by Elle James
Camila frowned. “Madre de Dios. This is my wedding. I will not have you ruin it for me.”
“Face it, Camila,” Casey said. “You’re not getting married to Hawk,” Casey said. “Not now, or ever.”
“But he’s mine,” Camila wailed.
“No. He. Is. Not.” Casey emphasized every word, speaking slowly as if to a dimwitted child. “And you leave me no choice but to go to Panama.”
Jacob knew what was coming, even as Casey slammed her elbow into Camila’s gut.
The woman’s hand shook, the weapon went off, and Casey fell to the floor.
Jacob cried out, “Casey!”
Kalea left Hawk and threw herself at Camila, batted the gun out of the woman’s hand, knocked her off her feet and sent her flying across the floor, sliding on the fabric of her wedding gown. She came to stop when her head hit the wall. There, she lay still, unmoving.
Jacob rushed toward Casey who also lay still on the floor, blood dripping for somewhere on her head. He rolled her over in his arms to find she’d been hit near her temple. A bump was rising on the opposite brow, and she blinked up at him.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, pressing his hand to the wound to stem the flow of blood. “Looks like you took a bullet for the team.”
“I did?” she said, her voice shaky.
His heart tightened in his chest. This woman had risked her life for them. “It’s just a flesh wound. You’ll have a battle scar with full bragging rights.”
“Good. I can put that on my resume.” She smiled up at him. “Wedding Planner. Willing to do anything for a wedding, to include taking a bullet for the bride and groom. That option will cost extra.” She chuckled and winced.
“How do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a truck.” She struggled to sit up. “Kalea?”
“Is fine. She tackled Camila after she shot you. I think we need to recruit the two of you into the Navy. The SEAL teams could use people like you two. You’ll have to show me this move you call ‘The Panama’.”
Casey looked across the room at Kalea, held close in Hawk’s arms, and the other men of the team, herding the cartel into the room where Casey and Kalea had originally been held. “Is it over?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jacob said.
She frowned, her gaze sweeping the room. “Anyone hurt?”
“Nothing but a few scrapes and bruises. And mostly between you and Kalea.” He brushed the hair back from her face. “You had me worried there for a minute.”
She looked up into his eyes. “You had me worried.” She turned her face into his palm. “I thought you were going to marry that crazy witch.”
“No way,” he said. “I go for the smaller, petite wedding-planner type.”
“Then what were you doing? Taking Camila for the team?”
He laughed. “I was distracting her while Hank and his team came through the back door.”
“Oh, is that what it was?” She leaned into him. “I guess that’s okay. I was beginning to question my sanity.”
He laughed. “Your sanity?”
She nodded. “How could I fall for a guy who would marry someone obviously as crazy as Camila?”
Jacob’s heart skipped several beats. “So, you’re falling for me?”
She shrugged. “It’s not completely off the books.” She cupped his cheek with her hand. “You’re pretty sexy in a wetsuit and carrying a gun.” She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “And you’re even sexier in nothing at all.” She brushed her lips across his. “Any chance of that happening again?”
“Sweetheart, roger that.” He pulled her close and deepened the kiss until he couldn’t remember the last time he inhaled. He raised his head, drawing in a deep breath, then leaned his forehead against hers. “Now, all we have to do is get back to San Diego.”
Casey frowned. “But we don’t have our passports. How are we going to get across the border?”
“Not to worry,” Jacob said. “We’ll skip the border patrol and return by sea.” He rose to his feet, pulling her up with him.
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit or wet suit.” She swayed when she was fully upright.
Jacob slipped an arm around her, holding her steady. “Not to worry. Our boat captain has a skiff he’ll bring to shore. We’ll get everyone back in time for the wedding.”
She smiled into his eyes and leaned up on her toes. “That makes me happy.”
He leaned down and claimed her lips. She felt so right in his arms, he could kiss her all night long.
“If you two are finished sucking face,” Hank said, “we need to get out of here before Camila and her cartel thugs break down that door. I’ve radioed the captain. He’s sending the skiff as we speak.”
Jacob raised his head to see that the room was clear of people and his team. Hank stood at the patio door. “Come on, we have a few hundred steps to get down to where the skiff will pick us up.”
“I’m ready,” she said.
He took her hand and hurried through the door and out into the most beautiful night he could remember. The stars shone so brightly, they didn’t need flashlights to find their way down the stone staircase.
When they reached the bottom, the first load of SEALs and Deltas had been ferried back to the boat, and the skiff was on its way back.
Hank glanced up at the structure above, his brow furrowed. “As soon as the skiff lands, get in. That door isn’t going to hold those men long.”
Jacob stood with his arm around Casey. They stayed close to the cliff, out of sight of the patio above.
Tuck and C-Note stood at the bottom of the staircase, holding their weapons at the ready in case the cartel members gained their freedom and came after them.
“Come on,” Ringer murmured, his gaze on the skiff headed their way across the swells.
As the skiff slid up on shore, a shout sounded from above.
“Get in,” Hank said. “We’re right behind you.”
Jacob ran with Casey across the beach. Maddog had just turned around the skiff for a quick getaway.
Jacob helped Casey in, moving as far forward as they could get. Moments later, Ringer, Tuck, Pretty Boy and Cowboy dove in behind them. Hank and C-Note brought up the rear, helping drag the skiff out into the water before they rolled over the side into the craft.
“Go!” Hank said.
Maddog gunned the throttle, sending the little boat skimming across the swells as fast as it could go.
Jacob leaned his body over Casey’s as they moved at what he felt like was an incredibly slow pace. He could hear the sound of gunfire over the rumble of the engine. If they didn’t get out of range soon, they’d be nothing more than target practice for the cartel, the rubber skiff could be sunk and they’d all go down with it.
Chapter 13
Casey held on to the side of the rubber skiff, praying it would move a little faster. She didn’t like that Jacob was using his body as a shield to protect her from the gunfire, but she couldn’t make him move when all she could do was hold on and pray.
Minutes that felt like hours passed. Soon, she could see the outline of a boat ahead. Hope swelled in her chest. They were going to make it.
The skiff slowed and came up to the back of what appeared to be a dive boat. Half the team that had been inside the compound stood on the deck, cheering as the skiff came to a halt. One of the men grabbed the line and tied it to the side of the boat.
A big blond-haired man held out his hand and pulled her aboard.
Jacob scrambled up on his own, wrapped his arm around her and guided her inside. Kalea and Hawk were seated on a bench.
Kalea opened the blanket she was wrapped in. “Come. Sit by me. The Pacific is cold at night, even this far south.”
Casey sat on the bench beside her and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. She hadn’t realized how cold she was until that moment. Her teeth chattered, her head throbbed and she couldn’t seem to get warm.
Jacob sat beside her and slipped his arm around
her back. “I suspect you’re going into shock after all you’ve been through. Hold on. We’ll get you back to San Diego as soon as we possibly can.” He scooted closer, sandwiching her between himself and Kalea.
She could feel the movement of the boat beneath her. The gentle rocking motion lulled her into semi-consciousness.
What seemed like only minutes later, Jacob nudged her awake. “We’re back.”
She blinked her eyes open to the lights of a marina.
The SEALs and Deltas had stripped out of their wetsuits and wore street clothes. Sometime during the ride back, Jacob had changed into jeans and a T-shirt. The men climbed off the dive boat, laughing and joking as they carried their gear to the vehicles that would transport them back to C-Note’s house.
“Hawk, you and Kalea can ride with me,” Jacob said. “I’d like to run all three of you by an urgent care clinic to make sure you’re all okay. I want a doctor to make sure there are no wounds that need stitching or internal injuries that will bite you later.”
“I’m okay, just bruised and maybe a cracked rib. I don’t need to see a doctor,” Hawk said. “But I’m all for the ladies getting a good once-over from a physician.”
His bride frowned. “I’d rather you saw one, too. Can’t have my future husband passing out at the altar before he can say ‘I do’.”
“Well, when you put it like that, I guess I could see a doc to put your mind at ease.”
Kalea sighed. “Thank you.”
They stopped at a twenty-four-hour urgent care clinic where the doctor on duty checked them over, bandaged Casey’s head wound, and pronounced them fit for a wedding, if they took it easy and watched for signs of shock.
“I’ll drop you two off at the hotel before I take Casey to her apartment,” Jacob said as they left the urgent care clinic.
“That works.” Hawk took Kalea’s hand in his. “I don’t care how much bad luck it might bring to see you before the wedding. I’m not letting you out of my sight until we’re back in Hawaii.”
Kalea laughed. “Seems like we’ve already lived through the bad luck. It’s about time for some good luck.”
“Agreed,” Casey said.
Jacob slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the parking lot where he’d left his truck. He hit the button to unlock the doors and helped her up into the passenger seat while Hawk and Kalea climbed into the back seat.
Once they were on their way through town toward the hotel, Hawk asked, “How did you find me?”
“It was a team effort between Hank, his computer guy, Swede, Casey’s dogged determination and a hairdresser with attitude.”
“A hairdresser?” Hawk laughed. “I want to hear all about it. Later. Right now, I just want to sleep for eight hours straight.”
“Me, too,” Kalea said. “My father will have gotten to the hotel by now. I don’t think I have the energy to stand up to his inquisition. He’ll have a fit when he finds out what happened.”
Casey glanced at the clock on the dash. “You guys sleep. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Will you?” Kalea asked. “I thought you had my entire day blocked out with wedding preparations I needed to be a part of.”
“I did, but we can adjust.” Casey’s thoughts went through her mental list of tasks to be accomplished. It was a lot, but she could get it done. A few phone calls, and she might even get a couple hours of sleep herself. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure everything comes together.”
“You’re an angel.” Kalea sat back in Hawk’s arms. “After I sleep, I’ll be ready for anything.”
“Oh, please,” Casey pressed a hand to her chest. “Don’t jinx us.”
Kalea laughed. “Sorry. I’ll be ready for the wedding. I don’t suppose Hawk’s tuxedo is salvageable.”
“I have a suitable outfit I can wear,” Hawk said. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be there. Wild horses and drug cartels couldn’t keep me away.”
“I love you, Jace Hawkins,” Kalea whispered in the back seat.
Casey’s heart swelled for the couple. She cast a glance in Jacob’s direction, surprised to see him looking at her.
Heat rose up her throat and filled her cheeks. He couldn’t possibly be thinking the same thing she’d been thinking.
And what would those thoughts be?
That she could see herself telling Jacob that she loved him. It was too soon. They barely knew each other, but in that short amount of time, they’d been through so much. Jacob was a true hero who’d come to her rescue and to Hawk’s and Kalea’s. Yes, he was active duty military like her father had been. Yes, a relationship with him would be foolish and filled with many lonely days and nights.
But when they were together, it would be amazing. She knew that from the one night they’d been together. He was a gentle and thoughtful lover. He wanted to make certain she was as satisfied as he was.
And Casey was strong enough to be on her own. She’d done it for years. Why not give it a shot? Why not give them a chance?
Her heart blossomed with hope.
She was ready for when he’d ask her to go out on a date.
That was…if he would.
Dear Lord. Her heart fluttered against her ribs.
After all the years of telling herself she’d never date or marry a military man, she’d finally let herself move past that personal roadblock. What if Jacob didn’t want more than to date? He understood the downfalls of being in the military. As a Navy SEAL, he knew how often he’d be gone from home. He’d probably watched his buddies marry and divorce often enough to make him gun-shy of long-term relationships.
They dropped Kalea and Hawk at the hotel.
When they arrived at Casey’s apartment, her stomach knotted, and she couldn’t think of anything to say. What did one say after being rescued from a drug cartel?
He parked in front of her building and got out.
Casey’s fingers fumbled with the seatbelt. By the time she released it, Jacob was holding her door open. He held out his hands to help her down.
She started to put her hands in his, but he bypassed her fingers and reached for her waist. Jacob lifted her out of the seat and let her slide slowly down his body until her feet touched the ground.
She was on fire with need.
The hard contours of his chest felt good against her palms, and her hips pressed against his. Oh, yeah. He was as aware of her as she was of him, if the ridge beneath his jeans was anything to go by.
“I’ll walk you up to your apartment,” he said, his voice gruff. Yet, he didn’t seem in too much of a hurry to move.
Casey tried to say something, but she couldn’t push words past the tightness in her throat. She swallowed hard. “Thank you for coming to our rescue.”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe you threw yourself at a man with a loaded gun.” He cupped both sides of her cheeks with his palms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt any worse than you were.” He brushed his thumb across the bandage the doctor had applied to her temple at the urgent care clinic. His lips replaced his thumb, and he kissed the bandage.
Casey closed her eyes, leaning into him.
Jacob dragged his lips along her jawline to finally claim her mouth with his.
Opening to him, she met his tongue with the urgency of her own.
The kiss deepened as they stood beside his truck in the apartment complex’s parking lot.
Yeah, Casey could like kissing this man, again and again.
When he raised his head, she followed him upward on tiptoe, until he broke contact.
Casey sank back flat on her feet, her lips tingling from the kiss in the late-night air.
Jacob drew her arm through the crook of his elbow and walked her into her building and up to her apartment.
Casey gasped when she saw the door hanging half-open, the doorframe split where the cartel gang had forced their way inside.
“I’d forgotten about the damage they’d left,” she
whispered, looking over her shoulder, half-expecting to see them returning to finish the job. When she was sure no one was following them, Casey stepped inside her apartment and took stock of the damage.
“It could have been worse,” she admitted. Her tote bag was still where she’d left it on the kitchen counter. She looped it over her shoulder and mentally inventoried the contents.
“It appears they weren’t after things,” Jacob said from the living room.
Casey shivered, joining him in front of the sofa. “Just people.”
Jacob slipped his arm around her and pulled her close. “Let’s lock up the best we can. You can stay with me at the hotel. I still have a room there.”
Casey frowned. “Are you sure? I’m not your responsibility.”
He chuckled and held her closer. “Like Hawk, I don’t want to let you out of my sight for a moment. I was going to stay here, if I had to sleep on the couch.”
Her cheeks burned. “You wouldn’t have been sleeping on the couch. And what makes the hotel any safer? That’s where they took Hawk.”
Jacob sighed. “All the more reason to stay at the hotel. I failed him the first time. I won’t let it happen again.”
“You didn’t fail him,” Casey said. “Who knew Camila would send her brothers out to collect him? What woman, in her right mind, has to kidnap a man to marry her?”
“That’s just it. She’s not in her right mind.” Jacob gave Casey a crooked smile. “I could almost feel sorry for her, if she hadn’t caused so much trouble.”
Casey’s lips firmed into a tight line. “I’m not feeling that charitable. I’d like to see her in jail for what she did. Any one of us could have been killed.”
“Yeah, but we weren’t. Look, I have a walkie talkie set in my truck. We could assign one to Hawk and keep one in our room, in case Camila decides to make another attempt to get her man.”
Casey stared up at Jacob. “Do you think she’ll try again?”
“That woman is a few fries short of a Happy Meal. I wouldn’t put anything past her and her idiot brothers. How they built up an influential cartel is beyond me.” He took Casey’s hand in his. “Come on. There’s not much left of the night, and I know you have a million calls to make first thing in the morning.”
