Page 115 of Until the End

Maybe she had learned her lesson, but the way his luck had been these days, that would be too easy.

“What are you doing here?” And how had she found him?

She squeezed her eyes shut. Her hand stayed pressed to her chest like she was trying to regulate her breathing. “I know you need your privacy and space to work, but I let my imagination get the best of me. I had to make sure you weren’t at some other woman’s apartment or having a meeting in a hotel.” She buried her face in her hands as if ashamed. “Don’t be angry. I know how stupid and jealous I sound, but…”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she sobbed.

He went around to the passenger’s side and tried the door. She hadn’t even locked it! Sanborn climbed inside. “I told you I was working.”

“I know.” She grabbed a tissue, dabbed her pink eyes, and sniffled. “I had to be sure you were telling me the truth. Something about what you said bothered me and I couldn’t let it go. I had to find out for certain.”

“I was meeting a colleague from the CIA here. It’s dangerous for you to follow me,” he said. “I never want you in harm’s way. I’m working on something very hush-hush for them that no one can know anything about. You shouldn’t be out here. How did you find me?”

“I lied to Willow and got her to help me.” Tears spilled from her eyes, guilt etched on her face. “Please don’t be angry. I’m sorry for not trusting you.”

“When have you ever seen me angry?” He was a paragon of pristine control. Always.

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Never. I guess what I’m saying is, give me another chance. Don’t break up with me. I’ll do better. I’ll be better.”

Sanborn stared at Doc and saw it. The years of neglect and lies and abuse and self-doubt, the trauma that he himself was feeding in a flawed attempt to protect her.

Until he found a way to both make Doc feel secure in their relationship and keep her safe through the end of this operation, this wouldn’t be the last time she’d check on him. Or the last time she’d endanger herself. He had to remove her from the playing field by any means necessary.

“I love you,” he said, taking her hands in his. “Just as you are.”

Her jaw unhinged. Those long, beautiful lashes, wet with tears, fluttered. “Say that again.”

“I love you, darling. Marry me.”

Air left her mouth in a rush as she stared at him, now unblinking. Her gaze pinned him.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“You once told me that you’ve always wanted to go to Italy. Let’s get married there. This weekend.”

She swallowed hard, her beautiful head probably spinning in circles of disbelief. Ah, he had a knack for reading people and picking the right curveball to throw.

“Go home, find your passport, and pack a bag.” He gave her a warm smile, no flash of teeth, steady eye contact, the perfect balance. “I want you on a flight tonight. I’ll arrange your ticket and the hotel.”

“But the mission, the current operation. What if it’s not over by the weekend?”

“I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve got a gut feeling. Don’t worry about that. What city? In Italy?”

She blinked as if in a daze. “Um. Rome. I always wanted to go to Rome.”

“Buy a dress there, make all the preparations. I’ll fly out on Friday and we’ll buy our rings there. We’ll exchange vows on Saturday.”

“I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “This is all so sudden.”

“Do you love me?”

He realized she hadn’t said it back, but a whirlwind romance with a man she could count on was one of her deepest, secret desires. He could tell from the little things she’d said. His dear, sweet Doc wanted to star in her own fairy tale.

He’d give her one, only he’d rather it not be a Grimm Brothers’ tale. If she wanted a happily-ever-after with doves being released, the exchange of vows and rings, and yada, yada, yada, then she needed to get out of town for a while and out of his way.

“Yes,” she finally said, but it sounded like a question that wanted to be an answer, falling woefully short.

He’d have to take it. This was the best way to remove her from the playing field and protect her at the same time.