Zach scanned the room in situation awareness mode. Body tense, muscles taut, his gaze flicked over every female present, searching for her. Eyes narrowed and alert, they rested on the young woman seated with the smarmy prick on the opposite side of the room, and his cock twitched. He knew then, without a doubt, it was her.
She’d changed in the intervening years, looked older, and if possible was even more delightfully curvy. Her hair was different too, but then again the first time he’d seen her it had been purple and long, later it had been nut-brown, her natural color, he’d guess. Now it was chin length, straight, and turned under, still brown but lighter with caramel highlights that looked like spun gold in the fluorescent lighting.
“Babycakes,” he whispered, unaware he’d verbalized her name until Hawk piped up.
“Babycakes? Uh-uh, more like Sweetcakes or Hotcakes, if you ask me. I wouldn’t mind giving her pussy a power prod with the old pleasure pole.”
Zach rounded on him. “You are so not going there.” The words were clipped and barbed, and it pulled him up short. Who the hell was he to tell Hawk who he could or could not proposition?
“If she’s got a pulse, then he’s interested.” Havoc’s words were less than soothing as they cut across his thoughts. “The kid’s a veritable Casanova, remember, ‘pussy’s pussy.’”
Zach hurled Havoc a filthy glower. Sure he wanted her to have relationships, but not with any of his buddies, no way would he entertain that little scenario.
“Just keep it in your pants, Brannigan. We’re here to rescue Loretta in case it’s slipped your mind, not for you to dip your wick with the first female you clap eyes on.”
“Get real. As if I’d forget.” Hawk bristled at the insult, his lips pressed hard together.
Zach guessed he was itching to say more but zipped it and glared back instead. Hawk’s anger usually abated as quickly as it surfaced.
Zach altered the focus from Babycakes to Hawk’s current squeeze. “What about Suzy?” he asked.
“Just because you’re on a diet man, doesn’t mean you can’t look at the menu.”
“One way of looking at it, I guess,” Havoc replied.
“Oh heck, you may as well know now, you’ll find out soon enough anyway. Suzy and I split.”
“Shit, when did that happen? I wondered why she wasn’t at the christening.”
“Nah, she had some plans with her sister today, but when I bailed on our date tonight she gave me an ultimatum. And you know I don’t do ultimatums, so I told her I was coming anyway, and man, did she go apeshit. Told me to fuck off, so I did.”
“Geez, kid, I’m sorry.” Chalk another one up to Babycakes. If she hadn’t landed Loretta in this shit, then Hawk would be home now pleasuring Suzy and getting laid. Zach felt responsible too. “I’ll explain when we get back and make her understand.”
He creased his brow and tightened his lips, determined to make it true. At twenty-four, Hawk was the youngest in the team. They’d all known him for years, tormented the crap out of him and treated him like a much-loved younger brother. For the most part he took it well, but heck, the kid could be shallow.
Hawk had been with Suzy longer than any of his previous girlfriends, but with the break up, four months seemed to be his limit. Not that he was criticizing, his track record wasn’t much better. He wasn’t surprised the kid wasn’t pining over her, though, or the broken relationship, the spark in his eyes when he spoke of her had long been extinguished.
Zach had to admit he wasn’t perturbed by it. Suzy just didn’t quite fit in with their group. What did bother him, though, was the smug expression Havoc sent him when he’d overreacted at Hawk’s interest in Babycakes. Yep, definitely got to be more circumspect there.
“Don’t sweat it, man, it was bound to happen sooner or later, we passed our ‘Use by date’ weeks ago.” Hawk was matter-of-fact as he spoke.
Zach believed him. The kid hadn’t taken his lecherous eyes off Babycakes since they’d walked into the place.
*
Beth sensed Zach’s presence the moment he arrived. She stopped stirring the already cold coffee she’d been toying with and looked up. Her stomach did that same old somersault thing, and her heart fluttered as she spotted him. She’d worried how she’d feel seeing him again, and now it seemed with good reason. Even after he’d left her wanting and discarded, he still had the power to turn her insides to mush. It was unfreakingbelievable. She was unfreakingbelievable. With brute effort she tamped down those feelings. Time to grow a spine, girl.
She took a steadying breath and fixed her eyes on the men framed in the doorway.
There were three of them. Big and Gorgeous. Bold and Brash. And Sexy and Surly.
“That him?” Daniel’s brusque voice sliced into her thoughts as he jerked his chin toward the door. She’d unwittingly devoted the last quarter hour to ignoring him, so consumed with the prospect of meeting Zach again that the intrusion startled her.
“Ah yeah, the one in the middle.” Her voice was quiet and edgy as she slid from the stool. Nervous hands smoothed down her skirt and then fidgeted with the top buttons on her blouse.
“Leave them undone, you look good. Let him know what he’s missing.”
She blinked. “How did you know?” Her hand wavered and then fell away as he gave her a mischievous grin.
“Your face lit up the moment you spotted him.”
“Come with me,” she begged.
“Of course, chickadee, but relax, he won’t bite, and remember this is not your fault.” Daniel downed his beer and stood, placing his hand at the small of her back, propelling her forward as she tried to delay the inevitable.
Her three and a half inch heels beat a staccato rhythm on the parquet floor as she made her way to where the three men stood.
Zach coasted toward her, his companions following in his wake. They all met somewhere in the middle. It reminded her of two warring sides coming together to discuss a truce with the other side claiming victory.
She felt the familiar pull at his approach and cursed the sudden weakness in her knees. She’d forgotten how big he was. With a humungous effort, she squared her shoulders and drew herself up to her full unimpressive height. God help her, but he was a fine specimen. Apart from his hair, he hadn’t changed at all. It was a little longer now and almost reached his collar. The urge to curl her finger around a silky lock was strong, the urge to slap at her finger was stronger, she smothered them both. His white shirt showcased his tan but made his eyes a soft gray rather than blue. His face was drawn and pinched, it didn’t mar his looks, but it did make her want to smooth away the worry lines with her fingertips.
“Hello, Zach.” Despite his treatment of her at their last meeting, she addressed him without rancor.
“Babycakes.” He acknowledged her with a cursory nod, and then turned to Daniel who had taken up a protective stance beside her.
“Zach, this is Daniel Chalmers. Daniel, Zach Buchanan, Loretta’s brother.”
Zach’s narrow-eyed gaze flicked over Daniel, his soft gray eyes hardening to gunmetal. Daniel stiffened and his chin came up.
The dislike between the two men was instant, mutual, and obvious. Zach glared at Daniel as if he was an insect about to be squashed. Daniel eyeballed him back with fire in his eyes, but extended his hand with good grace.
The hesitation was momentary then Zach seized Daniel’s hand in a solid grip. It was some kind of macho power play. When Daniel held his own, she felt an inner glow.
“I wish I could see this through, but I’ve got a plane to catch in two hours,” Daniel said as he checked his watch.
He’d been a rock during this whole nightmare, and she appreciated him postponing his flight, but time was ticking. He couldn’t afford to delay any longer, and with Zach here she couldn’t expect him to.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” Her whispered words were sincere, but her eyes sprang wide when his hands landed on her waist, pulling her forward until she was flush against him.
“No problem, chickadee.” His mouth came over hers, and she blinked. “Catch you back in the States,” he said and pivoted to face Zach. “Hope you find your sister unharmed, sincerely, man, and be sure to take care of this little lady; she’s a gem.” He gave a farewell salute, then disappeared through the doorway along with her equilibrium.
His departure felt like a desertion and she swallowed. He’d taken charge, insisting she not be left alone. Now, here she was with three ex-SEALs, and she’d never felt more alone in her life.
Nervous fingers pushed her hair behind her ears. She turned from the exit to face Zach. His surly expression, which seemed to be hers exclusively, was back in place.
“It’s b-been a long t-time,” she stammered, unable to control the tremor in her voice.
“Yeah, five years, four days too soon, to be precise.”
Too soon. The two words lashed like a whip. She flinched as if struck, but managed to gather herself in a blink. Shoulders pulled back, chin thrust forward. No more. No more pining. No more daydreaming. And no more lusting after a man who felt nothing but contempt for her. It ends here.
“Don’t be shy, Zach, tell me what you really think,” she shot back, bristling, remembering how he’d walked out without a word, the tears damp on her pillow.
“What he meant, love, was under the circumstances.”
Big and gorgeous smiled as he made the excuse. He seemed nice, a friendly giant with caring eyes.
“Lucas Kincaid, but you can call me Havoc.” He tugged the brim of his Akubra hat before taking her hand in his.
“Don’t mind him, he’s suffering from a bad case of foot in mouth today.” Bold and Brash stepped forward and offered his hand. “B. Michael Brannigan at your service, ma’am, but my friends call me Hawk.”
It was kind of the men to try and cover for their pal, but they weren’t aware of the history between Zach and her, at least she hoped they weren’t, but whatever. History—that’s all it would ever be. Fine, she could deal with that.
“Beth Carmichael, but I guess you already know that.” Hawk’s hand was warm and calloused and somehow felt comforting, though he lingered over the contact a fraction longer than necessary. “Nice to meet you, and you too, Havoc,” she said as the tall redhead released her hand.
*
Zach cursed under his breath. What the devil had gotten into him? The words had come out all wrong, tripped out of his mouth before he could censor them. But the kiss had seriously pissed him off. And what was the deal with that, anyway? Wasn’t that what he wanted for her, other relationships? Yeah, but with someone worthy of her, not someone who deserted her at the first sign of trouble. She deserved better.
Of course she was distraught. Loretta and she had been friends a long time. He should have been sensitive, offered her comfort; instead he’d been an ass.
“Yeah, what they said. Not thinking straight. Sorry.” And with that half-assed apology, he shouldered Hawk aside, pulled her into a hug and hoped to God she wouldn’t shove him away.
She stiffened but didn’t move away, and he took that as a positive.
“Zach, what will we do if we can’t get her back?”
Her words were a whispered sob and she brushed at her eyes as a stray bead of moisture slipped over her lashes. At her tears, his heart constricted.
“That’s not an option.” He stroked her back and rested his chin on the top of her head, tightening his arms around her. Damn, but she felt good, like a feather quilt on a cold winter’s night, and she smelled damn fine too, summertime and roses—just like he remembered. The close contact was already having a telltale effect, and he released her with an abruptness that had her tottering on her heels.
“Steady, there.” Havoc caught her elbow and held it while she regained her balance.
“Thank you.” Her smile was instant but held no warmth and didn’t reach her eyes. Eyes that looked at him in confusion.
Zach conceded an apology was probably called for, but seriously, she had a lot to answer for. He’d do well to remember that, so the best he could do was offer reassurance. “We’ll get her back, Babycakes. That’s a promise.” His head was all in a jumble. He hated this invisible pull she had over him, hated, too, that in the first few minutes of being reacquainted he’d hurt her.
“I don’t understand how this happened. Loretta had no plans to leave the hotel, she was going to laze by the pool and work on her tan.”
Great, just like her to shift the blame. In her youth she’d been irresponsible and apparently that hadn’t altered with time.
Unable to stop himself he barked, “Where were you while she was supposed to be lazing by the pool? Off with Daniel would be my guess.”
“Well, yes, we were at…”
“And whose idea was it to come to this hellhole, anyway?”
“Um, well, when I telephoned Loretta to say I was coming, she insisted on joining me, but…”
“I knew it. I freaking knew it. Another one of your schemes.” He tossed his hands in the air and did a half turn away before swinging back to face her.
“I warned Loretta with your knack for finding trouble she’d be better off cutting all ties with you, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She cares for you too much.”
“I care for her too, but, Zach, you don’t understand, I came here…”
He cut her off as she tried to justify her position. He wasn’t about to be sucked in by her excuses. “Don’t take me for an idiot, it’s clear why you came here.” Daniel’s farewell kiss still had him seething. “But nothing is going to be achieved by discussing it. The focus now is on how to get Loretta back safe.”