Callie's Christmas Wish by Merline Lovelace

Author:Merline Lovelace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2016-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Joe stayed the night, taking up more than his fair share of the double bed, and had to leave early Monday morning.

“I’ll be in Zurich until Wednesday,” he told Callie as he tucked his shaving kit into his carryall. “Then I have to fly back to the States. You’ve got Emilio’s number. Call him if you need anything before I get back.”

“Any idea when that might be?”

“Not sure. I’ll try to make it before Christmas, but I have to put together the team I promised Marcello Audi I’d bring in the first week in January. Some top people to beef up electronic surveillance at his venue sites. More to conduct hands-on training for his security staff.”

She nodded but suffered another silent qualm about the prospect of spending Christmas on her own in Italy. Her decision, she reminded herself fiercely as Joe zipped his carryall. Her decision.

Besides, if the center was as short-staffed as Carlo had indicated, she wouldn’t have time to feel lonely. Or so she thought, right up until she walked Joe to the door of her tiny apartment.

“Have a safe trip home.”

“Plan to.” He curled a knuckle under her chin and tipped her face to his. “Good luck at the center. You sure you can find it?”

“Two blocks to the north and one to the east? I think so. But if I have any trouble,” she promised solemnly, “I’ll use the directional finder on my phone.”

“Whatever works.” He took the hit with a philosophical shrug and made a slow pass over her lower lip with his thumb. “Don’t let the heartache you find there get you too down.”

Easier said than done, she knew. She still carried painful memories of some of the children’s cases she’d worked in her heart.

“I plan to stay too busy to get down.”

“After meeting il Drago, I can pretty much guarantee you will.”

“Il Drago? The dragon? I hope that doesn’t refer to my new boss.”

“Carlo’s tag for her, not mine. It fits, though. The woman put us both through the wringer when he told her I wanted to review the center’s refugee screening process.”

“Wonderful. You pissed off my new boss. Exactly what I needed to hear before my first day on the job.”

His mouth curved in one of his rare grins. “My money’s on you, Pansy Eyes. Just aim one of your cool, we-need-to-talk looks at her and she’ll fold like washi. Thin Japanese paper,” he said in answer to her blank look. “They use it make origami and wrap gifts to burn in honor of their ancestors.”

This man amazed her. He really did. Bible verses. Japanese origami. Fiery tribal beauties. Hired assassins. She was still trying to fit all these facets of his personality into their respective niches when he dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

“Call me,” he ordered as he headed down the narrow S-shaped stairs. “Let me know how today goes.”

“I will.”

He’d hit the first floor landing before she remembered the Christmas gifts she’d purchased in Naples. She leaned over the railing to call him back, but he was already out the door.

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