by Elle James
Trevor sighed and faced the windshield, the bright blue sky and the puffs of clouds. Looking out at the heavens, he found it hard to believe there were such bad people in the world that they’d hurt a defenseless woman.
But then, Trevor had witnessed some of the worst sides of humanity. He just hoped he could keep people like that way from Lana.
Chapter 8
Lana must have fallen asleep. When she opened her eyes again, the plane had grown silent and still. She jerked upright, her eyes wide and her heart racing. What had happened? Were they still in the sky? On the ground? Dead?
A fuel truck rumbled by and stopped in front of the airplane. A man climbed down, grounded the aircraft and stuck a nozzle into the fuel tank of the right wing.
“Trevor?” she asked softly into her headset.
“I’m right here,” he responded. But not into her headset.
He stood outside the door of the aircraft on the ground. “You were sleeping too well. I didn’t want to wake you. But now that you are, do you want to use the facilities while we’re here? We won’t stop again until we reach Bozeman, Montana.”
Lana climbed out of the airplane. Still sleepy, she stumbled.
Trevor caught her and held her against his body until she had her feet firmly on the ground.
Still, Lana didn’t want to move away. The air was cool, and his body was warm. And he smelled good.
She inhaled and let out the breath slowly. God, she’d missed being held in someone’s arms. Someone she loved and who loved her in return. She’d been happy with Mason. They had started a good life together. Had he lived, she might have been pregnant by now.
But now, she stood in Trevor’s arms, wishing she could start a new life with him. How could she be so disloyal to Mason’s memory? Or was it being disloyal? They had all been such close friends. Wouldn’t Mason want her to be happy—to fall in love again? He’d want her to have the children they’d always planned. Lana knew this deep in her heart. But would Trevor see it that way? She doubted it.
She sighed and pushed to arm’s length. “Which way do I go?”
He pointed, and she walked away. No use dreaming about something that would never happen.
In the meantime, she would do as he asked and make sure she didn’t make his life any more difficult than she already had.
A few minutes later, they were all back in the airplane. This time Trevor climbed into the back seat with Lana and put on his flight headset.
Lana settled her headset over her ears and adjusted the mic. “Why aren’t you up front?”
“I wanted to see the view from back here,” he said. “And maybe catch one of those cat naps I told you about.” He smiled. “Unless I’m crowding you. Maybe you’d like to sit up front with Quintin…?”
“No,” she answered too fast. “I’m good with sitting in the back. Quintin seems to know what he’s doing, and I don’t want to bump anything that will throw him off.”
Quintin chuckled. “I’ve got the controls. You two relax and enjoy the ride.”
Lana snorted and muttered beneath her breath, “Easy for him to say.”
“I heard that,” Quintin said.
“Sorry,” Lana said. “Nothing against your flying, but these little planes take some getting used to.”
Again, Quintin laughed. “Understood, and no offense taken.”
When the little plane left the ground, Lana dug her fingernails into Trevor’s arm, glad he was beside her as they took that terrifying leap into the sky.
“Taking off is the easy part. Landing is what makes me shaky,” Trevor admitted.
“What? You don’t like my landings?”
“Seeing the runway coming up at you so fast was a bit unsettling the first few times I sat in the copilot’s seat,” Trevor said.
“You tell me this now that we’re in the air?” Lana said.
“You slept through the last landing and lived to tell about it. Oh, wait. You can’t tell anyone about it, because you were sound asleep.” Trevor squeezed her hand and leaned into her shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Quintin set this baby down so lightly, you slept right through it.”
The next couple of hours Lana drifted in and out of sleep. Beside her, Trevor slept soundly. He had to be exhausted, having stayed up the night before.
Lana took the opportunity to study his face while he wasn’t watching. She memorized everything from his five-o’clock shadow to the slight dimple in his chin. She’d always loved how deep and dark his brown eyes were. At first, she’d thought they were black, until she’d seen the gold flecks. He’d let his hair grow a little longer than the high-and-tight cut he’d worn in San Diego at Mason’s funeral. A lock of his dark brown hair fell over his forehead.
It was all Lana could do to keep from reaching out to smooth his hair back. He’d aged some in the past year; the lines around his eyes were deeper. And he’d gotten more sun; his skin was darker. He looked healthy, but was he happy? She still didn’t know if he had a girlfriend back home in Montana. He’d grown up in that state. He might have a high school sweetheart he’d reconnected with.
A dull ache spread through her chest at the thought of Trevor loving another woman. Was that how he’d felt when she’d chosen to marry Mason?
Hell, he’d never asked her to marry him and probably never would have. Lana wanted children. Mason had offered her a life with children in it. Now, she had neither the children nor Mason.
Her eyes stung. She blinked back the tears. A lump lodged in her throat, and she swallowed hard to ease it.
The roar of the engine lulled her into sleep again. When she woke and looked out the window, they were coming in for a landing. Her body tensed, and she gripped the armrest. From what she could see, the ground seemed to be rushing up at them at an alarming rate. She’d never noticed this phenomenon in one of the big jet airliners. Why hadn’t she noticed it until now?
Trevor’s big hand captured hers and held tight.
She leaned into him, tempted to tell him that she loved him. If they didn’t live, she’d die knowing she’d at least tried to tell him how she felt.
But the wheels of the landing gear touched the ground before she could open her mouth. And then they were taxiing to a stop outside a small terminal.
“Welcome to Montana,” Quintin said.
When the prop stopped spinning, Quintin opened the door and climbed out.
Trevor went next, and then Lana.
Trevor gripped her around the waist and eased her to the ground. “All right?”
She nodded, breathless and very much off kilter. Her dreams had been filled with a naked Trevor wearing nothing but that darned towel.
“You don’t look all right.” He touched a hand to her forehead. “You’re flushed. Are you running a fever?”
Her cheeks burned even more. But she couldn’t tell him that his touch made her flustered, and his body so close made her breath all wonky. And if she didn’t get away from him soon, she’d lean up on her toes and kiss him.
“Anderson, glad you made it back safely,” a voice called out.
Trevor turned, giving Lana the space she needed to pull herself together.
When she looked around, she noted a tall man wearing jeans and a cowboy hat.
He smiled and engulfed Trevor in a bone-crunching hug and gave him several hearty claps on his back. “Glad you made it back so quickly.” He let go of Trevor and faced Lana. “I see you’ve brought company.”
“Hank Patterson, meet Lana Connolly.”
“Ms. Connolly, pleased to meet you.” When Lana held out a hand, Hank bypassed it to pull her into as big a hug as he’d given Trevor, less the heavy-handed pats on the back. “Connolly…” Hank stood back, his eyes narrowing. “Connolly. Con Man Connolly.” His eyes widened. “Are you Con Man’s wife?”
“Widow,” Lana corrected. “Mason was killed in action last year.”
Hank nodded, his smile fading. “I heard about that.” He shot a glance toward Trevor. “Co
nnolly was a good guy. I’m sorry for your loss and ours.”
“Thank you,” Lana said. “Are you the Hank Trevor talked about? The man who set up the Brotherhood Protectors?”
Hank’s grin was back. “You can blame me.”
“I understand you’re doing a lot of good with your organization. I looked it up when Trevor told me he was going to work for you.”
“I only hire the best. Men who are dedicated to providing only the best protection to the people who hire us.” He clapped his hand together. “You two must be hungry. Sadie is at the house, cooking up a storm. She’d skin me alive if I didn’t bring you home for dinner.” He held out his hand to the pilot. “You too, Quintin. That’s a lot of flying in such a short time.”
“Give Sadie a hug for me and tell her I’ll take a rain check. My family would like to see me as well, and I promised to take my son fishing tomorrow.”
“Will do,” Hank said. “Say hello to your mother for me. Tell her Sadie tried that recipe for homemade peach cobbler and it was so good, I ate the entire pan in two days.” He patted his flat belly. “Had to work out three times a day to keep it from sticking.”
Quintin grinned. “I’ll tell her. She’s been so busy looking after the kids, she barely has time to cook more than the basics anymore.”
“When are you going to hire a nanny?”
“I’ve been thinking about it. Mom and Dad are getting the itch to hit the road again in their motorhome. I just can’t imagine finding someone who can deal with Michael. He’s a handful. Always into something. Even Mom pulls her hair out trying to keep up with him when I’m away.”
“I’ll ask Sadie to put out some feelers. She’s good at finding people.”
“I’d appreciate any leads you might have. I’m out of ideas, and I’m getting more work than I can handle. Word of mouth spread fast about my flying service.”
Hank grinned. “Again, that Sadie is good at finding people. She put the word out among her acting friends, and they can’t get to Montana fast enough.”
“Tell her thanks. I promised her I’d bring the kids by for a play date with Emma soon. I’ll be sure to make that happen.”
Lana listened to the exchange, amazed at the familiarity and companionship these men displayed. She hadn’t realized how much she missed being a part of Mason and Trevor’s team gatherings until that moment. A strong yearning washed over her. She’d liked being one of the group, hanging out with Mason’s friends and their families.
With Mason gone, she’d lost, not only her husband, but the extended SEAL team family. Though that had been her fault. The men had tried to include her, but she hadn’t felt like being a “hanger on.” Again, she swallowed hard to dislodge the lump forming in her throat.
Hank said goodbye to Quintin and waved a hand toward a big, black, king-cab truck. “Lana, Anderson, your chariot awaits.”
Trevor held the front passenger seat door open for Lana. She passed it by and opened the rear door. “You and Hank probably have some catching up to do,” she said by way of explaining.
“You sure?” He helped her into the backseat and secured the seat belt across her lap, his fingers brushing her hip as he snapped the buckle in place.
A surge of heat ripped through her body from the point he touched to her center. She couldn’t get over how much she wanted this man. Being celibate for a year was wreaking havoc on her libido. She just didn’t know how she’d feel making love to Trevor. The last man she’d had sex with had been Mason. Would it be weird to make love with her husband’s best friend?
Probably. She shouldn’t even consider it.
Then why did she light up like a Roman candle every time he brushed against her?
Pushing thoughts of sex out of her mind, she sat with her hands folded in her lap, willing her core to cool.
As soon as they’d touched down in Bozeman, Montana, Trevor had sensed a lifting of his spirits, a sense of coming home. Something felt right about having Lana on his stomping grounds, away from the threats against her life. Away from where she and Mason had made a life together.
Trevor had no lingering memories of Mason or Lana in Montana like he had in San Diego. Everywhere he’d turned in the southern California city, he’d remembered something they’d done as a trio. The bar they’d frequented, their favorite restaurant. The beach they’d partied on with the team. Images of Mason and Lana getting married, Mason and Lana laughing at something one of the guys said. He couldn’t get away from them in San Diego.
Montana, on the other hand, was a clean slate. A place he could start over with Lana. Here, she was just Lana. A girl he cared about. Not the wife of his best friend. At least he could pretend more easily here than he could back in California.
She was still Mason’s widow, but she, too, had the opportunity to start over here. If she wanted to.
Trevor would never want Lana to forget Mason. Hell, Mason had been as much a brother to Trevor as he had been a husband to Lana. He’d never forget the man who’d meant so much to him.
The gap he’d left in Trevor’s life remained a gaping maw. Someday, Trevor hoped he would get over the anger, sadness and guilt he’d harbored since the day Mason had died.
Trevor had second-guessed himself at least a hundred times over the past year. He should have taken point, instead of Mason. Point man always had the most danger to face. Newly married, Mason had no business being point man.
Trevor had no one waiting for him to come home. He’d have been a better sacrifice to the mission. Mason had deserved to live a long, happy life with Lana.
He’d lain awake nights wondering if he’d wished his friend dead so that he could have Lana.
That’s why, when she’d pushed him away, he’d gone willingly. If he’d stayed, he would never have forgiven himself for making a play for Mason’s widow.
Now, she was in Montana, and a year had passed since Mason’s death.
A ripple of excitement lit his veins and sent blood and adrenaline shooting through his entire body. She was here, and he didn’t have to pretend he didn’t want her.
Trevor drew in a deep breath and willed his pulse to slow. Now wasn’t the time to come on to Lana. She was in danger. Someone had tried more than once to kill her. Until the threat had been neutralized, Trevor couldn’t move on his feelings. He wouldn’t know if any emotion she returned would come from gratitude or true love.
He knew she had feelings for him. Could they be more than that of a sister for her brother? Could they move past best friends to become lovers?
“Tell me what’s been going on since you lit out of here yesterday like your tail was on fire.” Hank shifted into drive and pulled away from the airport and onto the highway that led to Eagle Rock.
For the next thirty minutes, Trevor and Lana filled Hank in on what was happening in Lana’s world.
When they finished, Hank let out a long, low whistle. “Lana, you seem to have touched a nerve.”
“Yes, sir. It appears so,” she said.
“I’ll be sure to put the other members of the Brotherhood on alert should you experience anymore attacks.” He gave a slight chin lift to Trevor. “Say the word, and we’ll pull some of the others in to provide additional protection.”
“Thank you,” Trevor said. “I’m pretty sure we made it out of San Diego without leaving much of a trail.”
“I wouldn’t rest on my laurels at this juncture.”
“Believe me, I’m not.” Trevor cast a glance over his shoulder at Lana. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Lana gave him a quick smile. “I appreciate all you and your team are doing for me,” she said. “But I hate to tie up too many people, babysitting me. I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
“You’re important. And we won’t forget that,” Hank said. “Besides, Sadie loves when there are more females moving into the Eagle Rock area. She likes having hen parties with the ladies.”
“Hen parties?” Lana chuckled. “Did you r
eally just say hen parties?”
“That’s what my mother would have called them. You know when women get together, exchange recipes, quilt, have play dates with their children. That kind of thing.”
“Only women?” Lana snorted. “Sounds kind of sexist to me.”
“Oh, it’s not always all women. Chuck Johnson comes and brings his three-year-old Lyla and Boomer’s baby girl Maya. All the children think he’s the best. He gets down on the floor and plays with them. And he’s good at cooking, and he also knows how to sew. Yeah, he’s a great addition to the hen parties.” Hank twisted his lips. “Hmmm. Guess I better come up with a better name for those get togethers. Chuck would string me up by my toes for calling him a hen.”
“Well, since I don’t sew or cook, and I don’t have children, will Sadie write me off?”
“No way,” Trevor said. “She can talk to anyone. The woman is gifted on the social scene. She finds something good and interesting in everyone and makes them feel at home the minute they meet.”
Hank laughed. “That’s Sadie. I guess that’s why she’s so wildly popular with movie goers. She can work with any director and doesn’t go diva on anyone. Her heart is pure gold, and I love her more than she can ever know.”
Lana’s chest tightened. Hearing a man admit to how much he loved his wife made her wish she had such a relationship. She stared at the back of Trevor’s head. Would she ever find that kind of love?
Hank left the highway and stopped at a gate with the words White Oak Ranch written on a sign that arched over the road. He pressed a button on a remote control, and the wrought-iron gate swung open.
“Smile and wave at the security camera. I’m betting Sadie’s been watching, waiting for us to get here.” Hank waved at the camera attached to the corner of the sign and drove through. He paused long enough to make certain the gate closed behind them, before resuming the drive up to the main house.
When Hank pulled up in front of a sprawling cedar and rock ranch house, a beautiful woman stepped out on the porch. Her blond hair and blue eyes were just as impressive in person as they were on the big screen.
