Vanessa and I argued again the next morning about her graduation, but it soon became clear that I was going to lose, which was fine considering I’d almost lost the battle last night as well. The stakes for that one were much higher, though, and controlling myself was much harder. If agreeing to this graduation ceremony got her mind off what both of us were thinking, it was worth it. Besides, all that hard work shouldn’t go unrecognized. I remembered my graduation from the academy fondly. Ma had been so proud, sitting there in the front row with her best dress, even dusting off an old hat from the attic and adding some lace — which she had been sure to remind me of at least three times during the ceremony. Each time like it had been the first. I probably should have noticed the signs way back then.

“What are you carrying?” Cruz broke into my train of thought. He’d arrived early, before the sun even, to get a jump on the security setup for our outing. He’d also taken Vanessa’s side in our disagreement the other day, a fact which I couldn’t help but wonder the motivation for. Clearly, venturing outside and to a high traffic area wasn’t the best decision for a security firm.

“Two service revolvers.” I patted the gun on my hip and raised my pant leg to show the other.

“Should we consider non-lethal options?” He raised those bushy brows at me.

“No, not worth the risk.” If someone makes a move on her, I many only have one shot. “Where are we on the locals?”

“Not good, I’m afraid. Still working on it.” Cruz frowned, and I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“What’s the issue? She’s in danger, and she lives in their city.”

“She’s also part of a major crime syndicate family that they don’t want to touch. And who knows how high up the payroll goes?” Cruz shrugged and dropped a large box of cameras and listening devices on the couch. I wasn’t satisfied with the level of security in the safe house, so we’d spent two days bringing it up to par. Cameras, motion sensors, flood lights — if I could build a privacy fence around the entire property in two days, I would have. But this would have to do for now.

Pacing the hallway, I took out my phone and dialed Commander Phillips. It rang four times before he picked up, making me wonder if he’d wanted to send me to voicemail. He answered with, “I know; I’m working on it.”

“I can’t leave her vulnerable, sir.” I passed by Vanessa’s door and peeked in, innocently, out of the corner of my eye. She was so happy, busily setting out clothes and thumbing through jewelry in her suitcase. I smiled in spite of myself.

“And she won’t be. If I have to drive down there myself.”

“Drive down here from where?” I stopped. Vanessa was clad only in a bra and panties. The creamy outline of her torso was lit by the sunlight filtering through the side window, a delicious contrast to the stiff, black bra and high-cut thong. Of course she wears thongs. I felt the instant reaction deep in my core, and then I was keenly aware of another sensation, her eyes on me.

“Figure of speech, Martin. Just rest assured that we’re going to have a presence at the graduation.” Commander Phillips disconnected before I could make more demands. I looked back at Vanessa, unable to move, leave, or breathe at that moment.

She held up a green dress to her body, the silhouette flowing in an imperceptible breeze and causing a brief glimpse at her taut, slender midsection every few seconds. I found myself counting the moments between those billows of fabric, each a study in the ecstasy of agony.

“Martin!” she yelled.

“Hmm?” I knew my face was red. I could feel the burn in my cheeks.

“Do you like this dress for the ceremony?” Her eyes twinkled, and she pushed her finger up the bridge of her nose, between her eyes, as if she were repositioning a pair of glasses. She’d done this countless times before, leading me to assume that she’d worn glasses at one time, for a long time, in her life. But although I’d seen it many times before, every time she did it, subconsciously I’m sure, it chipped away at the wall I’d built around my heart, my honor, and my resolve as a man.

“It looks very pretty. A bit low cut,” I shouldn’t have added. My only thought was all of the men getting a good look at her curves – Cruz in particular. The beast inside me roared to protect his perimeter, knowing full well she wasn’t mine. “Sorry, it’s just…”

“Not what they wore in your day?” She slinked toward me, the dress swaying even more with the movement of her hips.

“Ha, ha, yeah, I’m old.”

“I could make you feel young again.” Vanessa laid a hand on the door, her eyes beckoning. She twirled the skirt part of the dress, revealing the longest legs I’d ever seen up close, parted in the most inviting way.

Just when I thought I’d crumble, my phone rang. Thank God! “Martin!” I yelled into the poor caller’s ear.

“This is Caroline,” the voice paused, “with Hospice.”