by Lea Hart
The adrenaline from the earlier events drained away, and she was starting to shake as she once again tried to process another room in another country filled with gunfire. She focused on her breath and tried to remember what the last therapist she’d seen had told her to do when she became overwhelmed.
Nothing, her mind was a blank screen.
Feeling Ace’s hand on her arm, she looked up and saw his worried expression. “I’m fine, Ace.”
“Don’t hold it together for me, Lisa. You want to lose your shit right here, go on ahead.”
She pressed her head into his chest and inhaled his familiar scent along with cordite, which unfortunately was recognizable since she’d been around so much gunfire lately.
“I’m going to wait until we get home and then fall to pieces.”
He cupped the back of her head and kissed her gently. “Honey, I may join you because being pinned down in a room with you is not how I like to spend my time.”
“Yeah, we’re going to have to find something else to do together that doesn’t involve hand-held rockets.” She looked up and gave him a half-smile. “How does bowling sound?”
“Like the best thing in the world.”
Lisa nodded and then stepped back. “Finish getting your gear packed up and let’s go in and see about a flight home.”
“Roger that.”
Moving her hair off her neck, she watched Ramon end his phone call and walked over. “Any news?”
“It looks like the objective was Igor Padilla and the Maras organization was behind it.”
“I’m assuming he was targeted because of his unrelenting reporting about the gangs in the city.”
“He also was a vocal opponent of the government and implied they are in league with the organized crime groups.”
“Is there any truth to that?”
Ramon looked around and then shrugged his shoulders. “It’s been suggested for a long time that the biggest contributors to political campaigns across Central America is organized crime. Prosecutors in El Salvador recently showed that the two main political parties colluded with MS-13 and other gangs in the last presidential election.
“So, the ruling class is corrupted, and if you want the gangs and crooks to go down, you need to take care of them first?”
Ramon nodded. “Something like that.”
Lisa rubbed her hand over her head as a wave of hopelessness washed over her. The picture of the boy in the casket popped up in her mind, and she wondered what it would take to end the cycle of violence and if it was even possible.
Ace walked over and put his hands on his hips. “Ready to go?”
“Absolutely.” Stepping forward, she hugged Ramon. “Thank you. There are no words to tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“My pleasure.” He tugged his hat down and smiled. “Go home and write about everything you’ve seen and experienced because that’s how things change.”
“I will, friend.” Lisa stepped back and watched Ace give Ramon a bro-hug and exchange a few quiet words. Turning, she looked out at the mountains in the distance and thought about Ramon’s words and vowed the take her time and write something that was worthy of the experience she and Ace had over the last two weeks.
From the whale sharks in Utila to the violent clashes between police and civilians in El Salvador, and, most importantly, what they survived today.
Thinking of her friend Igor’s wide smile, she knew he’d haunt her endlessly if she didn’t continue his efforts in some way. “Rest easy, friend,” she said silently, as a set of dark storm clouds sat heavy against the mountain range.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ace stood above Sunset Cliffs and lifted his nocs and found Lisa in the water sitting on her board. She’d been surfing almost every day since they got home, and he didn’t know if she was looking for answers out there or avoiding them.
Either way, he knew he needed to help her find a way to open up, so she could begin to process the shit they saw and start the next part of her journey.
Seeing her paddle toward a wave, he held his breath as she took off and caught it just in time. Making her way down the face of the wave, he was once again impressed with how sexy and graceful she looked on her board.
Feeling like he was the luckiest man, he wondered how a guy from Indiana managed to snag the prettiest surfer in San Diego. He dropped his nocs, turned toward his truck, and put them inside before heading for the staircase.
Shoving his hat down, he started the long trek down the winding wooden stairs that led to the beach and hoped she wouldn’t be pissed that he’d shown up uninvited.
Once he made it down to the rocks, he lifted his hand and shaded his eyes enough to see his girl paddling in. Smiling like an idiot, he walked closer and crossed his arms and waited for her to make it to shore.
“Hey, honey,” he called out when he saw her set her board down and squeeze her hair out. She turned, caught sight of him, and gave him a smile that said she was okay with his surprise appearance.
“How did you find me?”
Walking slowly in her direction, he picked his way across the wet rocks. “You left me a message telling me you’d be surfing, so it wasn’t that hard.” He bent down and kissed her firmly, tasting the salt water on his lips. “I missed you and thought we could grab dinner.”
“We only parted ways like eight hours ago; how’s that possible?”
“Got used to being around you and got myself addicted to being able to taste and touch you whenever I wanted.” Nipping her bottom lip, he grinned and then delved his tongue into her open mouth and felt her hand go to his T-shirt. He deepened it as much as he dared in public and felt her wet hand move to the back of his neck.
“Get a room,” someone called out with a laugh.
Pulling his head away at the same time Lisa did, he frowned at a man who was probably close to Lisa’s age. “Asshole,” he muttered quietly.
“Jealousy is not a good look, Peter,” Lisa said loudly.
Ace straightened up and took Lisa’s hand and threw a hard look as the man laughed his head off.
“Not jealousy, babe, just surprise. We’ve been surfing down here for like twenty-five years, and the last time a guy came down to carry your surfboard was in high-school.”
“I totally forgot about that. Ellis was the sweetest boy in all the world and brought me a Dr. Pepper and sunflower seeds.”
“Love at fourteen is hard to beat,” Peter replied.
“Ain’t that the truth.” Lisa lifted their joined hands and tilted her head toward Ace. “This is my boyfriend, Ace.”
Peter lifted his chin in acknowledgment. “Hey.”
Remaining silent, Ace tilted his chin in response.
“You the SEAL?”
“Sure as hell am,” Ace responded tightly.
“Respect, man,” Peter replied as he set his board down and pulled the tab on his wetsuit. “My brother is Navy too. He’s on a Trident Sub and stationed down in Georgia; miss the shit out of the little asshole.”
Feeling his shoulders relax, he grinned. “Landed on those bad boys a time or two. Don’t know how guys live on those things for months at a time.”
Peter picked up his board and tilted his chin up. “Me either.” Giving Lisa a smile, he put out his hand to Ace. “Thanks, man, for everything you and your brothers do out there.”
Ace took his hand and nodded. “Of course.”
Peter gave them both a grin and then headed toward the staircase that led to Ladera Rd.
“Nice guy,” Ace commented as he watched Lisa pull the tab on her wetsuit and peel the top down.
“I’ve known him since kindergarten, and he picked his nose and ate his boogers, and you’re right, he’s a decent guy.”
He picked up Lisa’s board and then took her hand. “Glad to know you’re out there with people who have your back.”
“It’s why Courtney and I still surf here. The older guys will chase the kooks off, so we don’t have to worry
about being harassed in the water.”
“Hearing that makes me breathe easier.” Pressing a kiss to her wet head, he looked up at the cliffs that faced the beach. “You ready for some dinner?”
“I am, and my mom is cooking tonight.” Leaning against his shoulder, she looked up and winked. “Looks like you get to meet my family and enjoy taco night.”
“What?”
Pointing to the staircase, she laughed. “My childhood home is on the corner of Cordova and Ladera, which is the street you probably parked on.”
“No shit,” he replied as he glanced down.
“Get ready, Ace, because you’re about to be grilled by Gabriella Martin.”
“I should grab flowers or wine or something. I can’t just crash taco night with no invitation and nothing in my hands.”
“Next time. My mom is not a formal person and loves to have as many people at the dinner table as possible.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. The best gift you can give her is answering her endless questions.”
“All I can do is my best.”
Snickering, Lisa looked up. “This is going to be fun, and no one makes better food than my mom.”
“Is that where you learned to become such a good cook?”
“Absolutely and I was an enthusiastic student since I love to eat so much.”
“Maybe it’s time to start teaching me, so we can do it together.”
“You really want to learn?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”
“That’s great, and I’d love to cook together.”
“Me too,” he replied as he followed his beautiful girlfriend toward the stairs with the sound of crashing waves at his back. He knew it didn’t get much better, and he wanted to make sure to appreciate that, for right now, everything in his life was perfect.
***
Lisa sat at the table on the patio where she had enjoyed meals for most of her life and watched Ace being put through his paces. Her mom and aunt were trying to be casual about their inquiries, but there was no mistaking the CIA interrogation vibe they were trying to hide.
Wondering if she should jump in and orchestrate a diversion move, she felt his hand take hers and figured he was telling her he was fine. Which, clearly, he was since he was a bad-ass Frogman who could handle anything.
But that didn’t mean he had to be grilled about his five-year plan in so much detail. “Aunt Dee, back-off a little.”
“Honey, I’m just interested in getting to know your young man.”
“And you will, but it all doesn’t need to happen tonight, and finding out if he has a membership to Triple-A is not necessary.”
Carissa leaned over and put up her hand. “Amen.”
Gabriella patted her sister’s shoulder and then refilled her margarita glass. “We don’t want to scare him away.”
Aunt Dee let out a little snort and then lifted her glass. “I like to get to know people; that’s all.”
Ace looked over at Lisa and raised an eyebrow. “I think the ‘need to know everything about anything’ is a family trait.”
“Might be,” she replied as she grabbed another taco.
“It totally is,” Carissa said as she raised an eyebrow. “Lisa and Mom are the worst, and I count myself lucky that I’ve been spared the affliction.”
“Hey,” Lisa said in unison with her mom. “Information is the most important commodity in the world, and I’d be a fool not to want in on that.”
“And that fact is becoming truer every day,” Gabriella said as she leaned back in her chair. “The most powerful companies in the world are no longer financial institutions but companies like Google and Facebook. The sheer amount of data those companies own is inconceivable and if you want a piece of the new world pie, then get in the information gathering business because that’s the true axis of power.”
“Hear, hear,” Lisa called out as she lifted her glass.
“Then why am I getting in trouble for asking Ace one or two questions?” Aunt Dee asked with wide eyes.
“You were hitting the triple digits, Auntie,” Carissa said from her end of the table. “Is it time for ice cream yet?”
“Almost,” Lisa said as she looked over at Ace’s plate. “Would you like some more?”
“No, thank you, I ate way too much.”
“No, you didn’t,” Gabriella said as she stood. “You are welcome at my table anytime because I like people with good appetites.” Picking up the empty margarita pitcher, she turned toward the house. “I’ll make another batch.”
Aunt Dee stood and smiled at the table. “I’ll help since she never puts in enough tequila.”
Lisa looked over at her sister and let out a laugh. “How many times do you think they’ve had that discussion over the last thirty-five years?”
“I can’t count that high,” Carissa replied with a laugh.
“I like them,” Ace said as he lifted his beer. “They say what they think and don’t hold back, which is a hell of a lot better than having a fake conversation.”
“True, but it can be a little much if you’re not used to it,” Lisa replied.
Carissa lifted her glass in Ace’s direction. “Props to you for making it through unscathed.”
“The man is practically bullet-proof, so this was an easy day.”
“Speaking of bullets, are you going to tell me what happened on your last day in Honduras?” Carissa asked.
Lisa smoothed out her napkin and then looked out at the ocean. “It…wasn’t easy. But thank God Ace was there; otherwise, I wouldn’t be alive. He was a hero, and I owe him my life.”
“Honey, I’m no such thing.”
Turning, she grabbed his hand and felt tears gather in the corners of her eyes. “Yes, you are. I feel so guilty that you were even there in the first place. It was so selfish to drag you along and put you in a position where you had to put several men in a grave.”
“It wasn’t a big deal, and you know it occurs regularly in my work life. I’m a sheepdog and keeping the flock protected is what I do. I do it willingly for strangers; why wouldn’t I do it for the woman who owns my heart?”
Standing, she crawled into his lap and wrapped her arms around him, wondering if his words were possible. “Ace, I wouldn’t have survived if anything had happened to you.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.”
Taking his face in her hands, she sniffled. “Did my sister beat feet back into the kitchen?”
“Yeah, she got up a couple of minutes ago.”
She felt the steady beat of his heart against his solid chest and realized he made the world a whole lot better.
“Can you do something for me?”
“Anything.” When he gave her a naughty smile, she pushed against his chest. “Don’t make sexy eyes at my mother’s table.”
“Sorry, lost my mind for a minute.” He cleared his throat and looked out across the patio. “Talk to your sister or me, or your mom or someone about what happened in the restaurant. I know you’re stuffing it down into a box, and that’s not going to last for long. You’ve got to process it, so it doesn’t bite you in the ass when you least expect it.”
“Kind of like you?”
“What?” he asked with a laugh.
“You sometimes bite my buns, and it surprises the hell out of me.”
“Now, who’s the one talking sexy at Mom’s table?”
“You started it.”
“I sure as hell didn’t, but we can circle back to that subject later on. Because I’d be more than happy to talk about the things I’d like to do to that ass of yours.”
“Ace Henderson, you be quiet.”
“Did you get a little wet, though?” Leaning back, he studied her face. “You did; I can tell by how rosy your cheeks are.”
“It’s warm outside.”
“The sun went down an hour ago, and you’ve got a sweatshirt on.”
“Wh
atever.”
He leaned forward and cupped her head, speaking quietly against her ear, “Admit it; the idea turns you on a little.”
“It’s a curiosity.”
“Just let me know when you’re ready to…explore that curiosity.”
“Dirty man.”
“More like dream man.”
“You are definitely that.” When he raised his eyebrows, she shrugged. “My infatuation is only getting worse with each passing day.”
“Hopefully, it’s nothing you’ll ever get over because there’s nothing temporary about my feelings for you.”
Hearing the sliders open, Lisa looked over her shoulder and saw her family standing there. “It’s safe to come out.”
“Thank God,” Carissa groaned, “because I need my ice cream and Mom won’t let us have any until we clear the table.”
Standing, Ace lifted Lisa and set her down. “We’ll do the dishes tonight.”
Leaning back, Lisa looked at the sky. “Never ever volunteer for that because Mom uses every pan in the house when she cooks.”
He bent over and kissed her cheek. “Seems worth it since the food was so damn good.”
“You come over anytime, Ace, and I’ll happily cook for you,” Gabriella called out as she picked up a plate from the table.
“Suck up,” Lisa whispered as she collected plates.
“Maybe so, but who’s getting fed?”
“Point taken.” Looking over, she saw his smile and decided she’d happily feed him for the rest of her life.
A thought so foreign she didn’t know what to do.
God willing, an answer would come along before too long.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ace ran his hand through Lisa’s hair as they lay in bed and wondered if he’d ever get over the feelings of excitement of being with her. He never expected to ever really “figure her out” so the idea of being slightly dazzled by having her in his life seemed likely. “I like your family.”
“Thank you. I know without my dad around to balance my mom’s intensity, it can be a bit much for people.”
“What was your dad like?”
“Perfect.”
“Damn, woman, that’s a lot to live up to.”
