Special Ops Rendezvous

by Karen Anders

“I’ve got good news and bad news,” the army psychologist said.

  “Oh, man, let’s hear the good news.”

  “I’m discharging you, soldier. You’re finished with therapy as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Really? It’s earlier than I expected.”

  “That’s due mostly to you, Captain. I credit your resilience and your willingness to open up about what happened to you fully for your early release.”

  “And the bad news?”

  “Well, maybe it’s not bad. You have to make your decision. After what you’ve told me about your reasons for staying in the military or discharging out, I can’t say the decision is a difficult one.”

  “No, Dr. Aldrich. I think I’ve made up my mind.”

  “I thought so. Well, carry on. Get yourself out of here and to your next destination. Good luck.”

  Sam left the doctor’s office and went back to his room. Over the weeks he’d been here, his clarity returned, along with his capacity to make decisions more easily. The fuzziness and the terrible Trey nightmares were all gone. He often dreamed of Liv, but they were warm or sexy dreams, far different than the terror-filled ones. The doctor had worked diligently with him and he’d held nothing back. Getting well was his top priority and he wasn’t going to make a decision until he was clearer. He wanted to be sure. It didn’t take him long to get dressed in his uniform and head over to his C.O.’s office. With his hand on the knob, he was at peace with his final decision.

  * * *

  Olivia pushed her hair back out of her face. She hated cleaning chores, but it had to be done. She’d already cleaned the bathroom and washed and dusted and even changed her bed. She’d been on a job for six days. A lot of stakeout work and her home got terribly neglected. She was just finishing up mopping the floor in the kitchen when there was a knock at the door.

  She wondered who it could be. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Probably someone who got the wrong apartment.

  She opened the door and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. Sam stood there, his duffel on his back, his hair slightly longer and his blue eyes full of anticipation.

  “Sam!” She threw herself at him. Then immediately backed up before he could even get his arms around her.

  “Hey! What kind of greeting is that? Are you teasing me? I’ve been waiting a long time to hold you.”

  “I’m a mess. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” She smacked his chest. “I would have planned to at least be showered and presentable.”

  “You look pretty damn good to me. Still as sassy as ever.” He took a step forward and pulled her tightly to him. “Even with your messy hair and sweaty body, I bet your lips are still as soft as I remember. You haven’t changed. Liv, you’re still as beautiful and contrary as ever.”

  He let her go and she stood there for a minute before bursting into tears.

  At first he looked stunned, and then understanding dawned. “You’re happy to see me, right? That’s why you’re crying?” He grabbed his duffel and snagged her around the waist, dragging them both into her apartment.

  Kicking the door closed with his foot, he dropped his duffel again but picked her up and snuggled her close.

  “Ah, Liv, tell me the waterworks are because you missed me?”

  She smacked him again and he chuckled. “You know they are, you exasperating man.”

  “Well, I’ve been on a plane for a few hours and I could use a shower.” He waggled his eyebrows, and her tears stopped and her breath hitched.

  “Kiss me again, Sam,” she whispered. “Just kiss me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  They ran out of hot water because they were too much into each other. Sam literally was into her as far as he could go. Now sated, they were lying on her bed. He was toying with her hair. “I left the service.” When she smiled at him, he said, “So I’m kinda between jobs.”

  She ran her hand over his thick, broad chest. His blue eyes were looking deeply into hers. “That’s a nice way to put that you don’t have a job.”

  He smiled easily and she decided that this relaxed, laid-back Sam was just as sexy as the tough, I’m-in-charge Sam. “Okay, I’m unemployed.”

  She gently scored his skin with her nails and he inhaled and grabbed her hand, pulling her over his chest. “I heard that you’re kinda a rich guy.”

  He sent his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her neck, gently rubbing his thumb up and down. His touch was warm and it made her shiver. “Well, sure, but I’m not going to sit around eating bonbons.”

  It was her turn to smile now. “You’re not? What are you going to do?”

  He pulled her face down to his and nibbled on her lips, then pressed tiny kisses along her jaw. “Funny thing about that. I heard about a job opening with this P.I.”

  She sighed as he trailed fiery kisses down her neck. She ran her hands over his head, the silky strands of his hair tickling her palms. He felt so good. “That sounds promising.”

  He flipped her onto her back and settled above her, placing his elbows against the mattress on either side of her head, his hips notching right between her legs. His eyes twinkled as they gazed deeply into hers. “Yeah, it does, but I heard she’s a real pain in the ass.” He grinned.

  She snorted and rubbed her hands flat against his broad back. “Is that so?”

  His expression was sly. “It is. She doesn’t take any shit, has great debating skills, is really intelligent and can handle a mean .45.”

  She mock-frowned. “Oh, my, she sounds like an ogre. What makes you qualified to apply?”

  He looked up, scrunching up his face, and she laughed. Tickling his ribs, he jerked and gave her a quelling look. “I’m a good shot.”

  “Uh-huh, go on.” She smoothed her hands down to his waist.

  He sucked in a breath as she dragged her nails up either side of his stomach. He caught his bottom lip between his teeth and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were an intense, deep blue. “I’m really good under pressure.” He moaned softly as she did it again. He pressed his hard-on against her. “And putting other people under pressure.”

  The feel of him made her breath hitch. She exhaled heavily. “Check, got that. What else?”

  “This is important, something I learned only recently.” He pushed her thighs apart and thrust his hips forward, slipping himself just a bit inside.

  She wet her lips and tried to focus on what he was saying. “I can’t wait to hear.”

  He grinned from ear to ear. “I’m a team player.”

  She laughed and groaned at the same time. “Are you? Well, I have an activity that requires a team of two.”

  He shoved himself all the way in and whispered, “Do I need to take notes?”

  Her hips rose to meet him. “Oh, no, Sam. You’re a natural.”

  Chapter 18

  Sam woke up in Olivia’s arms and was quite content to lie here for the rest of his life. But he felt a bit guilty that he hadn’t first gone to his family. Olivia stirred awake and her brown eyes opened. For a moment, she looked dazed, then smiled.

  “Oh, good. You weren’t a wonderful dream.”

  “Nope.” The comfort he got from just that look in her eyes made his heart contract. Jeez, he had it bad. “I need to go see my family today. Want to come with me?”

  “I’d love to see your mother,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in the hollow of his neck and shoulder.

  “After that, I want to take you somewhere tropical. You up for that?”

  She raised her head so fast she knocked his chin. “Oh, sorry. Yes, I’m so ready for that. I can’t remember the last time I took a vacation. But before we discuss that, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, something you mentioned last night, but I got kinda d
istracted by your mouth and body. You made the decision to leave the army. I hope it wasn’t for me, Sam. I wouldn’t want you to give up something that was important to you. I would have adjusted.”

  His heart turned over and over. This woman was such a treasure. “No, sweetheart. I didn’t do it for you. I did it for me. I have been dissatisfied with the service for a while. Burned out even before the Cartel ambushed me. I will admit that I wanted to be with you more than six months out of the year. I’m ready for something different and new. With you, Liv. If that’s something you want to pursue.”

  “Yes, Sam. I want a relationship with you. I wanted it before you left, but I wanted you to find your way first. To discover what it is you really wanted. Our relationship couldn’t really move forward. Have you found your way?”

  “Yes, straight back to you, babe.”

  “Oh, Sam. That makes me so happy.”

  “I owe you.”

  She looked confused. “A bra?”

  “What?”

  “My black silk bra. Remember? The one you destroyed.”

  “No, Liv, not the bra.”

  “The dinner, then? You said you’d take me out to dinner.”

  “No, Liv, not dinner.”

  “What, then? Owe me what?”

  His throat got tight. “Saving my life, Liv. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I was completely lost without your brother to help me. You kept me occupied and grounded. I feel like I would have been swallowed whole by what they did to me.”

  She cupped his face. “Oh, Sam. It was easy to be with you.”

  He snorted, “Easy. We fought like maniacs.”

  “I know. But that was just part of who you are. I’m sure we’ll fight some more.”

  He nodded. “True, but the making up will be fun.”

  “Oh, Sam.” She kissed him and held him close.

  He buried his face in her hair. “I love you, Liv.”

  She broke away from him to look into his eyes. “Say that again, Sam.”

  He brushed his thumb across her cheekbone and his lips across her mouth. “I love you.”

  “That is really great, but you still owe me a bra and dinner.”

  He laughed.

  * * *

  He argued all the way over to his mother’s about the P.I. name. Olivia wanted “Owens and Winston” and Sam argued for “Winston Owens.” As they parked outside the estate, their argument ended abruptly when Sam saw a man pacing outside the gate. His eyes narrowed as he studied the man.

  He was an older man, probably about his mother’s age, maybe a tad older. He had dark brown hair that was mostly gray, a ruddy complexion and was quite fit.

  Getting out of the truck, Sam approached the guy warily. “Who are you? What do you want?”

  “You’re one of her sons, aren’t you?”

  “I’m Sam Winston and, yes, I’m Kate’s son. Why are you here?”

  “I need to speak with her. It’s urgent, but I can’t get in. The security is so tight after all the trouble you had here about a month ago.”

  “What is it that you need to see her about?”

  “It’s private, son.”

  He looked at Olivia. His expression growing more suspicious, he grabbed the man’s arm. “Well, let’s see what my mother has to say about that.”

  Sam took no chances. “I need to check for weapons.”

  The man nodded as Sam gave him a thorough frisk.

  When he was satisfied the guy wasn’t carrying, he dragged the man through the gate and up past security, raising his hand when the two agents standing guard outside the door stepped forward. He opened the door and pulled the man into the foyer.

  “Mom!”

  After a few moments, she came hurrying into the foyer with Trey and Thad hard on her heels.

  “Sam!” She ran to him and threw her arms around him. “It’s so good to see you and Olivia. We’re having lunch...” She broke off when she saw the man Sam had hauled inside. Her face went white with shock and she swayed. Sam went to steady her, but the man was there too quickly, catching her first.

  Trey and Thad jumped forward. Sam grabbed the man and jerked him away from his mother and pushed him up against the wall, his fist clenched.

  “Sam, no. Please, let him go.”

  She covered her mouth and just stared at the man in front of her, and Sam’s heart lurched to see the look in her eyes. Not only did his mother know this man, but she knew him well.

  “I need to speak with you, Kate.” His expression crumpled a bit. “It’s a matter of life-and-death.”

  “You can come into the study.”

  “No,” Sam said, standing between the man and his mother. “There’s no way we’re going to stand by while some stranger talks to you alone.”

  “This is no stranger.” His mother’s voice was soft and a little broken. “This is Patrick O’Hara. I loved him before I met your father.”

  He approached her again, his eyes a little desolate. “Yes, and you abandoned us, Kate.”

  She looked up at him her face full of confusion. “Us?”

  His lips tightened. “Kate, you left Carrie and me.”

  “Carrie?”

  “Your daughter, Kate. Carrie was your daughter.”

  She backed up away from him, tears springing to her eyes. “What are you saying? My daughter died at birth.”

  “What? No, she didn’t. She died after she had your granddaughter. Dear God, Kate. What did that bastard of a father do to you?”

  “Not my father. My mother. She lied to me,” she whispered, her face frozen in shock. Pain and agony shone in the deep blue of her eyes. “She told me that my baby was dead.”

  The same shock rolled through Sam and showed on his brothers’ faces. He’d had a sister? A half sister? His grandmother lied to his mother about something so heartbreaking? And now he’d just discovered he had a niece.

  “My greatest and most painful regret was losing my baby girl.”

  Olivia went to her and put her arm around her as Kate leaned heavily on her.

  “Your mother came to me and told me you wanted nothing to do with us. I raised her by myself. But I lost her to a drunk driver. I raised Shelby alone after that. It was just the two of us.”

  His mother looked so wrecked, Sam took her hand and helped her into the living room, where she sat down on the couch. Patrick followed, looking as horrified by the situation as Kate.

  “Katie, I didn’t know. I thought you’d given up on us and gone to that fancy school in Europe. When I tried to find you, you were gone.”

  She raised her distressed eyes to his. “I would never have left her, Patrick, or you. How could she have done this to me?”

  “She was probably trying to protect you,” Patrick said. “But when I thought you didn’t want us that was hard to take, Kate.”

  She took Patrick’s hands and he closed his eyes at her touch. It looked as though this man and Sam’s mother had a lot to talk about.

  “Why did you come here, Patrick? After all these years.”

  “I need your help. I don’t know who to turn to. Shelby has been missing for two weeks. I’m frantic and the FBI keeps giving me the runaround. They’ve made no progress on finding her. I thought you could help with your connections. I’m desperate, Kate. I don’t know who could have taken her.”

  Sam’s heart lurched in his chest and he swore softly under his breath. His brothers looked at each other, thinking the same thing he was thinking.

  There was complete silence in the room as his mother’s face hardened. “I do,” she said softly. “The Cartel.”

  Epilogue

  Olivia woke up in a platform bed that was low to the floor. They had been traveling for so long tha
t she’d gotten so tired she’d fallen asleep, barely waking up on the last leg of the trip. Sam must have carried her here. She looked around the quaint but beautiful cabana. Polished wood floor and walls, tastefully decorated in a modern beach theme. The gauzy curtains at the windows billowed in a soft, warm breeze.

  She was completely and decadently naked against a fully nude Sam. They were lying on the bed, his leg thrown over hers, his face soft in sleep.

  There had been a couple of nights when he’d had some lingering nightmares, even though he mentioned he hadn’t had any really bad ones, Olivia realized that it took time to get over what Sam had endured, She’d soothed him through them. Especially after the shocking event they’d witnessed at the estate when Patrick O’Hara, Kate’s first love, had dropped that bomb about Kate’s first child. A child Sam and his brothers knew nothing about. The family would need some time to absorb that information and the terrible news that Shelby, Kate’s granddaughter, was missing.

  Kate insisted that it would be handled and that Sam and Olivia needed a break. So they had agreed to take this trip.

  That soft breeze from the window wafted over their bodies in a pleasant slide.

  She slipped out from under him and walked over to the doorway and peeked outside. Stunned, she looked up and down a completely empty beach. Looking behind the house, she saw nothing but jungle. No roads, no cars, mopeds, bikes, nothing but a thick green wall.

  “That’s right, you’re all mine for seven days.”

  She turned to find Sam propped on his elbow admiring the view of her backside as she bent over the window frame to gaze out. His grin was so easy, so carefree, she grinned back at him. “This is a secluded island?”

  He reached out his hand to her, motioning her back to bed. “Totally. No people, just water, sand and jungle.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing. Does your family own it?” She couldn’t think of one place she’d rather be than here isolated with her Lone Ranger.

  “Lock, stock and barrel.” He got an impatient look on his face and motioned her again. She shook her head.

  Padding into the kitchen, she said, “There better be coffee here, Sam. Or I’m going to be cranky. And what about food? Certainly we’re not going to eat coconuts.”