Robbie released her hand and stepped back. He leaned slightly forward and flexed his chest and arm muscles. “Alice.” His serious tone contradicted the smirk on his lips and the teasing flex. “You have no idea how well-trained I am. I have no fear of some wraith who hides behind hired hit men. I’m stronger and better equipped to fight than most men on the earth. We’ve stayed safe with me unarmed and unprepared here in Europe. I’ll easily protect you at home.”
“Robbie. Stop,” she begged. She fully appreciated how strong he was, but it was terrifying that he thought he could stay safe. “This isn’t about protecting me. The guy isn’t after me. He’s after anyone I love.”
Hope flared in his gaze. “You … love me?”
“Robbie.” She shook her head, turning to climb out of the pool and run from the searching look in his bright blue eyes.
She didn’t move fast enough. It wasn’t a surprise with how quick Robbie could move. He swooped her against his chest, and she felt weightless in the pool water and being held by him.
“Alice, please say we have a chance. I told you I wouldn’t let the beard come between us. I won’t let a killer or my work come between us either. We’ll find a way. Please say you love me like I love you.”
“Robbie, I want to be with you, love you, build a future together. But you devastated me when you left fifteen years ago. Even if you can stay safe, how do we know that won’t happen again?”
“We won’t let it happen,” he promised. “We’re mature adults now, with experience and pain that has taught us lessons. I won’t walk away, and we won’t let anything come between us.”
Alice stared at him. Anything? Did he think her mother wouldn’t try to come between them? How would she manage that stickyrelationship? Her mother would be furious to find out Robbie was back in her life. What about his demanding and perilous career? How could that not come between them when he flew to some dangerous third-world country to infiltrate traffickers, drug lords, and crime bosses? What about Big Buddha wanting to kill him? It would only take one bullet from a hit man or asphyxiation like poor Odie or some other awful method of death.
Robbie didn’t wait for her to agree. He bent his head and claimed her lips with his.
Alice arched up into the kiss, deepening it and clinging to this man she loved.
For this moment, all the worries and risks floated away. She savored his kiss in their sanctuary and hoped her response conveyed how deeply she loved him. Shedidlove him, but tomorrow all the pain, and the fears, and real life would rear its ugly head.
She kissed him more fiercely, pushing tomorrow away. For now.
Chapter
Eighteen
Robbie didn’t wantto let Alice go that night, but they both returned to their respective suites to shower and sleep. The next morning, she was bright and happy. He could tell she was pretending and pushing the worries away, but they were snarling and barking at them like a determined Pit Bull Terrier.
They drove to the Valerio Catullo Airport with their four bodyguards and boarded one of Brandon’s planes. Brandon called, apologizing that he and Madelyne couldn’t come meet them and then cheering when Robbie told him he’d earned the million dollars. Alice gave him a soft smile, but there was too much concern in her eyes. His overconfidence on the phone wasn’t translating to his heart. Did she really love him if she wouldn’t choose to fight for them?
The flight was long but comfortable. Robbie loved the chance to simply be with Alice, talk, rest, eat, watchThe Italian Jobwith Mark Wahlberg, and reminisce about the places in Venice they’d seen. He’d liked Venice, but it had been rough to be at their ‘honeymoon destination’ and not truly be together, not to mention how it had felt to be hunted.
He’d loved their time in the Dolomites. He and Alice had reconnected, and she’d admitted she loved him. He squeezed her hand.
Everything would work out. He’d make sure of it.
Robbie had never failed on an assignment. He wouldn’t fail at loving Alice and being there for her.
As soon as he had that thought, it hit him. Hehadfailed at assignments. He and Chase had protected three Syrian mothers and their seven children and that choice had taken the life of the senator their unit was protecting. He’d failed on a trafficking assignment last spring, and who knew how many innocent people had been trafficked because of his mistakes?
What if he failed with Alice too?
As they descended to the De-Kalb, Peachtree Atlanta Airport, his stomach was doing funny things and worry smacked him in the face. How would he make it all work? Panic made his chest tight.
He said a prayer. He’d have to have faith and trust in God above, just as he did on dangerous missions. The good Lord had guided and strengthened him. Even when things hadn’t gone right, he could see the Lord’s hand. Robbie couldn’t give up on Him now, and he couldn’t give up on Alice. What they had was special, a once-in-a-lifetime love. Robbie was being given a second chance, and he refused to make the same mistakes.
His phone buzzed as they landed. He glanced at it. Aiden Porter. The gut churning was back with full force. Usually it was Nick Jacobs that Robbie worked through. If Aiden was calling, something was wrong or the mission was of the utmost importance. Aiden might have information on Big Buddha, but Robbie feared that wasn’t the reason for the call.
“What is it?” Alice asked.
Robbie forced a smile. “My boss.”
Her smile looked as fake as his felt. “You’d better get it. After two weeks of vacation, you might have to get back to work.”
“Alice…” Robbie let the call go to voicemail. He’d never let Aiden’s calls go to voice mail before. “You want me to go back to work?”
