Chapter 6
Clint stared at the email from Ezra Rabinowitz, the ancient but very talented jeweler in Addis Ababa, announcing that the necklace he’d custom-created was ready for inspection.
He opened the attached pictures and inhaled sharply.
His breath caught as he forgot to exhale.
It was more beautiful than he had imagined.
It would look stunning around Ashlin’s long, aristocratic neck, with her gorgeous auburn hair that curled under just beyond her collarbone.
The golden highlights that often appeared when she was in the sun too much would accent it perfectly.
Thanks to his family’s recent relationship with Zesaro Neberu—the billionaire who owned almost all the mining rights in Ethiopia—Clint was able to purchase the gold from the famous Queen of Sheba mine that formed the heart within the heart pendant, as well as the sturdy chain.
Neberu had also found him one of the most beautiful Kenticha emeralds Clint had ever seen.
The dark green color was so intense, yet nearly transparent, with none of the black schorl inclusions commonly found in the gems mined on the other side of the mountain from Eden, his family’s compound.
To his surprise, the jeweler had inlaid dozens of small emeralds onto the large outer heart, accented beautifully by the bright gold.
He’d have to ask about that added touch.
Although it was magnificent, he cringed to see the additional cost. Clint rarely spent any of his own money, living on the Riggs compound, in his parents’ home with plenty of staff to cook and clean.
He paid for nearly nothing. As a team leader for his father’s contract special operations company, he was paid very well and had wisely invested for decades.
He had more than enough money to cover the price increase.
Any amount would be worth it to see the appreciation in Ashlin’s eyes. Come hell or high water, Clint was going to get to the United States in time for her birthday in May.
He’d wrap it in a beautiful package, with a huge, gorgeous bow.
During dessert, after an unforgettable dinner at the nicest restaurant in Washington D.C.
, he’d slip the box from the inside pocket of his custom-made suit and present it to her across the small table.
Once opened, he’d stand and fasten it around her slender neck.
She’d pull his face down and passionately kiss him as a thank-you.
Later that night, she’d show him more intimately her gratitude as he slid into her soft body time and time again after he’d made her come at least twice.
First with his fingers. The second time with his tongue.
He could easily picture her auburn hair splayed across the pillow, like a wild mahogany picture frame around her porcelain face, which enhanced her hazel eyes that changed color with her clothes.
He loved it when she wore green. The gold circle closest to her pupil seemed to expand and brighten the green next to it, which could be as light as jade or as dark as the emeralds he was looking at on his screen.
He closed his eyes and remembered their wedding night.
Although it had been months ago, he recalled every detail as though it had been last night.
The image of her naked in a bed, under him, beside him, made him hard.
Clint hadn’t had a woman in four months before he and Ashlin had connected in Las Vegas, and he hadn’t had one since.
Dozens had tried, especially when he and his team had visited bars after a successful mission, but his cock followed his heart and ached only for her.
His hand automatically covered his erection pushing against his utilities.
Alone at his desk, in his private rooms, thoughts of Ashlin put Clint on the verge of blowing.
He squeezed his cock to halt the pending eruption.
His private phone rang.
Glancing at the number he now recognized as the home phone at Theodora Castillo’s house, Clint wanted to roll his eyes. What the hell could she want now?
“Clint Riggs,” he announced, even though he was sure she knew who she’d called.
“Clint, this is Theodora. I have an appointment tomorrow with the baby doctor. I don’t know how to organize transportation to Addis Ababa. Ja…Javier always made those arrangements, and I wasn’t sure that you remembered.”
“I remembered. I booked a helicopter for tomorrow, but last we spoke, you didn’t know the exact time you needed to be there.”
“My appointment is at ten thirty,” she replied, then quickly added, “You said that if you were available, you would go to the doctor with me…like Javier used to.”
At the mention of his former longtime friend, a bolt of guilt pierced his heart. He had promised Javier he would take care of Theodora and the baby. He couldn’t wait until her mother got there and he could pass this responsibility off to her.
He knew he paused too long when Theodore explained, “Clint, I’m not very comfortable with this obstetrician. It’s not like back in the States, where there’s always a female nurse in the room with him. Sometimes…he kinda gives me the creeps.”
If Clint and Javier hadn’t been talking, Javier would still be alive.
He would take Theodora to this appointment and handle the creepy doctor.
Clint used Xena as his touchstone for everything when it came to Theodora, asking himself what he would do if this were happening to his sister.
The thought of Xena, alone in a room with a weird doctor, as he ran his hands over her bare, distended belly. His mind was made up.
“As it happens, I have to go into the capital tomorrow.” He swallowed hard. “I’ll take you to see the doctor.” That was probably the least he could do for her to fulfill his promise. “Do I need to send a car to get you to the helicopter pad by seven thirty?”
“Yes, please. We don’t have a car,” Theodora replied timidly.
Clint threw his arms around Blade and gave him a man hug that involved huge smiles and back slapping. “Hey, man, when did you get here?”
“Just a few hours ago. Xena needed to resupply before we head out into the mountains.” Clint’s West Point roommate jabbed his thumb toward the waiting helicopter.
“Her US contact has sent some specialized equipment to Addis Ababa that I need to pick up down. That’s why I signed up to pilot this flight.
I certainly don’t need the stick hours. How are you doing?
I was really sorry to hear about Javier.
You two were as close as any officer and senior-enlisted man could be.
You’d been working together a long time. ”
“I’m okay.” In truth, he was riddled with survivor’s guilt, regret that he and Javier had been talking out of boredom, and a little concerned about the promise he made to his dying friend.
He had no clue what to do with Theodora.
“We’ll talk about it over drinks later tonight.
” That may be the best idea he’d had in days.
He could tell Blade anything. And would.
Blade quartered the area before he pulled Clint closer to the pilot door. “There’s a rumor running through the men that the fucker who took out Javier wasn’t part of the camp you were scoping. Supposedly, he was a hired mercenary, working alone.”
Clint hadn’t heard any of that. But he’d called in a cleanup crew. They didn’t want any evidence left of their observation. “I’ll check with Dell and see how much of that is true.” There was always some truth in every rumor, and the computer geek would sort it out.
The bane of his existence pulled up at seven twenty-five.
He was pleased that Theodora was in beige slacks, comfortable walking shoes, and a loose-fitting purple blouse that didn’t make her look so pregnant.
His mind immediately shot to the morning he had to make the casualty call.
She was scantily clad in what he would normally consider sexy lingerie.
Sure, she was probably dressed to welcome home Javier, but he wished he’d never seen her like that.
Too bad brain bleach wasn’t a real thing.
He wanted there had been a way to remove that entire scene.
And the one where he had to take the Doc into her bedroom to check her out. Urgh!
Clint had never been around pregnant women before.
While in the Army, he had been in Special Forces, and there were never any pregnant women present.
Xena was a fierce female warrior, still taking personal missions from Washington, sending her all over the world.
He wasn’t sure she’d ever have children.
Thinking back, he couldn’t even remember rescuing a pregnant woman.
Nope. He knew absolutely nothing about them except they scared the hell out of him.
Not only would he be responsible for a fragile woman, but the tiny child she was growing inside.
Theodora smiled broadly as she approached him and grabbed his arm. “My mother will be here around noon. I should be done with my appointment in plenty of time to meet her at the airport. We can pick her up, right?” Nervously, she looked at the helicopter. “Is there room to bring her here?”
Clint glanced at his former roommate for approval, then followed Blake’s stare to where Theodora’s hands grasped Clint’s arm. Fuck.
“I’m glad she’s coming.” He removed one of her hands from his arm and placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the door of their troop helicopter.
With two handholds still in place, he helped her into the helo, handing her over to one of the flight crew.
They would get her situated in a seat and a communication helmet.
There were a few of their men already seated who were also going into the city, some for doctor’s appointments, a few had taken a couple of days leave for R&R to get away from their base, and three were doing some heavy-duty grocery shopping.