INTO DANGER (Secret Assassins (S.A.S.S.) Book 1) (46 page)

“I knew Stash would find this new job won’t lack adventure.”

Marlena smiled wryly. “Oh, I think Stash found his niche.”

“So have you decided to keep him, then, darling? You know I wouldn’t mind having him work in New York. I’ll welcome him with open arms.”

That sealed T’s fate, as far as Marlena was concerned. She hoped Alex would tie her up and keep her away from...She smiled again. Suddenly she didn’t feel so bad about betraying her friend. T was lonely. She loved Alex. For more than two years she’ dreamed of and loved that man, so there was nothing wrong in sending her another chance to work things out.

Skipping their usual sarcastic exchange, she softly said, “I’ll see you real soon.”

Marlena hung up and thoughtfully considered her next problem...dressing five very reluctant men with great bodies in Versace. Or Armani. Hmm. Not every woman had such a delicious task at hand. Maybe she didn’t hate men that much after all.

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I
t was a not-for-documentary of navy SEALs being tortured. That was Marlena’s description, not his. Steve squeezed the bridge of his nose and tried to stop from laughing out loud. The scene in front of him was far more chaotic than the rescue operation a day ago.

It’d taken a bit of quiet negotiation on his part, out of Lena’s hearing, to get all the men’s cooperation. He’d called on all the favors he had ever done for Hawk for this one-time deal, and that was because he wanted the night to be perfect for Lena and him.

“You’d better get what you’re after,” Hawk had warned, eyes narrowed into slits, “because my men and I will bust your ass if you fail.”

So today Steve could say he had seen it all. It was quite a sight—five reluctant commandos dragging their feet and following the leather-clad Miss M around a men’s store. The few people in the exclusive boutique stopped and stared at their entourage. Who could help it? The rambunctious crew looked as in place in D.C. as aliens pretending to blend in with humans. He smirked again. A team of SEAL commandos in a men’s boutique. Hoo-yah.

Marlena was enjoying herself immensely, and Steve got a kick out of witnessing the pained looks on his cousin’s and his men’s faces. Hell, they had it easy. She had only made them suffer for a couple of hours before deciding on this one store.

Dirk and Mink were donning all the name-brand shades as they circled the place, pretending they were from the Mafia. Hawk had the biggest scowl on his face, but of all people, his cousin was the last person Steve had expected to allow a woman to groom him. Of course, one should never underestimate the power of persuasion from any GEM operative, and Steve was smart enough not to mention to the guys the fitting business coming up.

That was where Cucumber drew the line. He was so tall they couldn’t find pants the right length that fit, and the store tailor approached him, tape in hand. Steve watched in anticipated amusement as the man patted on the long-suffering Cucumber without explaining what he was about to do. Within seconds Cucumber roared and pulled the tailor off his feet by the collar, looking like he was going to murder the guy.

“Mr.... Mr....” The poor man’s gasps were shrill with panic.

No one went to his aid. Steve leaned his hip against a counter as he watched Marlena sigh, roll her eyes, and tap the big commando on the arm. “Let him down, you big bully.”

“He had his tape measure between my legs.” Cucumber glared at the culprit as he lifted him a few inches higher.

“He was just measuring your inseam. You know, you guys have got to cool it, or I’m going to have to go to another store. You don’t want to do that now, do you, boys?”

There was a collective groan from the others. Steve understood their pain. Dirk said from behind his sunglasses, in a pseudo Sicilian accent. “Cumber, put him down, man. Let him measure you. I promise we’ll kill him if he shorted you of an inch.” He leaned closer to the man whose feet were still dangling off the ground. “You’ll measure him right, won’t you?”

“Yes! Yes, Mr.... Mr....”

Cucumber lowered him back on his feet. “It’s Mr. Cucumber.”

Marlena laughed and pressed a tip into the poor tailor’s trembling hand. “Don’t mind them. I’ll protect you if they misbehave again.” She sidled a little closer to Cucumber. “See, I’ll hold his hand so he won’t grab you again.”

Steve couldn’t keep his eyes off her as she soothed the men around her, from the enraged and nervous store tailor to the equally enraged and nervous Cucumber. He liked watching her when she was relaxed like this, having her little fun. He didn’t mind this side of her at all. He had a feeling that she didn’t often tease people she didn’t like. Beside him, Hawk turned and asked softly, “You’re thoroughly head-over-heels, aren’t you?”

Steve didn’t hesitate. “Head-over-heels and under deep water.”

“No hope?”

“None whatsoever.”

“You’re gonna keep her?”

He darted a sharp glance at his cousin. He remembered that kiss. “What do you think?”

Hawk’s light brown eyes were amused at his quick anger. “I think I like it, although Stash is still a wuss name. So, have you told her about Kat? What about your mom?”

“Lena knows about Kat. Her health problems don’t seem to bother her. She hardly reacted at the hospital bills. As for Mom, you know how she is. She’d want to talk to Lena for hours over the phone. No way. She’ll scare her off.”

Hawk glanced at Marlena. “She doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything to me.”

Steve sniffed. “Yeah, well, that woman is more commitment-shy than you, Hawk. I’ve had to practically force myself on her.” He grinned. “But she’s worth every minute of it. I’ve been looking for someone like her for a long time.”

“Looks like you lucked out, then,” Hawk said. “I think she’s a fine woman.”

Their little talk was interrupted by Marlena calling Hawk over for his turn to be fitted. Steve smirked as Hawk shook his head.

“I know my measurements, thank you,” he said.

“But I don’t. Come here, Steve, and let me see. Bet Stash’s inseam is bigger.” Marlena pointedly never called Hawk anything but Steve to his face. Her smile was openly devious.

Steve’s grin became wider. Hawk could never resist a challenge. Ever. His cousin bared his teeth for a moment, then he strode toward Marlena. “See whether I’m ever going to answer one of your calls again, Stash.”

Marlena met his eyes over Hawk’s shoulder and winked. And the rest of the day, he thought of the future.

The next night, Steve scanned around discreetly in the middle of act one of the sold-out Turandot. They were in some of the most expensive seats in the house, and after Marlena’s efforts, everyone looked like fashion plates. He grinned. He supposed there were things worse than having five reluctant SEALs in an opera. Actually, they’d been behaving themselves. His promise of a five-star dinner afterward helped.

He slid a quick glance down the row just to see how they were doing. Cucumber was wearing Dirk’s new shades. He was sitting upright, looking straight at the singers on stage, but Steve knew a sleeping soldier when he saw one. Not that he feared the big man would clap at the wrong time or start to snore. A trained commando could catch a nap and yet stay alert.

At the other end, Hawk was listening attentively. He had somehow made friends with the two women next to him, and of course the one sitting closer already had one elegant hand curled in his. Steve settled back into his seat with a smile. He should have known Hawk would find a way to entertain himself.

He himself was surprised to find that he was enjoying the show, very much so. Marlena sat to his right, holding his hand. She was running her nails lightly against his palm in rhythm to the beat of the orchestra, and he wanted to pull her closer and kiss her. But then, if he did that, he would forget to watch the stage. Kissing Lena was far more absorbing than a princess who executed all her suitors. He remembered that opera stories were mostly tragic, with the lovers dying. He tightened his hold on Lena’s hand. Not what he was planning on.

To her right were Cam and Patty Ostler. They were in a world of their own. Cam had arrived in his new penguin suit with a breathtaking and breathless Patty by his side. Breathtaking because of the daring dress she and Marlena picked out when they’d gone shopping by themselves. Breathless from how that dress had probably driven poor Cam to forget what time it was. He’d apologized charmingly for their tardiness while she blushed and squeezed her velvet red handbag into a wad. It was obvious Patty Ostler hated to be late and wasn’t comfortable being the center of attention. She still brushed off Cam’s attentions with a cold shoulder in public, but Steve now understood she was, in fact, more shy than aloof, and therein lay Cam’s fascination with her.

Steve returned his attention to the action on stage. Everything, unlike the poor prince on stage who was getting the thumbs-down from the ice-cold princess, was simply perfect.

***

“I
have to thank Marlena for this and for the shopping trip, man,” Cam said later, in the men’s room. He pressed the soap dispenser. “Doesn’t Patty look gorgeous in that dress? It doesn’t have any back! You know what that means, don’t you?”

“Nope.” Steve zipped up his pants and went to join Cam at the washbasin.

Cam waggled his eyebrows at him in the mirror, a devilish smile forming. “No bra,” he said, voice laden with male meaning. He toyed around with the paper towels.

“Did I hear something about a bra?” Cucumber asked, looming up from behind. He took off his shades and studied their reflection sleepily. He raked a hand through his dark wavy hair. “Is that part of the next act? I might stay up for that.”

“Yeah, the princess is going to parade up and down the stage on six-inch stilettos in some hot girlie outfit, Cumber,” Hawk chipped in from the other side of the wall. He tucked in his shirt before buttoning the front of his pants.

Cucumber eyed the whole counter of men’s toiletries, shook his head in disbelief, and gave a big yawn. “Wake me up when that scene comes up,” he told them as he tried to stretch. He looked disgusted when his brand-new jacket impeded his long arms.

“It’s not that bad a show,” Hawk said.

“How do you know?” challenged Dirk. “Everyone who’s wide awake got a girl with him. Steve’s got Marlena. Cam has his girlfriend. You’ve got that blond chick hanging all over you. Us three here are playing third wheels to you all.”

“Yeah,” Mink agreed, coming up to stand by Dirk and Cucumber. The three of them donned their new sunglasses in one fluid, practiced motion, then turned to face the urinals.

Steve laughed as Cucumber, Dirk, and Mink made a big show of their lack of female companionship, making leering remarks as they lined up side-by-side to do their business, and then giving hangdog looks. They went into an impromptu satire of the three court jesters who provided the comic relief in the opera.

“Can’t be the size.”

“What, are you crazy? We’ve got Cumber on our side. We can beat those three with just his alone.”

“Can’t be the nuts, either. We have equal proportion in that category.”

“You must be blind behind those shades. Or wishful. One of mine’s equal to all of yours.” That one came from Cucumber.

“Can’t be the looks,” Dirk jibed. “We’re all dressed up like penguins. They look just as bad as we do.”

“So what do they have that we don’t?” Mink asked in a mock-forlorn voice.

Steve and Cam were laughing too hard to answer. Some of the other men in there were just as amused by the whole routine.

Dirk and Mink looked at each other, then said loudly, “It’s got to be the shoes.” And all three of them looked down at the same time.

“If you clowns are done bleeding your lizards,” Hawk interrupted dryly, “the rest of us have to get back to our ladies. You three better behave when we have dinner. We don’t want Steve to blame us if Marlena refuses to marry him.”

“Yes, sir,” the trio answered dejectedly in unison, as Steve and Cam left the men’s room, still chuckling hard.

Steve reached into his pocket and touched the box. He didn’t know what he’d do if she refused him. A hand clapped his shoulder, and he turned to see Hawk on his side.

“Relax. She won’t chop your head off like Princess Turandot would.”

“Yeah,” Cam chimed in. “It’s not like she’s been ignoring you. Down on your knees, say the words, and she’d melt like that cold Chinese princess.”

Steve swallowed hard. It wasn’t every day a SEAL felt this nervous.

“Man, you wouldn’t have known they were that funny after seeing them mow down an entire crew of bad guys the other night,” Cam said, changing the subject, probably for his sake. “Patty wouldn’t appreciate them mocking the opera. I’m glad I read the story from the library. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have any freaking idea why that princess is so damn bloodthirsty. She’s kind of mean, if you ask me, ignoring the poor dude like that when he gave her everything! And then still wouldn’t marry him when he got the answers right! Man, talk about cold!”

Steve looked at Cam closely to see whether he was catching the irony of his words, but his friend was oblivious to the fact he was talking more of himself than the opera. When Cam pulled out a stick of chewing gum and looked longingly at it, Steve couldn’t help it. He said, “It’s okay to chew gum inside, you know.”

Cam shook his head. “Wouldn’t go with the penguin suit, man. Besides, opera and gum just don’t go together, you know?”

That was what made Cam, Cam, Steve wanted to tell him, but changed his mind. His friend wanted his princess’s approval and attention, and was doing what it took. He understood frustration. He felt plenty of it these days himself. “So tell me what’s going to happen next so I don’t have to read the program.”

“It’s kind of cool. He guessed her name as the answer to the third riddle and she got pissed off because she didn’t think he would win her, right? So the dude-prince turns the tables on her in the next act. He tells her she can chop off his head if she can answer his riddle, which is what his name is.”

“Did she find out?”

“Nope. But she gave the right answer anyway. You’ll see.” Cam looked around for the girls and shrugged. “Women. What do they do in the ladies’ rest room, anyway?”