Ariel sat in the middle of the big bed they shared. For years it had been just the two of them, and they’d been content to be everyone’s favorite aunt and uncle. And then their princess had come along. “They are, love. Come to bed. Owen’s already asleep. He called home and now he’s snoring away. You’ve got an early flight.”
“I wonder if we shouldn’t have gone tonight.”
“The apartments aren’t available until tomorrow afternoon. You’ve been legendary today. You put this whole op together in a few hours. You have a house, an apartment, equipment, a helicopter.”
“And a boat.” They were right on the water, after all. He wanted the team to have every chance they could to do this right.
She wore a white silk gown that came down to mid-thigh, showing off those gorgeous legs of hers. She’d already put up her hair for the night, wrapping it in silk. It left the lovely graceful line of her neck on display. “You did good work. Now come to bed and make love to me while the beast is sleeping.”
He shook his head. “She’s a princess.”
Ariel’s lips turned up as she moved off the bed and came to stand next to him. “She’s a raging beast when she wants to be. Just like her mother.”
She still took his breath away. He let his hands find her hips and brought her close. “You’re a queen, baby. I’m the lucky pauper who managed to catch your eye.” He leaned over and brushed their lips together. “I’m still so fucking crazy about you.”
Her arms drifted up to his shoulders. “Back at you, love. You have no idea how much I wish I could go with you.”
The funny thing was they’d both stepped back from the field in the last few years. He’d taken on the role of Damon’s logistics lead, and Ariel was on maternity leave but she planned to go back to her job as a profiler and therapist working with McKay-Taggart and Knight, and occasionally Scotland Yard. “I don’t think taking our princess on this particular op is what I meant when I said I was eager to start our adventures. I was thinking more along the lines of walks in the park, maybe Disney World one day. Definitely not into the line of fire.”
“I’m hoping there’s no fire at all.”
He stared down into those gorgeous deep brown eyes of hers. “What’s your read on Levi? Is he still interested after all these years? Beck believes so. Charlotte is more hopeful. She thinks he might have moved on since he’s engaged now. She hopes he might not care anymore since he’s found a way to get what he wants without Solo.”
Ariel went back down on her heels. “You’re asking me if Levi is still a problem? If he’s still obsessing over Solo?”
“Yes.” Her opinion was the one that would inform how he operated, how careful he was.
“He will not have forgotten for a single second. Whoever he’s marrying means nothing to him because there’s only Solo. It’s odd when you think about it. He’s a dark mirror for Beck. Beck can’t get over her and neither can Levi. You will have to kill Levi for Solo to be safe.”
He took a deep breath. “And that’s why I got a boat and a chopper.”
She smiled brilliantly. “You are always prepared, love. Now kiss me and take me to bed because I don’t think this is the easy in and out op Beck was talking about.”
“He only wants to get in and get a lay of the land before he makes contact with her.” Rob had his doubts, too. Things always got complex between those two.
“He won’t be able to let go.” Her hands moved up to caress his chest, pressing under the cotton of his shirt. “When he sees her, he’ll have to protect her. He won’t let her be alone.”
“That’s kind of what I’m afraid of,” Rob admitted. “Solo ran. She didn’t want to be found.”
“All you can do is make sure your team has everything they need.” She brushed her lips against his. “And tell my friend I miss her and I want her to meet our daughter.”
Their baby girl. Daraja. She was as beautiful as her name, as lovely as her mother.
“I will,” he promised. His wife was right. He had some time, and he knew exactly how he wanted to spend it. With Dara sleeping peacefully, he had a chance to show her mother how much he would miss her. He picked up his wife and carried her back to bed.
* * * *
Laramie, Wyoming
Tucker watched the plane land and turned to his wife. “It’s time. Are you sure you can handle the clinic, because we can call in some friends to help cover my patients.”
Roni rolled her eyes. “I can handle your patients and my patients. We don’t have that many patients. It’s a small town. Now go and play hero. I would say one last time, but we all know it won’t be. I’m surprised it took this long.”
“Because this isn’t my life anymore,” he countered. He needed to make her understand how much he loved their life together. He wouldn’t trade it for anything. Their rural clinic was all he needed. “You are. Our kids are.”
He had three. Violet. Gavin. Aurora. They were back
