With a wave, he stepped inside. Once in his seat, Gwen moved to double-check his seat belt. Donning his helmet, he had a moment to take in the striking brunette.
Troy blew out a reflective breath. Since his transfer to rehabilitation, she’d been assigned as part of his security team. She’d grown to become a trusted friend. Time shifted his feelings to want more. The memory of a stress-filled kiss in Virginia came to mind. His finger brushed against his lips, reminding him of the softness of her beautiful full lips against his.
After threats were made to the senior executive staff, all were required to have an Eagle’s Talon-qualified assistant. If he had a wish, Gwen would stop being only security and become his.But he had to settle for Assistant to the Executive since he could never be the man she deserved.
Gwen checked Tim Holland’s harness and latch. The PA gave her a thumbs-up.
Troy, with a sharp eye, watched her buckle her straps.
“Mr. Bremen, all set?” the co-pilot asked.
“Roger,” Troy said.
“All secure.” Gwen turned to double-check Troy’s harness and latch.
The helicopter rose and banked toward Dulles Airport. Troy signaled to Gwen a channel change, then tapped his mike. The conversation would be only between them. “You good with this?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Okay, rule one, after all this time, call me Troy. Gwen, I appreciate what you are doing for me. Being my Gal Friday is asking a lot from you.”
“I don’t see it like that. Remember, people can see something multiple ways,” she repeated a concept they worked on in his equine therapy. “It’s an honor you trust me.”
I wish it could be more, he thought but tried to stay in the moment. “Well, I still see horse crap as disgusting.”
The sound of her melodic laugh made him smile. Horse poop had become a running joke during his two and a half months in Virginia.
Chapter 2
The helicopter landed at the executive charter area at Dulles Airport. Gwen stepped onto the tarmac, holding her hand up to stop Troy’s egress, and scanned the area. Once she was comfortable, she waved Tim Holland to step from the helo with his medical bag. Once he was up the stairs to the jet, she waved Troy out of the cabin.
How could he think being his companion was a burden? He was the bravest man she’d ever met. He’d been beaten nearly to death.How could it have been worse?She watched him struggle with pain, learn to breathe on his own again, plus relearn to talk, stand, and walk.
In Virginia, she witnessed his ability to decipher intelligence, command, teach, devise, and implement operation logistics. She also saw how deeply he cared. That one night…she’d been distraught. She could feel the strength of his arms around her and the kiss that made her tingle to her toes—feelings she thought were long dead.
He told her he couldn’t be the man she deserved. He was right. He was much more than she deserved.
On the plane, she’d go over his work and medical itinerary. She’d received a top-secret email detailing his appointments and providers as well as his work schedule. The surgery, scheduled for two weeks from Friday, was listed as a “colostomy reversal plus.” No further information was included. Googling, she learned a colostomy was to put two ends of his intestine back together. The remaining details of his injuries stayed protected by his medical team, the other executives and the rapid-response Eagle’s Talon Bravo Team. He’d asked her to be his companion. In addition to his security, this would include access to more medical information. The provider list presented a daunting story.
Her attention turned quickly to a large, filthy, drooling, hairy hound bounding toward them, barking aggressively, its jaws engaged in a toothy, jagged snarl. “Go.” She wrapped an arm around Troy’s waist and, using all her strength, hustled him up the remaining stairs.
Assured Troy was safe, she turned to see the dog’s salivating jaw snapping at her heels. Gwen drew her Sig Sauer P365 as the animal lunged, locking onto her left calf. She lost her balance, slamming her side into the steel railing. Pain seared her leg, and her heart pounded with the adrenaline.
A heartbeat later, Holland held Troy back while she fired her ten rounds into the animal, causing it to finally fall to the ground.Holland released Troy, who moved to her aid, helping her into the cabin.
With his arm around her waist, Troy got on his phone, alerting the airport police, Chase Medical and the DC branch. “Damn it, she was bitten. Yes, it’s dead. It needs to be examined. I’ll notify the pilot. What’s your ETA? Good.” He hung up, the muscles of his neck cording.
During the call, Holland picked Gwen up and carried her down to the bedroom at the rear of the jet, Gwen protesting the whole way. “At least let me examine you,” Tim demanded.
Troy followed down the aisle. “Hanlon will be here within the hour. We will wait.” He sighed and stooped over her. “How are you doing?”
“Nothing a Band-Aid won’t cure.” Gwen forced a smile.
“Tim will be the judge of that,” Troy told her. The steward brought Tim his medical bag.
Tim frowned at the trail of blood she left. “Mr. Bremen, she fought me the whole way down the aisle.”
Her adrenaline shakes were in full force as her teeth chattered. “I’m sorry.”