He’d like to say it was lack of worry, butthat wasn’t true. It was Payson. Maybe her honesty. Maybe it washer passion for life. How had he ever thought her pretentious?
Whatever it was, he felt an overwhelmingcraving to be near her. Not going to lie to himself, it scared theshit out of him. But, like jumping out of a helicopter into aboiling sea without a parachute, it was as thrilling as it wasterrifying.
He tossed his jacket on the back of the couchand walked back to his bedroom to shower. He’d worked up a goodsweat this morning. Payson was no softy; he’d had to reallybring-it. The laughter, the challenge, sharing the adrenaline rushwith her, had felt like nothing he’d ever experienced.
Pausing on his way to the shower, he suddenlylost his smile, distracted by the drop phone he’d plugged in to thecharger. He was out of the action, shouldn’t even keep the damnphone anymore.
But, he couldn’t help himself. Couldn’t letit go. Not yet. Dialing, he pushed speed dial to call Sara.
Not addressing him by name, as always, sheanswered, “My favorite recruit. How are you enjoying retiredlife?”
Ronan shook his head with a half-smile,“Actually, I’m settling in. Relaxing a bit. No idea what to do withmyself in the long run, but I’m ok with that for now.”
Her voice soft on the other side, she said,“I’m happy for you. You know, you don’t actually have to work. Everagain. You will be well compensated for your efforts.”
“Money’s not an issue. Thanks though, Iappreciate you going to bat for me. I’m just going to take my timeand figure out what I actually enjoy.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” she repliedgently.
Finally, he got to the point. “I know I don’tget closure on every mission, and not every mission ends well, butI just can’t seem to let go of this one. Where are those damnbiologics, and where the fuck did Young get them to begin with?”Sara had played along with his casual conversation, but she had toassume he’d called for a reason.
Sighing, she agreed, “I know. It’s getting atme too. I don’t want you to worry about it anymore. I’m not lettingit go. We’re going to get Connor Young, those awful weapons, andfind the source of all of this.” She sounded as furious as hefelt.
“Thanks, really. I’m retired; done with thewhole thing. Except for those damn weapons. I can’t shake theimages of those families. If there’s anything I can do to help,please don’t hesitate to pull me in for one last op.”
“I know. I hope it doesn’t come down to that…but it might. Every lead we’ve gotten is just another dead end.Please, be careful.” He disconnected the call, her words bouncingaround in his head like a pinball.
At least he wasn’t alone. It was good to hearthe whole fucked up situation disturbed someone else too. Strippingoff his grubby clothes, he stepped into the brick-tile shower. Helet the steaming water pour over him, trying in vain to wash awayhis worry.
Replaying the last year or two of his life,pulling out the important pieces, he tried to make sense of it all.Peter Young, with or without his brother and their team ofmercenaries, was known to have contacted a group of terrorists,offering a deal on a cache of biological weaponry that he hadacquired. Not trusting the notorious mercs to deliver the genuinearticle, the terrorists had demanded a demonstration, which hadleft behind the scene of mutilated remains that was permanentlyetched into his brain.
Apparently, the exchange never took place, asthe last feed he received from the terrorists on the issue was ademand for the promised weapons. Around the same time, Young hadgone to ground. Radio silence. Terrorists pissed. Mercs inhiding.
Ronan captures Peter Young. Connor Youngsomehow knows how to find Ronan and shoots him later that night.Ronan retires. Sharpe promises to locate the weapons. Sara has nonew information to offer, nothing coming to light, but is stillinvestigating. Trail cold.
If he could just find the source of theweapons, and where they were now, he could fucking rest. Missionaccomplished once and for all.
~
Payson spent the rest of the weekend workingon filling online orders and communicating with some of her dealersabout new pieces. It was pleasantly quiet around town, whichallowed her to refresh the layout, again. One of her favoriteactivities. A few tourists had come and gone, but things had beensedate.
By the end of the weekend, things had startedto feel too quiet without Ronan around. She’d begun to prefer thedays that he was around. She felt a thrill from deep in her bellythat Monday morning had finally arrived, and he would be here anymoment.
All damn weekend she’d been distractedthinking about that soft, testing kiss. Hoping he’d try it again.Daring herself to make a move.
Coffee brewing, stuffing in the last fewbites of her oatmeal, she tossed on a stylish blue sweater and graywool miniskirt, adding some tights and knee-high boots. She caughtherself grinning like an eager debutante that was caught up in afantasy about her favored crush.
Ronan was not at all what she would picturefor herself, but she couldn’t get him out of her mind. That firstnight, she had thought him a rude, hairy grizzly bear, but he wasquickly morphing into a charming… something else. Somethingappealing.
Floating out the door, mood much sunnier thanthe cloudy sky, she carried two cups of coffee down the stairs at 8o'clock sharp. Ronan would be punctual in meeting her at thebackdoor, ready to work. She spotted him stepping out of his truckas she strolled down the icy steps. “Good morning. Did you have apleasant day yesterday?”
He grunted as he grabbed both of their coffeecups so she could unlock the door and let them in, as part of theroutine they had quickly adopted. As usual, he followed her in theback door and handed her back her coffee once she’d disengaged thealarm. “Well you’re a sourpuss this morning,” she commented.
“How are you so perky in the mornings?” Heblew gently into is coffee cup, sipping the soothingly bitterliquid.
Was it her imagination, or was he less crankythan usual? He was still grumbling and sniping, but his teasing wasmore friendly than accusatory today. Maybe it was her trying toconvince herself she was impacting him as positively as he washer.
She looked around at her half-builtstoreroom, pleased with the progress. Impressed with his carpentry.“I guess I just like where I’m going in the morning,” she decided.Ronan nodded in agreement, assessing the progress, the work aheadof him. Enjoying the few extra moments with him, she continued, “Doanything over the weekend after we parted?”
