Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Zeke McBride was a gambling man. As any self-respecting, second-generation Irish American should be. He’d dealt his own hand—maybe from the bottom of the deck, but sometimes a man had to stack the odds when the stakes were high. And when it came to Mia, the stakes were as high as they got.
He’d used agency resources, his men, and made sure their mission territory included Laurel Valley, Idaho.
He was the commanding officer of a DEA taskforce, and no one questioned the orders he gave.
They’d been stuck in the middle of nowhere for the last three years, building covers and gaining trust within different drug-running communities.
They were the good guys, but sometimes the lines blurred.
They were a law unto themselves, forgotten by their brothers in blue who clocked in with regular shift work—unless someone got killed.
It was Zeke’s job to make sure the men remembered that there was a law and not to blur it too much. And it was his job to make sure everyone under his watch stayed alive.
His men would laugh like fools if they knew part of the reason for this mission was because of a woman.
They’d call him lovesick and any other names they could think of as they rolled their eyes.
And then he’d have to knock some heads together just out of principle.
Which was why his men were never going to find out.
Sometimes situations were so complicated and pasts so entwined that it was hard to know where to begin separating the threads. And honestly, this was the only thing he could come up with.
But he hadn’t been prepared for the jolt that hit him square in the chest the second he saw her again.
She’d occupied his dreams for the last three years.
He’d tried dating other women—Mia was the one who’d left him after all—but he found himself searching for women that reminded him of her.
The only problem was Mia had always been unique. There was no one like her.
Her appearance had changed, but by the steely look in her eyes, her temper had stayed very much the same.
That temper had been making his pulse race since the moment he’d met her.
She could no longer pass for the role of the high school kid she’d played when she’d worked undercover.
She was all woman, and a slow scan of her body did nothing to help relieve the tightening pressure in his chest.
She’d always been petite, topping just a couple inches over five feet.
Her Italian heritage was strong, with clear olive skin and dark eyes fringed with thick lashes that reminded him of a gypsy who could bewitch with just a look.
Her brows were thick and delicately arched, and she had a mane of dark hair that made him long to feel it across his skin once more.
Her hair was longer than it had been the last time he’d seen her. And gone were the waves that had been the bane of her existence. It was thick and straight, and streaks of royal purple peeked between the black. He liked it. A lot. And high on his priority list was getting his hands in it.
She wore a plain black tank top. Her arm was covered from shoulder to wrist with an intricate sleeve tattoo, and he could see she’d added to it since the last time he’d seen her. That arm told an entire story, and he wondered if she’d added him anywhere, or if he’d even mattered enough.
Her figure was full and feminine. In fact, she’d filled out everywhere beautifully. The way she carried herself made his mouth go dry, and he remembered what it felt like to hold her close.
“Well, great,” she said.
Her words pulled him back to the present. “It’s good to see you too, Mia.” His voice was husky and he cleared his throat. “I thought you told me you were getting as far away from this state as you could? Looks like you didn’t make it very far.”
She smiled and a lesser man would’ve felt his courage shrivel. “No,” she said politely. “I told you I was getting as far away from you as I could. Isn’t your field office out of Boise? You’re a little far from home.”
He shrugged, unoffended. “Not that far.” He matched her smile with one of his own, and for the first time in too long he felt the embers of excitement starting to flame into anticipation.
That was the danger with working undercover.
He’d been doing it for fifteen years. The fear wasn’t as strong as it had once been.
He had to pay closer attention to the little signs and signals that his gut used to be better at picking up on.
He’d known for a couple of years it was time to get out of the game.
Before he ended up getting killed or getting one of his men killed.
It had taken him forty years on earth to understand what was really important in life.
And she was standing right in front of him.
Now he just had to prove it to her. And it looked like it was going to be a heck of a job.
Zeke looked at Barnes and debated whether or not to rearrange his face for putting his hands on Mia. Or for just being a jerk in general. Whether he put a fist in his face or not, he could make the guy’s life miserable.
“Take it back to headquarters, Barnes. We’ll talk when I get back. You’re on unpaid leave until I can figure out what to do with you.”
“What for?” he asked, incredulously. “She just tried to break my jaw.”
“Every word she said is true. You pushed your way in here using intimidation and force. Your orders were simple. You’re the one who chose to take them in a different direction.
I didn’t want you on my team to begin with, but didn’t figure you’d be this stupid if I actually let you out in public.
You’re a disgrace to every cop that puts his life on the line.
So you’ve got about three seconds before I don’t ask you to go so nicely,” Zeke said.
“And if you ever touch her again you’ll get to see what it’s like to be someone’s enemy behind bars. ”
Zeke almost wished Barnes would do something stupid.
He could see it in the other man’s face.
He had a quick temper, he wasn’t a team player, and Zeke had never trusted him.
He didn’t deserve to carry a badge, but sometimes it was better to keep those people close where you could keep an eye on them.
But Barnes had lived out his usefulness and it was time for him to go.
The other man shifted his feet so he was in a fighting stance, and Zeke just grinned. Maybe he’d get to punch someone after all.
“Barnes,” Mia said, before tempers could ignite any more than they already had. “Take my advice and don’t be stupid. Have you ever seen Zeke fight? One punch and your skinny rear will be out cold. Leave with all your teeth intact and some of your dignity.”
“Screw you,” Barnes said. “Who are you, anyway? Unless you’re just another badge bunny looking for her next good time. Is that why you sent me here?” Barnes narrowed his eyes at Zeke. “Passing her around?”
“Zeke,” Mia said, jumping over her counter and standing between them. “Killing him won’t help your career.”
“But it’ll make me feel better,” he growled.
“This is my shop,” she said. “I’ll handle it.
” Then she turned her wrath on Barnes. “I will cut you off at the knees, little boy, and smile while you bleed.” She took a step closer and looked Barnes up and down from head to toe.
“Let me guess. You’re a couple years out of the academy.
Big city cop. But you’re impatient. Wanted the brass without the years or the work.
Why does a big city cop run away with his tail tucked between his legs and end up in Nowhere, Idaho? ”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re so green you can’t even sniff out someone who’s worn the badge?
” she asked. “I had you pegged before you rang my buzzer. I might not be working the streets anymore, but some things never leave you. You’ll never be half the cop I was or that your commander is.
And if you ever touch me again you won’t have to worry about being someone’s target in prison.
You’ll be someone’s target in hell. Understand? ”
Barnes stared at her about two seconds before turning and walking out of the shop. He never made eye contact with Zeke. Smart choice.
“Now there’s something I’ve missed,” Zeke said, patting his chest. “No one gives better parting lines than you. You always did have a mouth on you. And it always got you into trouble.”
“And always got you out of trouble, if I remember right. What are you doing here, Zeke? And what do you want from me?”
It was a good question. One that didn’t necessarily have just one answer. He made a decision and hoped it was the right one. They could deal with the other later.
“You want to know why I came here?” he asked.
Her eyes widened slightly as he moved closer. He braced his hands on the counter at her back, leaning in. The pulse in her neck fluttered and he wanted to kiss her there. Wanted to hold her every way he could.
He stopped with his face close to hers, close enough to feel the warmth of her breath. “I needed to see you again.”
“I don’t believe you.” But her voice wasn’t as strong as she wanted it to be. He’d always had the ability to make her lose her senses. “This is a mistake, Zeke.” But her hands came up and rested on his chest.
“Probably,” he admitted. “But I’m going to do it anyway.”
His hand slid along her jaw, tilting her face up. Her breath caught. For a moment they just stood there, the air between them charged with everything they’d been and everything they’d lost.
Then the buzzer rang, sharp and insistent.
Zeke dropped his hand, stepping back. The spell broke. Mia blinked, seeming to come back to herself, and moved away from the counter, putting distance between them.
“It’s probably for the best,” she said, her voice not quite steady as she pulled her hair over her shoulder. “Eventually we’d stop kissing and have to talk. And I know that’s never been one of your favorite things.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Mia. I’ve got a whole lot to talk about. Three years is long enough for you to run.”
She looked at him with a blank expression and Zeke felt something go cold in his chest.
“Like you said earlier,” she said. “I never ran very far. Which is why I asked what you’re doing here. Because if you’d really wanted me you’d have found me a long time ago.”
He wanted to argue with her. To say all the things he’d said over and over again in his mind since the last time they’d seen each other. But it wasn’t the time.
“I’ve always wanted you,” he said, gruffly. “But I’ve got my pride too. Maybe too much of it. You said you couldn’t stay and watch me die. Well guess what, sweetheart, I’m still alive. Look at all the time you wasted.”
He turned to walk to the exit but she stopped him.
“Don’t forget your music box,” she said. “I’m assuming you’ll eventually tell me why you’re really here and why Barnes wanted the authentic piece so badly.”
“Maybe he was just laying it on thick.”
“Nope, that part he was genuine about. Never let that kid play poker. He’s got so many tells I could’ve filled up a book. It’s a good fake, by the way.”
Zeke sighed knowingly and took the box. “One of our agent’s wives works at the museum. She has a contact that can recreate certain pieces.”
“Handy. Now if I only knew why you need the piece so much and why you think it’s going to show up at my shop.”
The corner of his lip curled up in a smile and he changed the subject. “I should probably mention I’ll be in town for as long as it takes to work this case.”
“Bully for you,” she said. “But it’s good to know you’ve proved my point.”
“What point is that?”
Her gaze went back to his and he saw so many things there—hurt, confusion, anger.
“You didn’t come here for me. You’ve always been incredible at undercover work.
I’m a job just like any other. It’s all you know.
All you’ve ever known. Don’t forget that I’m the one person who can see past the man you pretend to be. ”
“Not this time. I’m not the man I used to be.”
“You look the same to me. Same deceptions. Same games. Same techniques when it comes to getting past my defenses. If you’re that desperate for companionship just say so. No need for the lies.”
“I’m not finished with you, Mia. Not by a long shot.”