from the helicopter.
They strolled back to the Land Rover in silence. After Ortega turned on the headlights, Miranda leaned against the vehicle and looked him straight in the eyes. “Let’s hear it.”
He nodded, then spoke in a solemn voice. “You can’t imagine how sorry I am about that night. The alibi tape. Everything that happened. If things had only been different between us-”
“Things are different between us.”
“What?”
Miranda enjoyed the hint of hope in his eyes before explaining. “We had a rocky start. That’s undeniable. I mean, you lied to me. You ruined my life. Made a mockery of my career and generally acted like a selfish bastard.” She smiled sadly. “But there are a few things in the plus column I just can’t ignore.”
“Such as?”
“Such as, you never blame anyone else for your mistakes. If anything, you’re too hard on yourself. I like that. Plus, you’re brave and patriotic, and you taught me to find balance. You came halfway around the world and posed as the Brigadier to rescue me-we’re gonna be reenacting that little fantasy for months. And I love being with you. It gives me such a thrill. Your eyes, your voice, your way-just standing here with you now, I’m literally drowning in sensation. And hope. And love.” She bit her lip, closer to tears than she had ever imagined she’d get over romance. “Just don’t ever lie to me again, and we’ll be fine. It’s as simple as that, Ortega.”
“You can let the rest go?” He stepped forward, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Everything I did? My God, Miranda, I’ve wanted that. Every day since I first met you. Every time I watched that tape and saw you looking up at me like, well, like this.” The bronze flecks in his eyes were bursting with light. “I swear I’ll be completely honest from now on. No more secrets, no more lies. That’s a promise.” He started to lean his mouth down to hers, but an insistent ring from his satellite phone broke the spell.
“Go ahead,” Miranda told him with a sigh.
He barked his name into the phone, then murmured, “Hey, Kris. Nice work getting a team together so fast. But next time, send a real man, okay? Huh?” He scowled, then told Miranda, “She wants to know what you thought of Russo.”
“I’ll tell her later. In private.”
“Unbelievable.” He chuckled and asked Kristie, “Did you hear that? Yeah, she’s hilarious. Yeah.” He flushed. “She’s that, too. What about you? Did McGregor fire your ass?”
He laughed again, and Miranda smiled in relief. Even though she couldn’t hear what Kristie was saying, it was clear she was still employed by SPIN, a fact that was further confirmed when Ortega shook his head, then said to Miranda, “You won’t believe this. She wants us to go to South America and retrieve the Night Arrow research from Carerra’s hacienda before it falls into the wrong hands.”
“She’s right. It’s too valuable to lose.”
He gave a frustrated laugh. “Since I promised to always be honest, I’ll tell you I think it’s nuts. But whatever you want. We’ll rest up, then head down there.”
“We need to go right away. We can’t take any chances.”
He held the phone back up to his ear. “Okay, set it up. Yeah, I figured that. We’ll call from the airport. Yeah, you too.”
He disconnected the call, then explained. “This operation is strictly off the books. Big surprise. But she’s as nuts as you on the subject. Russo filled her head with crap about that shot you made, I guess.”
“Just because my arrow killed Benito and yours didn’t, don’t be bitter.” She smiled hopefully. “Kristie and McGregor are okay?”
“He’s putting her on some kind of strict monitoring program. I tried that once. Doesn’t work.”
“I meant, are they okay romantically?”
“She said to tell you the make-up sex was worth it,” he admitted with a grin. “I can’t believe those two aren’t married yet. What the hell are they waiting for?”
“I think she was waiting for you to get together with me,” Miranda murmured. “Somehow she knew. Isn’t that…well, romantic?”
He nodded, then pulled her into his arms again, asking carefully, “So what are we saying here exactly? We’ll what? Date? Live together?”
“Don’t worry, Ortega. You didn’t accidentally propose,” she assured him.
“Are you kidding? I’d marry you in a minute.”
She stared, knowing she should say something, but feeling completely speechless.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he assured her quickly. “I’m just being honest. No secrets, remember?”
When Miranda moistened her lips, still searching for just the right thing to say, Ortega insisted, “You’re the woman I want. The woman I need. I’ve known that since the night we met. I’ve thought about it-about you-for more than a year. The question is, what do you want? What do you need? You should take some time to think about that, then-”
“Ortega?”
“What?”
She looped her arms around his neck and suggested with a loving smile, “Shut up and marry me. But first…” Her pulse began to race with anticipation. “Let’s go get the Night Arrow.”
KATE DONOVAN
is the author of more than a dozen novels and novellas, ranging from time travel and paranormal to historical romance, suspense and romantic comedy. An attorney, she draws on her criminal law background to create challenges worthy of her heroines, who crack safes, battle bad guys and always get their man. As for Kate, she definitely got her man and is living happily ever after with him and their two children in Elk Grove, California.
