Undercover Hunter(98)

                She arched a brow as he began to slice the cake. “What makes you think your subconscious isn’t as good as mine?”

                “Did I say that?” His eyes twinkled at her. “Maybe we should arrange to pay this guy a visit at his ranch.”

                “You weren’t invited.”

                “And you go alone over my dead body.” He paused, then said, “How about we change the subject? The subconscious works better when we’re not beating on it. Something will emerge from somewhere.”

                Neither of them mentioned the invisible countdown clock.

                * * *

                They settled in the living room with their cake and coffee but weren’t especially interested in eating. Outside, the wind seemed to have picked up and occasionally keened a bit.

                “We’re going to be shoveling again,” Cade remarked.

                “Are we getting more snow?”

                “No, but it’s blowing around. One of the things you need to get used to in these parts is shoveling the same damn snow again and again.”

                She laughed, but the sound was cut short as he reached out a strong arm and urged her to come sit beside him. She didn’t even hesitate. It felt so good to curl up against him, and the weight of his arm around her shoulders was nice. Funny how she’d never really taken the time before to notice such things.

                Then he asked about her rape. She tensed immediately but forced herself to relax. She’d told him about it, sort of, and naturally he’d wonder.

                “It was a long time ago,” she said. “I was nineteen, young and stupid.”

                “Hold your horses. That doesn’t excuse a rape.”

                “I didn’t say it did.” She rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder and tried not to let memory take over. Best to keep it clean and brief like a report. “I did learn not to go places with a guy where there was no one else around.”

                “But you came here with me.”

                “I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned how to take care of myself for one thing. Anyway, I felt like I was raped a second time when I reported it and faced those people telling me I’d better put up and shut up or I’d ruin my future with the army, as well as his. I let myself be intimidated. I never allowed that again.”

                “I can believe it. You’re very strong and determined. But how do you deal with something like that?”

                “You find a civilian psychologist who doesn’t give a damn about the military and you work through it as best you can. I won’t say I’m totally over it, but it seems a long time ago now. Scars yes, open wounds no.”

                “And then you became a crusader.”

                “That took a little longer,” she admitted. “First I had to get somewhere beyond being a gate guard.” Which she had, filling her nights with courses at local colleges or by correspondence. “I made up my mind I was going to have some influence, and eventually I got there. Of course, I had my moments. Like I said, I’m not entirely sure that I didn’t get promoted up instead of out. But I went to OTS and gained my commission.”

                “That’s officer training, right?” He chuckled. “I bet you turned into a big surprise.”