Disengaged (Terms of Engagement Book 3)

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  “And we can conclude that Avenger is responsible for your cancelled orders,” Amber added.

  “Right, since Randall Jerome, Jess Stilton, and Amos Burns weren’t brought in until recently.”

  “I know you don’t like this scenario, Erik, but unless Burns was killed before we went to Conner Steven’s office, then I’m convinced Avenger was either in that office, or heard about Randall’s and Jess’s deaths and their failure to come through, from someone who was,” Amber declared.

  “If that’s the case, then so am I,” Erik conceded. “I’m more inclined to believe the information was passed on, probably inadvertently.”

  “That has more to do with your honesty and good heart, than it does anyone else’s,” Amber said wisely.

  “Maybe. I also know Conner,” Erik pointed out.

  “Yes. But do you know the rest of the people in his office?” Amber raised an eyebrow.

  “No. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt, based on what I know of Conner.”

  “And ignoring the fact that Joe said Burns told him Davison Construction was failing the contract, and that he wanted to work for Conner.”

  “No, I’m not ignoring that,” Erik replied patiently. “On Friday, I’ll call and talk to Conner about this, and find out if anyone passed along what they learned when we were in the office.”

  “Alright, good,” Amber replied, as satisfied with this as she was going to be. “Now, let’s see what else you’ve got.”

  “Moving along,” Erik agreed.

  An hour later, they reached the end of the emails and the last text, and he returned his phone to his pocket.

  “It may not be much, but we do have texts directly from Amos Burns, confirming his involvement,” Amber said, as she sat back.

  “Are you kidding? It’s great. And we wouldn’t have any of it, if it wasn’t for your quick thinking,” Erik praised her, and she looked pleased.

  “Thanks. It made sense that N, also known as Avenger, was deleting information he didn’t want anyone to see. It made sense that would include emails, so… I’m glad Randall had a rat, and that it likes to run so much. I needed your help, I couldn’t handle the iPad and my phone’s camera, at the same time.”

  “It amazes me that you thought of all that, as scared as you were,” he declared. She gave him a funny look.

  “I wasn’t scared. What are you talking about?”

  Now he gave her a funny look.

  “You were crying, I heard… and I felt tears on your cheek.”

  Amber rolled her eyes a little, and looked offended.

  “I wasn’t crying, I was suffocating from the stench of Randall Jerome’s dirty laundry,” she said indignantly.

  A smile flashed across Erik’s face, and he tried not to laugh.

  “And here I thought you were terrified. I should’ve known better. All I was trying to do, was shield you from view.”

  “Thank you. It was a lovely gesture. And, potentially lethal,” she informed him, and he did laugh.

  “I’m sorry, this shouldn’t be funny. It’s late, it probably won’t be, tomorrow,” he smiled.

  “No… it will be,” Amber said matter-of-factly, and he laughed again.

  “I love that about you,” Erik admired her.

  “What?” she asked curiously.

  “Your sense of humor,” he answered.

  “Is that all?” she raised an eyebrow, and gave him a sideways glance.

  “No, that isn’t all,” he smiled, then gave his watch an exaggerated look. “But, it’s time for me to go.”

  “Oh no, you don’t,” Amber contradicted, grabbing him by the arm as he started to rise. “You’re not going anywhere. Go on, what else?”

  “You’re unbelievably strong,” Erik commented, as he settled back into the couch, his arm still firmly in her grasp. “I can see that coming in very handy, if I need a tourniquet someday.”

  Amber giggled, and loosened her grip a little.

  “What else?”

  “Well, you’re… straightforward. You’re not afraid to say what you think. Or, to ask for a compliment.”

  “You started it, so quit borderline-insulting me, and continue,” she retorted, and he smiled.

  “You’re smart, brave, and optimistic. You’ve got a kind heart, and a generous spirit,” he said. She was also beautiful, in a grown-up, not-thirteen-years-old-anymore kind of way. As she looked back at him, his heart stirred. “You’re a good friend, and… I’m glad you’re mine.”

  Amber lost herself for a moment, in the look in his eyes.

  “I am… yours. Your friend, I mean,” she stuttered.

  Erik saw the blush that tinged her cheeks as she dropped her gaze, and felt encouraged. She wouldn’t look that way if she didn’t like him… would she?

  Amber glanced up again, and their eyes locked. Was that friendship she saw, or something else?

  Her grip on his arm tightened, as he leaned closer by a fraction of an inch. Amber’s eyes drew him in, Erik leaned closer, her heart pounded—

  And she ducked.

  She ducked! The man of her dreams looked like he might kiss her—and she ducked! She could just kick herself, for letting habit kick in. What if he never tried again? What if he wasn’t trying, in the first place? How would she ever know? Unless she asked. And she wasn’t going to! He thought she was brave, and she was. But not that brave.

  Erik felt disappointment, for the obvious reasons, but he also felt relief. Hurrying their relationship in that direction might be what he wanted right now—it was—but it wouldn’t be an act of wisdom. Amber was young, as evidenced by her reaction. Or… else she didn’t have the same feelings for him, that he had for her.

  The thought filled him with dismay, and a sense of desperation. He didn’t want to rush into a relationship without thinking it through, and praying for guidance. But his heart was hers, whether she wanted it, or not. If she didn’t…

  The uncharacteristic shyness in Amber’s eyes as she glanced up at Erik, went a long way toward alleviating his concern.

  “I should go,” he said softly, and glanced at his watch.

  “You should stay,” she replied in alarm. Did he try to kiss her, and now he felt rejected? She wasn’t rejecting him, she was madly in love with him! If he tried to kiss her again, she’d defy habit and hold still, even if it killed her. “It’s practically morning, already. You’ll just have to come right back, and pick me up. We’re having breakfast with Mom and Dad and Caleb, if you didn’t know.”

  “That sounds great,” he smiled. “So I really should go. I’d hate to be rude, and fall asleep at the table. I might, if I don’t get at least a couple of hours before then.”

  “Alright fine, if you have to,” Amber said reluctantly.

  “I should,” Erik replied.

  “Okay, because I like hanging out with you,” she wanted to make that clear. He smiled, and she felt a little better.

  “I like hanging out with you, too,” he assured her, and she felt a lot better. “I’m looking forward to spending all day with you, tomorrow. I’d rather not sleep through most of it, so… I should go.”

  “When you put it that way, fine,” she said, her equilibrium restored. She walked with him to the door, and they hugged. “Don’t miss me too much, while you’re gone.”

  “I’ll try not to, but I can’t promise I won’t,” he smiled.

  Amber laughed, and felt satisfied. He couldn’t say what he just did, and feel too rejected. Not that she was sure he ever did.

  “Fine, miss me a ton, then,” she said, with a sideways glance.

  “Yes dear,” he smiled back, as he reached for his coat. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Erik said goodnight, and left. Amber pressed her hands to her heart and slid to the floor, and wondered if maybe, just maybe… there was a chance her dreams of happily ever after, might come true, after all.

  Chapter 20

  SAMANTHA lifted the skillet from the burner and sl
id the pancake onto the waiting platter with the others, then added more batter.

  “This smells amazing,” Rob said, as he set plates on the counter.

  “I hope it tastes just as good,” she replied, eyeing the mix’s empty box.

  “It will,” Rob said with confidence. “I can’t tell you how I’ve missed your cooking. This will be the first decent meal I’ve had in two years.”

  “That’s an exaggeration if I ever heard one,” she laughed, as she glanced at him quizzically. “Are you telling me you never once had dinner with your grandparents?”

  “No, I did. But it wasn’t the same,” he declared.

  “I’m glad to know I was missed,” she smiled, as she turned and hugged him.

  “Like you wouldn’t believe,” he said fervently, holding her close.

  “I missed you, too. The man I sometimes saw a glimpse of. The man I see now,” she replied softly.

  “Get used to this, because I’m never going back,” he promised, and kissed her. “I know I’ve said this once or twice, but I’m so glad we’re together, again.”

  “Once or twice?” she bit back a laugh. “That’s an understatement, don’t you think?”

  “Maybe,” he smiled back.

  Samantha glanced at the skillet, and her eyes widened. She turned and reached for the spatula, then made short work flipping the pancake, which was more than ready to be.

  “That was close,” she declared.

  “You got to it in time. I can’t wait to try these.”

  “Well… all I did was add water to a mix, so I’d prefer not to be held accountable for however they turn out,” she said, scraping together the last of the batter that remained in the mixing bowl. They couldn’t afford to let any of the foodstuffs they had, go to waste.

  “They’ll be great, because you made them,” he replied loyally. He saw the concern in her eyes as she glanced inside the cabinet, at their dwindling supply of food.

  “How much longer will it last?” she asked, as she removed the bottle of syrup, and set it on the counter.

  “Two more days,” he answered. She glanced anxiously at the window, and the whirling particles of ice that rang like shot against the other side of the glass. He anticipated her next question. “A couple of lulls are expected later today. If the radar prediction is correct, they’ll last longer than the others we’ve had.”

  “Will there be time to retrieve more supplies? Are there other cabins?” Samantha questioned.

  “No. I’ve been to all the cabins. There’s nothing left, except what’s at the lodge. It’s packed with supplies. But that’s not what I meant.”

  “Then what did you mean?” she wondered, as she slid the well-done pancake onto the plate with the others, and added the last of the batter to the pan.

  “What I meant, is that the storm can’t last much longer, and each break is a sign that it’s nearing the end.”

  “I hope so,” she said with feeling.

  Samantha focused her attention on watching the surface of the frying pancake for rising bubbles, while Rob filled two waiting mugs with coffee, sugar, and instant creamer. By the time the table was set, the last pancake was ready to join the rest. Samantha and Rob filled their plates, and took their seats.

  “This really is good,” Rob commented, as he ate.

  “It is, considering,” Samantha replied, with another glance toward the window. “This has to be the storm of the century, and then some. Even once it’s over, how will we get out of here?”

  “The sheriff will find a way in. He’ll be anxious to do that, once he knows about Jess Stilton’s and Randall Jerome’s deaths. Speaking of which, I need to call today. The sheriff deputies might be able to get here once the storm ends, either by snowmobile, or helicopter. One could land in the lodge’s future parking lot, although that would require hiking a couple of miles through a lot of snow, to get here.”

  “It’s further than from the models, to the cabins?”

  “Yes, and the snow is a lot heavier than it was when we hiked here Monday night.”

  “Then they’d snowmobile in,” Samantha reasoned.

  “Probably,” Rob agreed. “Either that, or use skis or snowshoes.”

  “Should we start rationing?” she worried.

  “If we don’t see the storm beginning to abate by evening… then yes,” he answered reluctantly. He didn’t want her worrying, which was why he didn’t bring up the subject himself. “I don’t expect to have to do that. Like I said, there’s a couple of breaks expected later today. Neither will last long enough to get from here to the lodge and back, but—”

  Alarm filled Samantha’s eyes, and she dropped her fork.

  “Rob! You’re not thinking of trying, I hope?”

  “No, I just said, they won’t last long enough to get there and back,” he replied.

  “Okay, good, because I’d rather fast, than have you take that risk,” she said firmly.

  “So would I,” he tried to calm her. “I don’t have a death-wish. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and because you’ve taken me back, I want to live as long as possible. I’m not going on any suicide missions.”

  The tension in Samantha’s shoulders slowly relaxed, and she retrieved her fork and forced herself to finish the food on her plate. The pancakes wouldn’t improve any, with age.

  “Okay… good. I’d rather starve, than have you lost in the storm.”

  “We won’t starve. There’s still food in the cabinet. We’ll make it last, and the storm will end,” he said, then changed the subject. “After that, we’ll go back to Ocotillo, together. We need a place to live. Do you have any preferences?”

  “I’d prefer not to live with your brother, or my sister,” she replied, and he laughed.

  “No kidding. I think they’d prefer not to live with us, either.”

  “Probably. There is an apartment available in my building…”

  “That’ll make moving convenient. For you, anyway. I’ll have my things packed up, and shipped from Ashland.”

  Samantha glanced at him under her lashes, as she considered that.

  “Do I still have anything left in Ashland?”

  “Yes,” he surprised her by saying. “When I decided you weren’t coming back, I moved your things to the guest room.”

  She stared in amazement.

  “I thought you’d throw it all out,” she said.

  “Well… moved, tossed, threw, I was kind of upset. I don’t think I broke anything,” he grimaced, then sadness washed over him. “Except our hearts.”

  Samantha’s eyes filled with sympathy, and she reached for his hand.

  “All of that’s in the past, now. As bad as it was, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I agree that you must’ve been a little crazy to believe some of the things you did,” she teased gently, and he managed a wobbly smile.

  “I was, but I’m not anymore.”

  “I know that. I do. So forgive yourself, and let’s leave the past in the past, where it belongs,” she proposed.

  “I’d like that,” Rob said, and they both smiled.

  ERIK sat on the couch in his and Rob’s extended-stay suite, keeping one eye on the time, and the other on the weather channel, as he waited for his coffee to cool.

  The radar predicted a break in Pine Mountain’s inclement weather just before noon, but it wouldn’t last long. With the depth of snow, and the condition of the roads, there was no chance of reaching Rob and Samantha at all, much less before the storm struck again. Later in the afternoon, when the mountain would experience another brief reprieve, would be no different.

  Still, these breaks appeared to be more significant than the previous reprieves. Perhaps the storm was beginning to peter out. He prayed that was so.

  Erik glanced at his watch again, then picked up his phone.

  His grandfather answered on the second ring.

  “Happy Thanksgiving, son,” his grandfather greeted him. “How are you?”

>   “I’m great, Grampa,” Erik smiled. “How are you and Gramma?”

  “We’re doing well. Your Gramma’s in the kitchen cooking up a storm, and I’m sitting here nearly starving to death, waiting for it to be lunchtime.”

  “I wish I could be there, but I’m glad I got to see you earlier this week, anyway.”

  “We are too, son. How is Caleb?”

  “He’s great,” Erik smiled. “And I have news.”

  “Now you’ve got me curious,” his grandfather said.

  “I got a text from Rob early this morning. He and Samantha have reconciled.”

  There was a brief moment of silence, as his grandfather took that in.

  “Praise God,” he softly replied.

  “Over and over,” Erik smiled. “I’ve been informed I might as well get used to living alone again.”

  “They’re reconciling completely, then,” their grandfather noted.

  “Yes. He didn’t mention Caleb, so I don’t know if Samantha has told him they have a son. I’m going to assume he doesn’t know, until I hear otherwise.”

  “Your Gramma and I’ll do the same,” his grandfather approved. “Samantha will tell him eventually, if she hasn’t already. That’s soon enough.”

  “Those were my thoughts, exactly.”

  “Well, I’m real glad to hear all this. Your Gramma will be, too.”

  “We’ve had a lot of answered prayers this week,” Erik said.

  “We have,” his grandfather acknowledged. “We’d best be praying your brother doesn’t lose his newfound focus, now that his marriage has been restored. Is Samantha a believer?”

  “I don’t know,” Erik considered. “Amber is, and so are their parents. I’m not sure they’ve always been. I’m picking Amber up in a little while, so I’ll ask.”

  “I was just about to ask you, how you plan to spend the day,” said his grandfather.

  “Amber and her parents invited me to join them.”

  “Good. I’m glad they did that,” his grandfather approved.

  “I am, too. After spending so much time with Amber lately, I think I’d be lonely, otherwise. When she insisted on helping investigate, I still saw her as a kid. I never imagined what an asset she’d be, or how much I’d enjoy being with her. I really like Amber. A lot.”