Chapter 18 #2
“Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. But I do have them, and I’d like to get them to you so they can be analyzed.”
Relief that she hadn’t ingested unknown substances warred with pride at her foresight. Of course, she’d thought ahead. Sadie always did. “I used the drone to discover the best place to meet.”
“If you can tell me where to be, I’ll get my pills to you tonight.”
The thought of seeing her face-to-face sent electricity racing through his system.
They spent the next half hour coordinating with the team in Montana, identifying blind spots in the surveillance and planning where to meet.
By the time he disconnected the call, his blood was flowing with adrenaline.
The rush of emotions came not just from the mission but also from the anticipation of seeing Sadie again.
Soon, he drove close to where he had been earlier with the drone.
Now, with night vision goggles, he climbed from his vehicle.
The desert air was surprisingly cool against Todd’s skin as he moved through the shadows beyond the spa’s perimeter.
He found the predetermined location consisting of a cluster of desert sage near a maintenance shed, far enough from the resort’s main buildings to avoid casual observation but close enough for Sadie to reach without raising suspicions.
He’d been waiting barely five minutes when movement caught his eye. She materialized from the shadows on the other side of the fence, her dark clothing allowing her to blend with the night. Even in the dim light, he could see her movements, the way she instinctively used cover.
But as she drew closer, he stopped thinking like an operative and started remembering what it felt like to be a man who’d held this woman in his arms.
“Todd?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but it hit him like thunder.
“Here.” He stepped partially into the moonlight, enough for her to see him clearly.
The distance between them closed, with only the fence between them.
Suddenly, the careful professionalism of their phone conversation felt impossible to maintain.
She was close enough that he could smell the faint scent of whatever luxury soap the spa provided, and could see the way the moonlight caught the highlights in her dark hair.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said softly, her eyes searching his face in the dim light.
“I was motivated.” The admission slipped out before he could stop it, carrying more weight than a simple comment about travel efficiency.
A softening around her eyes made his chest tight with hope and longing.
For so long, he’d wondered if he’d imagined the connection between them, if that one perfect night had been a fantasy his lonely heart had constructed.
But looking at her now, seeing the way she was looking at him, he almost forgot the rest of the assignment.
“I brought what you needed.” She held up a small container, pills rattling softly inside. “Morning and evening doses. They insist everyone takes them, but these are specifically for me… so they say.”
He reached for the container, and as she pushed it through the chain fence, their fingers brushed as she handed it over. The contact was brief, yet necessary for the transfer, but it sent fire racing up his arm and straight to his heart. Her breath caught, barely audible, but he heard it.
“Thank you.” His voice came out rougher than intended. “The local FBI lab in Phoenix will know what we’re dealing with.”
She nodded, but neither of them moved to end the meeting. They stood there in the desert darkness, close enough to touch. He’d only seen her a couple of days ago, but somehow, it seemed longer.
“Sadie...” He started to speak, then stopped, unsure how to bridge the gap between what they’d shared on the phone and this moment, this opportunity to finally be honest about everything he’d felt and buried and regretted.
“I know.” Her voice was soft, understanding. “But this isn’t the time or place.”
“But when you’re safe—”
“When I’m safe,” she agreed, and the promise in those three words made something inside his chest unfurl like a flower in sunlight.
A sound in the distance of desert wildlife was enough to remind them both where they were and why they were there. “I should get back,” she whispered, but her eyes lingered on his face like she was trying to memorize every detail.
“Be careful.” The words carried every ounce of fear and protectiveness and desperate love he couldn’t yet say aloud. “If anything feels wrong… anything at all… You get out. Promise me.”
“I promise.” She started to turn away, then paused. “Todd? It really is good to have you be the one who’s here with me.”
Before he could respond, she melted back into the shadows, leaving him standing alone in the desert with the container of pills clutched in his hand and her words echoing in his heart.
It really is good to have you here with me.
This time, he didn’t need to analyze the meaning. He could feel the truth of it in every fiber of his being. Whatever happened next, whatever dangers they faced, they were facing them together.
And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.