by Joni Hahn
“You’re brave to get out in public today,” the woman said.
Rachel grimaced. “Well, I figured if I was safe anywhere, it was church.”
The woman turned to Tristan and stuck out her hand for a shake. “So, are you the one she ran away with yesterday?”
“Oh God…” Rachel shut her eyes and shook her head.
Tristan accepted the woman’s hand and nodded at the man behind her. “Tristan Jacobs, and I wouldn’t call it run away. I had to drag her out of there.”
The woman grinned as she sized him up. “I’m Glenna Robards and this is my husband, Mark, and our son, Ty.”
“Mark is the one I told you about, Tris. The captain of the men’s baseball team.”
“I remember.”
“You play?” Mark said, as they made their way to the door of the church.
“I used to play in high school and even got a college scholarship, but fate had different plans for me.” Nothing big. Just a mercenary with super powers.
A gray-haired woman wearing several strands of pearls stepped into their path without seeing them. The leg of her walker hit Tristan’s shoe, causing her to lose her balance.
He caught her by the arm. “Whoa, there.”
The elderly woman looked up at him with wide eyes. She gave a bashful smile. Was she actually batting her eyelashes at him?
“Well, thank you, young man. Did I hurt you?”
“No m’am.” Tristan grinned. “I’m sorry my big foot got in your way.”
Rachel appeared at his side, her face a mask of concern. “Wilma, are you all right?”
Spying Rachel, the woman squinted her eyes before dropping her head and walking on.
Slumping her shoulders, Rachel sighed.
“Isn’t that the woman you work for?” Tristan said.
She nodded.
“See if she picks up your prescriptions from the pharmacy anymore,” Glenna said to the woman’s back.
Rachel elbowed her. “Glenna, sshh…”
Tristan smiled to himself. He liked Glenna already.
She said, “From what I hear, most of the women are on your side, Rachel, except, of course, those that have family working for Jock. The men are outraged that you would leave Cody at the altar.”
Rachel caught her breath. “We never made it to the altar.”
Tristan didn’t like the sound of this at all.
He turned to Mark. “Do you think Cody will cause trouble?”
“Oh, yeah. He is pissed off. Cody doesn’t take to being humiliated like that.”
“What about me?” Rachel pointed at her chest. “He wasn’t even conscious.”
“Once you return the ring, he and the rest of the town will get it,” Tristan said.
Rachel stopped at the bottom of the steps to stare at him. She had better not start that again…
“Didn’t I say that if you stayed, you couldn’t interfere in my life?”
“Rachel, you’re returning it.” He stared at her, hands on hips.
Her beautiful eyes glittered in the late morning sun.
“Rachel, you’re standing outside of church. You don’t want to start a fight here and now, do you?” He held out his hand, palm up.
Narrowing her eyes at him, she glanced down at his hand then up at his face. He held his breath.
Inhaling deep, she straightened her spine. The next thing he knew, she slipped the ring off her finger and placed it in his palm. She closed his fist over it.
Relief rushed through him like a tidal wave. Nodding once, he stuck it in his pants pocket. He wanted to teleport to Scotland and throw it into the North Sea.
Why did he care? It was her life to live. If she wanted to live it with an ass like Brewster, who was he to stop her?
Glenna smiled at him with wide eyes.
“Rachel, you’re back.”
Pastor Collins stood at the door of the church shaking hands with churchgoers as they arrived. A few turned to stare at her. Tristan placed his hand at the small of her back and gave them an intimidating glare.
The pastor’s knowing eyes went to Tristan. “You’ve been a busy man.”
What was that look supposed to mean? Had the pastor seen Tristan teleport out of the church yesterday? Rachel blushed as she introduced him to Tristan.
“I live busy.”
“I’m sure you do. Welcome.”
Walking inside, Rachel leaned in close. The scent of orchids reminded him of last night and all the things he should not be thinking of in church.
“Should I duck in case lightning strikes?” Her aqua eyes held a teasing glint.
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Hell, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in a church. Several years ago, he’d rescued a group of kids hiding out in a shell of a church in Egypt. Other than that, he remembered last attending church with one of the officer’s families he used to stay with, maybe fifteen years ago.
Lightning could definitely happen.
Glenna and Mark slid into a pew towards the front of the church. Tristan held up the rear. Taking their seats, he sat on the end, towards the center aisle. Ty scrambled from Mark’s arms and went to sit in Rachel’s lap. She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him close. The smile she gave the boy did strange things to Tristan’s chest. Judging by the shy smile on Ty’s face, he felt it, too.
As the service dragged on, Tristan tuned out Pastor Collins altogether and stared at the cross on the wall above the altar. Why me?
Why was he, Tristan Jacobs, one of the chosen few asked to protect the world?
Eying the crowd around him, he knew they had no idea of the dangers that surrounded them, the dangers that he and other agents extinguished before they saw daylight.
Rachel was right. He did kill. All in the name of protecting the world.
He was nothing like these people. While they worked on an oil rig or sat at a computer, he did surveillance on terrorists. He teleported from the Middle East to China to Russia, while they fought rush hour traffic.
Rachel really bought into the pastor and his message. While Tristan respected individuals and their religions, he’d seen too much evil to believe in the existence of a higher good.
What he wouldn’t give to have this life. To raise a family and just… have a reason to live.
Rachel caught him staring. Her cheeks bloomed red as she hugged Ty and turned back to the sermon.
She was so beautiful.
He stared at the cross again. Change it. Change me.
A soft hand tugged on his fingers. Waking from his reverie, Tristan stared up at Rachel who tried to pull him to a standing position. He was the only person in the church that remained seated.
He shot up. Ty giggled at him, hand over his mouth.
Smiling, Rachel gave Tristan a raised eyebrow. What was he asking? He’d been given abilities unlike anyone else on earth. The world needed him and the agents of D.I.R.E.
He could never stop his work or ask someone to live with his lifestyle.
Tristan sighed inside. He’d better enjoy the next few days. They were as close to normal as he would ever get.
#####
“Do this old, married woman a favor and tell me you’re sleeping with that.”
Rachel blushed to the roots of her hair as she kept her gaze from Glenna. If her best friend knew she had slept with Tristan – no, make that had sex with Tristan several times – she would read more into it than there could ever be. Glenna was Rachel’s biggest champion and played matchmaker on steroids every chance she got.
Staring across the church community center, she admired Tristan’s dark good looks. He talked with Mark and some of the men from the baseball team as they stood in line to buy fried chicken plates. He held a drink in one hand while Ty climbed all over him like a jungle gym. The super soldier looked almost domesticated.
Turning away, Rachel filled more cups with ice. “I just met him yesterday, Glenna. I’d hoped that when I told him he had
to go to church with me, it would scare him off. I guess I’m stuck with him for the next few days.”
Glenna poured iced tea into cups. “Yes, and that makes sense, doesn’t it? He’s Aidan’s friend, in town while Aidan is gone.”
“Aidan has him here to protect me from Cody. He’s afraid Cody will kidnap me and we’ll elope to Vegas or something.”
Glenna stopped pouring to stare at her. “Would you?”
She glanced over at Tristan again. Last night had shown her a side to Tris that she hadn’t expected. A side that told her there were much better men out there than Cody Brewster.
“No.” Rachel shook her head. “I realize now it would’ve been a mistake.”
Glenna raised her hands up in the air. “Alleluia. I’ve been trying to tell you that for two months now.”
Rachel set the full glasses towards the front of the table. She smiled at a couple of teenage girls who each grabbed a cup. They giggled behind their hands.
“I know, but Mom really wanted it.”
“Yeah well, Mom wouldn’t have to live with him.” Glenna grabbed another pitcher of tea. “Is he still in the SEALS? What’s that thing on his arm?”
Rachel stilled. How did she explain his armband and his job?
“He’s a… special agent.”
Glenna purred low. “Oh, he’s special, all right.”
Laughing, Rachel shook her head. “Does Mark know you think he’s hot?”
“Mark knows he’s the only man for me and I just like to window shop.”
Mark and Glenna were very much in love. They had been since high school. Rachel had always envied their relationship and once upon a time, thought she had one like it.
Goes to show she couldn’t judge character.
“What does a special agent do? Is he like a James Bond or something?”
“He calls himself a private contractor, a soldier for hire.”
“A mercenary? Cool.”
“Cool? He kills people for a living.”
Glenna turned her toward the plate line and pointed at Tristan. “Does that look like a killer to you?”
With a ball of paper in hand, Tristan played catch with Ty while he talked with the other men. When Ty would throw the ball underhand, Tris would correct him and make him throw overhand.
“He must love baseball,” Rachel said aloud. “He has a batting cage at his house with a top of the line pitching machine. He uses it a lot.”
Glenna’s eyebrows shot into her bangs. “He took you to his house?”
She made a production of straightening the cups on the table. “Yes. It didn’t take long to get there. Aidan thought it would be smart.”
Glenna crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m wondering if there’s something you’re not telling me...”
“Okay, you caught me. I have a hangover.”
“Reeaally? So, you were at his house, got drunk and nothing happened.”
“No.” You lie.
“Oh, girl. What am I gonna do with you?”
A rush of people arrived to pick up drinks, most of whom would not even look her way. Tristan showed up several minutes later with two plates and Ty hanging on his back.
Mark said, “Rachel, I told Tristan that you guys need to come to our game Wednesday night.”
She detached Ty from Tristan’s shoulders. He ran to Glenna who settled him into a chair at one of the long tables.
“Are you still going to be around?” Say no.
“Unless you kick me out.”
“Is that an option?” She gave him a cheeky grin.
Mark laughed as he set the plates on the table.
Tristan gave her a haughty brow. “No.”
Sighing, she sat across from her friends. Tristan took the seat to her right.
“I didn’t think so.”
The five of them sat alone at the long table while the rest of the community gawked at her. Rachel ignored them. For some reason, it came easier than she’d thought with Tristan beside her.
Mark said, “Rachel, what are you going to do about Cody? I’m surprised he hasn’t been by your place already, the way word spreads around here.”
She pulled a piece of chicken off the bone. “I’ll make a point of seeing him before the day is through. I want to get this over with.”
“You’re not meeting him alone.” Tristan scooped a bite of potato salad in his mouth.
Sitting up in her chair, Rachel turned to stare at him. “Yes, I am. It’s a private matter between me and Cody.”
“Yes, but I’m still going to be there.”
Glenna and Mark stared at them with wide eyes.
“Tris, I already have a high-handed brother. I don’t need another one.”
Taking a sip of iced tea, he turned the full force of his striking, blue gaze on her.
“Believe me, I don’t think of you as a sister.”
Rachel stilled before swallowing hard. She would not look across the table. Glenna had to be gloating.
A loud muffler echoed in the distance. It grew louder by the second, a strong, revved motor speeding closer until it vibrated the metal legs on the table. Tires squealed to a stop outside. A door slammed.
Cody.
If all eyes weren’t on them before, they were staring at them now. Cody stomped through the community center doorway and headed her way.
“Oh Lord…” Rachel’s food rose in her throat.
“I’ve got this.” Tristan stood and waited for Cody, his eyes honed in on him like a tracking beam.
Rachel popped up beside him. “He wants to see me, Tristan. I’ll take it outside.”
When he reached their table, Cody grabbed for her arm. Tristan’s hand shot out to block him.
“Can I help you?” Tristan put Rachel behind his shoulder.
Cody ignored him. “Rachel, let’s go.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Cody took a deep breath. “Rachel, I’m not in the mood for this shit. Let’s go.” He held out his hand in invitation.
Tristan said, “Go screw yourself.”
Shaking his head, Cody finally looked at Tristan. “And why the hell do you matter?”
Tristan crossed his arms over his chest. “Because I stand between you and your next breath.”
Without a word, Cody pulled back and swung at Tristan. A gasp fell over the crowd. Tristan grabbed his fist mid-swing and pulled his arm behind his back. He bent Cody face first over the table. Mark and Glenna backed away with Ty.
Cody’s cursing echoed in the silent hall. Rachel could see blood in his nose. “Tristan, stop.”
He stared at her with furrowed brows. “He started it.”
“Let him up.” She gripped Tristan’s bicep.
“Hell, no. He’ll just swing at me again.”
Growling, Cody struggled to break free.
She leaned down into his face. “Cody, what do you want?”
“I want to talk to you.” He spoke out of the side of his mouth, his cheek crushed against the laminate.
“Then why’d you try to hit Tristan?”
“He’s responsible for what happened yesterday.”
Tristan stiffened.
“Cody, you’re responsible for what happened yesterday. You were passed out drunk.”
All of the bluster fizzled out of Cody. He stopped struggling. “I just want to talk to you, Rachel. Alone.”
“No,” Tristan said.
She gritted her teeth. “Tris, I need to do this.”
Staring at her for several seconds, he let go of Cody’s arm and stepped back.
Okay… That was way too easy.
Tristan’s eyes never left Cody as he straightened from the table. Wiping at his nose, Cody glared at Tristan, his narrowed eyes telling him pay backs were on the horizon.
“Let’s walk over to the bride’s room in the church so you have some privacy,” Tristan said.
Rachel wanted to hide under the table. Everyone stared at their awful, humilia
ting spectacle. She would kill Aidan when he returned.
The three of them walked out of the center together. Rachel felt like she had an armed escort with the two big men framing her on either side. It surprised her that the crowd didn’t rise to their feet and follow them.
Entering the church building, they ambled down the hall until they reached the bride’s room. Tristan pushed open the door. Shel preceded him inside. Yesterday’s incidents flooded her mind, including the sight of Jock Brewster lowering Cody, unconscious, to the metal chair. Anger renewed itself in her mind.
“Brewster…” Tristan said, when Cody passed him in the doorway.
He tossed the engagement ring to Cody. He caught it in one hand. Staring down at it, he glared at Tristan with gritted teeth.
Tristan grabbed the door handle. “I’ll be around, Rachel, if you need me.”
Nodding, she watched the door shut halfway.
Oh no. Tristan was not going to stand in here invisible. He would give her this time alone, at least.
Just when she moved to say something, the door pull closed.
She blinked. Well… good. At least he honored her wishes this time.
The air conditioner kicked on. The afternoon sun streaming through the skylight made the room uncomfortably warm.
Placing her hands on hips, she stood in the center of the room, just outside the sun’s rays. “So talk.”
Taking a deep breath, Cody’s voice went soft. “Rachel, we agreed to get married yesterday. What happened?”
The wedding seemed ions ago instead of twenty-four hours. She’d learned so much about life and love in that short period of time.
“That was before you humiliated me by showing up passed out drunk for the ceremony.”
He held out his hands in front of him. “Rachel, you have to believe me. I don’t know what happened.”
She shook her head. She had seen Cody filthy drunk on many occasions. Did he really expect her to think this incident differed in some way?
“Honestly, I didn’t drink that much.” He took her hand in both of his. “But, I’m here now. I still want to do this.”
With Cody’s sweaty, meaty hands swallowing hers, Rachel suddenly felt someone touch her back. Swinging around, she saw nothing.
