Safeguarding Kelly(16)
Author: Zoe Dawson

 

He headed outside, stripped off the T-shirt and ran full steam into the ocean, swimming strongly, cutting through the waves, remembering how it felt to save someone’s life, how it felt to be in the churning, frigid waters of the Bering Sea.

 

And, he remembered her face, framed by her helmet, remembered how their bodies had moved together. He wanted her.

 

God, how he wanted her all over again.

 

The sun had fully set by the time he started the sauce and dumped the spaghetti into the boiling water, then leaned against the counter and folded his arms. He guessed he could only fool himself for so long. It was a miracle that he’d stumbled on becoming a CGIS agent, even better that the Coast Guard had allowed him to stay as an active-duty member. He was making a difference here.

 

The image of Kelly pressed up against him came unbidden, along with the sensations. He groaned softly at the memory of what it felt like to have the silky weight of her hair sliding across his chest. The hair that had worked loose from her controlled bun at the nape of her neck. He clenched his jaw against the heated rush of physical response.

 

He wasn’t sure how to fix things with her, with his job, with his attitude.

 

The sound of his cell was loud in the room. He answered. “Hollow.”

 

“It’s Nishida. We’re going back into NCIS. There’s another body.”

 

“Son of a bitch,” Jason said.

 

When he walked into the morgue, Kelly was there in her white lab coat. She looked just as tired as he felt. Davis, Derrick, and Austin were also there.

 

They all greeted him. Kelly was all business, though. The victim was still in the body bag.

 

“ID?” Jason asked.

 

“Carla Hudson, Navy corpsman stationed here at Pendleton. She’s assigned to the 1st Marine Division of the combat detail for the Marine Expeditionary Force.” Austin’s voice softened. “She was twenty-two.”

 

“Her injuries are exactly the same as the other victims. Precise,” Kelly said.

 

Derrick looked around at them. “We’ve got ourselves three matching murders, all medical personnel. Looks like someone is mad at you guys.” He looked at Kelly. “I’ve informed Talbot and she’s consulting with the director and reaching out to SECNAV. There’s the possibility of a task force in the works.” It was clear from Derrick’s tone that he was concerned about Kelly.

 

The threat of a serial killer galvanized Jason. Kelly might be the civil medical examiner for NCIS, but she had been serving with a Coast Guard unit as a hypothermia expert. She was an MD. She could be at risk and high profile as she was working directly on this case.

 

She zipped up the bag and her assistant moved in to get Carla into one of the drawers. He overheard her as she talked into her cell. “I’m sorry about this, Kim. I know it’s late, but I’m done here for tonight.” There was a pause, then she said, “No, I’ll get it towed tomorrow. I’ll be outside in fifteen minutes.”

 

She disconnected the call and Jason said, “Car trouble?”

 

“Yes, Kyle went to get it for me. It’s habit. He doesn’t like me walking out there at night and I indulge him. It wouldn’t start. My sister is watching Kiko for me. She’s on her way.”

 

He was immediately concerned. He didn’t want Kelly waiting outside in an almost deserted facility parking lot for her sister to pick her up. His gut told him something was off. “I can give you a ride.”

 

“My sister…”

 

“Can get to bed sooner with less driving around. It’s no hardship,” he said.

 

“Really, Jason—”

 

“Kelly. I’m taking you.”

 

She started to take off her lab coat and he automatically helped it from her shoulders, his hands lingering just a split second too long. She turned to look over her shoulder at him, her silver eyes gleaming. Everyone had already cleared out and the room was silent, but as he stared at her, everything expanded, texturing the air with meaning, purpose, and deep, dark danger.

 

She blinked as if she was coming out of a dream, and he wisely was able to step back. Just barely.

 

Her lashes swept down over those intense, slightly startled gray eyes, thick as a curtain. He took a breath as she grabbed her purse and headed for the elevator.

 

“Thank you, Jason.”

 

He held the door for her, then entered and she punched the number for the lobby.

 

“You’re worried,” she said, turning toward him.

 

“No, I’m not.”

 

“Yes, you are,” she said softly. “You get this”—she touched the middle of his forehead—“wrinkle right here.” She smoothed her fingers over his skin, and he turned toward her.

 

He captured her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the soft skin of her wrist, then he drew it to his chest. “Is that so?”

 

“It is.” They stared at each other for a few minutes. He was drawn to her, his head dropping as her chin lifted. It was a dance as old as time.

 

The doors opened. “Hey, can I have a few minutes of your time?” Davis said, eyeing Kelly.

 

“Wait for me,” Jason said as she walked to the lobby doors and stopped.

 

“Part of that unfinished business?”

 

“Something like that,” Jason said. “What’s up?”

 

“We should get on that task force. This is going to be a career booster. The only thing is your unfinished lady will most likely be asked to join as well. So, you can either go back to headquarters and pick up another case or work this one with me and with her.”

 

“I’ll think about it.”

 

Davis nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow, track down some leads.”

 

“Yeah,” Jason said, walking toward Kelly. She pushed her hair back and touched her throat, drawing his eye to the dusky V of her upper chest, and those tantalizing shadows.

 

It was true that getting involved with the task force would put him in closer proximity to Kelly, but now that he was worried about her being targeted by a serial killer, he had no intention of leaving her side. He was certain she wasn’t going to like that, but he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. There was no way he could walk away from her now, regardless of how involved his heart got. She was too important to risk.

 

It didn’t take long to get over to Kim’s house about twenty minutes from base. He parked and walked with Kelly up the walk. She knocked and Kim came to the door. She studied him for a second until Kelly nudged her. He had to wonder what that was about.