Chapter 24

It was dark by the time the Miss Bliss made her dock. The heat of the day was beginning to dissipate, and the ocean had calmed to the point of glassy water. Captain Cecil expertly moored the boat in its slip and tied her up with a little clumsy help from Simon. Bull snored like a logger through the entire event, and only woke when Simon tripped over the sleeping man, in an attempt to throw the rope ashore.

“Ah, boss, I was sleepin’ so good.” Bull sat up. “We back?”

“Yes, and remind me to get you a palette rack for your bedroom when we get back to California.” Simon snickered, watching Bull stretch and try to stand after laying flat on the boards for several hours on a rocking boat. “I think you have nail imprints on your back.”

Bull shook himself.

Captain Cecil had radioed ahead, and Carl Morehead stood ready on the dock.

“Ahoy, Miss Bliss. Permission to come aboard?” He stepped onto the ship and slapped Pete on the back. “You survived! Proud of you, Pete.”

“Just barely and never again.” Pete stepped up onto the dock and presented the nearest piling with a loud smooch. “I am a landlubber and proud of it.”

A little quieter, Carl asked, “How’s Rad and Andi?”

“All things considered, okay. She needs to see a doctor, but she’s alive and all lovey-dovey. Amazing what a woman’ll do for the man who saves her life, twice.”

“More than that, if I recall.” He gave a hand to Evie, stepping off the ship. “Major Gastineau, successful mission, I take it.”

“Roger that. And it’s Evie now.” She turned to grab Simon’s briefcase as Carl steadied the geek when he tried to jump the foot between the dock and boat. Bull was right behind his boss and caught Simon as he lost his balance.

“Steady there, boss. I can’t let you drown until I get my palette rack.” Bull chuckled.

The stress of finding Andrea and getting back to South Padre Island alive had vanished, and the team was back in humor order. Even Pete looked a lighter shade of green.

Andrea came up the stairs from below deck, cradling a sleeping bird, who still clutched a bottle of rum in its claw. Conrad followed. He wore a huge smile and some serious five o’clock shadow.

“Got a car for y’all and a medic for the lady.” Carl had effectively anticipated their return. “He’ll do a check on the way to the hospital. Pete, can you drive?” Carl threw the Navigator keys to Pete.

Evie intercepted the keys with a quick snatch. “He’s had a little too much fun today. I’ll drive.”

Conrad and Andrea piled into the spacious van with the medic, Carl and his driver. Evie, Simon, Bull and Pete took the Navigator.

“See y’all back at the ranch!” Pete hollered out the window. “Roll ’em, roll ’em, roll ’em.” Pete directed Evie with song. The car filled with laughter as the occupants began various versions of the Rawhide theme on their way back to Pete’s warehouse apartment. Bull’s was the most imaginative, but definitely unrepeatable.

As the gate rose and the Navigator drove into the parking garage, Simon studied the building. “Hey, my relationshipee, maybe I should scout around the Oakland area for a building like this. It’s got plenty of room for the two of us, and more.”

Evie saw him wink at her in the rearview mirror. She blinked. It was the first time Simon talked about them in terms of a permanent thing, other than the job he offered her upon separation from the service, and that was business. But living together wasn’t commitment. Uncle Grady had said the word. Evie knew better than to challenge heavenly direction. And personally, she’d never considered living with a guy as a commitment. It was a stall tactic at best, and she had more respect for herself than to settle for the second- best scenario.

Pete, unusually direct, simply spoke for the elephant in the room. “Just propose, get hitched and get over it, Simon. Or isn’t there a digital code for that?” He didn’t mean it to come out so sarcastically, but they’d all just faced death together, and he’d vomited in front of them all. Many times. They were family now. Sarcasm was a family tradition.

Simon was uncharacteristically silent after Pete’s comment.

Bull shifted to peer at his boss and Evie got an eyeful in the rearview mirror. Her boyfriend looked like he’d just bit into a sour grape.

Sheepishly Pete apologized. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that to come out so harsh, but I’ve been sick. Barf and 7-up will do that to ya.”

Evie parked next to the elevator in the handicapped parking spot. There would be no handicapped vehicles in Pete’s parking lot this evening. Or ever, probably.

Figuring the best part of valor was retreat, Evie nodded toward the elevator. Pete bailed out followed by Bull. They got into the elevator and held the gate for a few seconds. When realization dawned that they would be elevating alone, Bull closed the gate and, he and Pete disappeared upward.

“Hope they make it to the top.” Simon sat quietly in the back seat of the SUV.

“Yeah.” Evie sat quietly in the front seat. She knew Pete’s comment about marriage had Simon thinking hard. He had a lot of personal baggage when it came to commitment and the “m” word. His childhood had colored his view of family and fidelity.

“So, shall we go?” Simon gathered his things.

“I guess.” Evie was tired and…deflating rapidly. After the complete excitement and satisfaction of finding Andrea alive, the sheer relief of surviving the storm, and then her heavenly interlude, she’d had way more than her share of the emotional rollercoaster. She dragged her bag out of the trunk and followed Simon to the elevator.

Neither one spoke. No physical touch, nod, or even recognition. The elevator had returned after letting its first two passengers off on the tenth floor. It creaked, groaned, and took them to Pete’s apartment in one piece. Finding Andrea alive was the first miracle of her visit. Getting to the tenth floor in Pete’s elevator was the second miracle of the day.

Evie dragged her bag off the elevator and dropped it at the end of the couch, then promptly flopped down on the cream leather. In seconds she was asleep.

****

Bull was already preparing a feast from the contents of the fridge, humming “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” Pete was in the shower and Simon sat in a chair, watching Evie sleep. Even after a tough day, the woman was incredibly beautiful and sensuous.

He considered Pete’s rather direct statement.

His life was in order, the way it should have been. Why change the game now?

He had a fantastic life and all the money in the world. A seven point six-million-dollar bonus awaited deposit, out in California.

He had a great career.

He had security. He glanced at Bull, who was flipping vegetables in a wok, while meat sizzled in a fry pan, an ever-present cup of coffee next to the stove. And good friends.

He had a penthouse.

He had his own jet.

He had Evie.

Or did he?

He got up and took a beer from the fridge. Returning to his seat, he watched the woman who’d survived months of torture in a Taliban prison, plotted an escape and saved the lives of two soldiers in the mix. She’d found Uncle Grady’s Amee, and made it possible for them to be together in the end. And now she headed up his company’s Security division. She was a vision in satin and heels, and had the common sense and humor he needed to stay grounded. Something other than his manhood stirred…

He needed?

A voice in the back of his head answered that question. You need her, son. And she needs you. But more than that, search your heart. The answer lies there, not in the bank, or your big, high-falootin’ job. In the end, all that counts is love. Take my word for it.

“You always were right, Uncle Grady.” Simon mumbled into his bottle as he finished his beer.

He did love Evie.

He did!

But then his mother had loved, too. And look what happened to her. Look what happened to him.

“Chow in five, boss.” Bull called from the kitchen area.

Pete came out of the bathroom, a thick white terrycloth robe wrapped around his slender frame. His hair dripped, but he looked happy and at ease. “Plates are in the glass cupboard. Drinks in the fridge.” He sat at the big table that formed a bar off the cooking and food prep area like a big T. It was a massive butcher block, some eight feet long and five feet wide. Polished to a smooth finish, the lines of wood were beautifully displayed. In the center, an artistically carved myrtle-wood bowl held a sand pattern with a peace sign drawn in the middle. A miniature rake lay to one side. Pete absently cleared the sand pattern with a shake of the bowl. He drew an elementary boat outline, then replaced the rake.

Evie pulled herself off the couch, shook her hair out, and joined Pete and Simon at the table.

The microwave beeped and Bull took a huge bowl of rice from the oven. “Strip steak, stir fry veggies and rice.” He slid the rice bowl across the counter to the head of the table, and dumped the delicious looking stir-fry into another bowl. The pile of steak filled a platter and they were ready to eat.

“There’s enough here to feed an army, Bull. It looks great. And smells heavenly!” Evie sat on a padded stool across from Simon and Pete.

“Chef Cheddar, at your service.” Bull heaped his plate full of rice and steak. “Simon’s uncle taught me how to make some great dishes out of mostly nothin’. He was a wiz at making a little, go a long ways.” Bull proceeded to stuff his mouth with big scoops of food. “Yum yum, that be good eats.”

Pete was once again amazed at the skills of Simon’s bodyguard, butler, childhood friend, and now, it seemed, chef. Pete wondered if Simon appreciated everything he had. Since his blurted statement, Simon and Evie had been unusually quiet, and now neither one looked at each other, except for sideways glances. “Ever think about opening a restaurant for enormous people?” Pete watched Bull refill his plate as he himself tackled a truly tasty chunk of steak.

“Nope. Eat myself out of the profit!” Everyone chuckled at that and the atmosphere took a step toward pleasantry.

Pete’s phone vibrated in a circle. “It’s Conrad.” He picked up the phone and answered the dancing ring. “Conrad? You’re on speaker.”

“Yeah. Everybody okay at your place?” He didn’t wait for the answer. “Andrea’s in X-ray right now. The doc here in the ER says she is going to be fine with rest and hydration. He’s sure she’s got a couple broken ribs, but they will mend in time.”

“That’s fantastic news, Rad. Bull fixed dinner, and I got a shower. Our world is looking up.” Pete’s shiny face gleamed after a shave and moisturizer. “Will she stay in the hospital, or come home?”

“No point in staying here. We’ll be home in an hour or so. She’ll sleep better in her own bed. So will I. As long as she’s there.” Simon could hear Conrad’s voice break a little.

“Great! You guys want to be alone for the night? Or should I drop your company off at the house?” Pete mouthed and signaled to the folks at his dinner table. Wanna stay or go?

“I got beds. You got the floor. Would you mind dropping them at the house after dinner?”

“Not at all. As soon as we finish this mountain of food.” Pete laughed.

Simon chimed in. “Bull is a great cook. We’ll save you a few hundred pounds.”

Conrad wasn’t up for humor yet, but he was sounding better by the minute. “Thanks, Pete, guys.”

“No problema, buddy. Take care of our gal. See ya soon.” Pete hung up.

Simon repeated what he’d heard. “The doctor says Andrea’s going to be fine. She’s getting an x-ray and probably has a few broken ribs, but they’ll heal in time. Right?” Her face had looked a great deal like his mother’s, before the funeral home folks worked their magic. Unfortunately, his little-boy-self had seen everything and the picture of both sorely wounded women was stuck in his mind.

Bull growled around a mouthful of veggies. After swallowing, he asked, “Think we can make bail for Henry-fuckin’Mikamoto, boss?”

“Make bail?” Simon’s head popped up. “Whatever for? He’s a murderer and a slimeball, Bull.”

“Yep. But I’d sure like him to feel a little of what he did to Conrad’s wife.” Bull chuckled and stabbed a slab of meat. “Maybe a lot of what he did to her. I’ve yet to really meet the lady, but no woman deserves to be beat like that.” A dark shadow crossed Bull’s face.

“I could have a word with Officer Billings…” Pete smiled brightly.

“God, no!” Simon was well aware of Bull’s more violent past and his sister’s boyfriend history. Once, when they were still in high school, Crissy had come to pick Bull up at Uncle Grady’s house. She had a black eye and a colorful set of bruises on her arm that looked like fingerprints. She waved off Uncle Grady’s concern, but the dark look in her eyes told a different story. The next week, everyone at school was talking about this guy who’d up and disappeared from the hood. He was a player and a dealer, so no one thought much about it, but Crissy wore a big smile and her bruises healed quickly. After that, Bull kept pretty close tabs on his sister and her dating habits. The talk got around and no one touched Crissy again. She up and married a Baptist preacher a few years back, and had a passel of kids now. And no more bruises.

Evie chuckled. “It’s not that he doesn’t deserve it.” She was picking up speed with her fork. “This tastes like manna from heaven. It’s amazing, Bull.”

Bull just nodded, his mouth full of rice and veggies.

****

“Thanks, Doc.” Conrad shook the doctor’s hand as he helped Andrea into the back of Morehead’s van. “I’ll take good care of her. I promise.”

Andrea had been fitted with an elastic wrap around her middle. Her wounds had been cleaned again, and pronounced clear of infection. She was tired and ready for her own bed. “Thank you.” She took Morehead’s hand and Conrad lifted her into the seat. “And thank you, Carl.” She settled as best she could into the seat while Carl fastened her seat belt carefully, keeping the harness part away from her ribs.

Andrea and Conrad were well acquainted with Carl and his family. Andrea had known him as a journalist embedded with his unit, before joining Conrad and his small group of spec ops guys. After they were married, she’d photographed Carl’s wedding and each of his six newborn children as they came along, including the latest set of twins. Rebecca was happy with her family and Carl was a good husband and father. Conrad had a lot of respect for a man who ran his own business, had six kids at home and still dropped everything to help a fellow army buddy in need.

Conrad slid in next to Andrea and took her least bruised hand. “Okay, babe?” He looked intently for any painful reaction to the move.

“I’m fine.” She smiled at her husband, the scary guy in sunglasses who had carried a gun in her mind. “Now.”

“We’ll get you home and to bed. Doc says in a few days you should be pretty good, except for the ribs.” He kissed his wife on the ear. “Guess we’ll have to postpone our fifth wedding anniversary celebration for a while.”

“Oh my God, I completely forgot!” Andrea frowned.

“Completely understandable.” Carl’s remark came from the seat behind them.

Conrad aimed for Andrea’s ear and one more kiss, but she turned her head and took his lips in hers. The kiss lasted longer than was comfortable with strangers around, but Conrad wasn’t willing to let go. He had his wife back and he never wanted to let go. He had to be touching her, holding her, kissing her for the rest of his life. Despite the air-conditioned van, Conrad’s body flared with heat, as their kiss deepened.

Carl cleared his throat and Conrad unwillingly sat back in his seat, a dreamy smile plastered across his face.

Andrea chuckled, then winced.

It was time to bite the bullet. Conrad leaned in close to his wife. “I had a surprise for you. For our anniversary.”

Andrea smiled and pushed into his shoulder, her eyes closed, but a smile played across her lips. “And what was that?”

“I’ve been consumed with business these past few months…”

“Years…” Andrea whispered.

“Years. And it’s about time I got my priorities straight.”

“Priorities?” Her mumbled words told Conrad she was settling into sleep, but he continued. He’d started. If he didn’t keep going and say what needed to be said, he might just chicken out. This was too important to be left unsaid for one more minute.

“You, my love. You are my priority. And I forgot that for a while. But I got my head straight when I thought I might have lost you. Actually, lost me.”

“Umm, found me…” Andrea smiled again. She was drifting and heard the words but couldn’t quite focus on their meaning. He’d always found her, and her camera.

“Yes, found you and me…in the process.” He kissed her hair and smelled the beautiful scent of his wife. “And I’ll never lose track of us again. I have a plan to change our lives.”

Andrea yawned and snuggled closer.

“I’m backing out of GST. At least for a while.”

Andrea sat up then winced. “What?”

“I think it’s time to concentrate on us for a while and leave off working twenty-four-seven. Pete’ll take care of the company and I can watch my favorite gal chase photos. She may need someone to save her camera every once in a while.” Conrad’s lips eliminated any protest Andrea may have been thinking.