Page 49 of Indirect Attack
But I was starting something important here, too. It had been a few months since my return and Ben’s formal, honorable discharge from the Marines. But he’d been asked to tie up some loose ends by special request. Since then, he’d been back and forth, in town for a few days, then off again. We’d barely spent more than a full two weeks together since. But, for once, I wasn’t worried. For one, I knew it was temporary, and sooner rather than later, he would be home permanently.
But I also felt entirely secure in our relationship. Even with Ben’s duties on base and my long, exhausting hours at the dig, we had managed to spend time together in Florin, and our relationship had blossomed. Ben would sleep at my hotel room on nights he was off duty and allowed leave. On other days, we would meet for breakfast or dinner. The base commander even invited me to eat a meal on base one night, finally giving me a chance to thank all my rescuers. Often, Ben was given charge of guarding the dig. And while it didn’t exactly provide us with time together, we could see each other during the day for short periods or have lunch together.
If nothing else, we would take long walks around Florin or the bay on the water, holding hands and talking about nothing and everything.
The relationship Ben and I were building was what I’d always imagined, always hoped for, and a small part of me still couldn’t believe it wasn’t just a dream. But I was grateful for every minute, especially when I would wake up in the middle of the night still lost in my nightmare of guns, pain, and looming faces stretched in malevolent grins. Ben was always there to hold me, to calm me, to stay with me until the worst had passed.
I was also grateful that aside from the occasional nightmare, I had no long-term issues from my kidnapping. I had been given access to the psychologist on base, for which I was thankful. But even my need for sessions with her had diminished with time and distance.
And now I was home, and Ben would be home full-time soon. I missed him, but life had kept me busy since I’d moved home. I had spent the past months finishing up the work I needed for my Ph.D., which I was set to receive in only a couple of months. The local college had already asked me to teach archaeology classes, and I’d started looking for an apartment nearby since I didn’t plan on living with my parents forever. More than that, with my name thrown around as part of the discovery in Florin, I already had offers pouring in for archaeological digs around the world and had my pick of sites. I’d accepted one for the summer in the southern Rockies.
Though I was on my way to achieving the career I’d worked so hard to realize, my kidnapping had given me a change in perspective. No longer did I wish to work at far-flung sites. Instead, I wanted to focus on happiness, a lot of which included Ben and our future together. I knew I could find a way to fulfill both loves, especially when Ben was so supportive of my career.
A knock on the door downstairs startled me, and I realized I’d sunk into the chair at my vanity, reading. I’d been so absorbed in the paper I’d entirely forgotten about the time, which had grown late. Ben wasn’t due for another few hours, butI wanted to be ready anyway. I jumped up, typing a quick reply to Jason before I stuffed the other earring into my earlobe and began applying my makeup—I was still half-done. He hadn’t told me where he was taking me, but he had told me to dress up, so that was what I was doing.
“Jasmine?” My mom’s voice drifted up from the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah, Mom?”
“Someone’s here for you.”
My reflection in the mirror frowned, head tilting slightly. Who in the world would be here for me?
“Be right down.”
I finished the swipe of eyeliner to even out both eyes and padded out of my room, leaning over the banister. From there, I could see the front door standing open and my mom and someone talking quietly in front of it.
Not someone—Ben.
“Ben!”
He looked up at his name, an instant smile lighting his face and eyes. “Hey.”
I flew down the stairs and leaped the last few steps before throwing my arms around him, catching my mom’s concerned cringe from the corner of my eye. She’d always hated the way I’d done that growing up, afraid I’d break something like my leg or my neck.
Ben just laughed, lifting me in his arms for an enormous, breath-stealing bear hug.
“When did you get home?” I asked as he set me on my feet. His eyes were blazingly blue and full of happiness. And he was wearing a suit with a tie, which I hadn’t seen him in since prom. Unlike gangly, half-grown teenager Ben, this suit was perfectly tailored, fit well across his shoulders, and defined his waist without becoming baggy. He looked, in a word, gorgeous.
“Not too long ago. Managed to catch an earlier flight.” He shrugged. It was a strangely evasive answer, but I didn’t care—he was home.
He looked me up and down, taking in my half-curled hair, bare feet, and mascara-less eyes. “Are you ready to go?”
“You weren’t supposed to be home yet.” I pushed playfully at his shoulder, giggling. “I got caught up reading. Why don’t you come in and sit down? I’ll finish getting ready.”
But he shook his head. “I have plans, and we need to leave.”
“You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going, are you?”
Another shake of his head, and I watched him with one eyebrow raised. “You going to trust me?”
That I couldn’t argue with. “Of course.” I sighed, shaking my head, already turning toward the stairs. “I’ll be back in a few.”
I took two steps at a time, rushing back upstairs to the sound of Ben’s laughter. I finished my hair and makeup in record time and stuffed my feet into my heels as I hopped out of my room. I nearly tripped at the landing, caught myself on the railing, and swung around the newel post before hurrying down the steps again.
Ben watched the entire thing with laughter dancing in his eyes and a smile tugging up one corner of his mouth.
“You ready?” he asked.
