Hawke noticed her standing on the small stoop outside the front door. He said something to the man beside him. Vi recognized Captain Buchanan. They walked in her direction.
“Captain Buchanan, I believe you’ve met Miss Vivian Webley.”
“Hawke told me about your continued bravery.” The officer smiled. “He says you’re too brave for your own good.”
“Perhaps. Or maybe I just put his nose out of joint.”
Both men bent over in laughter. Captain Buchanan recovered first. “Forgive us. But if you knew Hawke, you’d realize how funny that is. Hawke always gives credit where it’s due, as he did when he told me what you did. But I agree with him on one point — it wasn’t wise. If I had feelings for you, I’d have gotten very angry, too.”
“Feelings?” Vi and Hawke said at once.
“Yes, and you might as well admit them now as later. Put yourselves out of your misery. I can see it, and I’ve only been here a short time.”
“Of course we don’t want anything to happen to either of us. We’ve known each other a long time,” Hawke said firmly.
“Whatever, you two work it out. I need to get this guy back to San Diego and into jail. Hawke, your vacation starts tomorrow.” Grinning, Buchanan waved and headed to the chopper.
Still looking unhappy, Hawke went inside and began gathering their stuff. “As soon as I get back with the truck, we’re out of here. Give me ten minutes.”
The drive to town was in total silence. Vi kept her eyes out the side window, and Hawke focused on the road in front of them. It wasn’t long before they reached town. For the first time, he looked at her. “Where to?”
“I don’t know. Drop me at Emma’s parents’ house. That’s where she’s staying.”
He nodded and followed her directions. Once there, he carried Vi’s belongings to the door. Emma opened the door and stared at them.
“You’re both all right.”
“Yes. It’s a long story. Can I stay with you and your parents for a few days?”
“Sure.” Emma stood to the side and gestured. “Come in. Ty, will you join us for coffee?”
“No. Thank you. I’ll go home and tell my parents what happened. See you all.” Hawke waved and strode down the walkway. He jumped in his truck and didn’t look back when he drove off.
“I have a feeling things didn’t go well,” Emma said.
“It didn’t. Hawke’s mad and for such a foolish reason.”
“Come on inside the house. At least you are both still alive,” Emma said wryly.
Later, sitting on Emma’s bed, Vi told her what had occurred during the stay at the cabin.
“I thought we were getting closer to understanding what happened back in high school. Ty seemed to believe me, to believe that I didn’t stand him up. I had hoped we might forget the past and get closer.” She stopped talking and stared off into space.
“And then the sniper arrived?” Emma prompted.
“Yes, and all hell broke loose. I feared for Ty’s safety and he feared for mine, I guess.” Vi explained what she’d done.
“Oh, Vi. What were you thinking? You embarrassed him and made him feel you didn’t trust him to keep you safe.”
“I trusted him. I didn’t trust the sniper. You think I messed up?”
“Yes. If you care about Ty, you are going to have to eat crow, big time.” Seeing Vi’s chin moving up, Emma smiled. “You were wrong. Put your fighting chin down and admit it.”
“You don’t believe he’ll apologize to me?”
“Never. He has nothing to apologize for. Ty saved you twice. Remember, you said you care about him. I think you love him. Now’s the time to admit it to yourself and do what’s right.”
Vi mulled that over. The truth stung, but Emma was right. “Can I wait until tomorrow?”
“I think so. It’s after midnight.” Emma grabbed Vi and hugged her.
After telling his parents goodnight, Hawke went straight to bed. Sunlight from his bedroom window woke him. He glanced at his watch, surprised to see it was nine o’clock. He hadn’t slept that late in years.
The cold shower helped wake him, and he put on his running pants and a t-shirt before going into the kitchen. The mouthwatering scents of bacon, eggs, and biscuits made his stomach grumble.
“Sit,” his mother said. “You are going to eat a good breakfast before doing anything else.”
He grinned. “Yes, Mom. Can that include coffee?”
She handed him a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. “Drink this first. I just made a new pot of coffee. I’ll pour you a cup.”
“I’m sorry I missed your anniversary party. Did you have fun?”
His Mom smiled. “You didn’t miss anything, Ty. We put it off till next Saturday. Your Dad and I thought a week would give you time enough to get the bad guy.” She set a mug of coffee in front of him and went back to the stove to cook his eggs.
“That’s great. My Captain said my vacation didn’t officially start until today, so I have two more weeks to stay with you and Dad. Can you stand it?”
His mom put the eggs, bacon, and potatoes on a plate and carried it to him. Leaning down, she whispered in his ear. “The best anniversary gift of all.” Then she sat across from him and picked up her own cup of coffee.
With an innocent tone he didn’t believe for a second, she asked, “How did you and Vivian get along cooped up in the cabin?”
Hawke stopped the motion of his fork halfway to his mouth. He put the fork down. “Did you hope we’d do well together?”
“I did. I’ve always liked and admired Vivian. I thought for a while in high school that you were interested in her.”
“I was. But I haven’t been since.” He resumed eating.
“You know, there was a lot of gossip at the time about her and her mother.”
Hawke looked at his mother. “What gossip?”
“It was pretty obvious she favored the younger daughter because she was so much like her. Vivian, I think, got lost in that family. Her mother was way too concerned with her daughters marrying rich husbands.”
“What does that have to do with me, Mom?”
After a pause, his mother said, “I remember how you were after your first date with Vivian, Ty. Your father and I had never seen you so excited about seeing a girl again. And how disappointed you were when you didn’t.”
“I was in high school, Mom. It’s a place full of drama. I found out there were people to trust and more people not to trust.”
“She stood you up.”
Hawke shoved himself up from the table and paced the large kitchen. “She says her mother and so-called friends arranged for us to both be stood up.”
“Do you believe her?”
“Mom, why is this important? It was a long time ago. Too much time has gone by for it to matter.”
“Give her the benefit of the doubt.”
Hawke leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Breakfast was great. I’m going for a walk.”
“You didn’t eat it all.”
“I’m keeping an eye on my figure.”
His mother chuckled and started clearing the table. “I know when you want to avoid a conversation. You don’t have to leave.”
“I want to look around and enjoy the cool, crisp morning air.”
Outside, Hawke set a fast pace toward the small lake not far from the ranch house. The scents of growing things invigorated him. The sound of familiar birdsong, the rustle of leaves in the wind eased his soul. He hadn’t realized how much he missed home until he was here. It grounded him, reminded him of where he’d come from, and what he fought for during his missions.
The lake was almost smooth as glass this morning. Sunlight sparked off shallow ripples. He found some flat rocks and skipped them with a flip of his wrist to see how far they’d go before sinking. As time passed since he’d eaten, Hawke ran several laps around the lake. Afterward, he lay under one of the many shade trees near the water’s edge and closed his eyes.<
br />
The drip of water on his face brought him up in fight mode. He grabbed, yanked and rolled, stopping himself poised above his captive. His grip eased, but he didn’t relent. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
Vi grinned. “Your mother said you were out here. I found you sleeping and decided to wake you.”
“I might have hurt you.”
“I’m not that fragile.”
He moved off her, but not before realizing his body had recognized her. He pushed himself to his feet and walked to the water’s edge facing away from her.
Her voice soft, she said, “I came to apologize.”
“I don’t care. We got our guy, and I didn’t have to kill him.”
“You’re still angry.”
“Angry!” He strode back to her side and towered over her. “I thought you’d be smarter than to do such a stupid thing.”
“I wasn’t.”
She looked away from him before continuing. “I didn’t want you hurt or killed because of me.” Vi was almost sure she heard his teeth grind.
“We hardly know each other. It’s not for you to worry about me. It was my job to protect you!” He almost shouted the words in her face. Jumping back, he began to stalk away, intending to make another circuit around the lake.
Behind him, Vi yelled, “I’m sorry! I won’t bother you anymore.”
He stopped walking, looked over his shoulder to see her moving away from him, and hollered, “Coward! Stay and fight with me.”
Vi, her expression furious, turned back and ran to meet him as he casually walked in her direction. Tears streamed down her face as she stopped running and pounded her fists against his chest.
“Is that the best you can do?” He bent over laughing.
She gave him a shove and he toppled over, but Hawke brought her with him. With one lithe move, he turned and trapped her under his hard body.
When he looked into her vivid blue eyes, he did something he hadn’t planned. He leaned down and kissed her. His irritation turned to desire for the spitfire lying under him. His body held her legs tight, and he cupped her face in his hands. He lowered his lips and kissed her all over her face. When he got to her mouth, her lips tasted sweet. She opened for him, and he couldn’t stop tasting. His tongue swept inside her mouth to tangle with hers.
One hand cupped her breast, and his finger ran across her hardened nipple. Her body went soft under his and she quit fighting. She didn’t stop him when his lips moved to her throat. A sensuous glance stopped him for a moment before his lips caressed the spot where her heart pounded.
Hawke stared into her eyes for a second before pulling down her low top and her bra to kiss her bare breast. A rush of heated desire had his body throbbing as his mouth closed over her nipple.
The rustle of birds in a nearby tree suddenly woke them from whatever spell had them enthralled. He rolled off Vi and put his arm over his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Hawke stood and helped her up. Vi had quickly covered her breast and stood on shaky legs.
“Don’t apologize. We were both upset. I need to go and…” She hurried off.
Hawke watched her go. “Damn, damn, damn. What was I thinking? I wasn’t.” He headed to his car once he heard her leave.
Confused, he shook his head, and drove off to visit Warner. Maybe talking to his best friend from high school would clear his head.
He doubted it. He smelled Vi’s scent on his skin. She touched something inside him that he’d kept hidden behind a strong wall. And the wall was crumbling.
Chapter 10
Walter Seaborn took one look at Vivian and came around his desk. “What did your mother do now?”
“It wasn’t her, Dad. Look, I don’t want to interrupt if you’re busy.”
“Nothing I can’t leave for later. I’ve put you off too many times. Wait, I’ll ask my secretary to run across the street and get us coffee and those good donuts we like.”
“Make my drink, tea.”
“Will do.”
He slipped out of the door for a minute. Vivian glanced around his office. It was all a warm, medium colored wood. His desk, large and manly. She smiled, thinking how hard her father must have worked to get everything he had after starting with almost nothing.
“Do you like my office?” he asked as he reentered. “I had it redone about two years ago. I liked the old one, but the people I have to impress and get their investment money expect an office that looks successful.”
“You’ve done well, Dad.”
“But at a cost to you.”
“Not really. You couldn’t have made Mother any different. Did you love her, Dad?”
He was silent and didn’t meet her eyes for several long moments. “That’s a fair question, since I spent so much time away from the family.” He leaned back in his chair. “Oh, here’s our treat. Thanks,” he said to his secretary. When the woman left the office, he nodded toward the closed door. “I hired her about three years ago. She’s a treasure, very competent.
“Anyway, you wanted to know if I loved your mother. The honest answer is, I thought I did. She was beautiful and funny. But we didn’t date long enough, so I didn’t see her other side. The demands to go out and make money, make her part of the richer people in town.” He shrugged. “At first, I thought why not. I didn’t mind the idea of having money. Then you and your sister came along, and we were comfortable. I suggested I not work as many hours and spend more time with the family.”
“But you weren’t rich enough for her,” Vi said.
Sadly, he shook his head. “It took me a while to realize I never would be. But it was more comfortable to stay late and work hard than deal with her sarcasm and negativity.
“When Isaw her pushing you toward the rich boys, I assumed you probably wanted the same as her. It wasn’t until later that I realized you didn’t. I’m sorry to say, but Bella is just like her. Again, I wish I’d come home more often and supported you.”
“It’s all right, Dad. I’m stronger for having to fight for my way of life.” Vivian took a sip of tea and a bite of her donut, and moaned in pleasure. “I’d forgotten how good these donuts are and now I’m going to want one every day while I’m here.”
Her father grinned. “You’ll have to exercise.” He leaned across the desk, watching her intently. “Are you going back to San Diego?”
“I think so, but I’m not sure I want to be on television.”
“What will you do?”
“I haven’t decided. I have a few ideas.”
“If you need money to give you time to think about your future, I’d be glad to give you some.”
“You paid for my college. That’s more than enough. I’m an adult, and I have savings. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m proud of you, whatever you decide.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Vi put her empty cup on his desk and brushed the donut crumbs from her fingers. “I’ll see you later. It’s time for me to go to Emma’s folks’ place, sit on the back porch, and figure out my next step. I can’t stay here forever.”
“Too bad. But at least you came home to visit. It’s been too long. Next time, you can stay with me. You can now, if you’d like.”
“I’m fine where I am, but thanks. I’ll be flying back to San Diego in a week or so.”
“Hi, Ty.” Warner beamed at him and opened his front door wider. “I wondered when you’d get around to see me. Of course, I’d talked to your folks and knew you were busy. Come on in.”
“Nice place,” Hawke said. “Where’s Glenda?”
“At work. She’s a court reporter. We both like that she can take two or three weeks off in the summer when I’m not coaching. Have a seat. I’ll get us a beer.”
Hawke glanced around the living room. It looked comfortable. He settled in an armchair as Warner returned with their beers. When his friend sat down, Hawke asked, “You still love coaching high school football?”
“Yeah. I’ve had an offe
r to coach at a college, but I’ve decided not to accept it.”
“It'd be more money, wouldn’t it?”
Warner shrugged. “Yes, but my wife and I like it here. We want to have kids, and we’d want them to grow up in a small town with both sets of grandparents close by.”
“This was a nice place to grow up in,” Hawke agreed.
“You chose the Navy. I’m sure you’ve seen a lot more of the world than me, but not a better part of the world.”
“No, not the better part of the world, but the better part can stay safe as long as we fight the bad guys.”
“True. I’m glad we have you and all the military men and women who help us keep places like this thriving in America.”
“And the rest of the world, but that part’s not as easy.”
“Why don’t you come home, marry, start a family? We’d watch football on the weekend together,” Warner said and grinned.
“I might join you someday when I’m not as strong and fast and have to leave it to the younger guys. I’m thirty-one, so it won’t be too many years before I have to quit.”
“Probably more than five.”
“Most likely. Where was the college job?”
“In another state, too far from home.”
“You’re certain you want to turn it down?”
“Glenda and I made the decision together. We earn good money between us. Being rich has never been our goal.”
“Nor mine.”
“Tell me what you can about your job. What you like most.”
“One of my favorite parts is how close some of us get, working together. We’re like brothers.”
“I’m proud of you, man.” Warner tipped his bottle against Ty’s in a salute. “Go, Navy.”
“Thanks, and I’m proud and happy for you and Glenda. I can’t wait to see you as a father.”
“Hopefully, it won’t be too long. We’re trying, and of course, that’s fun.”
The SEAL’s Surprise Mission (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Rache) Page 8
