Page 27 of Wicked Obsession

“That wasn’t what I meant,” Stony said. “Imagine growing up the way she did—moving from country to country every year or two, bodyguards in most, if not all, of those locations, always having to be careful of what she said and what she did. How much time did she spend in the states as a kid?”

He stayed quiet, considering what Rowland had said. He’d never really thought about it before, but his buddy was right—it had impacted Langley’s behavior. She tended to hangback, to observe for a while before she relaxed. Getting the lay of the land—that thought had crossed his mind more than once when they’d been out together. She pulled away from any kind of public display and he’d learned not to sling an arm around her shoulders as they walked. He’d simply never equated her restraint with the way she’d been raised.

“Foreign service might look glamorous from the outside,” Rowland continued, “but it’s a lot of hard work for the entire family.”

“You might be right, but it’s not blue-collar work.”

“That’s your problem, Ski, not hers.” Stony’s voice was soft. “After having a nearly six-hour conversation with her in the car today, it’s obvious she’s not a snob.”

Ryder’s lips quirked. Stony was generally quiet, and Langley tended to be reserved with people she didn’t know, but she’d been bored, and since he’d refused to let her play on his phone, she’d started talking with Rowland.

Ryder sobered. “No, she’s not a snob, but her friends are a different story.”

“How the fuck would you know? You’ve never met any of her friends.”

Stony had said that at regular volume and Ryder checked the rearview mirror, making surethey hadn’t woken Langley. She didn’t stir. “Keep your voice down.”

“If you met the people she enjoys spending time with, I bet you’d find they’re as genuine and down-to-earth as she is.” Rowland was much quieter now. “I don’t think she’d have the patience to hang out with anyone who wasn’t.”

“The fundraisers she holds for the Paladin League—”

His buddy cut him off. “That’s herjob. I mean her real friends.”

“She’s a volunteer. She doesn’t have a job.”

Ryder looked in the rearview mirror in time to see Rowland shaking his head. “You have some strange misconceptions. She might not be paid, but fundraising is a job. A thankless one, when people like you underestimate how much time she must put into it.” There was a pause, then, “What does the Paladin League do?”

“They’re a nonprofit that grants funds for archaeological digs around the world.”

“She’s interested in archaeology? I wish I’d known that before she fell asleep.”

He kept his mouth shut. Ryder assumed she had an interest, but he’d always changed the subject when she’d talked about the organization because it reminded him that she didn’t have a real job and didn’t need one. It embarrassed him now to realize he’d minimized something that wasimportant enough to Langley that she’d volunteered to help.

What had his friend said on Friday in the gym? Something like it was a miracle that Langley had put up with his shit as long as she had?

Yeah, maybe he needed to think about that.

Chapter 11

Ryder leaned his hip against the bathroom doorjamb, brought the towel to his face to wipe away the excess shaving cream, and stared at Langley. The morning sunlight bathed her face in its brilliance, but she didn’t stir. She hadn’t woken when he’d carried her from the car, gotten her ready for bed, or tucked her in.

Sleeping beside her last night had felt right. He wanted their relationship back the way it had been before he’d driven her to the airport. The idea of never holding her, never laughing with her again made it hard to breathe. Yeah, he needed to do something. He wouldn’t be able to keep her forever, he understood that. Sooner or later, she’d figure out she could do much better than an Army sergeant and it would be completely over.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter if he had another month with her or another year. He couldn’t give her up and he knew she wasn’t finished with him for good. Not yet. Ryder guessed he had until the threat was over to win her back. If he didn’t and they returned home, he would lose her forever.

Lowering the towel to his side, he tried to come up with a plan, but it was hard to see anything beyond how beautiful Langley was and Ryder shifted his gaze. The mountains brushed the bluest of skies and sat on the greenest grass he’d ever seen. It was a stunning view, unimpeded by any curtains or shades.

Ryder frowned. The owners had all the privacy they needed since they owned a shit-ton of acreage and they probably hadn’t wanted to block the scenery, but it made him uncomfortable. He wanted to cover every window in the house, but the sheer magnitude of the task had stopped him. They were everywhere, and most of them were mammoth, including the set in the living room that filled two full stories. Hell, he doubted there were enough blankets or sheets in the house to cover every damn window.

This enormous mansion was a vacation home owned by friends of the ambassador.Vacation home.He looked back at the bed, a wooden four-poster that he estimated cost more than he earned in a year. The room had a carved marble fireplace, adresser with the wood in some kind of mosaic inlay that looked expensive, and there was a private stone balcony.

Win Langley back? What the fuck was he thinking?

Turning, he returned to the bathroom and tossed his towel in the hamper. Dual vanities, a private john, a walk-in shower with tiles that were imported from God knew where, and oh, yeah, the sauna. The guest suite had its own sauna.

“Shit,” muttered, and grabbing a shirt from the pack he’d left on the floor, he drew it over his head. He checked his pistol and secured his holster over his shirt. A noise came from the bedroom and Ryder hurried to check on Langley. She’d shifted position but remained deeply asleep.

He didn’t blame her—she’d had a hell of a couple days. After a brief deliberation, he decided to find some breakfast. Langley might sleep for a while longer, and she’d be fine alone for an hour or so. But he hesitated before reaching for the knob. What was he forgetting?

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