would be a first,” Harper said. The smile was broad across his face, but it faded with his next words. “There’s one other thing, Ryan…Technically, you are retired from the Agency. As far as this situation is concerned, you’re working as an independent contractor. That’s straight from the director.”
“He’s covering his bets, huh?” The younger man frowned. “Is this because of…?”
“No,” Harper said. Then he hesitated. “Maybe. Bosnia might have had something to do with it. You know about the bad press we got in connection with the torture of prisoners in Iraq. Andrews is desperate to avoid more of the same.” The other man started to speak, but Jonathan held up a hand. “It’s not about him, anyway. I’m asking you to do this, and I know that I don’t have to convince you, so let’s not pretend otherwise.”
Kealey didn’t say anything. After what seemed like a very long time, he nodded, almost imperceptibly.
Harper let out a long breath and said, “Great. And thanks, Ryan. I hate to put you in this kind of position, but I really appreciate it. And believe it or not, the director appreciates it, too.”
“I appreciated dinner. Julie’s a great cook.” Both men stood and moved toward the door. “One more thing.” Harper turned to look at his guest.
“After this, I’m out. All the way. It’s getting serious with Katie, but she wouldn’t be able to handle it if I stayed at the Agency. She deserves more, and she’s going to be angry enough when she finds out that I’m going to Virginia. Besides, I don’t want to push my luck.”
A look of understanding came over the older man’s face. He had once served in the field as well, and knew what his friend was talking about. “You’ve done enough, Ryan. More than enough. I never thought I’d see you settle down, though.”
“That makes two of us,” was the amused reply as the two men went back down the stairs. Ryan collected Katie from the living room and walked with her to the door.
“Thanks again for dinner. It was so nice to meet both of you,” she said.
Her golden-brown hair seemed to glow in the warm light of the foyer. Ryan couldn’t take his eyes away from her.
Julie gave her a warm hug. “You too, Katie. Bring her back soon, Ryan, okay?”
He smiled and gave Julie a quick kiss on the cheek. “Absolutely.” Turning to Jonathan: “Naomi’s back tomorrow, right?”
“Hopefully.”
“I’ll talk to you in the morning. We’ll probably leave for Norfolk in the afternoon.”
“Sounds good. It was nice to meet you, Katie.” He leaned forward to peck her cheek.
“Careful, John,” Kealey said, a grin spreading across his face.
There was general laughter as they went back down the stone steps in the frigid night air, but the car was cold in more ways than one as Ryan turned the key and the engine purred to life.
They were halfway back to the hotel before he ventured an attempt at conversation. “So, it seems like you got along well with Julie.”
“She’s great.” He could tell that she meant it, but the words were sharp.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ryan, if you need me to tell you…”
“Katie, I really don’t need this—”
“You know what I don’t need? I don’t need to be scared to death every time you walk out the door. I don’t need that, okay? You almost died four days ago. I thought you were dead. To be in that position, not knowing…Do you have any idea what that feels like? Of course you don’t. Now you’re taking off again, right after I dropped my classes so we could—” She stopped herself, but not before Ryan figured out what she had been about to say. So we could spend more time together.
He sighed in exasperation. He didn’t mean to, and it was barely audible, but she caught the implication immediately. “And who’s Naomi?”
“Katie—”
“Is she pretty? I’m sure she is…You don’t need to answer that.”
Ryan looked over at her. From high above, streetlights positioned along the road occasionally cut deep into the shadowed interior of the car. Passing under one now, light flickered through the windows and clearly illuminated the expressions within. He briefly saw tears welling in her eyes, but the anger and suspicion he expected were not spread across her delicate features. Instead, her face was clouded with fear.
The next exit was for Rock Creek Park, and he abruptly swung the car into the lane on the far right. The road hummed quietly beneath the tires as Ryan eased off the accelerator. It was not the way to the hotel.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see.” They drove on for a few minutes more until he parked the BMW on a road adjacent to the park. Getting out of the car, he helped her into her black woolen peacoat. He noticed that she walked by his side, but stayed several steps away as they moved deeper into the park. The distance was a gulf between them. The trees lining the footpath towered far above like sentinels keeping a silent watch on the troubled couple below.
Katie slipped twice, Ryan catching her on both occasions before she fell. After the second fall, he couldn’t help himself: “You’re a little drunk.”
Despite herself, she smiled reluctantly. “I think you’re right.” They were approaching a bridge running over the partially frozen water. There were fewer lamps here, but the moonlight cast a serene glow over the park and glittered on the ice covering the low stone walls. The stars were bright in the clear sky. They were halfway over the bridge when Ryan stopped walking. He noticed that Katie was shivering and pulled her close, rubbing her slender arms beneath the heavy coat.
“You’re freezing…I’m sorry to bring you out here like this, but I wanted to talk. Not in the car, and not in the hotel.” She looked up into his eyes, and Ryan went on: “I do understand how you feel. I’ve lost a lot of people I’ve been close to. I’ll tell you about it sometime, but not now. Not tonight.
“You asked about Naomi. I barely know her, Katie, but let me tell you what I do know. She’s blunt, sarcastic, and ungrateful. She means nothing to me. Let me repeat that. She means nothing to me, and that’s not going to change. I saved her life at the Kennedy-Warren and she didn’t even thank me. Now I’m stuck with her for at least the next couple weeks when I want nothing more than to be here with you. I want you to be able to trust me, because I trust no one more than you.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“Let me finish. I know that you’re afraid. Tonight I told John that this is the last thing I’m doing for the Agency, and I meant it. A few more weeks at the most, and I’m done. I need you to be strong in the meantime. It’s just a job for me. It’s important that you see that. There’s a lot I want to do when it’s over, and I want—no, I need you by my side.
“Katie, I love you more than anything and I have to know: will you marry me?”
Ryan pulled a small burgundy box out of his pocket and opened it. He was scared to death, but Katie’s mouth dropped open in amazement, her bright blue eyes sparkling with surprise and happiness. She flung her arms around him, causing the box to tumble out of his hand. He laughed and they kissed deeply. He had been terrified to ask, almost certain that she would refuse him. Now, breathing in the fresh, clean scent of her, he knew that he would never regret his decision. He was only angry that he had to leave the next day.
“I take it that’s a yes?”
Katie kissed him again in place of an answer. They held each other for what seemed like an eternity until Ryan finally broke away.
“Now,” he said with another relieved laugh, “let’s find that ring.”