and storefronts.”
“You’re a nature addict.” Tammy shook her head, as if the diagnosis were fatal. “I have plans for tomorrow before breakfast.”
“You do?”
“Yup.” Tammy nodded emphatically. “Sleep.”
“Fine.” Unable to argue with a confirmed city girl, Charly ducked into the office to deal with a few remaining administrative details. If she lingered, she knew she’d ask Tammy for advice about men and that just felt too...needy, she decided.
She’d let the mysterious chemistry work, and whatever happened with Will happened.
* * *
WILL TOOK A final look around his apartment and decided he had everything set for his movie date with Charly. The clutter was gone, the kitchen and bathroom spotless. The beer was cold, he had microwave popcorn ready to go, and he’d bought a pack of cupcakes for dessert. Yeah, he had everything except the movie.
Binali Backcountry had quickly become the high point on his postal route each day. During his first week on the job, chatting up so many strangers all at once had left him drained and craving nothing more than hours of quiet at the end of the day. Then he’d met her. There was an ease about Charly that smoothed him out. He blamed it on the absolute confidence that hovered over her like a cloud. That particular trait wasn’t something he saw in most civilians.
Casey expected Will to get involved here, so sticking to his hermit tendencies wasn’t an option even for personal time. Following orders, Will had jumped in with both feet and asked her out, telling himself it was all part of burrowing deep into the cover story.
Being a mailman came easily enough. The tasks were so different from his military career, he appreciated having the mental space to assess the community. The people were nice and generally took pride in the area as a whole. He’d been right about the mile-wide streak of independence out here. While it had been hard work denying the part of him that needed solitude and quiet, he was making the adjustment.
I’m dating, he thought, checking his watch. Charly would be here in ten minutes. He picked up the remote and started scrolling through his extensive movie library. He’d picked up most of the titles during his time on bases where the troops had created dedicated servers packed with entertainment for relaxation between missions. Still, he couldn’t make up his mind about what they should watch tonight.
This was the first time they were staying in, which felt like enough pressure, but he didn’t know her tastes well enough to make a confident choice. Will decided to narrow the list to three and let her make the final call.
While he skimmed through the long list, his cell phone sounded with the old-school telephone ring he’d programmed for contact from Director Casey. The familiar anticipation of a mission shot through his system as he answered. “Chase here.”
“This is a high-alert notification.”
Thank God, some action. He was more than ready for a challenge bigger than movie selections.
“We have confirmed reports that a device known as a Blackout Key, a cutting-edge cyber weapon, has been stolen,” Director Casey explained. “It’s reverse-engineering software. I’m told the damn thing can breach everything from bank systems to nuclear weapon launch codes.”
Will took a slow breath and waited for more details. Software could hide anywhere, on anyone.
It could be as sexy as a tube of lipstick or as unassuming as a car key. Hell, something like that could hover up in a technology cloud, just waiting for the right bad guy to access it. He fought the immediate disappointment. He couldn’t hunt software. Not the way he hunted bad guys.
Still, he wondered how it tied in to Durango. Every business on his route relied on software security and the internet in some capacity. Thinking of the businesses on his route, he automatically prioritized them, starting with the prime targets. The two banks for sure, but he could see the value in targeting the investment group and a nationally recognized architectural firm, too.
“Three suspects were under surveillance,” Casey continued, “but one suspect, a man we believe was instrumental in the key’s development, has suddenly disappeared from the Los Angeles area. The files and everything related to the program have vanished from all databases in the DC lab.”
“Am I being relocated?” The flicker of regret at leaving Durango—and Charly—surprised him. His SEAL training had made him innately qualified for action in this kind of rugged terrain.
“No. You sit tight. This is a nationwide alert. What we don’t have yet is hard intel on the location of the key. Photos of the missing suspect and full details will be emailed to you. Keep the information secure and notify me at once if you spot anything that relates to this alert.”
“Sit tight,” Will echoed. “Does that mean you don’t want me to act?”
Casey hesitated. “You are authorized to take whatever action is necessary to protect civilians or recover the Blackout Key. This breach cannot go public. We can’t allow it to reach the black market, either.”
“Copy that.”
The line went dead, and a moment later a knock sounded at the door. He set the phone to vibrate and pushed it into his back pocket. When he opened the door, the rich aroma of hot pizza spiced the air.
Charly smiled at him over the big square box. Her long hair, usually pulled back from her face in a braid or ponytail, was down tonight. It fell like a thick midnight curtain across her shoulders and lower, brushing the gentle curve of her breasts highlighted by the deep V of her light green sweater. His breath caught and his stomach growled.
“Sounds like I’m just in time.” Her lips gleamed with a soft sheen, and she’d added some subtle touch that made her big brown eyes wider, more... It hit him suddenly—she’d applied makeup. For him. He liked it.
“You look great,” he said, stepping back so she could come inside. She looked more delicious than any meal. He reminded himself they were friends. The smart play was to take it slow. His assignment was long-term and he didn’t want to make the wrong move and alienate her—or anyone else.
While she settled the pizza in the kitchen, he pulled down plates and offered her a choice of the locally crafted beers he’d picked up.
His phone hummed, and he pulled it out. A quick check of the display confirmed it was the expected information from Casey.
“Problem?”
“Not tonight,” he said, raising his glass to hers for a toast. “Let’s eat.”
The next morning, under a cloudless blue sky, Charly parked her truck behind the store and slid the key into the back door. Stepping inside, she silenced the alarm system and locked the door behind her. At just past seven, she still had two full hours before Tammy arrived.
She sighed happily. Two full hours to enjoy the sweet high resulting from the combination of an interesting evening with a sexy man and a perfect morning hike through crisp winter air.
It had been a bit more challenging than she’d anticipated getting out of bed after the impromptu double feature at Will’s place. The beer and pizza had been impeccable accompaniment for the loud, over-the-top action flick they’d started with. But his unexpected admission that he had a weakness for Disney films had forced her to test his honesty. She’d woken up with random lyrics and lines from The Little Mermaid playing in her head.
Along with the memory of his face—so solemn—when he’d said the film had been required viewing during his navy training. She’d laughed in complete disbelief over both parts of his wild claim.
Oh, he undoubtedly had the well-honed body of a warrior, but she couldn’t fathom any reason a navy veteran would settle in Colorado. She’d blurted out the observation