“I’m aware,” Max nodded.
“Daisy was there trying to figure out how her Women’s Charity could be of benefit, and she had come up with a very needed and ingenious way to help.”
“Go on.”
“Unfortunately, there were some men in Yemen who were taking offense and felt like she was trying to elevate women, when all she was doing was giving them a fighting chance in the camp.”
“That still doesn’t explain how you got shot.”
“Apparently, with all the talk going on some dipshit got it in his head that Daisy needed to be killed. I saw him in the crowd and got Daisy and the kid to the ground before he could shoot her. I just took a slight graze.”
Max’s lip twitched. “Now you can sit down.”
“I told you another one would fall on a mission,” Kane said.
“What the hell is up with that?” Max groaned. “Seriously, no more women on missions. This is getting to be ridiculous. So, what are the next steps?”
Kane snorted. “Max, this isn’t a deployment.”
“Bullshit. He wants her, he goes after her. Therefore there are next steps involved. You’ve followed her to Yemen. You’ve gotten shot saving her life. Are you going to close this deal, or what?”
Leo’s eyes widened—was this really Max Hogan asking him this question?
Max must have seen his incredulity. “Look, Leo, I’ve already seen it before when one of you has your attention focused elsewhere. It is bad for my team. So, are you cutting her loose, or sealing the deal?”
“Hopefully sealing the deal, but it’s going to take some time. I’ve yet to really go on a date with her.”
“Room service?” Kane asked.
Leo glared at the man.
“Go see the doctor and find out when you’re ready to train with us again. In the meantime, you’re going to help me with some administrative work, and I get to go play on the jungle gym.”
Max picked up a six-inch stack of files from his desk and handed it to Leo.
He finally smiled. “Welcome back.”
At six-thirty Daisy texted Leo.
What are you doing?
Paperwork. What are you doing?
Wondering what time you get off work, and whether I can interest you in seafood?
Daisy, what are you talking about?
I’m down the street at Waterman’s Surfside Grille.
She giggled, imagining the look on Leo’s face when he realized she was here in Virginia Beach.
I can be there in twenty minutes, fifteen if I make all the lights.
See you soon.
She put her smartphone down on the table and nodded to the hovering waiter. “I’ll take a bottle of sparkling water and put in an order of oysters and calamari.”
Daisy nudged up the strap of her sundress that kept wanting to fall down. It was a beautiful day looking out over the boardwalk at the water. Daisy could barely keep herself calm at the idea of her first real date with Leo Perez. When the waiter poured her glass of water, she drank half of the glass immediately, anything to soothe her frazzled nerves.
This is going to work, right? I haven’t been imagining things, have I?
She reached up to touch her St. Christopher’s medal, but it was gone. It wasn’t in her purse or around her neck. Too bad she couldn’t go back to that nun and ask for another one. But she wasn’t traveling now, was she? Or was she?
She imagined what Abia was doing right now. She knew that the drawing pads and colored pencils that she’d sent to the children hadn’t arrived yet. She had desperately wanted to send an entire toy store but instead kept herself focused on the things that would really matter.
She took another sip of her water.
“Daisy.”
His voice almost caused her to drop her water glass. She gazed up and he looked so much better than she remembered. Was it his eyes? Had she ever seen such warm eyes? He stood there beside her, not touching, not saying another thing, just watching her.
“Excuse me, sir.” The waiter put the plate of calamari down on the table. “Would you like to have a seat, sir?” he asked.
Leo looked at the waiter and gave a wry laugh. “Sure.” He sat down opposite Daisy. The waiter poured him a glass of sparkling water. “Your menu is right there, I’ll be back to take your orders in a minute or two.”
Leo gave her a slow, sensual smile. “What brings you to Virginia Beach?”
“A man.” Daisy smiled back. “I answer the phone when he calls and I return his texts.”
“Wow, that sounds serious,” Leo said with a grin as he grabbed a piece of calamari.
“So serious that I followed him this time. I’ve got a reservation at the Hilton in town.”
“Cancel it.”
Daisy felt herself go all gooey inside.
She asked “What?” just so he could do the commanding voice again.
“I said cancel it, Daisy, you’re staying with me.”
“Okay. So what kind of home do you live in? Typical bachelor pad?”
“Mirrors on the ceiling and a waterbed. You’re going to love it.”
She crinkled her nose. He motioned for her to pick up her menu.
It still blew him away that Daisy was here, in his house. It had taken a little persuading for her to leave the rental car at the restaurant and transfer the luggage to his truck so he could drive her to his townhome. He’d finally gotten her to admit that it kind of hurt to drive with both hands on the steering wheel because her shoulder still wasn’t healed.
“You sure do travel light. When I tell my sisters’ husbands that it’s one suitcase and a laptop bag, they’re going to want to marry you.”
“How many of your sisters are married?” Daisy asked as she preceded him
