“I was not pregnant when I went to Nicaragua,” Mina raged. “Well, I was, but I didn’t know I was! And how do you think I can research a book on mercs or SWAT teams or feds without talking to them?”

“You can talk to them in the living room!” Cort shot back. “Or in their offices! You have no business in combat situations. You could be killed!”

Mina stared at him. He really did care. He was belligerent because he was afraid for her, and he didn’t quite know how to admit it without appearing weak. It took the fight right out of her.

She went to him and smoothed her hands against his chest. “I’m tired,” she said softly, and laid her cheek against him. “And sleepy.”

His hands reluctantly went to her long hair and threaded through it. The unexpected fragility of her cut through his defenses like a knife through hot butter, and he sighed. “You’ve had a hard night,” he said gently. “And I’ve been a fool. I’m sorry.”

She smiled. “I should have told you. I’m sorry, too.”

“That makes three of us,” Vic added, his arm around Sandra. “But we were damned lucky that Mina’s cohorts were around tonight. She might have been kidnapped, along with Sandra and me.” He chuckled. “Mina threw down on one of the men who was threatening her and Sandra. She got him right in the kneecap. Hell of a shot.”

Mina flushed and laughed softly. “I don’t like killing people. In fact, I’ve never killed anyone. I was scared to death when that man came upstairs and I saw how bombed out he was. Men in that condition are on a hair trigger. He would have shot me.”

“The sheriff agreed,” Cort confessed. “So did your friend Ry. He said the men were high as a kite and hungry for money.”

“It’s not as bad as it seems,” Mina said, snuggling closer to Cort. “You can get blood out of carpet. Honest.”

He burst out laughing. “Okay,” he said. “But no more shoot-ups next to the upstairs bedrooms,” Cort said firmly as he pressed a kiss on her forehead.

“Okay,” she said softly. She hesitated and a mischievous grin claimed her face. “Is downstairs all right for them, then?”

“I’ll lock you in a closet,” he threatened.

She laughed. “I’ll pick the lock and get out. This master thief I know taught me how to break into any house…uh…oh.”

“You know a master thief?” Sandra exclaimed. “Can you introduce me!”

Cort shared a resigned smile with his father over Mina’s head. “Oh God, what have we let ourselves in for?” he groaned.

Vic chuckled. “Some exciting times, I’d venture.” He paused. “Hey, it’s not so bad. If we have any more incursions on the south border, we know who to call, right?”

Cort sighed. “Right.”

Mina lifted her head and looked up at him with sheer delight. “They’re going to teach the baby how to do stealth missions,” she said deliberately.