Operation Barracuda (2005) by Tom - Splinter Cell 02 Clancy Page A

no, I don’t make ends meet just teaching. But I have some income in a trust that my father set up before he died. As long as I don’t go crazy at the mall once a month, I’ll do okay with what I make.”
    I decide not to push the baby issue. “Where is your mother? Do you have siblings?”
    “She and my younger sister live in California. San Diego. In fact, I’m going there in a couple of days. I meant to tell you. There’s no class next week. I’ll let everyone else know by e-mail. I’m gonna stay for about a week, I hope. I was thinking of maybe going up to the wine country afterward but I’m not sure. Or maybe L.A.”
    “That sounds nice,” I say. “I could use a vacation, too.”
    “You? Mister travel-around-the-world?”
    “That’s work. Believe me, I don’t relax when I’m traveling.”
    “Just what is it you really do, Sam? And don’t tell me you’re in goddamned sales . I don’t believe that for a minute.”
    “I am in sales. Sort of. International relations between the U.S. and companies that provide a lot of goods that Americans can’t get anywhere else. I guess I’m what you might call an information gatherer and troubleshooter.”
    She laughed and shook her head. “You work for the government. That’s what you do.”
    I shrug. “Not really.”
    “Come on, Fisher. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re some kind of spy. You’re so athletic and fit. Most guys your age let themselves go. Not you. And you’re smart and seem so well traveled. You’re gone for sometimes weeks at a time. And you keep your private life incredibly secret. I don’t know a damned thing about you except that you have a daughter and that you’re better at Krav Maga than me.”
    “I’m no spy, Katia. And I’m not better at Krav Maga than you.”
    “Yes, you are, and you know it. You could have whipped my ass yesterday. You let me pin you.”
    “Maybe I wanted you to pin me.”
    She looks at me sideways. The candlelight makes her brown eyes sparkle.
    “Yeah?” she asks.
    I take a sip of champagne and attempt to keep my face expressionless. I now know this is it. My years of ignoring the opposite sex have come to an end. It’s high time I reenter the world of male-and-female relationships.
    Our breakfast finished, I stand and hold out my hand. She smiles and takes it. I begin to lead her away from the table but she stops me.
    “Wait!” Katia grabs the two champagne glasses and the bottle. “We might need this.”
    I lead her upstairs to my bedroom. The bed isn’t made but she doesn’t complain. Katia sets down the bottle and glasses and turns to me. I take her into my arms and we kiss more passionately than we did at the studio, if such a thing is possible.
     
     
    WHEN we finally come up for air, the clock on my nightstand reads 1:30. We made fiercely primal love for at least an hour before falling asleep in each other’s arms. The lovemaking, for me, was a revelation. It had been a long time. I guess it’s one of those things you don’t forget, kinda like riding a bike. Well, Katia Loenstern is one hell of a ride. She rode me pretty hard, too. We must have slept for a half hour, then got to it again. You’d have thought I’d been celibate for a century. After chugging down the rest of the tepid champagne, we tried another position. Katia marveled at my stamina and I welcomed her enthusiasm.
    It was the best morning—and best birthday—I’d had in years.
    We contemplate taking a shower together just as my beeper goes off. That means I need to make a call to Lambert on my secure line downstairs in the office. I don’t want to do it. Damn it, I’m on vacation. I just returned from an assignment. It can’t be that. Not now. Not as I’m just beginning this with the first woman I’ve grown to like since—
    “Does that mean anything?” she asks.
    “Yeah,” I say. “I have to make a call. Downstairs in my office.”
    She smiles sweetly. “Go ahead. I’ll just lie here and see if I can