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  “Err…no. Only what you read about or hear on the news.”

  “SEAL stands for Sea, Air, and Land. They are a group of men that conducts small unit operations from the coast or other waterways. As you can see, I’m not operating from waterways. Nor am I running an operation,” he states, intentionally giving only facts that will cause her to come to the wrong conclusion.

  “Operation?”

  “Technical term for BSU, or blowing shit up.” Ryker says, grin still in place.

  “You did pretty good today wrecking stuff,” Ronnie says, returning his smile. “So if you’re not a SEAL, then what are you? You’re more than a regular Navy guy. I think that much is clear.”

  “I’m a SAR specialist.”

  “SAR?”

  “Search and Rescue. I get in, find the good guy, and get him out. Think downed pilots in bandit country.”

  “Ah!” Ronnie says. “That makes sense. Now I know why you are here. I wondered why the Navy was involved.”

  “Yeah. Each of the branches have their own SARs, but they needed the best for your father so they sent the Navy,” he say seriously, then grins. “Of course, the Army and Air Force would say the same thing if they were here, but they would be mistaken.”

  Ronnie grins back. Ryker is very charming when not fending off killers. “I can see that. They would have to go some lengths to do better than you did today. I have never been so scared in my life, but you were you were so cool I nearly had frostbite. Weren’t you scared? Even a little?”

  Hell yes he had been frightened, but he has a reputation to uphold and grins lopsidedly. “No, not really. Situations like that are when training takes over. I didn’t have time to be scared.” It’s close to the truth. Yes, he had been frightened... frightened both for Ronnie and himself. But his training allows him to control the fear and not let it control him.

  Ronnie stares at him a moment. Even though she has a steady man back home in Berkeley, he is nothing like Ryker. Ryker is not only stunningly good looking, but he has a quiet confidence without being a braggart or a blowhard. While he doesn’t have a Ph.D. like Kenneth, there is no doubting his intelligence. She spends a spare moment fantasizing about Ryker’s touch, then quickly dismisses the thought. It’s just a natural reaction to him protecting her in a dangerous situation and not to be taken seriously.

  “Well, whatever the reason, if we were to meet in a dark alley I would want you on my side,” she says.

  Ryker grins. “Let’s hope there aren’t any more dark alley or parking garage meets like the one we just had.”

  Ronnie hoists her glass. “From your lips to God’s ear,” she says before taking a pull at the glass.

  “Allow me,” he says, taking her near empty glass as she pulls it from her lips. As Ryker walks away she watches him, admiring his graceful, fluid, movement. He is obviously immensely strong, his shirt and pants fitting him just snug enough to hit at the power he contains, but at the same time he moves with poise and grace of a dancer. Maybe she should eat like he does. And he obviously does some form of workout. Whatever he is doing is certainly working for him.

  “What?” Ryker asks when he returns with her freshly filled glass.

  “I was just thinking how out of breath I was from running this afternoon and how I need to get into shape,” Ronnie says, trying to cover her embarrassment at being caught staring.

  “You didn’t do too bad. You were able to keep up so that I didn’t have to carry you,” Ryker teases.

  “Yeah, but you were hardly breathing hard.”

  “I’m used to it. That’s the only difference.”

  “Which is my point. I’m a little embarrassed that I’m so out of shape.”

  Ryker grins. As far as he is concerned, Dr. Baker’s shape is just fine. “You just need a little exercise, that’s all. You will be surprised how fast hitting a gym will whip you into shape if you keep at it.”

  Ronnie snickers. “Or maybe I could just keep running from guys with guns.”

  “There is a gym in the building, you know. I much prefer that to running from gunmen for my exercise.”

  “Yeah. But I was really motivated to exercise today,” she laughs.

  He snickers. “I’m hitting the gym again in the morning. Why don’t you join me if you want to? I’ll try to find the proper… uhhh… motivation for you. And it gives me something to look at besides the walls.”

  She gets a thrill at his comment about having something to look at. She has to be at least five years older than him. Could he possibly find her attractive? “Thanks, Ryker, but I don’t think I can keep up.”

  “Nothing to keep up with. You do what you can while I do the same.”

  Ronnie gives that some thought. “Thanks. I think I would like that. I’ve been considering joining a gym anyway. It’s getting harder and harder to keep the weight off. But you have to promise to not make fun of me.”

  “Promise,” Ryker says, crossing his heart with a finger.

  “What time?”

  “Oh, five thirty.”

  “Ugh… on the other hand…”

  “Come on!” Ryker wheedles. “What have you got to lose?”

  “Besides ten pounds?”

  Ryker laughs. “Okay, besides ten pounds.”

  “Nothing I guess.”

  “There you go. I’ll see you at 5:30.”

  Ronnie grins. “Okay. I’m looking forward to it…though that will probably change in the morning. Promise me you will make me get up.”

  “Promise. Trust me. Once you get done with your workout you will feel great. Gets the blood flowing. It really jazzes you up and gets you ready for the day.”

  “Mmm…maybe. At least it will be something to do. I’ve been catching up on my reading, but I can only do so much of that.”

  “I understand. It must be tough being cooped up inside all day.”

  “It wasn’t too bad at first. But yeah, I was getting a little stir crazy. I was really excited about getting out this afternoon…before all hell broke loose that is.”

  Ryker snickers. “Hey…do I know how to show a lady a good time or what?”

  She stares at him a moment before bursting into giggles. “I certainly wasn’t bored! I’ll give you that.”

  “Glad I could help,” he teases.

  Ronnie glances at her watch. “If you are going to drag me out of the bed in the middle of the night then kick my rear in the gym, I better get to be early tonight.”

  Ryker is disappointed that their evening is going to end so soon, but he doesn’t want to overstep his bounds. “May I escort you back to your room?”

  She flashes hot at his suggestion, but then calms herself. Just because he is walking her to her room doesn’t mean he is coming inside. “I would like that. Thanks.”

  “My pleasure,” he says with a grin.

  “So what do we do now?” Ronnie asks as he walks her back to her guest suite.

  “We wait for Langley to turn something up. We need some crumb of information to go on or we’ll never find them.”

  “Langley, Virginia? Isn’t that where the CIA is located?”

  “That’s right,” he confirms.

  “Do you think they will find something?”

  “I do. They are very good at their job.”

  “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

  “No. They are the ones that sent me to the hotel. We were this close to getting your father back right then,” he says, holding up a finger and thumb just millimeters apart. “If he can be found, they will find him.”

  “How long do you think it will take?”

  “A couple of days, probably. The bad guys are on the run. Even if we get a hit, by the time we get there, they will be gone. Don’t worry. We’ll find your father and get him back to you safely.”

  Ronnie stops before her door, turning to face Ryker. She debates inviting him in but settles for a quick kiss on the lips. “Thank you. Thank you for today and thank you for helping find my fath
er,” she says, looking into his dark eyes.

  Ryker can feel something stir within him. Dr. Veronica Baker is incredibly beautiful, so he feels the pull that any man feels around a lovely woman, but there is something more. “We’ll do all we can Ronnie. I promise.”

  She smiles, still looking into his eyes. “I know you will.” She opens her door behind her then kisses him quickly on the lips once more and backs into her room and closes the door before she changes her mind about asking him in.

  Ryker stands outside of her room for a moment before blowing out a puff of air and turning toward his own room. He needs a shower. A cold shower.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “ ‘lo.” Ronnie mutters into the phone.

  “It’s oh five fifteen. Get up. It’s time to hit the gym.” Ryker’s cheerful voice comes out of the receiver.

  Ronnie groans. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Oh no!” Ryker says with disgusting cheer. “You said you were joining me this morning and made me promise last night at dinner to get you up. So haul your ass out of bed, Dr. Baker! I’ll be there in ten minutes and you had better be ready!”

  “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Uh-uh. Ten minutes. You had better be ready or I’ll drag your sorry ass out of the bed myself.”

  Ronnie groans again. “Fine. Ten minutes.” She drops the headset back on the cradle before yawning and stretching. No reason to bathe if she is just going to get sweaty. She swings her feet over the edge of the bed and sits up. What was she thinking last night at dinner? After a moment contemplating what she has done, she gets up and slips into a pair of jean and the loosest shirt she has. She obviously hasn’t thought this through. She doesn’t even have any workout clothes!

  Ryker stands before her door, eyeing his watch. Precisely ten minutes after hanging up the phone he raps sharply on the Ronnie’s door. He had enjoyed himself immensely at dinner last night and had badly wanted to kiss her when dropping her off at her room. More than that grateful peck on the lips she had given him anyway.

  He had refrained because he suspects that she is in a long term relationship from some of the comments she made. Nevertheless, he has been looking forward to this morning since dropping her off at her room last night.

  Ronnie opens the door, looking half asleep. “Good morning, sunshine!” Ryker cries with exaggerated good cheer.

  “When was the last time someone told you to go fuck yourself?” Ronnie mutters, stepping into the hall.

  Ryker laughs. “Now what kind of attitude is that?”

  “This is my ‘it’s too damn early in the morning’ attitude. Come on. The sooner started the sooner done.”

  “That’s the spirit! But what are you wearing?”

  “I didn’t have anything else.”

  “Hmmm…I was going to start you on legs, but not in jeans,” he says, before plucking at her shirt, checking its fit. “Looks like we are doing upper body today.”

  “Swell…” Ronnie mutters as they trudge down the hall.

  “While I’m out chasing bad guys, why don’t you have one of the embassy staff take you out shopping. Get something decent to work out in. You won’t like working out in jeans. Even this morning. Trust me.”

  “You’re right. Let’s call this off until tomorrow,” she yawns.

  “Oh no! You’re not getting out of it that easy,” he chuckles as he pushes the door to the gym open.

  As they step into the gym, Ryker can feel a stirring in his manhood at the thought of being alone in the gym with a hot and sweaty Ronnie, but he shoves the thought away before it causes him to embarrass himself.

  “Okay…today we are going to work on your arms, chest, back, shoulders and tummy. We’re going to start out slow and easy. Don’t overdo. If the weight is too heavy, tell me and we will lighten it up. I will know if it is too light. We’re going to start you out light and I want you to do fifteen reps. Then we will wait one minute…then I want you to do fifteen more. Okay?”

  “A rep is…?”

  Ryker flexes his arms up and down like he is curling a weight, counting off each time he does. “You will do fifteen, then rest, then do fifteen more. Then we will switch and I will do my reps.”

  “You’ll do fifteen too?”

  “No. I will probably only do eight or nine. But I will be pushing a lot more weight. You don’t want to get bulky do you?”

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think so. So you will do lighter weight but more reps for tone. May I?” Ryker asks, reaching for her buttons, but stopping before touching.

  “Sure,” Ronnie replies, trying to keep her tone even and nonchalant.

  He undoes another button, pauses, then one more, gapping her shirt open then pulling on it again to adjust the fit. “To give you room to move.”

  She swallows hard, hoping he doesn’t notice her rising heat.

  “I’ll go first. Watch how I do each exercise because you are going to do it the same way. Oh! One more thing. When you are working out with a partner, it is considered polite to spot.”

  “Spot?”

  You stand behind me and help me take the weight if I get into trouble.”

  She giggles. “You’re kidding, right? I can’t lift what you do!”

  He grins. “No. But you can help me lift it.”

  “Okay…” she drawls, drawing the word out.

  Ronnie watches Ryker intently as he begins his routine. The first couple of reps he talks her through the motion, but after that he falls silent. He is fully dressed in shorts and t-shirt, but she can see enough to admire how his muscles bulge and strain until he hits number eight, when it just looks painful. Ryker lets the weights down with a crash. “That’s one,” he pants. “Only ten more to go.”

  After Ryker completes his second set Ronnie take her place on the machine. They set the weights but quickly decide that it’s too heavy, and reset them to something lighter. As she begins to work he places his hands on her stomach and back to adjust her posture. She holds the position, but considers slumping again just so he will put his hands on her again.

  “Come on Ronnie! Dig for it! Push it! Push it!” he cheers as she growls her way through one last rep, her teeth bared in a snarl.

  “I can’t,” Ronnie pants letting the weights bang down. “I can’t do another.”

  “Twelve. Not bad. Rest a minute, then give me fifteen more.”

  “I can’t, Ryker. There’s no way!”

  “Don’t give up Ronnie. You can do it. Ten more. Just give me ten more,” he encourages, moving the pin and taking another five pounds off. “You can do ten.”

  “I think you’re trying to kill me. And here I thought you were a nice guy,” she teases.

  “I am a nice guy! I took five pounds of weight off for you. I wouldn’t do that for just anyone, you know.”

  Ronnie snickers, then pants a moment more before grabbing the bar, taking several deep breaths, and puts her back into it.

  Ninety minutes later, she's stripping her clothes off and preparing to shower. She's tired and her clothes are wet from her sweat, but she feels great. Getting a last rep in when she didn’t think she could do it gives her immense satisfaction and she feels wonderfully relaxed. It’s as if the weight of all her troubles has lightened somehow.

  Ryker had pushed her hard, but not beyond what she felt she could do. The best part of the morning, however, was watching Ryker strain and sweat, and listening to his breathy grunts as he worked the weights while she rested between her sets. She would die before she would admit it to anyone, but his soft grunts as he strained seriously turned her on, making her think about him grunting while engaged in… another type of workout.

  As she steps into the shower she reflects on how it’s too bad she is involved in a relationship. She seriously needs to get laid, even more so after working out with Ryker this morning, and Ryker would be the perfect candidate. If he is willing.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The next five days are much the same. Ro
nnie and Ryker meet for an early morning workout, have breakfast, and then Ryker leaves to spend the day working with the CIA to run down leads. After his return in the evening and debriefing they have dinner together, then spend the remainder of the evening watching movies from the embassy’s extensive collection, walking the embassy grounds or simply sitting in a lounge while talking and laughing. There is a silent and tacit agreement between them that what isn’t as important as the who.