He sent them all dark, quelling looks. When he glanced up to where Sam, Garrett and Donovan stood by Rachel’s bed, they were all fighting grins and stifling laughter. Bastards. All of them.
“How the hell did I end up with the kid anyway?” Steele demanded. “He’s being passed around like a damn party favor. Don’t you have to worry about germs or infections?”
Ethan grinned and deftly retrieved the bundle from Steele’s arms. They felt oddly empty, bereft of the warm, cuddly infant. He stared down at his empty hands for a long moment and then glanced back up to where Ethan was gently handing Rachel both of the babies.
He was struck by the picture she presented. Never had he seen a happier woman. And this was a woman who deserved happiness above all others. She’d been to hell and back, and she’d not only survived it but she’d kicked the devil’s ass in the process.
“You did good, sweetheart,” Steele said to Rachel.
He was treated to several surprised expressions. One, he never used endearments. He just wasn’t a warm, affectionate guy. Two, he didn’t typically offer unsolicited conversation. But he’d never forget Rachel the way she’d looked, gaunt, scared out of her mind. Dirty, tattered clothing, pointing a gun at him and then Sam because she had no idea who the f**k they were. And he’d never forget the assurances he’d given her then and there that he’d never allow those bastards to take her back and that he’d make damn sure she and Ethan got back home where they belonged. It was a promise he’d kept.
Rachel’s smile lit up the entire room as she beamed at Steele.
“Thank you, Steele,” she said sweetly.
He took a step forward and people moved left and right to clear a path toward her bed. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and then gently touched each of the blankets surrounding the babies’ heads.
“Cute kids,” he said.
Ethan and Rachel both smiled.
“I’m going to get on out of here and leave you to rest. You’ve had a hard day, little mama. Better catch some Zs now because when you go home there’s no sending them back to the nursery.”
Rachel laughed. “Don’t remind me! And thank you, Steele. I’m glad you were here.”
“I’m glad I was too,” he said softly.
And he was. Today had been special in the Kelly family. Not just the immediate family but also the extended family that included all the KGI members.
They’d all had a hand in the mission that brought Rachel back home where she belonged. It was only fitting that they all be present when Rachel stepped out of the shadows and fully into the sun. The entire family was gathered, happy and rejoicing over the addition of two new Kellys into the pack.
Yeah, it was a good day. The perfect end to—and in many ways the beginning of—a chapter in Ethan’s and Rachel’s life.
He stepped back, making a sudden decision, one that had been nagging him for days. He’d sworn that he’d have that one night with Maren and never look back. But he wanted to see her again. She was becoming an obsession and he didn’t do obsession. The only thing he’d ever been obsessed with was his job.
But now he was overwhelmed with the urge to see her again. He wanted to touch her, feel her against his skin, inhale her scent and lose himself in her arms for another night.
As he walked past Sam, he motioned for him to follow him into the hall. Sam walked out, his brow furrowed.
“What’s up?” Sam asked.
“I’m bugging out. Know I said I’d be available for training, but that’s going to have to wait. If you need me, buzz me. I won’t be home.”
Sam sent him a curious look but didn’t pry. Not that Steele would have offered up any further information.
“Things are quiet, but then we rarely have much advance notice. I’ll be in touch if I need you. You going to let your team know you’ll be out of pocket or should I?”
Steele shook his head. “I’ll let them know. Catch you later.”
“Want to use the Kelly jet?” Sam offered.
Steele didn’t rise to the bait. Sam had guessed he was traveling off, but he wasn’t about to use the KGI jet and have it logged that he was flying to Costa Rica. He’d catch his own damn flight.
CHAPTER 9
MAREN applied a tourniquet to her own arm and made a fist as she lined up the butterfly needle to insert in her vein. It was hard to focus on drawing her own blood when the reason for doing it weighed so heavily on her mind.
She was probably being silly. They had used condoms after all. But her period was regular to the day. Never early. Never late. And she was three days late.
Not to mention her queasiness in the mornings, and her br**sts were tender to the touch. It was probably all in her head. A part of her wondered if subconsciously she wanted to be pregnant and her body was just playing along with that hope. Mind over matter.
But a pregnancy would be a complication she was ill equipped for. Not to mention she doubted Steele would take the news well that he might be up for impending fatherhood. No way in hell she was breathing a word to him until she knew for certain one way or another. The last thing she wanted was to get him worked up over a possibility and then have it all be a false alarm. He’d never come near her again, and who could blame him? Nothing like a pregnancy scare to prevent any future intimacy.
Not that she imagined he would be lining up for a repeat of that first night. He’d made himself abundantly clear that it was a onetime deal and that he wanted her out of his system. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about that. But it was doubtful she’d see any more of him. Though he’d said it would be business as usual, and it wasn’t as if they were chatty all the other times they came into contact, but there was no way she’d be able to look him in the eye and pretend she didn’t know what he looked like naked. Nor did she want to forget what he looked like naked. That was a memory she’d take to her grave.