Page 32 of Ace

He hated to hear every word as it left her mouth, but what could he say? He agreed with her. He’d said the same just moments before. But it didn’t mean he wanted to hear it.

The captain announced their initial descent, and the plane started to dip toward Reagan National Airport outside Washington DC.

“Here we go.”

“Yep. Here we go.”

They didn’t say anything more. Dex knew he’d made a mess of things. But maybe that was for the best. Yes. It was. He stood, grabbed his duffle—she’d grabbed both of hers without a word before he could take one—and followed her off the plane.

So this was how it was gonna be.

They had parked away from a gate, so they were about to step out and walk to the terminal. But as soon as they did, a nearby limo’s door opened, and Gi’s father stepped out, arms wide. “Come here, pumpkin.” His smile was as large as his personality.

Most people feared him. Dex feared him. But the man loved twice as hard as he worked. He could hug you like you were the last person on earth and make you feel stronger than you ever had. But if you crossed him, he’d make things right. And Dex wasn’t totally sure if he’d crossed him or not.

He nodded to Dex. “Ace, I’ll be seeing you in my office early.” Then he stepped into the limo with Gi, and they left him to walk by himself into the airport.

Dex had crossed him.

And Gi hadn’t done anything more than nod to him.

Chapter 11

Gianna frowned at her dad. “That wasn’t nice. You’re really just gonna leave him there?”

“The senator can pick up his own son.”

“Dad. It’s Dex.”

“Oh fine.” He pressed the intercom. “Go back and pick up Dex Callison.”

“Yes, sir.”

The car turned around.

Dex was still making his way to the covered walkway that would take him into the airport when they pulled up beside him.

Gianna rolled down her window. “Need a lift?”

He dipped his head to look inside, his eyes sparkling. “Does this mean the secretary of defense has forgiven me?”

“Just get in the car, Major.” Her father’s relaxed expression belied his harsh tone.

“Yes sir.” He handed his bags to the driver, who placed them in the trunk, and then stepped inside the limo next to Gi.

She didn’t reach for his hand, nor did he put his arm around her shoulders. But the air sizzled between them, and at least for her, an awareness of every movement heightened the happy expectation that fizzled through her whenever he was near. He shifted in his seat.

Her father was watching him, not saying anything. Many a man would cower under such an inspection, but Dex seemed perfectly comfortable.

At last it was Dex who broke the silence. “We’re going to need your help, sir, in the Pacific.”

Her father’s gaze flitted from Gi to Dex and back. “I have a feeling that the opinion on how to be the best help would vary depending on who was asked, with the three of us varying widely.”

Dex then put his arm across the back of her shoulders.

Her father took note of it by the flick of an eye. But his expression remained blank.

“You and I have always been in agreement about our dealings in the Pacific. And the team we have in place is doing what the Alliance asked of us and is, in fact, in line with your personal opinions on the foreign relations the United States hopes to maintain with that country.”

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