Карен Кингсбери - A Distant Shore [calibre]

When they were in the alley, they jogged by a few stores and walked through the back of a souvenir shop. The place was bigger than most, so the two were safe here. Eliza could feel it. She was breathing hard as they found their spot between two racks of discount T-shirts.

“Your instincts are uncanny.” He had his arm around her again. “Which is another reason I love you, by the way.” He lowered his voice. “The question is, where are the girls?”

Eliza believed she knew. “There was a hotel across the street from where that guy was standing.” She took a bright pink T-shirt from the rack and held it up. “Let’s get ice cream and sit on the bench just down the street. That’ll tell us.”

Ten minutes later they were eating chocolate chip ice cream cones, acting like they were the only two people in the world, but Eliza had a view of the hotel. Again she’d been right. Three teenage girls appeared near the front door wearing short skirts and high heels. A man in a Hawaiian print shirt approached and one of the girls disappeared with him behind the hotel doors.

“There it is. Plain as day,” Jack said as they walked back to their hotel. No question they were being watched. He kept his tone and expression light. “But it took you, Eliza, to know where to look.”

Yes, Eliza thought. Because in another lifetime the girl standing outside the hotel had been her friend, Alexa. Or Rosa. Girls she had been forced to bring to the Palace. Eliza could accept that now. The past was behind her… she was a new creation because of her faith.

Jack had read her a Bible verse this morning over breakfast on her balcony. Before work started. It was from Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

“See,” he had told her as he closed his Bible app. “No matter what it took to get here, today we will do good. We will fulfill His purpose in all this.”

The verse filled Eliza with hope and peace.

Halfway back to their hotel she had to use the restroom. He stayed outside the door of the building. If someone tried to follow her or harm her, Jack would stop them. Eliza had no doubt. He had loved her in ways she didn’t know existed. With his very life.

They filed separate reports late that afternoon and then strolled the resort grounds on their way to dinner. Tomorrow they would walk the street again, looking for other men, other traffickers. But already they had what they’d come for.

Now since they weren’t looking for traffickers, they could focus on the best part of the job. Pretending they were honeymooners.

Something had been on her mind since she had woken up that morning. She didn’t bring it up at breakfast, but maybe now was the time. She would have to talk in code. There was no such thing as being too careful, she’d learned that.

After dinner, the waiter brought coffee. Eliza looked at Jack, to the deepest parts of his heart. “I have one more year… at my current job.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.” He was telling the truth. She could see in his eyes that he was thinking the same thing. “I have one more year, too.”

“Hmm.” She nodded, but she felt dizzy. From the moment the mission began, she had dreaded the goodbye that was coming. Especially because there was no telling how long before they would see each other again. Or if they would. But now…

Jack smiled. “I’m thinking about a career change. Maybe moving to the South.” His eyes said so much more. “I’ve always wanted to be a professor.”

“Nice.” Her smile came easily. Did he mean it? Was he really thinking of leaving the bureau?

“What about you?” He set his coffee down and reached both hands across the table. “You could do anything, you know.”

“Yes.” A thrill filled her senses. “Well… I might open a house. For girls… girls who have no one.”

“I like it.” He angled his head, clearly proud of her. “The world needs more places like that.”

When dinner was over they found a spot on the sand and kicked off their shoes. They walked until everyone on the beach was too far away to hear them. Then he stopped and faced her. And before she knew what was happening, he dropped to one knee. Right there on the sandy shoreline.

“Eliza, I meant what I said earlier. I wasn’t acting.”

“Jack…” She put her free hand over her mouth. People would think they were playing around, or that this was an engagement trip and not a honeymoon. Eliza didn’t care what they thought.

He pulled something from his pocket. “A ring will have to wait. But I found this while you were in the restroom. A jewelry table was set up right there on the sidewalk.” He handed her the daintiest necklace. Etched into the tiny pendant were the words:

I will wait for you.

Her hand started to tremble. Was this really happening?

“Eliza.” His eyes held hers. “It will be a year before we see each other again. But when we do… whenever we’re together next…” He stood and took a step closer to her. “Will you marry me?”

Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. She squeezed his hand, so she would know for sure she was really here. And that this moment was actually real. “Yes, Jack.” She still had hold of the necklace as she placed her hands on either side of his face. “Yes, a million times yes.”

“Good.” He kissed her, a kiss that took her breath and made her long for next year. His smile started in his eyes and then filled his face. “I was hoping you’d say yes. Because the next time we’re on a honeymoon… I want to share a room.”

“Yes!” She laughed and handed him the necklace. “Put it on me. Please, Jack. Because I’m never taking it off again.”

She moved her hair to the side, and his fingers on her neck sent shivers down her spine. When the necklace was clasped, he turned her toward him. He chuckled. “I promise… the ring will make up for it. One day.”

“No… I love it. I told you, I’ll wear it every day until I see you again. However long it takes.” She kissed him this time, and she was glad he was holding her. Otherwise she would’ve floated away.

His very presence made her feel alive. When he drew breath, she felt oxygen course through her veins. His laughter made her believe anything was possible. Except one thing. The thing she would have to do in twenty-four hours.

Tell him goodbye.

THEIR LAST PRIVATE moment was on her balcony the next day, five minutes before they had to leave for the airport. They were still employees of the FBI. Once they set foot on American soil, there could be no sign of romance, no relationship waiting in the wings.

So this was it.

He held her in his arms, and Eliza had never felt more safe. More loved. “Another year of missions.” She lifted her face to his. “What if…”

“Shh.” Jack kissed her forehead and then her lips. “Don’t say it, Eliza. God has the number of our days.”

Yes. That’s what she needed to tell herself. She would have to remember that a month from now and three months and six. When she was in danger or his mission took a turn for the worse. God had brought them this far.

His plans were far better than anything she could imagine.

They kissed once more, longer this time. Jack traced her jaw with his thumb. “I love you with all my life, Eliza. When I’m out fighting through a mission, I’ll be fighting for you.”

She nodded. “Me, too.” She touched the pendant on her necklace. “You’ll be with me always.”

Once more they kissed, and then it was time to go. Through customs and airport security, on the flight back to Houston and as the SUV dropped her off at the same hotel where he’d found her four days ago, Eliza knew she wouldn’t have to wait to hear Jack’s voice. His words would be with her, wherever she went. Right there in her heart and hanging from her neck.