Chapter Nine

Twenty-two hours had passed since Brenden had left Paige and boarded the C130 now carrying him to Kyrgyzstan, and he still couldn’t shake the idle thoughts of their time together. He’d told himself not to think of their kiss, her words, or the sweetest smile he’d ever seen.

It was showtime.

Right now, he had to focus and be something that a woman like her would probably never understand. Besides, what was he going to do…become a boyfriend? He couldn’t. There were too many risks, and he refused to complicate his life.

“You still thinking about your date?” Linc collapsed into the space next to Brenden.

“Hell no, just focusing on the task at hand. A rescue mission like this is—”

“Unpredictable,” Luke piped in. “I’ve been thinking the same.”

Brenden adjusted in the huddle and opened his map to review the drop zone located at the base of the mountains. In less than fifteen minutes, they would free-fall within enemy territory under the cloak of night. Their goal was to rescue a highly valued asset under deep cover who was taken after discovering the secret stockpile warehouses in Kyrgyzstan and the supplier. The information their asset held could identify the major players getting weapons in then distributing them to rebel forces. The intel was crucial to their ability to destroy the black market supply chain and enhance the success of Operation Jackal’s Lair.

“They always are,” Trent called from the other side.

“You don’t find it ironic that just after Holder delivered intelligence on these fucking stockpiles, our asset gets made? It’s like there’s an intentional effort to alter our steps,” Luke challenged, rallying support from Carlos, Josh, and Rod as they checked the guards on their safety equipment.

Brenden huffed as he stood, tucked the map away, and finished suiting up for the drop. “Right now, I can’t be thinking about that when we’re about to free-fall in the dead of night to save someone who put their life on the line so we could do our jobs.”

“Yes sir,” his six offered in unison.

The gates opened from the belly of the plane. Wind rushed in with its dreaded invitation of the open skies. One by one, they dove from the plane into darkness from which he hoped to emerge from. Because when he had done his duty and abided by the rules of engagement to keep him and his brothers alive, he was going home to claim Paige.

…

On the first official day of spring break, Paige, along with Bellamy, was busy running last minute errands for Katie’s nineteenth birthday bash. Paige had taken a genuine interest in the girl. Mainly because she remembered what it was like recovering from the loss of a loved one. Not to mention, Brenden was gone and, during their counseling sessions, she learned he had never missed a birthday. Therefore, neither Paige nor Bellamy could refuse when they were asked to help.

Their college-aged friend needed them, and for Paige it was a welcome distraction. Ever since that handsome-as-hell man with the cosmic eyes left her house nineteen nights ago, things had been different. Different because she had promised herself a long time ago she would never be this woman, the one waiting for her soldier to return home. Her life right now had become reminiscent of her teenage years, watching her mother’s empty gaze out the kitchen window as they waited for her father and brothers to return from a deployment.

But none of it mattered. Regardless of how Brenden had made her feel as they danced in the street or hiked to the waterfall, he wouldn’t be coming back for her, because she was a complication.

His words, not hers.

A deep, long sigh slid from her as the startling realization punched her in the gut. Paige rubbed the back of her neck, hoping to massage the insomniac mindset away. Pointless. Her shoulders slumped as she blew a loud breath before bringing her phone into her line of sight. The map on her smartphone showed them a few minutes from Brenden’s house.

“What do I do at the stop sign?” Bellamy eased off the gas.

“Uh…” Paige manipulated the touchscreen of her phone, tracing their outlined path. “Go left.”

As Bellamy turned left, audible gasps filled the car. The beachfront properties lining the street were like the ones out of Architectural Digest.

“I think it’s two more houses down.” Paige turned her attention from the text Katie sent, back to the numbered mailboxes they crawled past.

“Wow!” Bellamy pumped the brakes. “He can afford this on a military salary?”

Paige rolled down the tinted window. Her body turned toward the door as her eyes traveled from the base of rich, green grass to lush Ixora hedges. Tall, well-maintained palm trees framed the tropical landscape, sharply contrasting against the sleek, architectural masterpiece mindful of luxury homes on South Beach.

The dramatic angles and glass walls of the house were more alluring than she could have possibly imagined. Strong lines, prominent design style, and sharp color, along with what Paige believed to be at least three levels, were dominating like Brenden.

The home was a direct reflection of its owner.

“Thought you…I thought you said Trent had a waterfront on Davis Island.” Paige forced herself to stay in the proper seated position. She felt like a tomb raider in search of what treasure lay within his sanctuary. Would it reveal more of him? Expose his vulnerability, maybe show her who he really was?

Bellamy chuckled. “Shit, I said the same thing when I pulled up to his house.”

With speedy fingers, Paige texted here to Katie as they pulled up the long driveway. Not a minute passed before the garage lifted and the birthday girl waved to them with a giant smile.

“Oh my God!” Paige popped the door handle on Bellamy’s red Infiniti. She sprang out of the car, but before reaching the headlights, her feet swiveled into an abrupt U-turn. She broke into a speedy patter and then threw herself back inside the car.

“What the hell, Paige?” Bellamy scanned her friend with great concern.

“I think he’s back.” Paige fought to regain control of her breath as she pointed to the Obsidian BMW6 Convertible parked in the garage.

“Why are you here if he’s there?” Bellamy jerked in her seat, gesturing at the house.

Paige slid down the chair, burying her face within her palms. “Because,” she groaned. “Oh God, this is just weird. I’m like some freaking stalker chick. He didn’t call and tell me he was back. For all I know, he never thought of me beyond the almost pussy he got two weeks ago.”

“Three weeks! Nineteen flippin’ days is three weeks.” Bellamy gave a gruff exhale. “And have you forgotten all the hot n’ heavy dancing in the streets, going to his river cabin, and the lip-locking y’all did before he left?” Bellamy dug into her purse, retrieving her phone. “He thought of you, Paige. Now get your ass out of my car and go see him.”

Another audible sigh escaped Paige as she pulled her face from her hands to see a scrunched-nose Katie in the distance. This wasn’t exactly ideal for a reunion with Brenden. Him seeing her without makeup and rocking a messy Afro puff wasn’t exactly written in the stars. Besides, the man probably needed time to decompress. Then, of course, there was his niece, who knew nothing about them—whatever they currently were—and a house that would be full of people in a few hours.

Paige laced a slim finger through a tear in her designer stonewashed jeans. She remained uneasy even as she adjusted the spaghetti straps of the white camisole hugging her boobs and torso. The shirt was so thin, she was sure Bellamy could see the gallop of her heart along with her pumping adrenaline. Thank God the desire flooding her lady lips was concealed.

“And then there’s Katie… She may not respond well. Brenden is her life bond, and right now she needs all of his attention. I don’t want her feeling like she’s competing for his affection.”

Paige blew out, deflating her cheeks. “Do you know how much she could regress if she thought I used her as the connection to form a relationship with her uncle?”

“Paige,” a small voice called from the driveway.

“Good luck with that.” In one fluid motion, Bellamy got her keys from the ignition and exited the car.

With minor hesitation, Paige got back out of the car. She walked into Katie’s outstretched arms and kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday, Katie!”

“Thanks!”

“Hey girlie, happy birthday!”

“Thanks, Ms. Bellamy, and thanks for helping us set up.”

“When’d your uncle get in?” Paige tilted her head at the garage.

A cheeky smile came across Katie’s face. “Oh, the Beemer! That’s Uncle Bren’s booty catcher.” She giggled. “His ex-girlfriend hates that car because women throw themselves at him whenever he drives it, especially if the top is down. He’s in his truck now. It’s what he usually drives to work.”

Bellamy cut her eyes to Paige, who exhaled the breath she had held for a million seconds. “All that damn silliness,” she muttered under her breath, walking to the trunk of her car. “Y’all come on. We’ve got a ton of stuff to get inside.”

The trio unloaded everything necessary to throw the most memorable nineteenth birthday party. After which, Paige stoked her curiosity by moving through the open floor plan of Brenden’s home. A beige wall color and Lapacho floors provided a rich backdrop for the furniture’s earthy tones. The abstract art adorning the walls was all she had to better understand his personality, since there were no photos or quirky out-of-place belongings to reveal true character.

Before Paige could further analyze the space to figure out why the home seemed so lonely, her gaze drifted beyond the pool deck to the Gulf. There were no words to describe the calm surrounding her. There was peace, safety, and tenderness wrapped within the dominating white stucco structure Brenden called home. It was everything she had seen in him. What she had felt sitting beside him when he rescued her from Richard.

“I was looking for these.” Katie tugged the box of candles from Paige’s hands. “Oh, I took your advice and invited that Ethan guy I told you about. He’s coming tonight.”

Paige snapped out of it and noted the rosy color staining her young companion’s cheeks as she followed her into the kitchen. “Well, that sounds nice,” she said, smiling, watching the bubbly girl set the candles atop the kitchen counter. The oversized, modern food hub appeared as if it had never seen a dirty dish. “Your uncle has a nice place, Katie.”

“He loves it here, and it’s always this spotless. So please, whatever we mess up we need to clean. If he comes home to a dirty house, he’ll lose it.” Katie laughed then glanced to the microwave. “Holy crap, it’s almost noon. Let me show you where to put your duffel bags. We’ve got a lot to do before everyone gets here.”

Paige entered the guest room behind Katie and Bellamy. She continued the same analysis she had with every other part of the home, blaming the psych major in her because it was easier than admitting she wanted to know more about Brenden. The attraction she possessed for him was undeniably strong, and unlike anything she had ever felt before with another man. There was something about the way his eyes reached into the depths of her soul, how his arms kept her safe, and the way her heart fluttered the night they danced in a city street. She tried rationalizing that she couldn’t possibly miss him, Brenden—not like that, yet. Or could she?

By coincidence, her eyes fell onto a single photo. Brenden was in between Katie and a woman she guessed to be Katie’s mother, Elizabeth. Without asking, Katie explained the details of the photo taken on a random trip to Disney World. The more she talked, the more Paige became lost in Brenden’s gaze. He possessed the only pair of blue-gray eyes she’d ever seen. Her silent prayer was that she would see them again soon.