In Love and War Read Online Free PDF Page A

and amused, Ariela laughed again. “Be still, my heart.”
    “I thought you were worth it.”
    “And you’re admitting this to me?”
    He shifted into drive and snickered. “ I wanted to make a good impression.”
    She was on to him. “How’s your house?”
    “You won’t be seeing that tonight.”
    Laughing, Ariela ignored the passing scenery. Her date’s handsome profile was far more appealing. “I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”
    “Ah.” Dylan nodded as he signaled his turn. “I meant to give you more time to recuperate, but then I got a call and found out I’m heading out of town early Monday. I didn’t want to put off seeing you again since I’m not sure when I’ll get back.”
    “Where are you going this time?”
    “Back to Iraq.”
    Ariela’s blood cooled. “I thought you were doing domestic stories now.”
    “Primarily, but this is intertwined. There’s a small group of senators going over next week and I need to be on the ground before they arrive.”
    “Does that make you nervous—going back?” She was nervous for the guy and she didn't even know him!
    In her mind s he saw her parents again, as clear now as that day sixteen years ago. Her mom had been wearing her ruffled, pink robe. Right behind her stood Ariela's dad, looking so handsome in his uniform. He’d been pressed against her, nose buried in her hair as she rinsed out a coffee cup in the sink, while Ariela ate her breakfast at the table behind them. Her father’s arms had wound around her mother’s waist, and they’d swayed side to side to a silent tune. Ariela remembered how she’d smiled when he nuzzled her mother’s neck and started her laughing. Her parents had been playful and completely in love. Like an otter, Ariela had swum in the overflow of that love, amazingly content.
    “Gotta go,” was the last thing her father sa id as he bent to kiss her on the top of the head.
    Dylan’s voice pulled Ariela back to the present.
    “Not really. Besides, nearly everything we do involves some risk—even driving to the restaurant tonight.”
    “I suppose, but you’re going back to a war zone. Doesn’t that make you a bit anxious?”
    He smiled. “No. It’s not something you want to get overly confident about, but if you use your head, you’ll be ahead of the game. Experience minimizes the risks. There’s less chance you’ll blunder into something if you know what you’re doing.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t want to go.”
    “Good thing you don’t have to. ” He glanced over and flashed a smile. “If it makes you feel any better, this should be my last assignment over there. I’m not sorry about it…though probably not for the reasons you might expect.”
    Arie la frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “Basically, I was in lockdown for the last year because of how dangerous it got to venture out. We had to rely on trusted Iraqi stringers to do all our important legwork. It felt like I was under house arrest. When you can’t do your own investigating, it’s frustrating and the job isn’t as satisfying—pretty tough to feel like a journalist under restricted conditions.”
    Oddly enough, Ariela was glad he wasn’t going to cover the war anymore, whatever the reason. Still, she didn’t understand why his personal safety concerned her. He was a virtual stranger, yet it really bothered her to think of him in such an unstable and dangerous place.
    Dylan seemed to pick up on it. “Listen, I’ll be fine. I won’t even be outside the green zone this time around, so the risks are minimal.”
    She gave him a weak smile. “You’re going to think this sounds weird, but I don’t think I could handle being involved with someone who’s always heading into danger. The stress would be too much for me.”
    He grinned and his gorgeous baby blues were dancing when he asked, “Are you suggesting that if I can keep from getting my ass shot off you might consider falling for me?”
    Ariela laughed. “I’ve already