rest of the team, junior?"

"Scouting the area," the second man replied. It was Sergeant Matheson, Eagle Squadronsnew ordnance specialist. He nodded toward the hill behind them. "Someone else mighthave noticed the trail of explosions you left. The choppers waiting over that rise, so if

you two are ready?"

"Lets go," Kyle said, scooping Angie into his arms.

She was too shocked to struggle. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" He started up the hill. "Im carrying you."

The two commandos took up protective positions a few strides away, scanning their surroundings methodically as they moved.

Angie brought her head closer to Kyles. "Dont be absurd. Youre hurt. You probablyhave a concussion."

"You have no shoes."

"I can walk."

"Youll slow us down."


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"You told me chivalry was overrated."

"I like holding you. You got a problem with that?"

The muscles in his arms flexed across her back and under her thighs. Her body rubbed

against his chest with each step he took. The scent of warm male enveloped her. Shesighed and looped her arm around his neck. "I suppose I could put up with it."

"Good. We need to talk about that kiss."

She glanced at their escort. "Uh, maybe we could discuss it later."

"Not a chance, Gonzales. This has waited long enough."

Chapter Twenty

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Angie knew how Kyle felt. If the last fortyeight hours had taught her anything, it wasthat time was too precious to squander, and so was love.

The sun crested the horizon, bathing the hillside in warm gold. In its light, Kyles injurieswere more apparent than ever. They didnt detract from his handsomeness. To her, theywere physical evidence of the strength he had inside. She laid her hand against his cheek."Ive waited a long time to be honest with you, Kyle."

He kissed her palm. "Youve always been honest."

She shook her head. "Youre wrong. I never told you the truth about how I really feel."

He stopped moving and set her on her feet. "You did tell me. You just never put it intowords."

"Kyle"

"I work in Intelligence, Angie. I figured it out years ago, but Im through waiting for youto face it."

"Face what?"

"That you love me."

"Excuse me, folks. Our rides set to leave in six minutes."

At Jacks voice, she started. Shed momentarily forgotten about their Eagle Squadronescort. The helicopter was already warming up. The other members of the team were


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converging on the hill. She spotted her brother in the distance, his rifle slung over hisshoulder.

Kyle must have seen him, too. "Do me a favor, Norton? Keep Gonzo busy for five."

"Thatll be tough. He wants to kill you for getting his little sister mixed up in your latest prison break."

Angie whirled on him. "You tell him to mind his own business. This was my choice."

"Some choice," Matheson put in. "You threatened to come on your own if we didnthelp."

Kyle looked at her. "Did you?"

That wasnt all shed done. The strings shed pulled to rescue him had reached to the

White House. "I might have."

"That proves my point. Youve shown me in a hundred different ways that you love me.Coming to rescue me was only one of them."

Jack winked as he moved off. Matheson gave Kyle a slap on the back that would havefelled a smaller man. "You have five minutes," he said. "Make them count."

Kyle waited until the pair of commandos had left, then linked his hands behind Angieswaist and drew her against him. "I dont know why you persist in this friendship thing,

but it stops now, understand? A friend doesnt make my blood heat every time she

touches me. A friend doesnt haunt my dreams. You love me."

For almost a decade shed wondered how shed confess her love to Kyle. Shed never imagined he would be telling her. "I love you," she repeated.

"Damn right." He rested his forehead against hers. "In case you havent noticed, I loveyou, too."

"You love me?"

"I wouldnt drive off a cliff for just anyone."

She choked on a sob that turned into a laugh. "Oh, Kyle. Lets go home."

"As long as Im with you, Angie, were already there."

The End

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in love n war