“I try,” I answered. “I really do.”
“It’s okay not to be perfect,” he stated. “I’ve known competent businessmen who have crumbled during a hostage situation. Hell, they never want to leave their house again.”
“I’d go nuts,” I confided. “But I’d really like to have my life back. I’d like to have me back.”
“You’ll get there,” Marcus said. “Hell, you’re already ballsy enough to make me nervous.”
I let out a small laugh. “The great and powerful Marcus Colter? I doubt that.”
“I’m still just a man, a guy who can’t stand to see you struggling with everything that occurred. It never should have happened in the first place.”
I leaned back against him, my heart clenching from the remorse in his voice. “It did happen, but it isn’t going to keep ruling my life,” I answered in a determined voice.
“You’re fine just the way you are,” he said assertively. “Everybody is afraid of something.”
“What are you afraid of, Marcus?” I asked curiously.
He was silent for a minute before he answered, “Someday, I’ll answer that question. But I can’t right now.”
“Okay.” I wanted him to share things with me, but not unless he wanted me to know. For now, I was good with just enjoying our time together.
I had no idea how many days we had before he left to travel for business, but I was going to relish every moment we had.
“So what kind of recommendations did your counselor make? I trust he or she is knowledgeable about your particular situation.”
“She is, and we take things one issue at a time. Her advice was to get a dog,” I told him jokingly.
“Why?” Marcus asked, obviously confused.
“I told her I’d like to set down some roots, even if I still have to travel. I mentioned to her that one of the worst parts of traveling is being alone. I’ve always wanted a dog, but I never got one because my life was too chaotic. There would never be enough time for me to spend with an animal.”
“You like dogs?” he asked.
“I love them. All breeds. I haven’t met a canine that I didn’t like.”
“So get one.”
“We’ll see,” I answered noncommittally. “I can’t get one until I decide where I want to put down those roots, and how much I plan on being home.”
“What else did she suggest?” Marcus questioned.
“A very long vacation. Catching up on my reading and movies, or anything else that doesn’t involve traveling for work.”
“Good advice,” Marcus said approvingly. “You’ll find everything you need right here.”
Honestly, I had no idea how long Marcus and I would hang out together, but I wasn’t against taking my vacation in Rocky Springs. I just hoped I didn’t end up regretting it.
Dani
It took a few days for us to get the news that Gregory Becker had finally been arrested. Some of the information I’d been able to obtain had finally tied him to a number of crimes.
Ruby was fine, staying with Jett in Florida for now to give her statements as a key witness to the human trafficking charges.
It made me feel good to know that at least something I’d done in the last year might prevent Becker from hurting anybody else. I would have preferred to move quicker, but Marcus was always there to remind me that I’d been responsible for putting the last nail in Becker’s coffin, no matter when it had happened.
The bastard was finally off the streets and unable to finance rebel troops.
I’d quickly finished my investigative exposé and turned it in to my old boss, giving my previous employer a pretty big scoop. The article had just been published as the news about Becker had come out today.
I was in Marcus’s office, a room that was masculine and stuffy, but reminded me so much of the man who owned it. Strangely, over the last few days, I’d started to like his extremely dry humor and previously annoying arrogance. He’d finally decided he didn’t have to wear a suit and tie when he wasn’t working, even if it was a workday. And if he was somewhat aloof and haughty, they were qualities he’d needed to do the things required of him by his company and his country.
He could be teased out of his autocratic tendencies, and he occasionally even had the ability to laugh at himself.
Okay…the laughing at himself wasn’t all that common, but had happened a few times in the last couple of days.
One important thing I’d discovered is that no matter how hard he blustered, Marcus loved his family, and he cared about far more things than he’d ever let on. I couldn’t say that I’d learned all of his secrets, but I was on to him. There was so much more to him than what a person could see with a casual acquaintance. He just usually chose not to show what was beneath the surface.
Maybe he had no idea how to really relax, but then, neither did I. We were learning together, seeing what it felt like to just take some time off. Granted, we used a lot of that time having sex, but we’d also played a few games of chess, caught up on movies we hadn’t seen, and I was experimenting with cooking. Yeah, maybe I wasn’t ready to become a chef, but Marcus’s mom had stopped by yesterday to help me fix a casserole I’d totally screwed up. Luckily, she was willing to give me a hand learning basic cooking skills. Surprisingly, I was learning to enjoy cooking and baking now that I had some time and was in one place for more than a day.
I scrolled down the full-page piece I’d written on my laptop, satisfied to see my name as the byline. “It’s live,” I told Marcus excitedly.
He was behind his massive oak desk, dressed casually in a gray polo shirt and a pair of jeans. I was seated on the comfortable leather couch in his office with my computer.
“I know,” he drawled. “I’m looking at it now.”
Smart-ass. I should have known he’d find it before I did. It was kind of sweet that he was actually looking. “It was good,” I stated without any kind of arrogance. I was a good writer and reporter, and it was no great accomplishment that I was able to push out a good piece when I had a decent story.
“It was fantastic,” he corrected. “You’re talented, Dani. I’ve always known that. Your correspondent stories were always brilliant. You have a knack for taking the perfect approach to any subject.”
I looked up from my laptop and saw his broad smile. My heart skittered as I absorbed his compliment. It meant a lot coming from a guy like Marcus. He wasn’t the type of person who threw out praise very often. “Thanks,” I said, smiling back at him. “I’m glad it’s all over.”
“What are you working on now?” he asked curiously.
I shrugged. “Nothing important. Mostly my personal journal.”
“And what do you journal about?” he pushed.
“Whatever I feel like writing,” I answered. “Right now, I’m writing down my bucket list.”
“Don’t you think you’re a little young for that?” he asked with a frown.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I thought I was going to die when I was a prisoner. It’s funny what happens when you feel that way, and how many silly little things you regret not doing.”