Way of the Warrior

by Suzanne Brockmann

  “Or something else.” She paused, and he heard the rustle of her plucking grapes before she continued, “You sponsored someone else’s dog.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” He shrugged. “And if I did do something charitable anonymously and you guess it, then you take away my altruism.”

  She laughed softly, so different from the fearful sounds of last night. “You are such an obstinate man.”

  “Always have been.”

  “I bet that’s what got you through your recovery. That stubborn nature and this great dog. He truly is magnificent.” Her chair scraped back. “He looks like a shepherd in the body, but he has a brindle coat. What breed is he?”

  “They tell me he’s a Dutch shepherd mix. Dutch shepherds have brindle-colored fur.” He found himself trusting her, asking her something he hadn’t been able to bring himself to say to anyone else. “Tell me what he looks like.”

  She gasped softly, her hand sliding over his. “What do you want to know?”

  “People say brindle, and I know what that means, but there are nuances…” He searched for the words to explain how difficult it was to be so close to Radar and have so little idea what he looked like. That sounded…weak. “Ah, hell, never mind.”

  She linked their fingers. “His coat’s mostly dark brown, with hints of a lighter brown, and then there are these stripes through that are a caramel that’s almost reddish. The light plays on those stripes of color so they shift and change.” The melody of her voice flowed over him. “His muzzle is black. His ears stand up most of the time, but sometimes one ear flops down.”

  That image made him smile, and smiling felt damn good. “They told me he was found in a shelter and tested well. They think he has some Labrador retriever in him, too. I’ve seen working dogs on the job, but I never had any idea how tight the bond could be.”

  “I can see that. When you talk, his ears always twitch toward you even if his eyes are fixed on a target or task. They’re golden colored with a dark brown circle outlining the gold. When you’re just sitting and he’s beside you, not working, the look in his eyes is incredible. He stares at you as if he was put on this Earth just for you.”

  He swallowed hard. “I get that. Sometimes though, I’m torn between my connection to Radar and resenting the fact that I need him.”

  What the hell was it about Stacy that had him sharing so much so fast? It really was as if the years apart had melted away.

  “The connection you say you feel to him, trust me, he reciprocates, perhaps even more so.” She took his hand and placed it on Radar’s side. “Can you feel his heart beating? That pulse is focused on you. That’s what I see in his expression. This dog would lay down his life for you. It’s there in his brown eyes. And in case you were wondering, right now, his tail is wagging.”

  “I can feel the breeze.”

  She slid her hand from his. “I’m so sorry you lost your sight.”

  “I’m so sorry you have to live in fear.” Guilt and anger piled up inside him. If he’d fought harder for what they’d had back then, none of this would have happened to her.

  Silence settled between them, and he thought he heard her sniffle. He brushed his hand across the table until his fingers bumped her arm. He squeezed lightly in comfort. His arms ached to haul her against his chest as he would have done in the past. How much had changed between them?

  He didn’t know how to put that into words, so he settled for the simple start while stroking the inside of her wrist with his thumb. “What color is your hair? Has it changed since I knew you before?”

  Her pulse leapt under this touch.

  Then definitely a sniffle, a soft cough, and swallow of her drink before she said, “A bit darker strawberry blond than before. I still forget to put on sunscreen and let my nose get burned.”

  An image formed in his mind of her, more mature, still beautiful. His. He slid his hand up her arm to cup behind her neck, her hair flowing over his fingers with such familiarity it could have been ten years ago, just before they’d both gone so off course. “That’s the Anastasia I remember.”

  He urged her toward him, and she didn’t resist. In fact, her hands slid over his shoulders, and she flowed right into his arms. Her mouth to his. Her body every bit as delicate as he remembered.

  God, she tasted sweet, of lemonade and Stacy. Her tongue against his, her soft hands touching his neck, his face. Such simple caresses but after so long without her, this kiss, having her so close, was everything.

  As teenagers, they’d snuck out and hidden in the hayloft to make out, the fresh, earthy scent all around them. She was his first real kiss at sixteen. The first woman he’d ever touched. They’d done everything except have sex for the next two years because she was terrified of getting pregnant. Scared of being like her mom. Young and trapped, and he would have done anything to protect her.

  He’d thought he was giving her what she wanted when he’d walked away. Instead, he’d failed to protect her in the most fundamental way ever. She could have died. She’d been in so much more danger here than he’d ever been in overseas, and that gnawed at his gut. He should have checked up on her. They’d meant too much to each other to have let that go.

  The warm swipe of her tongue reminded him of all the times they’d tasted every inch of each other, desperate to ease the ache from wanting each other and holding back from the final consummation. He burned to taste her now, to run his fingers through her whispery fine hair…still strawberry blond, she’d said, but darker… His hands roved her body, searching for changes and similarities, desperate to “see” her as best he could, through his fingertips.

  He slid his hands lower, down her back to draw her into his lap—

  Radar barked, startling them both.

  Stacy laughed self-consciously. “I guess he’s jealous.”

  Or smart, because Gavin knew he was moving too fast with her. But the sound of her rapid breaths against his cheek, the feel of goose bumps on her skin, and that kitten purr in the back of her throat told him she was every bit as aroused as he was.

  Could he act on that? Was this a second chance to be with her? He had a helluva lot less to offer her now than he had then, but damn it. Walking away from Stacy, especially now, was not an option.

  His hands skimmed up and down her spine before he eased back. He needed to take care of security first before acting further on the passion between them, a desire that hadn’t dimmed one bit over the years. Where that would lead? He didn’t know. But they had to find out. “I’ve missed you, Stacy.”

  “Gavin, I’m confused. Why did you kiss me?”

  “Because we needed to clear that up before dealing with anything else,” he answered as honestly as he knew how. “Because I needed to know if you still tasted the same. I was wrong.”

  “What?” she asked breathlessly.

  His thumb stroked across her lips. “You taste even better.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Her head still spinning from the kiss, Stacy sagged back in her chair in Gavin’s sparsely decorated kitchen, crossing her arms over her chest in counter-pressure against her breasts that ached for his caress. Her eyes scanned the place, looking anywhere but at him. She took in the accommodations she’d missed at first. Minimal furniture. Clear pathways. Braille labels everywhere. No cabinets left open.

  A long white cane in the corner by the door.

  He eased back into his seat, broad shoulders stretching the gray T-shirt until she could see the cut of his muscles. His long legs stretched in front of him, making his jeans look mighty damn fine. And there was no missing the press of his arousal.

  Her heart hitched. Her body hummed from wanting him. Had she ever stopped? “We can’t just pick up where we left off, Gavin. It’s been ten years.”

  “Then why did you come over?” His head tipped to the side, a long, dark lock of hair falling over the scars
on his forehead. “You could have ignored my text.”

  Hah. Not hardly. “I had to find out why you didn’t let me know you’d returned.”

  “I’ve actually only been back for four weeks.” He shrugged. “I was working up my nerve.”

  She shook her head in disbelief only to remember he couldn’t see her. “Since when have you been afraid of anything?”

  “Only idiots don’t have fears. A healthy dose of caution keeps a person alive.” He leaned a muscular elbow on the table, his fingers toying absently along her arm. “So let’s talk about what we need to do to keep you safe. Then we’ll deal with how damn good that kiss felt.”

  His words sucked the oxygen from the room. Her arm still tingled from just a simple stroke. “My problems with my ex-husband aren’t yours to take on.”

  “Like hell.” His square jaw flexed, his hands clenching. “If last night is anything to go by, you have every reason to fear he’ll harm you.”

  She forced herself to admit the worst, the part she’d held back, a part that she feared could send him over the edge wanting to protect her. She needed to make sure he stayed safe. “Six months ago, when he broke in, I tried to protect myself with a knife. He…he took it from me and cut me, on my side…”

  Gavin hissed in unmistakable rage, his fists white-knuckled with restraint, but he let her talk.

  “Like last night, when the cops came and he ran. Since he wore a mask and there were no prints, we couldn’t prove it was him. I was only able to get a restraining order because of his obsessive texts and phone calls.”

  “How bad?” he asked between clenched teeth.

  “How badly was I cut? I’m still here. No permanent damage. Just some stitches along my side.” She’d been fighting, trying to roll away. If she hadn’t, he would have hit her heart. She would be dead today. “But it was enough to make me realize he’s never going to stop. He will never forgive me for leaving him. Except every time I tried to get away, he always seemed to find me, so I convinced myself at least here I knew the lay of the land.”

  “He will never hurt you again.” The vow hung hoarse and heavy between them with unmistakable intensity.

  “Thank you.” She wanted to have faith in what he offered, but her ability to trust had eroded over the years. He was here for her. But why hadn’t he let her be there for him? “Why didn’t you tell me right away that you’re blind?”

  “Are you insinuating I can’t help because I lost my sight?”

  She gasped, appalled that she may have wounded his ego. “No, no, that’s not what I meant at all. I’m trusting you with so much now. I’m wondering why you held back from trusting me.”

  His chin tipped, revealing that familiar cleft. “Are you sure you’re not every bit as susceptible to pride as I am?”

  “Yeah, obviously. That’s the reason I never contacted you,” she confessed softly. “I couldn’t admit what an awful mistake I’d made in marrying Jared, especially after the way I pushed you away.”

  “We both made mistakes in issuing ultimatums. We can’t change the past, only work on the future. I will do my best to keep you safe until they lock your ex up in prison. I wish I could protect you on my own. But I can’t.”

  “Gavin, it’s not your fault—”

  He held up a hand, and touched her lips to silence her. “I have called in friends who can.”

  “Gavin, stop.” The caress of his finger along her mouth tempted her to collapse into the comfort of his arms. But she couldn’t bring her trouble, her danger, to his doorstep, especially not now. “The police can—”

  “The police have tried without luck.” He clasped her shoulders in his broad palms, massaging gently, enticingly. “You’re too important to me. This is a small town with an understaffed force. I contacted two of my pararescue buddies, and they’re coming up to help with security while we locate your ex and get a handle on his next move.”

  Her lashes fluttered closed as she took in the seductive feel of his hands on her shoulders. He wouldn’t be able to see the betraying way she shut her eyes. “Your friends will take leave, drop everything and come here to help a stranger?”

  “If I ask, yes. We’re there for each other.” His voice went lower, raspier with regret. “Even if I can’t be there for them anymore.”

  Her body chilled, and she opened her eyes again. “I just want to leave town and start over somewhere I won’t have to bar the windows and look over my shoulder.”

  Gavin shook his head. “From what you’ve told me and based on the level of violence last night, he will find you.”

  “But to involve your friends?” As much as she ached for help, she wasn’t used to calling on others, trusting others.

  “I didn’t have to think about it for long. I’m of”—his throat moved in a hard swallow—“limited help to you because of my blindness. But I can’t just walk away.”

  If he was injured further because of her, she couldn’t live with herself. “What if I say I’m not your problem or theirs?”

  “That won’t stop me—or them.” His raspy voice was steely with determination. “Call it misplaced machismo or whatever you want, but I feel responsible for leaving you behind. I have to know you’re safe. Let me do this for you. I need to do this, and I will, with or without your consent.”

  She sure as hell couldn’t handle this on her own anymore with triple locks and barred windows. For now, she had no choice but to accept help from the only person left on the planet she stood a chance at trusting. “When do your friends arrive?”

  “By dinnertime tonight.” He shoved to his feet, his hand falling to his dog’s harness. “So are you ready for us to go to your house and pack a bag?”

  • • •

  He had backup.

  Shortly after he and Stacy had returned from picking up a suitcase of clothes at her place, his PJ pals had arrived at his house. His buddies were here for him, just as he would be there for them if he could. He felt like hell for asking his friends to drive up from Florida to Kentucky, but Hugh Franco and Liam McCabe, his former pararescue teammates, hadn’t hesitated when he’d woken them in the middle of the night. They’d assured him they had leave time to burn between assignments. Liam’s wife, Rachel, had accompanied them as well with one of her search and rescue dogs named Disco. Between Radar and Disco, they had the best the canine world could offer for additional alert support.

  He was still getting his bearings after kissing Stacy. One kiss, for God’s sake, and he was right back flat on his ass crazy to be with her. She moved him in a way no other woman ever had. He suspected that rattled her as much as it did him. They’d both stayed silent for most of the trip to her place to pack her bag and back to his place. Soon, there would be no avoiding talking.

  No more avoiding what they still felt for each other.

  He flattened a hand on Liam’s Jeep while his buddies unloaded their gear in Gavin’s garage. The scent of motor oil hung in the humid air. He could hear Radar and Disco playing in the corner with Rachel, wrestling while they got to know each other. “There’s no way I can thank you enough.”

  Liam clapped him on the shoulder. “You don’t have to. Right, Hugh?”

  “Truth,” Hugh barked, a no-nonsense guy with a huge soft spot when it came to women and kids. “We’re just gonna unpack our gear, get some surveillance equipment set up. We’ll get this place locked down and secure. Then we’ll set out the tech breadcrumbs to draw him right in. Just point us to our quarters, and we’ll get to it.”

  Social media worked both ways. People worried so much about having securities in place to keep people out that they missed the beauty of lowering security to let people in. Jared Lewis would be taunted and shown exactly where to look.

  Gavin’s place. His turf.

  He owned the whole duplex and hadn’t rented out the other side, yet, since he’d planned to advertis
e it as furnished. “The other side of the unit has all the necessities, no frills, but the mattresses on the beds are new. I can’t guarantee things match. My color-coordinating skills are pretty much shit these days.”

  Liam thumped his shoulder again, always thoughtful about keeping Gavin oriented. “Thank God you’re alive.” His voice hitched for a second before he continued, “That’s the only thing that matters.”

  “I realize that.” Gavin slumped back against the Jeep, thinking about all the times they’d gone four-wheeling, feeling invincible. “Every damn day I know I’m here and Jablonski isn’t. That doesn’t make me feel much better.”

  Hugh’s heavier tread sounded, and he stopped beside them. “I never took you to be a self-pitying sort.”

  “Easy for you to say.” Gavin couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice, then felt like hell for it. Hugh’s first wife and child had died in an accident. The man well understood about dark places.

  Liam stepped into the breach, ever the peacemaker. “What about Stacy, what does she mean to you? Clearly a lot for you to call us.”

  He’d considered these men his best friends, as close as family, and yet he’d never told them about her. “We used to be a couple back in high school. Her ex will try to kill her. I have no doubts about that.”

  Hugh cracked his knuckles. “And why isn’t he in jail?”

  “Can’t prove anything,” Gavin answered, frustrated as hell. “The best she’s been able to manage is a restraining order.”

  Rachel rested a hand on his arm. “Then with luck, we’ll flush him out, easy enough to do using the Internet and some strategic leaks. Let this guy set himself up, and we’ll be here to keep her safe until the police arrive. You’re not in this alone.”

  A strange concept for him to wrap his brain around. Even as part of the pararescue team, he’d usually held himself apart, the quiet dude. Stacy had always been the one to pull him out of his shell. Like she’d done now, having him reach out to his friends.

  “I want him in prison where he belongs.” And he wanted to hurt him. Bad. With a rage so intense it threatened to overwhelm him. Maybe that was why he’d brought his friends, too. To make sure he didn’t kill the bastard. Because he could. Even blind. He could. Slowly. Painfully.