Chapter Eight

I’m glad I ran into you today.

Every time she remembered those words—and the look in David’s steel blue eyes when he’d uttered them—Lyn’s cheeks burned and other parts of her did things she didn’t ever talk about to anyone.

Maybe she should feel uncomfortable. Or intimidated.

Nope. What she wanted to do was rewind back to the day she’d asked him for professional space and take back what she’d said. Or better yet, go back to the moment he’d almost kissed her and take things into her own hands.

Because every day she got to know David Cruz, she wanted him more.

If he’d been the least bit bitter or defensive or even indignant about her turning him down, she could dismiss her attraction to him and convince herself he was just another guy. Instead, he’d not only honored her request for professionalism but he’d gone on without any of the distance any normal person would create after the rejection. He’d made it easy for her to continue working with him. And she’d learned so much about him because of it.

And now she was pacing in the cabin again—his cabin—because he’d been concerned for her safety. For Sophie, too.

Sophie hadn’t argued, only driven straight back to the kennels. When they’d returned and Sophie had explained to the guys, Brandon had insisted on seeing Sophie home—in a different car. All Sophie had told Lyn was that the men of Hope’s Crossing Kennels didn’t make requests like that unless there was a real issue.

Great. So now what? She’d have to wait until David returned to find out.

’Course, considering his military background and habits and…everything, he’d probably only tell her what he thought she needed to know. Which was next to nothing. As generous as her thoughts had been toward him a second ago, now she was thinking about him from this perspective and everything about David Cruz shouted military for all that he was honorably discharged.

Military equaled distance. Military meant you were never equals. Military meant you were forever shut out of a part of his life.

She’d spent her childhood watching her mom wait for her stepfather to come home. And when he was home, he wasn’t. Not really.

Gah. Frustrating. So much of what she respected about David had roots in the deeply ingrained military honor he embodied. He wasn’t just a man who used to wear a uniform. He was a man who made a uniform what it was. She couldn’t help admiring the qualities. And she couldn’t help being wary of what it’d mean to get involved with a man like that.

She’d hated it in a stepfather and sure as hell wasn’t looking for it in a relationship of her own.

Her phone rang and she rushed to answer it without even checking the caller ID, hoping it was David. Impulse now. Logic later. “Hello?”

“Miss Evelyn Jones?” An unfamiliar voice was on the other end of the line.

Her heart dropped into the bottom of her belly. Why was she so disappointed? “Yes?”

“I’m Officer Hanley.” The man cleared his voice. “I was responsible for taking your report from the night of the attack.”

“Ah.” She vaguely remembered the man. Sandy blue hair. Light-colored eyes. It’d been a difficult night, one she’d been actively trying not to dwell on. “Hello, Officer.”

It wasn’t her intention to sound flat. All the warmth got sucked out of her voice. Her mouth had gone dry. Maybe he needed to ask her a few more questions about the night at the hotel.

He went on when she didn’t say more. “It’s not normally our practice to call, and you seem to be with good friends, but in a situation like this I felt you would want to know…”

She waited as he trailed off. After a long, drawn-out second she grew impatient. “Yes?”

“The man who was taken into custody the next morning made bail today.” The words came out in a rush, like ripping off a Band-Aid.

Stunned, Lyn almost dropped the phone. Cold fear twisted her gut and her heart rate kicked up until she heard it beating in her ears.

It’s really too bad you came back.

She did a slow turn, frantically scanning the room. Alone. But the curtains were all open and the night was dark beyond the windowpanes. Any minute his face could appear, peering through the glass. The hunger in his eyes. She remembered…

“Miss Jones?” Officer Hanley sounded concerned, maybe regretful. He hadn’t wanted to give the news to her.

“I’m here.” She yanked her thoughts into place, tried to pitch her tone to calm and grateful. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“Like I said, miss, it’s not something we usually do but all things considered…” He cleared his throat again. Maybe it was a nervous habit. “Anyway, the guys at Hope’s Crossing are good men. Stick close to them and you’ll be fine. The man will see his day in court.”

Of course. Officer Hanley couldn’t refer to him directly as the man who’d attacked her. Innocent until proven guilty and all that. “I understand. Thank you again.”

He blurted out a few more reassurances then ended the call.

Lyn clutched her phone to her chest. After a moment she shook her head, pocketed the phone, and rubbed her hands together. Nervous. Scared.

This entire trip had spun her world around. She traveled alone all the time! Now, she was jumpy in a cabin on private property with better security than any hotel had. She wanted to be mad at somebody. The men who’d attacked her—there’d been two, not just the one—and whoever had sent them. Thugs like that had to have some sort of boss to tell them what to look for.

Only she didn’t know what she could possibly have. None of her clients gave her anything of value in print. They arranged for direct deposits to her bank accounts for her training and rehabilitation services. She never had access codes to their property or to any sorts of diagrams of their estates.

There was no reason for those men to have been looking through her things that night. And now, they were both out there. Loose. And angry with her.

Stars shot through her vision and she realized she’d been holding her breath. She let it out in a whoosh, then deliberately took air back in slowly. Hiding in the cabin like a mouse was a bad idea. They wouldn’t need to come find her. She’d terrify the life out of herself.

She snagged a jacket and a small flashlight David had left for her before heading for the front door. Her hand on the doorknob, she froze. Maybe he’d known. That would explain why he’d sent her and Sophie back from New Hope earlier.

It didn’t make sense, though. Telling her and Sophie would’ve precluded any hesitation. Not that they’d been slow to follow his request. There just wasn’t any reason she could think of for him not to tell her. Unless he hadn’t wanted to frighten her.

 But he’d been so serious, with so much conviction in his statement about her safety. His expression alone had been enough to unsettle both her and Sophie. The actual reason couldn’t be much more of a leap. Could it?

No way to know while she was still in the cabin. It might be dark outside but all the paths between the buildings were well-lit and the dog kennels and main house were in clear line of sight. Anyone on the paths would be seen by the people in the main house and most of the dogs on the property. She’d walk quickly and get from point A to point B. Calling one of the guys to come get her seemed like overkill.

As she stepped out into the night, the dark didn’t close in on her. Solar lights lined the walkways and there were overhead lights at intervals along the paths, too. She headed directly to the main house but paused as she heard the low tones of David’s voice over by the kennels.

Instantly calmer, she turned toward the sound and followed the covered walkway along the side of the main house. David was within shouting distance. The others probably were inside or similarly close by. Everything was a lot calmer. All she needed to do was not be alone.

“You can’t be mad because we left you alone all day.”

She stopped in her tracks. It hadn’t been all day. Then she realized he was talking to Atlas.

Leaning against the dog’s kennel with his broad back to her, David looked as relaxed as she’d ever seen him. Was there a single t-shirt he owned that didn’t fit him like a second skin? If there was, she’d hide it or give it to Atlas to sleep on. Fitted clothing suited her just fine.

“Everyone needs a day off, including you.” David carried on his conversation with Atlas. “Definitely her. She works hard as any person I’ve ever met, in or out of the service.”

She couldn’t help a smile. Funny, but the casual talk probably got Atlas used to the sound and cadence of David’s voice. After all, she did the same thing. Dogs were good listeners.

“Besides, she took you for a walk before she left. It’s not like you didn’t get time with her.” He might’ve sounded jealous. Maybe.

Or wishful thinking on her part. Hard to tell.

“At least she likes you.” Definitely some chagrin there. “I might’ve broke the camel’s back today. Situation came up and no time for an explanation. She’s the kind of lady who likes to be informed when things are happening. So I’m betting she is not too happy with me now.”

Well, she hadn’t been a while ago. Then there’d been a phone call and panic and she’d been reserving real anger until she found out if he knew what was going on and hadn’t told her. But this, this didn’t sound like the same thing.

David pushed off from the kennel and squatted, resting his elbows on his knees and balancing easily on the balls of his feet. “You and me, Atlas, we know what it is to be sent out into unsecured territory. Overseas, we went in ahead of anyone else. Drop zone, airfield, absolute middle of fucking nowhere. We went in to pull others out. And we’re okay with it. It’s what we signed up to do.”

There was a pause. Lyn thought hard about what David was saying. Years ago, other military wives would talk to her mother about safe, well-established Air Force bases well within American territory. They’d made it sound like there was minimal risk. Of course it was awful when husbands had to deploy, but there’d never been a hint of the kind of danger David was talking about to Atlas. What he and Atlas had survived—it was something she’d known some select few had to do, far removed from anyone she knew or cared for. Only, it wasn’t so far removed anymore.

“But she should be able to enjoy a safe afternoon shopping. That town is a freaking tourist attraction. It’s the small, historic place to go around here to walk around and have a relaxing day.” Anger was seeping into David’s voice and an answering low growl issued from Atlas in response. The rapport between the two of them was getting stronger. “Instead, I see a man who shouldn’t be there. Bad news. And my gut tells me she wouldn’t have to worry about any of it if it weren’t for us.”

Why? Who? And what did they have to do with any of it?

Too many questions. She put her hand over her mouth to keep from blurting them out. If she walked up now, it’d stop him and she was not about to pretend she hadn’t overheard.

David sighed. “She looked like she had a good time today. Hated to cut it short.”

It took every ounce of will she had not to lean forward and listen harder. The breeze was blowing toward her, away from Atlas. But if she made any noise now or if the wind changed, Atlas would let David know she was near. And David was one of the best trainers she’d ever worked with. He’d be able to read Atlas clearer than printed text.

“Not sure how to proceed at this point, Old Man.”

She scowled. Atlas wasn’t old!

But then she took a breath and counted down slowly, letting the air back out silently. She’d heard her stepfather call his war buddies “Old Man” the few times she’d been around them. It was a thing, she supposed, and even the passing point of similarity to her stepfather knocked her feelings about Cruz back into a jumbled mess.

“If it were Calhoun or any other soldier, I’d brief her. Give her the details and let her decide. But she’s not a soldier. And she shouldn’t have to worry about these things.” A pause. “She’s a solid trainer. And she’s done you a lot of good. She deserves better than being sucked into whatever shit storm we’re about to go into next. Something is about to break, somewhere. I feel it in my gut and you’ve been on edge all day. We both know it’s coming, whatever it is. And I want her clear before it does.”

“Oh no. You are not sending me away.” She slapped her hands over her mouth. Then wondered how the hell they’d moved while she’d been listening in the first place. Fantastic the way she didn’t even pay attention to what she was doing when she heard epic statements of idiocy.

David and Atlas were both on their feet.

Since there was no sense lurking around the corner, she walked the rest of the way to them, trailing her hand against the chain-link of the kennel so Atlas could snuffle her fingertips.

“Listening long?” David didn’t back away from Atlas’s kennel and she decided she didn’t have any issues with stepping into his personal space.

Being near Atlas was only a partial excuse.

“Well, I still have questions so maybe I didn’t listen long enough.” She lifted her gaze to his.

Steel blue eyes, the color of storm clouds. Wow, but she liked looking into them. At the moment, his brows were drawn over them, giving him a severe expression. She ought to be at least somewhat intimidated by it but maybe she was building up a tolerance. Besides, being here with him was so much better than a couple of alternatives.

He came to a decision while she was pondering those. It crossed his face and then he seemed resigned. “What do you want to know?”

She swallowed. “Everything. Whatever there is. Whatever is going on. Because I’m already all sorts of caught up in it and I think you worry about what it means.”

His lips pressed together in a thin line.

She nodded. “Yeah. You do. And I do too.”

“There’s a certain safety to not knowing the details.” He wasn’t just standing there anymore. He was looming.

And it wasn’t going to scare her. Not anything he’d do. Because there were two men out there who’d already taken her sense of safety and ripped it to shreds. “Only when you’re sitting, waiting, hoping the bad things won’t come to find you. You sent me back here today and I followed your lead because it was the right thing to do at the time. But I won’t be staying here forever. I need to know what I’m facing when I step off this property.”

He opened his mouth.

But she wasn’t done yet. “The man who attacked me already set foot here, so even this place isn’t perfect. Now he’s made bail and he’s walking around free as you please. While you and Brandon and Alex are here with the dogs, there’s a line of defense. Isn’t that the way you put it? But no place all on its own is safe. The dogs are kenneled and you all have to sleep sometime.”

“Never at the same time,” David muttered.

She blinked, caught by surprise. The idea of the men each taking a turn in sleep and being awake was unsettling. Whether it was because they never let go of their military habits or because they were actively expecting trouble, it wasn’t something normal people did. The realization settled over her that Hope’s Crossing Kennels had never been a simple kennel.

This place had always been more, from the first day she’d walked into the office. It and the men who ran it were more than simple civilians with a shared love for dogs. They were men who’d survived hell and come to live with the rest of them again. And their survival skills had never been forgotten or even set aside, only concealed for the peace of mind of the community.

“He won’t get to you. I’ll be here for you.” David’s voice came to her—soft, serious, and sincere. A promise.

When she refocused on him, it was with a new awareness.

“You can’t be everywhere.” She looked down at Atlas standing pressed against the chain-link next to her. The big dog was as close as he could physically be with the fence between them. “No one can. We all live with the chance something will happen.”

Her stepfather had explained his reasons for being away from home to her and her mother over and over again. He was away so she and her mother could sleep safe at night. Every time he’d said it, the words had come by rote, a quote or a mantra, rather than words said with sincerity. She’d always said the same to him in reply. There was always a chance something would happen while he was away.

Back when she’d started, it’d been with a whole lot of teenage angst. In her mind, she or her mother could get hit by a bus and her stepfather would’ve been too far away to do anything about it.

“Maybe you’re right. The more information you have, the more prepared you can be.” David leaned in closer, until his heat whispered along her skin. Not looming anymore. Definitely not looming. “Seems fair enough.”

“I want the knowledge I need to protect myself.” The way she’d gone out on her own to learn how to shoot a gun the minute she’d reached adulthood.

“What will you do armed with information? Go hunting?” His words whispered against her hair.

“No.” She shivered.

“Good. Going hunting would be stupid. Will you run?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure. Running sounds futile if someone with any kind of skills or obsession is after me. It depends on what is actually going on. But once I have the full picture I can make an informed decision. Something that makes sense.”

“Okay.” But he didn’t wax eloquent with the things she needed to know. “Why did you come out here, Lyn?”

Frustration sparked and she clenched her jaw. Changing gears wasn’t going to help her.

“I got the call from the police.” Seemed like a long time ago. Being out here with David and Atlas always made time pass faster. But hold still, too. Like they were all in their own little bubble. “They said I should stay near friends.”

Of course, these two were the closest she had to friends anywhere. Not just nearby. Sophie might become a friend if they kept in touch. But the side effect of traveling all the time tended to be a whole lot of acquaintances and virtually no close friends. Even the town she had on her driver’s license as home wasn’t anything more than a place to send junk mail.

“Are you worried he’ll come after you again?” David’s hand came up toward her face slowly, his index finger extending and exerting gentle pressure under her chin to get her to look up at him.

When she met his gaze, she was drawn in closer without ever moving. They were in the eye of a storm and the air directly around them had gone still.

“Yes.” It took effort to get the affirmative out. Frustrated, she pushed forward with the conversation. “Doing nothing but waiting was going to drive me crazy. I was getting cabin fever.”

His nod was almost imperceptible. Still, something settled inside her. He got it.

“Whatever is going on, you know more about it than I do.” She licked her lips; her mouth had gone dry.

His gaze dipped, focusing on her mouth. “I might. I know something. I’m not sure it’s related. But this next question is important.”

Can I kiss you?

She was doubtful that was the question he was going to ask. But the moment was drawing out and she very much wanted for him to ask it. “Okay.”

“Do you think I would hurt you?”

“No!” It popped out before she had time to think about it. Anger burned up from her chest and spread outward. She scowled. “Of course n—”

He kissed her.