“You sound like a little boy. Never mind,” she said, laughing. “I can already hear your response to that.”
A small smile curved his lips as he studied her. She still hadn’t had time to get rid of the hair extensions, and her clothes were rumpled because she’d been spending too much time at SHADO’s hospital sitting with him, but she was beautiful.
“I haven’t forgotten, you know.” He watched her reaction intently.
“Forgotten what?”
“You said you’d repeat that you love me. Often.”
Giggling, she scooted closer and bussed his cheek. “I’ll tell you that all the time.”
“Just reminding you. And you said you’d say yes, that you’d marry me,” he said, nervous as a schoolkid.
“Well, I would, except you haven’t technically asked,” she pointed out, expression merry.
“How about I fix that, since I’m now coherent?” He took a deep breath. “Emma Foster, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Of making a home with me and sharing our lives?”
Leaning over, she took his mouth in a lazy, sensual kiss. “I’d love nothing more than to be your wife.
In that moment, he felt like Superman.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive, baby.” He couldn’t stop smiling.
A knock sounded on the door, and Bastian stepped inside. “Am I interrupting?”
“Nope,” Emma said cheerfully. “You’re just in time to congratulate us — we’re getting married!”
Bastian’s smile lit his face, and he strode over to hug Emma, then to shake Blaze’s hand. “Hey, that’s fantastic! Huge congrats! When they spring you, a celebratory dinner is on me. We’ll invite a small group of friends, if that’s okay.”
“Sounds perfect. Why don’t we wait until Michael is on his feet so he can celebrate, too,” Blaze suggested. Bastian’s smile dimmed some, but he nodded.
“Perfect. I know he’ll like that.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Better each day. I spend as much time with him as I can, but SHADO won’t run itself,” their friend said ruefully.
“How’s he coping with Dietz still being on the run?”
The other man sighed. “He’s pretty quiet about it. Hard to tell what’s going on in his head. It has to be weighing on him that the bastard might come after him again. All I can say is Dietz can try, but the fucker will have to come through me first.”
“He’ll have to come through all of us,” Blaze corrected. “We won’t allow a second attempt, no matter what.”
They fell silent for a few moments, and Blaze contemplated the road ahead of Michael, finding Dietz to ensure his safety once and for all.
“There’s a reason I dropped by, besides checking on you,” Bastian informed him. “Are you up for a special visitor?”
The lilt in his voice, the sparkle in his eyes, captured their undivided attention. Something important was up. “Sure. Anyone I know?”
“Not personally. I think—” Another knock interrupted. Giving them both a secretive smile, Bastian walked to the door and spoke with someone in a low tone. Then he stood back and announced, “Your visitor.”
A tall, imposing man with a head of dark hair going silver strode into the room, accompanied by a burly man in a suit. As the man strode forward, smiling, Blaze stared in absolute shock, as did Emma.
“Mr. President,” he croaked, dumbly sticking out his hand to receive the shake.
“Agent Kelly. It’s a privilege to meet you, son.”
He cleared his throat. “The honor is mine, sir.” Funny, that was the first time in years he’d called another man
“I had to come myself and extend my deepest gratitude for what you and your fellow agents have done for our country,” said the president in a sincere, ringing voice. “Sometimes a man must do what he must, knowing he won’t receive accolades from the news media or from the public. Sometimes the call to duty requires sacrifice such as the ones you and your colleagues have made in this delicate matter. You were successful, you’re alive, and on behalf of the United States of America, I thank you and Agent Foster from the depths of my soul.”
“Thank
A lump formed in Blaze’s throat as he stared at the president, momentarily speechless. The older man, it appeared, was prepared to await his response, so he quickly gathered his scattered wits.
“You’re welcome, Mr. President. But I was one cog in the wheel, that’s all. It took the concentrated effort of all my team-mates to rout the Liberation group and take possession of the weapon. Without all of us working together, we couldn’t have succeeded.”
“And that, Agent Kelly, is what makes America so great. People like you and Agent Foster have kept this country safe and strong for over two hundred years, and will continue to do so for hundreds more. Wherever you go, whatever you need, know that I’m only one phone call away. Bastian knows how to reach me.”
The older man squeezed his shoulder, and Blaze wished he could place this moment in a time capsule to take out and examine and savor, over and over. He never wanted to forget this day.
“Thank you, sir.” He hesitated. “Before you go, can I ask you one question?”
“Sure. I may have to have you rubbed out if I answer, but go ahead.”
Everyone chuckled at the president’s joke, though Blaze wasn’t entirely sure he was kidding. “Why did we make this type of weapon? Why the risk?”
The older man’s humor died and the room held its breath. Blaze wondered if he’d trespassed too far, but the man answered with great dignity.
“Because one of our enemies, a terrorist nation I won’t name, was already making one, son,” he said quietly. “Many operatives gave their lives getting us the information we needed to assemble the weapon and beat them to the punch.”
“Checks and balances,” Blaze concluded. Now it made sense.
“Yes. Isn’t that what the universe is made of? Rest assured that weapon will never go astray again, and the men who’ve been captured won’t see the light of day, ever. Same goes for Robert Dietz when you locate him, and I have every faith you will.” The president smiled, ready to make his exit. “And now I have a few more rounds to make. Good-bye, agents.”
Blaze stared after him, feeling like he’d fallen down the rabbit hole. “Holy crap, did that just happen? The president came to visit us!”
“He did indeed,” Bastian said. “And he’s clearly happy with the job we’ve done. Now to find Dietz, and it will be finished.”
“Wonder what he did with the traitors who were captured?” Emma speculated.
Bastian’s brows rose. “Trust me — you don’t want to know.”
Blaze settled in, not nearly as restless as before. A man could bask in the glow of a personal visit from the president for a very long time.
He’d gotten the girl and saved the world after all, and the thought made him grin.
Yeah, he’d get Ash started on that song. Right away.
“I hope you like it.” Emma’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and she stole a glance at her sexy master. He was lounging in the passenger’s seat like a lazy cat with no cares in the world. Except loving her, it seemed, which suited her fine.
“I told you, if you love it so will I.” He grinned. “As long as it has a basement for our toys, I’m good. Oh, and a hot tub out back.”
“It has both. You’ll see.”
She peeked at him as they turned in the drive, noting how well he’d healed in the past couple of weeks. He still got tired easily and walked with a slight limp, thanks to the leg wound and his healing feet. But he was out of
