In His Sights, page 25
“But what?”
Great. Now what did he say?
“But I don’t know anyone there, anymore and…”
“You know me.”
Was she trying to help him out? Shit, he could only hope so.
“Yeah. I guess I do.” Maybe he should bring up the whole feelings thing. He glanced up at the front seat and caught Moss’s glance and raised brow. Naw, he’d be ribbed endlessly by his team if they knew the truth. He had to get her alone. “Do you want to, uh, maybe go out to dinner, tonight?”
“With you?”
His jaw tightened. “Yes.”
“What about Amanda?”
Moss glanced again in the rearview mirror, his ears tuned into their conversation just like Cole had feared. “I could stay with her, if you want,” he offered.
Callie hesitated. “I think that would be all right. Do you mind if I check with her, first? After what she’s been through…”
Moss’s eyes went back to the road. “I can see where it might be difficult being in a room with a strange man.”
Cursing at his insensitivity for forgetting about the other woman, Cole grimaced. “Never mind. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Callie touched his hand. “I’m not saying no. I just want to check with Amanda. I’d like to go out with you, if that’s okay?”
His heart lifted just a little. “Great.”
“But first, I need to buy a new outfit.” She glanced down at the business suit she’d grabbed off a rack as she’d headed to the Capitol building. “Can we stop on the way to the restaurant?”
He’d love nothing more than to stop on the way. But it had nothing to do with buying clothes and everything to do with shedding them.
“Hey,” said Moss, yanking his attention back and making him wonder if his friend had read his thoughts. “There’s a little complication I just remembered.”
“What’s that?”
“Dr. Nascimento has a doctor’s appointment.”
“I do?”
“Yes. General Markesan wants you to head straight from here to Walter Reed and let the docs look you over.”
“That’s really nice of him. I’m sure everything’s okay, though.”
Cole shook his head. “I think it’s a good idea. You’ve just spent a week marching through the jungle.”
“So our dinner date is off?”
“Well…” What was he supposed to say? “We could go afterwards if you want.”
Moss glanced at them through the mirror. “I’ll drop you off.”
“I’d still like to talk to Amanda, so could we go by there, first? I could take a taxi to the medical center afterward.”
Now was his chance. Cole could talk to her on the way. “I could go with you, if you want.”
“I do.” Her fingers slid through his. “Thanks.”
He smiled. Life was good.
* * *
Cole held her hand while the technician squirted gel over the growing bulge on her tummy. Her muscles rippled at the icy sensation, and Micah twisted inside of her, making her smile.
“What?” Cole asked.
She wasn’t sure he’d want to be in the examination room with her, but he hadn’t balked when she’d asked. Maybe if he saw the baby on the ultrasound, she could get some idea of how he felt about them both.
“I think even the baby feels how cold this is. What did you want to talk to me about anyway?”
Cole glanced at the technician. “It can wait.”
She wished she knew what he was thinking, but military men were pros at keeping their emotions wrapped up tight. It still made her uncomfortable, but she knew now that Cole was nothing like her stepfather. Maybe she should tell him about her background, so he’d understand how it made her feel. The man had kept his face empty and emotionless, even when spanking them to within an inch of their lives. It made her more afraid than if he’d burst into a rage. She’d often wondered if he could kill her, using just that blank stare.
Callie shuddered.
“Okay, hon?” the technician asked.
She forced a smile. “Fine.”
“I’m going to start the scan now.”
Cole’s hand tightened on hers as the image appeared on the screen.
“There’s his spine. Bladder. His…uh, do you already know the sex?”
Callie nodded. “It’s a boy.”
“That’s right. He’s got all the equipment in all the right places.” The woman’s teasing glance went to Cole as if he’d fathered the child. Callie wished more than anything that were true. But she wouldn’t change things, even if she could. This was her sister’s baby, part of her.
The technician moved the wand to another area of Callie’s abdomen. “The baby’s still in the head-up position, but that’s normal at this point.”
Callie turned her head to see if Cole was as amazed as she was. The baby had grown in the month since her last appointment. He was so well formed. Perfect.
“There’s his heart,” the technician went on, changing the angle of the scanner. “His head. Oh, he’s sucking his thumb. He’s a little doll.”
Callie’s eyes suddenly welled up and spilled over. She turned her head to the side, away from the screen and her shoulders shook, rattling the paper liner beneath her.
“Cal? What’s wrong?”
The technician rubbed her arm. “The baby’s just fine, hon. Nothing to worry about.”
Callie nodded, unable to say anything. Her hand tightened around Cole’s until she was clinging to him for dear life. He leaned over, sliding his cheek against hers. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. Your sister would be so happy that you fought for her baby’s survival, that he has someone like you to defend him once he comes into this world.”
He understood. Oh God, he understood why she was crying. The realization made the tears come harder, and she gripped his neck, pulling him down to her level and holding him close.
She heard a door close somewhere in the distance, but ignored everything but the man stroking gentle fingers across her forehead, down her temples.
Taking a deep shaky breath, she struggled for control and found it at last. “Thank you. I-I’m okay now.”
He leaned back and looked into her face. “You sure?”
“Maybe not on the outside, but inside where it counts.” She swiped at the tears, embarrassed for him to see her blubbering like this. “After all we’ve been through, now I cry.”
He bent close and kissed her. “You deserve to cry. Especially now.”
She glanced around and laughed. “I think I scared the technician away.”
“She wanted to give you some privacy.” He picked up a piece of paper. “She printed this off for you to take with you, though.”
It was Micah’s face, in beautiful 3-D, his thumb popped in his mouth, eyelids tightly fastened in sleep. He looked so snuggly and warm and…safe. “He’s safe now, isn’t he?”
“He is. We’ll make sure he stays that way.”
We? Callie wanted to say the word aloud. Wanted to ask him what he meant by it. She’d agonized over the you, you, you for the last two days. But she needed to be patient and see where this went.
Cole helped her sit up, and she noticed all the gunk still smeared over her stomach. “Can you hand me a paper towel, please?”
He ripped three from the dispenser, but instead of giving them to her, he cleared away the gel himself, rubbing in tiny circles. The room heated as she watched his hands sliding over her with such gentleness. Almost like…
Cole stopped. “Am I hurting you?”
“No.” Her voice had lowered an octave, coming out in a husky rasp.
He ran his fingers across her belly, checking to see if he’d missed any spots, all the while watching her eyes.
Putting her hand over his, she said, “I think you’d better stop.”
Cole pulled her white shirt over her stomach and handed her the suit jacket hung behind the door. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
He dragged his hands through his hair. “Hell, I don’t know. You act like you can’t stand me touching you.”
“I can’t.”
His eyes went from confused to stricken. But when he went to turn away, she reached out and stopped him.
“I can’t stand you touching me, because it makes me want what I can’t have.”
“Which is?”
Callie slid off the exam table and laid her palms on either side of his face. “You. I want you.”
He dragged her to him so fast that the wind rushed out of her lungs. His lips were on hers, and the next thing she knew she was pressed against the bed in the examining room wondering if he was going to take her right there. She didn’t care. He could. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he pulled away. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
She shook her head, struggling to catch her breath. “There’s a problem with that plan.”
“What?” His face stilled.
“We both have roommates.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.”
His look of disappointment was so complete that she couldn’t help stepping next to him and running her fingers down his chest until they hooked into his waistband. She pulled him closer. “You do realize, Cole, that there are always other hotels…other rooms.”
“Lead the way, woman.”
Callie shrugged into her jacket and picked up her new purse. As she started toward the door, Cole stopped her with a look. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What?”
He picked up the image of the sonogram and handed it to her. “The baby.”
She patted her stomach. “Don’t worry. I’ve got him right here. He’s not going anywhere for now.”
Hand in hand they headed for the door.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cole propped himself up with his elbow and stroked his fingers down the long straight line of Callie’s naked spine as he listened to her sigh in her sleep. He’d have to wake her before long. Moss and Amanda assumed they were on their way to dinner somewhere.
How did a man tell a woman he loved her, when he was scared to death that he wasn’t good enough for her? Scratch that. When he knew he was nowhere near good enough. When he knew he would eventually screw up big time and dreaded seeing the disappointment settle in her eyes?
How?
Cole didn’t know. He hadn’t meant to wind up in bed with her again until after he’d talked to her. But here he was.
Scalini Manic-ini strikes again. He could hear the kids chanting the nickname in his head.
Callie might think he was a hero right now. But how long before that shiny spray-on finish wore off and revealed the pitted reality beneath? But she was a psychiatrist. Surely she’d already seen everything there was to see—she’d certainly pegged him in almost every way.
Except one—her view of military men.
He reached down and kissed the warm joint between her neck and her shoulder.
“Ummm,” she murmured. “Keep that up, and I’ll never let you out of this room.”
Cole laughed, before turning serious. “Hey. I need to talk to you”
Rolling onto her back, she didn’t bother pulling the sheet over herself, just looked up into his eyes. “Okay.”
“Tell me about your stepfather.” If the man really was just a typical GI, then Callie would never be happy with someone like him. He’d seen the flash of anger in her eyes the few times she’d mentioned the man.
Callie sat up, her eyes cooling. “My stepfather? Why?”
“Because I’m trying to understand where you’re coming from.” He sat up as well.
She licked her lips. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“What kind of man was he?”
Her laugh was harsh. “He wasn’t like you, that’s for sure.”
“In what way?”
“He’s dead, Cole. Do we really need to do this?”
He brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “I want to know what makes you tick. Let’s start there. How did he die?”
“Suicide.”
He took a moment to digest that. Coming out of the service was tough, especially if you’d faced combat situations.
“You didn’t consider him a good parent.”
“No.”
“You mentioned he was cold and unfeeling.”
She turned and looked him in the face. “He was controlling. Violent, when he drank.”
Violent.
Anger rolled up his gut and lodged behind his eyes when he saw where this was going. “He hit you?”
“And my sister.”
“Shit.” He cupped her chin. “You think I’m like that?”
Closing her eyes she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her cheek against his. The soft sound of her breathing filled his ear…his heart. “No, Cole. I don’t. Like I said. You’re nothing like him.”
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. “My turn to tell you something.” As his lips met hers again, he decided now wasn’t the time. “No, I think I’ll wait until you get home. I want to surprise you.”
“Mmm,” she whispered as her hand wandered down his body and found its target, which was already hard and waiting. “You want to surprise me? I think you already have.”
* * *
Callie arrived at her apartment, exhausted from her day at her practice. It was hard to believe that three weeks ago she’d been pushing her way through a landmine-strewn country. She kicked off her black pumps and went to the window, looking down on the city. Her high-rise was surrounded by nothing wilder than pigeons and notoriously sneaky squirrels.
Thank heavens. She’d take the pigeons and the squirrels over snakes and landmines any day.
Amanda had flown home to Los Angeles yesterday, feeling strong enough to face her family and continue counseling with a professional Callie had located in her area. With time, she should recover from her ordeal, though some emotional scars would never completely heal.
Callie sighed and leaned a shoulder against the glass pane. Moss had been so protective of her while in Washington, that she’d expected him to call and ask about her, but the phone had remained silent.
That bothered her too. She’d been waiting for Cole to call and set up his visit. He said he had something to tell her.
Maybe he was on another assignment. She thought about trying to track him down, but how desperate would that look?
Very.
She crinkled her nose and watched the lights of the city pop on one by one. She didn’t understand it. They’d spent two wonderful days in Washington, sneaking away to the extra hotel room they’d rented so Moss and Amanda wouldn’t get suspicious. They’d talked about everything under the sun, including their childhoods.
Callie had been surprised when he asked about her stepfather. The abuse was hard to share, but she’d forced herself to tell him everything. She would never forget Cole’s face as he’d stared down at her, his brows drawn together in anger.
“Do you think I would treat a child that way? That I would treat you that way?”
She’d shaken her head, relieved the tiny niggling fear was off her chest and out of her mind. She’d seen the truth in his eyes. But those words were as close to a commitment as she’d gotten from him.
The L-word had not been mentioned again. By either of them. Besides, she’d already said it once. She couldn’t bear to say it again, until Cole made up his mind.
She went to the kitchen and flipped the switch on her electric kettle. She remembered her stepfather drinking coffee by the bucket load. Callie drank tea. Only tea. She realized it was an irrational reaction, but that was okay. Some childhood associations were better left behind.
Dunking her bag of Lady Grey, she took the cup and saucer into the living room, annoyed when the inter-apartment phone in the kitchen rang as soon as she sat down. Sighing, she padded back into tiny space and picked up the handset.
“Yes?”
“Callie, it’s Jean, dear. I’m at the main door. There’s a handsome young man here who wishes to speak with you.”
Her elderly neighbor, bless her heart, had taken it upon herself to screen Callie’s visitors whenever she happened to be at the main door to the building. Which was most of the time, since she loved nothing better than to drag her folding chair into the entryway and watch the comings and goings of everyone in the building.
“Who is it, Jean?” Callie knew better than try to speak directly to the person in question. Besides, she thought the woman’s protectiveness was quirky and sweet.
“What’s your name, young man?” Callie heard her ask.
“Cole, Cole Scalini, ma’am,” said a deep masculine voice directly into the intercom. Callie’s heart leaped and took off running. Evidently Cole had no compunction about bypassing the middleman—or woman.
“He says his name is Cole Scampi, dear. Do you know him?”
She laughed. Scampi? An easy enough mistake, since Cole was one scrumptious man.
Jean’s voice came back through before she had time to say anything. “Do you know him, dear?”
Did she? Oh God, she hoped so.
“Yes, I know him. You can let him up, Jean, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, dear.” The voice faded as the woman evidently turned her head to speak to Cole. “She said you were okay, so that’s good enough for me.”
Callie hung up the handset and flew into the bathroom, fluffing her hair the best she could. She settled for slapping some clear gloss on her lips and flicking on a quick coat of mascara. She curled her lip and made a face, before laughing again and hugging her expanding belly.
