Page 55 of Ford

Her question found his bones, shook him.

His team, of course. He’d learned that early on, in BUD/S. But beyond that, he just didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of him. So he showed up, did his job, and okay, sometimes he was a little lone wolf. But only so others didn’t get hurt because he did nothing.

Who do you depend on?

You.

Ford looked at Scarlett, and the answer took root. He hadn’t realized how much he depended on her. She had an uncanny way of making him believe that everything was going to work out.

But he couldn’t tell her that. Instead, “I don’t know.” They had reached the square, with shop lights and cafés lighting up the night, the cathedral rising like a mythic beast. A bell rang out—the astronomical clock ringing out the hour. Midnight.

He walked over to a bench near the hotel entrance. A linden tree nearby was in full bloom, fragrancing the night. Scarlett sat down next to him.

He stared up at the heavens.

“My dad and mom raised us to believe that God loves us. I always believed that if we did what was right, He’d protect us. Somehow, somewhere in there I started to also believe that maybe I needed to show up, in case He didn’t. Funny, right?”

When she didn’t comment, he glanced at her.

She wasn’t smiling. “God abandoned me a long, long time ago, Ford. And He hasn’t shown up since, so no, I don’t think that’s funny at all.”

Although he’d meant his words in sort of an experimental jest, her solemnness speared him with a pain he couldn’t place. “Scarlett. That’s not true. Goddoesshow up. He doesn’t abandon us. The Bible asks, how can God forget his own children?”

“My mother forgot her own child. Trust me, it can be done.”

He swallowed, hating her broken expression. And since he had no words, he reached out and pulled her to himself.

Her body relaxed against his.

He closed his eyes. And he didn’t know why, but words swelled inside him.I know I haven’t depended on You much, Lord. But maybe there’s a reason You brought Scarlett into my life. A reason I can’t seem to shake her. And if that reason is to show her You, then…

She put her hands to his chest and pushed away, lifting her face to his, her beautiful eyes searching his. “We’re going to get your sister back, Ford.”

She smelled so good, and suddenly all he could think about was the taste of her lips, the feel of her hair. The way her body fit against his.

“Aw, Red,” he said softly. “I’m really trying hard here not to cross a line, but I so want to kiss you.”

She drew in a breath. Lifted one side of her mouth. “Who’s gonna know? It’s not like we’re on duty, right?”

Right.

So right.

He wasn’t going to ask her to leave. He’d watch her back, keep her safe, and everything was going to be fine…

Ford slid his hand to the back of her neck, drew her close, his lips whispering against her—

“I’d know,” a voice said behind him. “And that’s exactly the kind of thing we don’t need if we want to get this job done.”

Ford stiffened. Turned to the voice.

A man stood in the shadows, near the door of the hotel, a backpack on his shoulder, and now walked off the stoop toward them. A black hulk in the night, he was built like a frogman, the outline of his body impressive. Ford put him over six feet, and as he passed through the puddle of a nearby street light, he noticed dark blond hair curling out from under a baseball hat, a black jacket, and an equally black pair of jeans.

“I almost didn’t recognize you,” Hamilton Jones said. He held out his hand to Ford, who was finding his feet. “Let’s keep the kissy-face until after we get your sister home.”

Scarlett had nearly fled from his arms and now stood a few feet away.

Ford nodded, met Hamilton’s grip. “What took you so long?”

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