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Cease Fire
Cease Fire

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Cease Fire

Язык: Английский
Год издания: 2019
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Whether they’d wanted to or not.

Not that Roman wasn’t ever going into politics. He just wanted to do it on his own terms, not on his mother’s. He wanted to make a difference in the system, and his time at Omega Sector continued to help him understand where the system worked and where it needed fixing.

Roman rubbed a hand over his face and sat down at a table that had been vacated by people out on the dance floor, still glancing around the shadows, looking for danger. A couple months ago he would’ve been out on the floor with them. Could’ve kept a watchful eye out while having fun at the same time. He was known as the jokester on the SWAT team. The one with a witty comeback and always ready for a good time, taking nothing too seriously.

Or had been.

He wasn’t trying to go back to that persona. He’d been changed at some very basic level by his near-death experience and would never be that same person again.

And although he had no desire to talk politics tonight at his friend’s wedding, he could see that perhaps he might be moving in that direction sooner rather than later. Not because he was afraid of death or wanted to get out of the SWAT team, but because now more than ever he realized how short life really was.

Maybe it was just time for him to grow up. Maybe all these changes would’ve come about regardless. All Roman knew was that he couldn’t go back to who he’d been before he’d almost died. Didn’t want to go back to who he was formerly.

But before he could move forward with his life, they were going to have to catch Damien Freihof. Although Roman had to make peace that it wasn’t going to happen tonight.

Keira had taken herself back off the dance floor and was standing over in the shadows at the side of the room. Roman stood. He was finished staying away from her.

Finished letting Damien Freihof determine every decision he made.

At least for now.

Chapter Two

“How do I know the bride? Oh, we used to be strippers together back in the day.”

Keira hadn’t actually used that statement as the answer to the question she’d been asked a few times, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t the truth.

But Andrea, the bride and one of Keira’s closest friends, hadn’t disclosed her previous line of work, so Keira wouldn’t, either.

Although Keira didn’t care who knew she was once an exotic dancer. She wasn’t ashamed of it. She had clawed her way out of a hell most people would never even conceive, and she wouldn’t apologize for how she’d survived. Dancing had been part of that.

But if the bride wanted to keep her past private, that was certainly her prerogative. Keira wouldn’t reveal the information, either.

“Hey there, beautiful. You doing okay?”

The bride had somehow sneaked up on Keira right as she’d been thinking about her. Their arms wrapped around each other.

“Yes! What are you doing over here with me? Brandon’s going to be looking for you.”

Andrea smiled, her straight blond hair in stark contrast to Keira’s riotous dark curls. “He’s watching me, I can feel it. I’m not sure where he is exactly, but I can guarantee he knows where I am.”

Keira laughed. “If he wasn’t so crazy in love with you, that would be sort of stalkerish. But I know what you mean.”

Andrea’s smile, as always, was soft and sweet. She was never going to be someone who wanted to draw attention to herself if she had other options. That had been true even back in their dancing days. Keira still didn’t know how Andrea had managed to survive it.

Except that Andrea was a survivor.

Ultimately, that had drawn Keira and Andrea together, the two of them so opposite in personality, looks and temperament. Survivor had recognized survivor.

“I love you, Andrea.” Keira brought her friend in for another hug. “And I’m so excited for you here on your beautiful day, and for the stalker standing over there with some friends, looking at you with adoration in his eyes.”

“Do you really think this turned out okay?” Doubt tinged Andrea’s voice. “This wedding was so much bigger than I wanted. This reception so elaborate. It’s just that Brandon’s family is involved with politics and business. They wanted to do the whole big thing.”

“It’s perfect. The wedding was beautiful, everyone is having a good time at the reception and you’re handling it all like a champ.”

Andrea didn’t have her own family—her parents had died when she was young, and the people who’d raised her afterwards had made her home life so bad that she’d run away as a teen rather than stay there—but Keira had to admit the Hans had embraced her with such open arms that she could hardly claim no family anymore. They loved their son and loved their new daughter-in-law.

Proof was in Brandon’s sisters making their way over to Andrea a few minutes later and pulling her out on the dance floor.

As they went, a man—the very epitome of tall, dark and handsome—caught Keira’s attention from across the room, over near the terrace doors. He was studying her in a way that made her insides begin a slow burn. Keira knew he was an Omega agent, had seen him around at a couple events in the last few months, but didn’t know his name. Had been afraid to ask in case she couldn’t stop herself from pouncing on him.

Her attention was yanked back by Andrea. “Come join us!” the bride said over her shoulder, a new sister attached to each arm as they crossed to the dance floor.

“In a few.” Keira laughed and waved. She looked over again, but tall, dark and handsome seemed to have moved back into the shadows.

She shrugged, surprised by how disappointed she was to lose that moment with him. She didn’t tend to be so romantic as allowing herself to feel heat from just a glance.

Didn’t tend to be romantic at all.

But Keira didn’t head to the dance floor. Most people had brought a date to dance with. Keira deliberately had not because, as one of the bridesmaids, she wanted to be able to concentrate on Andrea and anything she needed. But mostly because she just didn’t date much.

Keira looked around at the large crowd. There seemed to be two types of people populating the wedding. Omega Sector agents, all half mingling, half watching the door for any sign of that maniac who had almost killed both Andrea and Brandon last year. They were intelligent, they were armed and they were ready.

And they weren’t even the most dangerous people in the room. That was the other part of the crowd.

The wealthy. The privileged. The elite.

Those people scared Keira much more than someone with a gun did.

They shook hands and slapped backs, then stuck proverbial knives in those very same backs as soon as it served their best interests. The room was filled with men and women who aspired to be congressmen, governors, maybe even more. Those who desired to start, run and sell multimillion dollar corporations.

And they had the power—or the family with power—to back up those goals.

She knew these types of people, knew what they could do to someone. Had been married to a member of a family like the ones here. One who had powerful political aspirations.

Six years ago, she had fled this state a broken person. Not much more than a child. She had bought her freedom from the upper echelon with her own blood, always afraid the man who’d broken her would wield his wealth and power to find her again.

His family wasn’t here tonight; Keira had made sure that would be the case long before this day came. She’d asked Brandon, not Andrea, if the Cunningham family of Denver would be attending the wedding. Brandon hadn’t thought so and had double-checked, since his parents—who were paying for the wedding—were inviting some business and political associates he didn’t know well. He was soon able to assure her there would be no Cunninghams in attendance.

Keira had expected Brandon to press for details, but he hadn’t. Just gave her that look that said he’d probably already figured out 90 percent of the situation in that huge brain of his, and moved on to other questions, about wedding bands and cake flavors.

Keira had been relieved she wouldn’t have to miss one of her closest friends’ weddings. But she would have to avoid Jonathan Cunningham and his family.

There weren’t many things Keira was afraid of in this world. But a family willing to use its wealth and power to hide the hideous sins of its son?

Let’s just say she was never getting involved with anyone from a wealthy and powerful family again.

Not that she had much interest in attaching herself to anyone on a permanent basis. When the bouquet was tossed in a little bit, Keira would definitely not be part of the group trying to catch it. She’d already lived through her own hell of a marriage once. That was plenty for one lifetime.

Andrea waved to her from the dance floor and Keira made her way out there. No more boo-hooing over the past. Keira had survived. She would always survive.

Breathe in, breathe out, move on.

Keira joined the group out on the floor, jumping and waving their hands over their heads to an upbeat song. Andrea was positively glowing. Keira was so glad her friend had found her knight in shining armor.

Keira didn’t need one. She preferred to fight her own battles and had now finally gotten herself situated to help others who needed assistance.

Help people like the scared, broken girl she’d once been.

After a few more dances, things began to wind down. The speeches were given, the cake cut, the music became slower. She noticed some women sliding their high heels off to give their feet a rest. Keira didn’t need to, one of the perks of her ex-occupation.

She grinned to herself from the edge of the ballroom, where she stood in the shadows. Her three-inch heels were nothing compared to most of the shoes she’d danced in at the club. Plus they made her seem not quite so pitifully short.

“I have to admit, you look like someone very pleased with herself.”

The deep voice startled her and she glanced to her side.

Wow. Tall, dark and handsome had decided to join her in the shadows.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to spook you.” His smile was so charming she couldn’t help but smile back.

“I just didn’t think anyone was hiding here but me. At least on this side of the room.”

“Are you hiding?”

Keira shrugged a shoulder exposed by her strapless dress. “Only because I’m afraid Andrea’s going to throw the bouquet in a minute.”

He chuckled. “You gathering your strength to wipe out the competition?”

Keira raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding? Look at them.” She waved her arm toward some of the single women at the tables in the middle of the room. “I don’t need to gather my strength to take them out.”

“I stand corrected.” He laughed softly again, the sound doing things to Keira’s insides she hadn’t felt in a long while.

“But no, I’m over here because I don’t want anyone to notice when I don’t join in the tradition of tackling poor, defenseless flowers.”

“I thought all single women wanted to catch the bouquet.”

She turned completely toward him so she could give him the full weight of her opinion of that asinine statement.

But instead just got caught up in the ridiculous blue of his eyes, coupled with his brown hair. She literally felt her breath catch at the spark between them.

So much for not being romantic.

He felt it, too. She could tell by the way he eased closer. “I stand corrected again. Not every woman wants to make a flying tackle for the bouquet. I’m Roman Weber. I work with Brandon and Andrea at Omega.”

“Nice to meet you, Roman Weber. I’m Keira Spencer, old friend of the bride.”

“I’ve seen you around.”

Yeah, she’d seen him, too, since she’d moved to Colorado Springs six months ago. But she’d never had a chance to talk to him before now. Or really, Keira hadn’t pushed it. Had deliberately not let herself be pulled in by the instant attraction between the two of them.

With him standing beside her, she couldn’t help but be pulled in by it now.

“Dance with me?” He tilted his head down near her ear and whispered the words softly. The music was slow. Sultry even. Definitely not helping her resist this attraction pooling in her.

“I’m trying to stay out of the lights on the dance floor, remember?” But she knew if he led her out there she would definitely not resist.

She felt his arm slide low around her waist. “Not out there,” he whispered. “Right here.”

He pulled her into him and began to gently sway with the music. His other hand found hers and brought it up against his chest, keeping their fingers entwined.

Even with her heels she barely came up to his chin. She knew this sort of closeness should make her feel uncomfortable, and waited for that tinge of panic to assail her.

It never came.

One song led into a second as they moved slowly together, in perfect rhythm.

“Why are you hiding in the shadows, Roman Weber?” Keira asked as the second slow song ended and the band took a break for the bouquet and garter toss.

“I’m dancing in the shadows with a gorgeous woman,” Roman replied.

“Not hiding from the garter?”

He smiled. And still hadn’t slipped his arm from her waist or released her hand from his chest.

“No. Although I will admit, shamefully, since I’m a grown man, that I’m trying to avoid my mother and her nagging agenda at events like this.”

Keira smiled. “Mom’s not a big fan of you working at Omega Sector?”

“Oh yes, believe me, she is not happy about my chosen profession.”

She couldn’t blame a mother for being concerned about her son’s well-being. Keira could feel the muscles of the chest beneath her fingers, the light balance he had on his feet. Roman was definitely an active agent. Probably regularly in the line of fire. A mother could be forgiven for nagging about that.

“I understand the hiding. Even if I wasn’t trying to avoid the bouquet, I generally avoid crowds like this.”

He eased back so they could see each other’s eyes. “Law enforcement agents?”

“No.” She shook her head, smiling. “The other ones. Rich and privileged, with an agenda of their own.”

Roman studied her for a long moment in a way she didn’t really understand.

“What?” she finally asked.

“Nothing.” His gaze turn into something softer, more inviting. “You’re trying to get away from these people. I’m trying to get away from these people. What do you say we just get out of here together, right now? I have a suite upstairs.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“It can just be for more dancing. I promise.” That smile again that took her breath away. “All I’m trying to do is save you from the plant-damaging violence of the bouquet toss. Although I agree, you could definitely take out most of the women here.”

Despite what some people might think of her because of her past profession, giving in to an instant attraction wasn’t Keira’s normal way of doing things. Letting a man get close to her was difficult. Hell, given her previous marriage, even being attracted to someone was a novelty.

But the attraction between her and Roman Weber was something fierce. She couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to.

And she didn’t want to.

For the first time in her life, Keira threw caution to the wind. “What if I’m interested in more than just dancing up in your suite?”

His grinned widened. “Then I would ask why the heck we’re still here talking about it.”

He let go of her waist and pulled her to the door.

Chapter Three

They didn’t leave the suite for the next day and a half.

They hardly left the bed except to grab what they ordered from room service.

Keira couldn’t stop smiling. She came back out of the bathroom midday Monday after brushing her teeth and attempting to do something with her hair, hardly recognizing the woman she’d seen in the mirror.

Spending the weekend in bed with a man she hardly knew really wasn’t part of her MO. She may have been an exotic dancer, but that hadn’t meant she’d allowed men close to her. As a matter of fact, stripping had been the furthest thing from intimacy for her.

While onstage, she’d known exactly what moves to do to make the most money and gather the most attention. And even offstage she’d always been confident and capable, her thriving salon business now proof of that.

But when it came to intimacy with a man, Keira was much more wary. Her confidence much lower. She could thank Jonathan Cunningham for that. After her disastrous sham of a marriage, she’d been afraid to get close to anyone.

She could count on two fingers the number of relationships she’d had since her divorce six years ago. And that was including whatever was going on with Roman right now.

He’d already taken her phone’s calendar and scheduled her to have dinner with him every night this week, so evidently he planned on them seeing each other again after they left here.

And she couldn’t stop smiling. Not her fake-but-sparkling stage smile, but her legit, bubbling-from-somewhere-deep-inside smile.

“I like that look on you,” he said, as she crossed to him with the sheet wrapped around her.

“Sheets are all the rage this season.” She twirled as if she was on a runway, then let out a yelp as he grabbed the sheet and pulled it off her.

“That’s even better,” he murmured, using the sheet still wrapped around her hips to pull her closer. His lips melded to hers and she melted into him.

“You know we have to leave this room sometime,” she finally said against his mouth.

“How about if I quit my job at Omega and you close the salon?”

She giggled. “I’m pretty sure they’d kick us out of here soon, when we run out of money.”

“Argh. Damn consumerism in the US.”

His phone buzzed again on the nightstand. Hers had been doing the same thing for the last few hours.

The real world was calling.

It was late Monday afternoon. The salon was closed on Sundays and Mondays, so it had worked out fine to be here with Roman. But she had paperwork to do and the salon involved much more than just cutting and styling hair.

But she hadn’t explained any of that to Roman yet. Even though he was law enforcement, she still wasn’t completely comfortable sharing the Fresh Starts salon’s true purpose. Those secrets weren’t fully hers to tell.

“I’ve got to get back to the salon.”

“I thought it wasn’t open today.”

“It’s not. But paperwork and shipments and handling stuff all keep going no matter what day it is. The glorious life of a small business owner.”

“And I guess I’ve got to go back to Omega and sit at a desk all day.” He gave the most adorable pout, lying there against the pillows.

“Aw.” She trailed her fingers down his cheek. “Poor little SWAT team member frustrated by having to use his brain?”

She joked, but the burn scars he had across his chest and shoulder from his close call with death two months ago were anything but funny.

He spun her around and had her pinned under him in a second flat.

“I’ll admit I’m much more prone to action than I am profiling or researching.” He bent down to kiss her and shifted his hips so they were more fully pressed up against each other. Keira couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her as his lips worked their way across her jaw and down her neck.

His phone rang again. This time the music from the movie Jaws. Keira laughed. It wasn’t the first time that person had called.

She pushed at his chest to stop his lips from going lower down her shoulder.

“Okay, I’ve got to know who that is. The Jaws theme.”

Roman propped himself up on his elbow and rolled his eyes. “My mother.”

Keira threw her head back and let out a laugh. Until Roman took advantage of her exposed throat and soon had her gasping for breath.

But when the shark theme came again from his phone five minutes later, Keira knew she had to get him to answer it.

“Roman, it’s your mother.”

“She’ll call back.”

“Uh, yeah, in another five minutes. You said she doesn’t like your Omega job. She’s worried about you.”

After what had happened with that explosion that had almost killed him, Keira didn’t blame his mom. She nudged him. “Just answer it so she won’t be worried.”

He didn’t look thrilled, but he did it. Probably because he knew his mother wasn’t going to stop calling until she knew he was safe.

“Hello, Mother.”

Immediately, Keira could hear his mother talking at a rate and pitch that had to be barely discernible even to Roman. Keira couldn’t make out a bit of it and she was only six inches away.

Roman kept the receiver at his ear and bent down to kiss Keira again. A luscious kiss that almost made her forget the other woman on the line. But all too soon, he ended the kiss and pushed back.

“Of course I’m listening.”

He winked at Keira and got up from the bed, walking naked across the room toward the window. “I left the wedding early with a friend.” He glanced back at Keira and smiled. “Yes, someone I met at the wedding, and that’s why I left. Well, met again. We have mutual friends.”

Keira didn’t think she’d ever get tired of looking at Roman’s naked form. Hard to believe those six-pack abs and firm buttocks were what he looked like now, during recovery. Him in top physical form just might kill her.

“Keira Spencer.” He waited patiently while his mother said something else. “I tell you what, why don’t I check with her and see if she’s available to join us all for lunch next Sunday?”

Keira’s eyes flew to Roman’s. Did he really want her to join his family for lunch? He was smiling reassuringly at her. Maybe this wasn’t as big a deal as she thought.

Regardless, she got up while he was finishing with his mom. She needed some sort of fortification right now. Clothes seemed like a good start.

She dressed, glad she had grabbed her change of clothes and toiletries from the hotel room she’d booked but hadn’t used. She was putting on some makeup when he finished his conversation and tapped on the door.

“You okay in there?”

She opened it. “Dinner with the family? Does that mean I get to wear your letterman’s jacket, too?”

He stole a kiss. “Smart-ass. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Sunday lunches with my family are sort of a networking event. Everybody brings someone if they want. I don’t always even go.”

Was he backpedaling? Did he not want her there? She didn’t know him well enough to know how to respond. “Oh. Well...”

“I tell you what. Have dinner with me every night this week and then if you still like me, you can come hang with the family. They’re pretty overwhelming.”

She laughed and shook her head at his crazy proposal. “I can’t have dinner with you every night this week. The salon is open late some nights.”

“I’ll bring takeout.”

It was nice to be wanted, and by someone not only so damn attractive, but trustworthy also. He was a friend of Andrea and Brandon’s and worked for one of the top law enforcement agencies in the country. Pretty damn trustworthy.

And although they hadn’t gotten into each other’s financial background in the hours they’d talked in between bouts of lovemaking over the last two days, Keira felt safe in assuming Roman wasn’t part of the high society group she’d left behind six years ago. Nobody born with a silver spoon and aspirations of power became a member of SWAT, putting his life in danger every day.

Roman Weber was pretty close to damn well perfect.

He finally wore her down, and she agreed to having dinner with him two nights and the meal with his family on Sunday.

It was crazy and scary and oh-so-exciting.

For the first time in six years, Keira could actually imagine a relationship with someone. Maybe not marriage—she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for that—but something long term. Permanent.

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