“Time’s ticking.”
Elissa pulled out a sweatshirt and tugged it over her head. It was at least two sizes too large. The shoulder seams drooped down her arms, and the bottom would probably hit the tops of her thighs.
“Now the hat.”
At least she liked the black cap with a bright purple baseball team logo on it.
Once she had it in place, he shook his head. “Can you do something with your hair?”
“Like what?”
“Stuff it under there or something.”
Hurriedly she made a ponytail and threaded it through the opening in the back.
“Still too long. Recognizable.”
Elissa sighed as she removed the hat. “I’m not sure what else to do.” Thinking fast, she fashioned a makeshift bun and then took his advice and pulled on the hat. “No one does this. It looks ridiculous—lumpy.”
“This isn’t about fashion, ma’am.” He cocked his head to one side to study her. “Pull the brim lower on your forehead.”
“Look, Mr. Walker, I’m not cut out for this secret agent shit.” Which had been one of the many reasons she and Hawkeye never had a real relationship.
“Save your breath. I’m about out of patience.”
“You’re almost out of patience? It isn’t your life that’s just been turned upside down.”
“No?” The single word was quiet, but chilling. “Hawkeye gets what he wants.”
Did that mean he was as reluctant as she was?
She shook her head. He was an agent—she was his mission. Nothing more.
He tucked a few loose strands of hair away, brushing her cheekbone.
Her reactions turned sluggish as his scent washed over her.
For a moment, neither spoke. Something primal—dangerous—pulsed between them.
Then, as if remembering himself, Jacob cleared his throat and glanced away from her. “There’s a car pulling in on our left. Appears to have two occupants.”
The abruptness edging his voice made her scoot away a little.
“We’ll follow them in. Stay close. We want to make it appear we’re a party of four. Got it?”
She sighed. “Is this all really necessary?”
“The boss says so. If you’d agreed to have a bodyguard when he suggested it, you could have avoided all of this.”
Anger and frustration collided, making her vocal cords tight. “So it’s my fault?”
Instead of responding, he kept his focus on the other vehicle. “Be ready to move. When we’re inside, head straight for the ladies’ room. No stopping. Avoid the cash registers because of cameras. Don’t touch anything. I’ve got plenty of food and water for us, enough to hold us till morning.”
Are you planning to drive all night?
He kept his gaze on the car next to them. “On my mark, exit the vehicle.”
Despite her insistence that this was nonsense, her heart was beating furiously, and she was even paranoid enough to check her mirrors for potential threats.
“Ready?”
Elissa nodded.
The other couple opened their doors.
“Let’s roll.”
Within moments, they entered the convenience store.
“Normal pace,” he cautioned as they followed the signs toward the back wall. When they reached the bathroom, he held up a hand. “Wait here.”
Using his foot, he pushed the door open.
As if that isn’t suspicious.
After a few seconds, he returned. “Clear. Be as fast as you can.”
In record time, she rejoined Commander Walker.
The woman who’d walked in before them handed a package of potato chips to her companion, then started toward the bathroom.
He nudged Elissa down a different aisle, then hurried her back outside.
In record time, he topped off the gas tank before accelerating down the on-ramp, sliding into traffic at the exact posted speed limit.
As they climbed into the mountains, leaving the metro area behind them, he looked in the rearview mirror, then loosened his grip on the steering wheel. Until that moment she hadn’t realized how tense he was.
His phone rang, and Hawkeye’s name appeared on the screen that had been showing a map.
Without saying anything, Commander Walker pushed the button to answer the call.
“Phase one of Operation Wildflower is underway, I presume?” Hawkeye’s calm, almost cheerful voice filled the cabin.
“Operation Wildflower?” she repeated.
“I’ll explain it to you later.” Jacob slid her a glance before refocusing on the road and his conversation with Hawkeye. “Affirmative. Extraction complete. You already know that.”
“Fagan had a couple of things to say about our client and your, ahem, lack of diplomacy.”
“Stop with that word. I think you mean manhandling.” Irritated, she scowled. How dare they talk about her as if she weren’t there. “Actually the more appropriate term would be kidnapping.”
“Hello, Elissa.”
At one time, Hawkeye’s voice had been as familiar as her own, until she realized he’d never allowed her to glimpse beyond a carefully constructed facade that hid his emotional pain and broken pieces.
“Commander Walker is one of the finest individuals I’ve ever known.”
If she wasn’t so annoyed, the words of praise might have meant something to her. “Is that supposed to make this all better?”
“Besides myself, he’s the only one I trust with your life.”
At the jagged note of emotion in his voice, her shoulders rolled forward. Whether she believed she was at risk or not, he did. “I hate this cloak-and-dagger stuff.”
“And I hate that you’re mixed up in it. I’ll never forgive myself.”
Even though she wanted to be mad, she couldn’t be. But that didn’t give him—or anyone else—permission to upend her entire world. “You know what’s going on in my life, right? Let’s be reasonable.”
“Yesterday you refused.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” She blew out a wisp of breath. “Kayla is welcome to stay with me. I have an extra bedroom. And that way I can go back to work—”
“No.” The two men spoke in unison, making her rub her temple to ward off the growing headache.
She should have already been in bed.
“Everything is covered at the pub.”
Exhaustion evaporated. “What?”
“I talked to your parents and apprised them of the situation. They’re being provided with hourly updates.”
“How dare you?” Fury, white and blinding, flashed through her. She leaned forward, and the seatbelt grabbed her, preventing further movement. “What the hell is wrong with you? My dad can’t handle that kind of stress.”
“Patrick is stronger than you think. His only concern is your safety, and he immediately set about providing a solution to the problem. Your manager, Mary, says she’s feeling better, and she intends to return to work tomorrow.”
She exhaled her relief.
“Your dad was also able to get hold of Joseph. He’s agreed to take the day shifts.”
That news shaved the edges off Elissa’s biggest concerns. Joseph had spent a number of years working for them and occasionally still picked up a few shifts. He knew Conroy Pub almost as well as she did, and he had earned her trust. Still, she hated that Hawkeye had upended so many people’s lives.