Dixie Under Siege (A Warrior's Passion Book 2)

by Natasza Waters

  She eyed him. Josh sounded calm, but by the gruff way he spoke, Dix knew he was barely holding his temper in check. “And that’s what you want.”

  “That’s how we’re gonna bring him down. Or would you rather I back away and you continue to play this game with him?”

  Wow, harsh words. She picked up the terry towel from the counter and wiped her hands. Not because they were wet, but to hide the quiver and stop herself from giving him a right hook. “Now you’re just being an asshole. Which, by the way, you’ve perfected. I have to get ready to open, Josh. You do whatever the fuck you want.”

  He hesitantly released her. “I wanted to kill that piece of shit last night after what I saw.”

  She shrugged. “Because he took pictures of me? Why should that matter to you?”

  Josh scrubbed his jaw. “It matters because you matter to…never mind. Did you tell all your staff to stay home, or is someone coming in?”

  “Kent will be in by ten. Sabrina comes in at three. Kayla and the other women mentioned they’d drop by. I’ll be fine. You can leave.”

  A tap on the front door attracted Dix’s attention. “That’s Avis. Excuse me.”

  She checked to make sure the hopper was full on the bold and mild blends for the day, then flipped on the machine. “Coffee will be ready in ten minutes if you want a cup before you go.”

  “Dix.”

  Josh leaned his hip against the counter, staring at the non-slip mat that covered the area behind the coffee bar. “Does it make a difference, now that you know who he is?”

  The mystery was over. Josh had discovered who’d been sending the notes.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  He nodded, as if coming to some kind of conclusion. “He might have a lot of money, but he’s sick, Dixie. He’s infatuated with you, not in love with you.”

  She draped the terry towel over her shoulder. “I know that, Josh. When I said it makes a difference, I meant that it’s easier knowing who is behind the notes, versus some shadowy, deranged entity.”

  Josh crossed his arms and glared at her. “He is deranged. Extremely.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Dixie trotted to the Erotic Bean’s front door and unlocked it. “Good morning, Avis.”

  “Hey, good morning to you!” The buxom blonde walked in carrying a woven basket in each hand. “Freshly baked. Been up since three.” She chuckled and strode toward the counter. “Hi, there,” she said with cheerful tone in her voice.

  Josh nodded briskly. “Morning.”

  Avis set down the baskets. “Well, that glum face deserves…” She scoured her goods and pulled out a fluffy cheese croissant. “One of these.” She plucked a paper napkin from the dispenser and laid her baked treat on top. “Have that with a cup of Dixie’s coffee and you’ll be raring to go.”

  A half-hearted smile tipped his lips upward, but Dixie knew it was out of courtesy, not a change of heart.

  A tap on the front door made Dixie turn. A guy with short blond hair peered in the window. He looked familiar. “One of yours?”

  “That’s Ed Saxton,” Josh said.

  Right. She remembered seeing him last night, and opened the door. “Morning, Ed. I’m not open yet, but come on in. Coffee will be on shortly.”

  “Thanks,” he said in a deep voice, and quickly scanned the Erotic Bean as if expecting to find a terrorist behind her potted palm. “Commander, need a word.”

  Josh pointed toward the back of the coffeehouse. Ed strolled in the direction indicated without a backward glance.

  Avis shimmied up to her. “Who is that?”

  “Josh?”

  “No, I know CDR Hunter. The other one. Ed. Is he a SEAL too?”

  “Mm-hmm, he works at NAB.”

  “Huh.” She sighed wistfully. “He certainly has nice, wide shoulders and pretty blue eyes.”

  Dix grinned. “I guess he does, but he’s not exactly the warm and cuddly type. He’s been in here before, and I’ve never seen him smile.”

  Avis transferred her baking to the counter, then placed the baskets on the floor. “Since I’ve opened the bakery, my dating has dropped to zilch. It’s hard to find people I can trust to run my shop. Especially someone who’s willing to work Sundays.” She looked down at herself, then laughed. “Oh, God. I’m a walking billboard.” She’d forgotten to remove her apron with the Nado Bakery logo, an image reminiscent of the 60s, with a caricature of a curvy woman lifting a loaf of bread in one hand, splashed across her rather ample chest.

  “I do the same thing sometimes. I guess fashion to us means a comfortable pair of shoes and an apron.” Dix brushed the strap around Avis’s neck where a little flour had stuck to the red fabric.

  Josh remained at the rear of the coffeehouse with a cell to his ear while Cracker strolled toward the door.

  “One to go?” Avis chirped.

  Cracker’s stride slowed, then he stopped. “Umm, yeah. Why not.”

  Dixie chuckled. “Mild or bold blend?”

  Cracker was a handsome guy, in a harsh kind of way. Lean but muscled, and the air around him crackled with intensity.

  “Bold. Black.”

  That didn’t surprise her. She rounded the counter and poured him a cup of fresh brew. “Ed, I don’t think you’ve met Avis. She’s the owner of Nado Baked Goods across the street.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ed.”

  His nodded sharply at the pretty blonde, who smiled sweetly.

  “Ma’am.” Then his gaze raced from Avis back to Dix. “Thanks for the coffee. What do I owe you?”

  “On the house. I know you’re helping Josh, but please don’t get hurt.” She slid the to-go cup across the counter. “Help yourself,” she said pointing toward Avis’s orange cranberry muffins. Huge and filled with so much fruit, the berries popped from the top.

  “I don’t eat breakfast.”

  Avis, somewhere in her late twenties, tilted her head and chuckled. “You might start if you try one of those. They’re addictive.”

  Ed glanced across his shoulder at the woman and cleared his throat. “Yeah, okay. Thank you. Not that I don’t like breakfast, I just hate cooking.”

  Man of few words, Dixie thought. Avis, in the meantime, plastered a permanent grin on her lips as her gaze strayed down his tall frame and landed somewhere beneath the SEAL’s waist and the top of his thighs.

  The only critique the baker got when he bit into the muffin was an arching of his brows and an affirmative groan.

  “I’ll take that as a thumbs up,” Avis teased.

  He finished chewing and nodded. “Try to keep my carb intake on the low side, but this is pretty damn good.”

  Josh strolled up. Dix offered him a cup of coffee and plunked a muffin down, since he’d already polished off the croissant. “They’re better than your mom’s.”

  “That’s a pretty tall order but if they’re as good as that croissant, I’ll give it a shot.”

  Dixie cracked up laughing and her guests turned toward the window. Nina had her face pressed to the glass and clawed to be let inside.

  Nina’s muffled voice said, “Coffeeeee, I need coffee. Open the damn door.”

  Dix shook her head and strolled across the wood floors to let her friends in. Nina rushed through the door, followed by Rayne, Marg and Lumin. A couple seconds later, Kayla strolled through as well.

  “Morning, Commander,” Rayne greeted with a big smile. “Hi, Cracker.”

  Ed Saxton nodded while taking a long swallow of coffee. “Shit, that is good stuff.”

  Nina fisted the counter. “Give me an Americano, or give me death.” She unhooked the purse from her shoulder and dug her hand into the bag. “I’m buying for everyone this morning.”

  “Oh my goodness, look at those muffins,” Lumin cried. “I need a dozen of those.”

  “Everyone, this is Avis,” Dix introduced. “She owns Nado Bakery across the street. Believe me, she makes the most marvelous products. You definitely want to drop by.”

  Whil
e Dixie placed a tin cup below the spout of the machine before making a shot of expresso, Kayla rounded the counter and asked, “Extra apron?”

  She nudged her head toward four drawers to her right. “Second one.”

  After retrieving the apron, she tossed the neck strap over her head and secured the ties around her waist. Kayla grabbed a mug and filled it with the mild blend, giving the brew to Marg.

  After a sip, Marg groaned with happiness. “Dixie, if you ever want to become a retail chain, let me know. I’ll be your silent partner.”

  That shocked the hell out of her. “Seriously?”

  Marg sipped again and nodded. “Yes. Very serious.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “What are you doing, Snow White?” Josh asked, watching Kayla check things out behind the coffee bar.

  “Just doing our part, CDR Hunter.” She filled another ceramic mug and gave it to Rayne. “Refill, Cracker?” she asked and smiled sedately.

  He cleared his throat, looking a little uncomfortable. “Is that a trick question?”

  Avis giggled and Cracker raised a brow at her.

  “No, Mr. Saxton, it isn’t,” Kayla answered.

  He popped the plastic lid off his cup and gave it to her. “Not exactly used to having an admiral’s wife serve me coffee.”

  All the wives stared at Josh and he quickly glanced at each face. “Guess I don’t have to be concerned about Dixie’s safety today.”

  Kayla nodded. “I would say that’s a fair assessment, Commander.”

  The front door opened and an elderly couple sauntered in. Dix’s friends cleared the way, and the couple ordered two coffees and two breakfast sandwiches. A few seconds later, two women wearing jogging pants and t-shirts strolled in.

  After taking the customers’ orders, she retrieved the baked goods, plated them and said she’d deliver the coffees to their tables. The rest of the baked items, she separated. Some went into the display rack, others she kept by the till.

  “I have to get cash for the register, I’ll be right back.” Dix headed down the hallway and her SEAL escort was close behind. Stepping into her office, she rounded her desk and knelt by the safe.

  “You didn’t answer my earlier question,” Josh said, standing in front of the closed door.

  “You first. What did Cracker want and who was on the phone?” She drew out the envelope where she kept her cash.

  “He’s doing some field work today.”

  She stood and opened the envelope to check the amount inside. “And the phone call?”

  “You run your store. I’ll run the op to catch Kallis.”

  She sighed. Dix closed the safe and spun the combination lock, then walked across the office to stand toe to toe with him. “Even if you do catch him, he’s never going to jail. He’s rich. His father is a senator. Chandler will get a slap on the wrist and set free. The elite consistently lie, cheat, and get away with it. Agitating Chandler will do nothing but make my life miserable.” She pressed her hand to Josh’s taut hip to usher him aside.

  Instead of taking the hint, he slid his arms around her waist and tugged her to his muscled chest. “Trust me. I’ll deal with this.”

  “We’re not in public. No kissing required.” Her comment meant to stop where this moment was headed. She didn’t want to kiss Josh Hunter. To save herself from heartbreak, they needed to keep their distance.

  “I don’t need to kiss you. Just need to hold you for a second and start this morning’s conversation over again by saying you were the last thing on my mind when I went to sleep and first thing when I opened my eyes.”

  A spark sizzled. A speck of hope that her heart told her to blow on. Give the ember a chance to ignite. Staring into his familiar eyes, she wished time had drowned the feelings she still harbored for this man.

  “You said when this is over, I’d never see you again.”

  “I lied,” he fired back.

  “Are you always in the habit of lying to women and messing with their feelings?”

  “Didn’t have to lie because feelings weren’t an issue with other women.” Josh’s strong hands palmed her cheeks. “I want you to have a good day, Dix. I will see you later. Okay?”

  “I’m hungover. It won’t get any better.”

  A smile finally brushed his lips. Lips she wanted to kiss. But instead, she reached for the knob behind him and opened the door. Rayne rushed by and vaulted into the ladies room. The distinct sound of vomiting permeated the thin walls.

  Josh chuckled. “How much did she drink last night?”

  “Drink? Oh, yeah. Lots.” She nodded quickly.

  Josh tilted his head. “She didn’t look hungover to me.”

  Dixie shrugged and plastered an innocent expression on her face, but his eyes narrowed when another volley of retching began. The poor woman was hurling up her guts.

  She pointed at him. “Don’t you dare say a word to Lt. Bach.”

  A look as if he’d just eaten a canary colored his expression. “She’s not hungover, is she?”

  “You keep your piehole shut, you understand me?”

  Josh grinned. “Holy shit. When’s she going to tell him?”

  Dix grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hallway. “Before he leaves on deployment. It’s a surprise.”

  “Fuck, that’s gonna blow Eli’s mind.”

  She stopped and turned. “Good or bad?”

  He chuckled. “As in, he’s gonna be ecstatic. Never seen him this happy and content with his life.”

  Dix didn’t know Elijah all that well. In fact, he was a little intimidating with his brilliant green eyes and sharp features, but Rayne definitely loved the guy. “Yeah, she’s pretty crazy about him, but I know she’s scared.”

  Josh dragged his teeth over his upper lip and his brows flexed. “When a team guy has someone to come home to, he tries his best to come home in one piece.”

  The idea of being content and happy…a total pipe dream for her. “You’re in charge of all these SEALs, yet you’re leaving in August too.”

  Josh nodded. “Ghost was the first commander of the west coast teams who continued to go on deployment with his men.”

  “So it’s your choice, but you’ll go anyway.”

  “I will.”

  For the first time, she understood just a little of what the SEAL wives talked about last night. Wearing a brave face as their husbands left while their hearts froze with fear.

  “Did Gesem bring you home?”

  Josh smiled and traced her lips with his thumb. “No, sweetheart, she didn’t. If a mission went badly, or when things got tough, I hung onto another memory.”

  “Well, it brought you home every time.”

  “Yeah, it did.” Josh palmed her shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

  Dix swung around the corner and behind the serving counter. Josh nodded at Ed and they both departed.

  Lumin smiled as bright and sunny as a summer’s day. “I’d like to help too.”

  “You’re an attorney, why on earth would you ever want to sling coffee?”

  She laughed. “There’s something very cathartic about serving coffee and I don’t have to make a closing statement other than have a good day!”

  Dixie laughed. “Okay, apron’s in the drawer. Let’s get to work.”

  ****

  Ed Saxton, Cracker to his teammates, sat in a black SUV. His shades purged the brilliant noon sun. Last night, he’d grabbed some chow with the other men at Lt. Bach’s place, then headed to his bachelor suite for a few z’s. He’d tossed and turned, disturbing images keeping him awake. Mostly replaying that piece of human shit raping his sister.

  Before the sun mounted the horizon, he’d woken up and went for a five-mile run. He’d dropped into the Erotic Bean and spoke with CDR Hunter before heading to Ramona.

  A few minutes past eleven, Melodie Kallis backed out of the garage and headed south. Cracker kept his distance and followed.

  Parked along the street behind a
dented white pickup with rusted-out wheel wells, he watched Melodie walk down the sidewalk in the worst part of El Cajon. Litter choked the curbs and garbage cans overflowed with refuse. Men in soiled clothes, strung out on opiates, sat propped against store fronts to ride out their highs. Two women in miniskirts, heavy makeup, and skimpy blouses that revealed their best attributes, stood on either side of a lamp post, looking for a John to earn a few bucks.

  Ed sighed. He sure as hell didn’t make it a practice to hang out in shitholes like this, since it reminded him too damn much of his own roots in Detroit.

  He watched Melodie enter a seedy lookin’ bar. The paint had peeled off the face of the two-story building. A real dive, where the front window was so smeared, he could barely make out the name Copperhead Lounge. Why’s a rich girl going into a place like that? He noticed she wore sunglasses, washed-out jeans and a blue tank. Nothing about her stood out as wealthy. Even the turquoise purse she carried screamed Walmart rollback.

  Cracker sauntered across the street, eyeing the occupants decaying from self-inflicted abuse before he gripped the brass door handle and entered the bar.

  Without much interior lighting, he removed his shades and slid them on top of his head. The lounge smelled like smoke and stale beer. Couldn’t smoke inside anymore, even in places that served a liquid lunch. Yet, the stench had seeped into the dark wall paneling. The place was narrow. Rectangular in shape. A dingy joint with a couple low-hanging lights over the bar.

  Customers, mostly men, filled the place to half capacity. Melodie had taken a seat in the far left corner near a hallway, the sign above her head pointing to the bathrooms. She’d removed her shades as well and Cracker got his first good look at Kallis’s sister when he sat down a couple tables away. A beautiful young woman. Smooth, perfect skin and deep brunette hair.

  A chick sauntered over from the bar wearing a low-cut t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

  “Whatever’s on tap,” he said before she could ask.

  The server sized him up, then smiled. “Sure thing.”

  Instead of heading to Melodie’s table, the waitress carried on to the bar. Did that mean she knew Melodie wouldn’t be staying long?