by Susan Stoker
It felt weird to be going about her own business while Marshall was somewhere doing his best to keep the world safe. But life went on, no matter what was happening in her personal life. Or anyone’s, for that matter. Determined to not wallow in fear or worry—she knew Marshall would hate that—Kenna concentrated on her list once more.
Work that night seemed to go by much more slowly than in the past. Probably because Kenna didn’t have any texts from Marshall to look forward to, and she knew when she got home, she wouldn’t be talking to him either.
When Alani asked why Kenna seemed so down, she realized that she wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding her worry for Marshall. Carly surprised her when she brought up the deployment, and Kenna could only assume she’d heard about it from Jag. She wanted to tease her about being “just” friends with Marshall’s teammate, but she wasn’t in a teasing mood.
The two women talked about where the men might be for a while, but because neither kept up with international news, they had no idea where the hot spots were at the moment. And, ultimately, it didn’t matter where they were, just that they came home safe and sound.
By the end of the night, after dealing with a customer who got so drunk he puked all over himself, the table, and the chair he was sitting in, being stiffed a tip by another table, and having to deal with what seemed like more than the normal amount of screaming and misbehaving children, Kenna was more than ready to head home.
Paulo walked her and Carly to the parking garage they always used, and after giving them both a hug, Kenna headed for her car. She unlocked her Malibu and got in, locking the doors behind her and putting her purse on the passenger seat. She put the key in the ignition and started to turn the car on—when something on her windshield caught her attention.
A piece of paper was stuck under her wiper blade.
Looking around carefully, Kenna didn’t see anyone lurking, so she got out and grabbed the note. She sat back in her car and locked the doors again, being extra cautious. She unfolded the note—and stared in confusion, then anger, then a little bit of fear at the words written there.
You should’ve minded your own business.
That’s all it said. It wasn’t signed, and there was no clue as to who had left it on her car. But Kenna had a feeling she knew. The man from Saturday night…the one she’d called the cops on. Men like him wouldn’t take kindly to anyone putting a nose in their business, but especially not a woman.
Had he followed her to the parking garage from work the other night? She’d hoped the police would keep him at the station until he sobered up, at least, but maybe that didn’t happen since his wife didn’t press charges. Maybe he came back to Duke’s and watched her leave…
She’d guessed he and his family were tourists, but plenty of locals frequented Duke’s. If they lived here, he had plenty of time to come up with some way to get back at her.
Shit. Time to go. She was freaking herself out and needed to get the hell out of the dark parking garage. She didn’t want to be like one of those “too stupid to live” heroines in a cheesy horror movie who did all the wrong things and put herself smack dab in the middle of the bad guy’s path.
Kenna knew she should probably take the note to the police, but she just wanted to get home where she felt safe.
No, what she really wanted was to talk to Marshall, but that wasn’t possible. And she’d touched the note, so now her fingerprints would be all over it. She had no idea if the parking garage she used had cameras, but while she thought the note sounded threatening, technically it wasn’t…at least that’s what she assumed whoever left it—and the police—might say.
Hating that she felt so vulnerable and off-kilter, and knowing it was largely exacerbated because Marshall was gone, Kenna took a deep breath. She’d never relied on a man for anything before, but despite that, in the short time she’d known Marshall, he’d become her rock.
As she’d thought last night, this deployment was probably good for her, proving that she needed to continue to be the strong and independent woman she’d always been. But Kenna still missed Marshall.
She drove home with one eye on the road and another on the cars in her rearview. Of course, since she wasn’t a super-spy, she had no idea what to look for or how to know if someone was following her. Unless they were sitting on her bumper, she wouldn’t know if one of the sets of headlights belonged to the man who’d left the note on her car.
When she arrived home without incident, and once she was in her apartment safe and sound, Kenna let out a wobbly, relieved breath. She was being ridiculous. She’d taken self-defense courses; if that asshole decided to confront her in person—instead of being a coward and leaving her notes like they were in grade school—she’d kick his ass, then run like hell.
Deciding to sleep in her beanbag tonight didn’t mean she was a scaredy-cat. Nope. It was just comfortable. And if she concentrated really hard, she could still smell Marshall from when he snuggled with her while she napped.
Kenna slept like shit that night. She had nightmares of a man with no face breaking into her apartment and shooting her. Then Marshall showed up while she was trying to staunch the flow of blood, and he apologized for not being able to help her, as both his arms had been blown off on his mission.
Needless to say, Kenna was more than happy to get up the next morning.
“Today’s a new day,” she said out loud, scolding herself. “Get your shit together, Kenna. One step in front of the other and one day at a time. Marshall will be back soon, and if that guy from the other night does decide to get stupid, you’ll deal with it.”
Feeling better after the small pep talk, Kenna headed into her room. She needed to get out and go for a long run. Some people would say that was stupid after getting the note last night, but she hadn’t worked out for a while and needed the release of endorphins running provided.
Right before she headed out the door, Kenna turned back around and grabbed the pepper spray her parents had badgered her to buy for her safety. She might be confident and independent, but she wasn’t stupid.
“Be safe, wherever you are,” she whispered, hoping somehow, someway, Marshall would know she was thinking and worrying about him. Then she took a deep breath…and got on with her life.
Chapter Fifteen
“Are you sure we’re allowed to be in here?” Carly asked Kenna as they entered the lobby of the Coral Springs condo complex.
She chuckled. “I’m sure.” But Kenna couldn’t blame Carly for being uneasy. She’d felt the same way when she’d come back the first time by herself. Robert had been working, and he’d recognized and welcomed her, making her feel much better about being there.
She’d stayed at Marshall’s condo several times in the last month. It made her feel closer to him. She hadn’t expected him to be gone so long. For some reason, she thought the SEAL team would dash into whatever country they were deployed to, take out their target or rescue whoever they were there to rescue or find the information they were going to find, whatever their mission was, and be back within a week.
When she’d finally given in and sent Elodie a text to ask if it was normal for them to be gone so long, she hadn’t been comforted when the other woman replied they’d never been gone this long before. At least, not since she and Mustang had gotten together.
So Kenna decided the girls’ night Marshall had suggested was long overdue. She should’ve done this a couple weeks ago, but was reluctant since the condo didn’t belong to her. But she’d finally gotten over that, and had asked Elodie and Lexie if they wanted to spend a night at Marshall’s place with her. And when she’d asked Lexie if she thought Ashlyn might want to come, Lexie had said she’d be thrilled.
It seemed a little junior high-ish to arrange a sleepover, but Kenna was almost giddy with excitement about it nonetheless. She’d gone a little overboard in buying drinks and snacks, but didn’t feel a bit embarrassed. She wanted everyone to be comfortable and happy.
Kenna h
ad just met Carly outside and was escorting her in.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Robert said with a smile.
“Hi, Robert. This is my friend, Carly Stewart. She’s gonna be spending the night with me in Marshall’s condo.”
“Got a fun night planned?” Robert asked with a twinkle in his eye. Kenna estimated him to be in his late forties to mid-fifties. He was always smiling, so friendly and helpful. The more she got to know him, the more she liked him.
“Yup.”
“Well, if you need anything, you’ve got my number,” he told Kenna. “If you want to use some equipment on the beach, or reserve one of the barbeque grills on the plaza, just let me know.”
“I will. But I think we’re gonna stay in tonight,” Kenna said.
“We’ve got a whole room of DVDs, if you prefer. No one really rents them out anymore, now that there are so many subscription services on TV, but if you get bored and want a specific movie, I’m sure we probably have it and it can be brought up.”
“Thanks,” Kenna told him.
They got Carly signed in and headed up to Marshall’s penthouse. When Kenna put her palm on the panel next to the door, Carly couldn’t keep quiet anymore.
“Wow! This place is super fancy!” Carly exclaimed with wide eyes as the door automatically unlocked.
Kenna grinned. “Believe it or not, you get used to it.”
“So, you’re no longer a bons?” Carly asked.
Kenna burst out laughing. “Apparently not. I’ve found there are definitely perks to having money.” She gestured for Carly to enter the condo first, knowing exactly what her reaction was going to be when she walked in.
And she wasn’t disappointed. Carly gasped and made a beeline for the balcony.
Laughing, Kenna followed and they both went outside.
“Holy shit, girl,” Carly said. “This is…I don’t know what this is. It’s amazing. Stupendous. Awesome. Incredible. And every other superlative adjective you can think of.”
“Right?” Kenna asked. “I told Marshall I was moving out here the first time I saw it. That I was going to put a mattress in the corner and live here.”
Carly turned to her friend. “I’m happy for you.”
“Because my boyfriend has money?” Kenna asked.
“No. Well, yes, that doesn’t hurt. But more because you’re so happy. Content in a way I didn’t really notice before you met Marshall. And before you get all weird on me, I’m not saying that you need a rich guy to be satisfied. You guys just fit. You’re perfect together.”
“Thanks. I miss him so much, but I’m also damn proud of him at the same time. And yes, I feel settled.”
They smiled at each other for a moment before Kenna headed back inside. “Come on, help me get everything organized before the others get here.”
An hour later, Kenna headed back down to the lobby to meet Elodie, Lexie, and Ashlyn. After getting them checked in with Robert, they all headed back up to the penthouse.
The second they entered, Elodie sighed and said, “I’ll never get over how much I love the view from up here.”
“Me either,” Lexie chimed in.
“Wow!” Ashlyn exclaimed as she walked toward the balcony as if in a trance.
“And another one bites the dust,” Kenna quipped.
Everyone laughed.
“I thought you, Elodie, and Lexie could stay in the guest room together. Marshall’s got a king-size bed in there, so you’ll have plenty of room. Carly, do you want to stay with me in the master?” Kenna asked.
“Um, not only no, but hell no,” her friend retorted.
“What? Why not?”
“Because that’s where you and Aleck do the nasty,” Carly explained, wrinkling her nose.
Kenna nearly choked, while everyone else burst out laughing. “For your information, Marshall and I haven’t ‘done the nasty,’ as you called it. Not that there would be anything nasty about making love with that man.”
“Holy shit, you haven’t?” Carly asked. “I just assumed you had.”
“Yeah, well, we were planning on it the day he left. I decided I was enjoying the anticipation and foreplay too much to jump his bones the second we got back from the swap meet. So we went to the store, made dinner, and were working our way up to what I know would’ve been the most amazing night of my life…but then his phone rang.”
“Shit,” Lexie mumbled.
“Yup,” Kenna agreed with a sigh.
“Well, that sucks, but I’m still not sleeping in his bed with you,” Carly said.
“And I’m not either,” Ashlyn piped in. “I mean, I like you and all, but now that Carly’s brought it up, I don’t want to think of a naked Aleck lying in the same bed I’m in.”
Kenna wanted to tell the other woman not to think of a naked Aleck any time, but decided that might be a bit too cantankerous. “Fine, you guys can each take one of the couches out here. Marshall has a ton of sheets and blankets, so it should be comfortable enough.” She didn’t bring up the fact that it was likely Marshall had probably sat on all the furniture in his condo butt-ass naked at some point. He was a guy, after all, and in her experience, guys were much less self-conscious about walking around without any clothes on. Especially if they lived alone.
“That’ll work,” Carly said with a smile.
“We can leave the balcony doors open and get some fresh air too,” Ashlyn said in excitement.
Yep, Kenna should have done this sooner. She liked seeing her friends so happy.
After Lexie and Elodie had put their bags in the guest room, and Carly and Ashlyn had stashed theirs against the wall out of the way, they all headed into the kitchen to grab drinks.
For the next few hours, they sat on the balcony, eating snacks and drinking the wine Kenna had bought. When they went inside to make dinner, Lexie ended up kicking Elodie out of the kitchen because she kept trying to make their simple meal of baked chicken and a salad too fancy. Luckily, she just laughed about it—but she didn’t stop trying to take over from her spot at the table in the dining room either.
Dinner was filled with more laughter, and by the time they all wandered back out to the balcony, Kenna was tipsy, feeling relaxed and mellow.
It was after they’d oohed and ahhed over the sunset—which was even more brilliant and beautiful because of the number of clouds in the sky—when the elephant in the room was finally brought up.
“I miss Scott,” Elodie said somewhat sadly.
“Me too. Well, not Mustang, but I miss Midas,” Lexie agreed.
“Do you think they’re okay?” Kenna whispered. She figured it was a given that she missed Marshall and there was no need to actually say it.
“Yes,” Elodie said firmly. “They’re so damn good at what they do. I’ve seen them in action firsthand.”
“But didn’t Mustang say that you saved his life? That if you weren’t there, that pirate guy would’ve shot him?” Lexie asked.
“I did, but if I wasn’t there, they probably would’ve cleared the engine room faster and would’ve found that guy, and he wouldn’t have been able to sneak up on him,” Elodie argued.
Kenna hadn’t known Elodie had actually saved Mustang’s life, and it was definitely a story she wanted to hear. Later.
“If something happened, wouldn’t the Navy call you?” Ashlyn asked.
“Probably not me, as Midas and I aren’t married, but they’d definitely call Elodie,” Lexie explained.
“And I’ve gotten no calls,” Elodie pointed out.
“Which means they’re probably fine,” Carly said.
“I hate that word, probably,” Kenna muttered.
“Yeah,” Elodie agreed.
“We have to think positive,” Ashlyn announced. “The guys are good, they’re doing their thing, and they’ll be back to annoy us before we know it.”
“So…Slate annoys you?” Kenna asked, preferring to tease Ashlyn and Carly about their non-relationships with Slate and Jag than think about any o
f the guys being hurt or killed.
“Duh. Yes,” Ashlyn said.
Everyone chuckled.
“What are you all laughing about? He is annoying. And impatient. And bossy. Did you know he called me before he left and scolded me about driving food out to people who need and request it?” she asked. “He flat-out ordered me not to do it.”
“What’d you say?” Lexie asked with a smile.
“I told him he wasn’t the boss of me, stuck my tongue out at the phone—not that he could see it—and hung up,” Ashlyn said.
Everyone laughed harder.
“And what’d he do?” Lexie asked.
Ashlyn couldn’t hide her smile. “He called me right back and gave me a fifteen-minute lecture about the dangers of going to strangers’ houses. It wasn’t until I promised to add Lexie to my circle on the tracker app on my phone, and always carry mace, that he shut up.”
“He likes you,” Elodie said with a firm nod.
“Yup,” Lexie agreed.
“I like him too…sometimes,” Ashlyn said.
“No, he likes you,” Elodie clarified.
“Whatever. I’m too busy to date anyone. I’m not sure I’d even want to date a military guy. Look at you three, all mopey and worried,” Ashlyn said.
“And you aren’t? Worried, I mean?” Kenna asked.
Ashlyn looked down at her wine glass and muttered, “Scared to fucking death.”
Kenna reached over and squeezed her forearm in support. No one really needed to say anything, they knew exactly how she felt. Even though she and Slate weren’t dating, they seemed to have a connection.
“What about you, Carly?” Elodie asked.
“What about me?” Carly returned.
“What’s up with you and Jag? Scott tells me that you two text all the time.”
“We’re friends,” Carly said firmly. “Just friends.”
“Hmmm,” Elodie mused.
“You should’ve seen him that night at Duke’s, when Carly’s ex showed up and was all pissed off,” Lexie told Ashlyn. “I swear that asshole wasn’t there two seconds before Jag had shuttled Carly away and out of his sight.”
