by J. L. Beck
“Wait!” Ridge followed. “Where are you going?”
“To get a drink,” he growled.
She caught up with him at the bar. “But I’ve never seen you drink before.”
He grunted and slammed a bottle on the bar.
Jumping a bit, she stared at his still thunderous expression. “Tell me. Tell me about it!”
“I’m gearing up to do just that. It’s why I need a drink.” He unscrewed the cap and filled a glass. Then he filled another.
“Oh—I don’t know if…” Her eyes met his to see a glint in them and her voice faded away.
“To get the truth you are going to have to drink with me,” he stated in a tone that sounded final.
Letting out a breath, she nodded. “Okay. Have it your way, but whiskey?” She scrunched up her nose.
His expression changed to one of curiosity. “How do you know you don’t like whiskey?”
Shrugging, she shook her head. “It just sounds gross to me…I don’t know really.”
He sighed. “Okay, so you’re a wine spritzer kind of girl?”
Ridge rolled her eyes. “How the hell do I know?”
He fished around in the small bar fridge. Then plopped one of those orange juice bottles on the bar. Swinging around, he grabbed the vodka. “Screwdriver it is.”
She nodded.
“Cause I know you like OJ.” He poured the juice and added vodka. Pushing the glass over to her, he nodded.
“No. I need ice.”
His gaze rose to hers. “I’m not your damn bartender.”
She grinned. “I don’t know. By the way you move back there, I think you have bartended.”
“How did you know that?”
“I don’t… I mean you do move like one.”
“Interesting.” He produced an ice cube and dropped it into her glass. “There… princess.”
She huffed. “Just cause I wanted ice?”
He grinned at her.
Raising the glass, she blurted, “You have the most wonderful smile. I prefer it over that angry gloomy look.”
He stared at her. “You just say what you think don’t you?”
Shrugging, she replied, “I guess? I don’t seem to have a filter or stop sign. I bet I got into all kinds of trouble in my life.”
Taking a long drink of his whiskey, he then poured some more. “I bet. Look at where you are now.”
She laughed as she took another sip.
“Climbing a mountain, in a blizzard, with two hit men behind you.”
Her gaze swung up. “H-hit men?”
He nodded. “Yep. That is what they were.”
“How do you know?”
“Their guns. The looks of them.”
“Y-you saw them?”
“Sure, before they got swallowed up by the avalanche.” He drank another glass full. “Ahhh. Now I feel a bit better.”
Draining her drink, she set her glass down with a hard clunk. “So talk, mister.”
He swung his gaze up at her. “Since when do you get to give orders?”
Chuckling, she shrugged. “Maybe I get more mouthy when I drink?”
Tilting his head back, he laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
He shook his head as he grabbed more juice and liquor. “I already thought you were sassy before.”
“Oh, no.” Ridge stared at her new drink and shook her head. “You are trying to get me drunk!”
“Yep,” he answered outright. “Maybe you will loosen up and remember more.”
“And maybe…you are stalling,” she accused as she took a sip of the new drink.
He stilled. “Maybe I am. What I need to tell you isn’t pretty and it isn’t pleasant.”
“It what gives you the nightmares,” she stated simply.
Harris nodded. “Only it is a real memory. Not a dream. I keep wondering why I continue having it. Like it would change the outcome maybe?”
Ridge felt for him. “It must have been a horrible thing.”
CHAPTER TEN
Noah released a breath and took another huge gulp of his whiskey. Setting the glass down, he launched in, “I’m a SEAL.”
Her eye rounded. “I knew it! Military.”
“How did you know?”
She took another sip then sat her glass down. “You look like one of those Call of Duty guys.” She released a tiny hiccup. “From the video games you know?”
Noah stared at her. Video games? God dammit, that hiccup was adorable. Sounded like a little kid hiccupping.
Her eyes met his. “What?”
He knew if he told her how cute she was, she would lose her temper again. Which normally, he would love. But just now, they needed to get to the truth. “I noticed how observant you are. Gauging things. Like I did bartend my way through college. So how did you guess I was a soldier?”
She chuckled and drained her glass then set it down. “Either that or you are hiding your shell.”
He blinked his eyes at her, not getting it.
“A ninja turtle!” She pointed at him and sniggered. “You like… use stealth. So silent, no one would hear you coming up behind them until you…snapped their necks.” Her eyes focused on him. “That’s what you do isn’t it?”
Just as he’d thought…. very observant. He nodded. “Among other things.”
“Oh, I bet!” She patted his hand. “Like you tied me up in ten seconds flat!” She stared into his eyes. “How many women have you tied up?”
Noah knew one thing about her for sure now. She wasn’t used to drinking because she was more than tipsy already. He laughed. “A few.”
“So… in the line of duty or just for fun?” She wiggled her brows.
He kept chuckling as leaned close and whispered, “They were always willing.”
“Of course, they were! I mean just take a look at you. I bet you snap your fingers and they drop their panties!” She started laughing as she saluted. “Yes, Sir! Drop my panties, Sir!”
Noah laughed outright. “Wow, you are a fun drunk. So, answer some questions for me.”
“Shoot! Soldier boy.”
He smiled at her antics. “This man you remember, was he your boyfriend, you think?”
Tilting her head, she furrowed her brows. “I don’t thinks so. I mean it felt like friendship or something?”
“Mmm, so you don’t think…” He shook his head. If she was Tanner’s girl, here looking for him, he couldn’t ever have her. Not after Tanner gave his life trying to save his. Suddenly, he realized what he was doing. Asking questions to find out if he could keep her for himself. Not to find the truth. He felt angry with himself. He’d lost sight of what was important here, again!
“Why are you looking gloomy again?” she asked with a pout on her lips.
Noah took a minute to get himself under control. “Tanner was part of my team.”
“Okay and what happened to him?”
He paused. “First, let me show you something.” He went around the bar, knelt down and tapped in a code to the small safe there. He removed an envelope. He needed to make sure this was the person she saw in her memories. He opened it and took out an image, handing it to her.
She grabbed it eagerly and peered down. Gasping, she placed one hand over her mouth.
He waited.
“Walker…” Her eyes filled with tears.
His body tensed. “So, you do know him?” The team never knew each other’s real names, part of the way it had all been set up.
Nodding, she started to cry. “H-he can’t be dead. He isn’t dead!” Her eyes rose up.
Noah saw so much pain there in her gaze. He let out a breath. “I’m sorry. So you remember him now?”
Her gaze rose up. “Just his name. Dammit!” She held a hand up to her head. “And that he is important to me.”
“Okay. Take it easy,” Noah urged getting concerned about the way she held her head in her hands. “Maybe that’s enough for today.”
“No…” She droppe
d her hands. “It is not enough. I need to know what you have to do with him.”
Noah sighed. “We need to know who he was to you.”
“Why?”
The truth Noah? Yeah, that I’m a selfish, beautiful bastard. Trying to clear the way for my conscious so I can fuck you like I want to. “Tanner was a Special Ops SEAL. Just like me. Our missions are kept secret. Only like two in upper command even know of these missions.”
“Hmmph!” She narrowed her eyes. “Yes, and its classified. You cannot talk about it, blah, fucking blah!”
He shook his head at her. “You sound like one of those reporters. Ones who don’t get it.”
“We don’t get it because no one talks. People like you!”
He glared at her. “If we talk, we compromise everything. In this case, it did no good, they came after us…”
Her eyes rounded. “What?”
He turned away. “This is all very dangerous Ridge. Much more than you know. “
“So…those hit men.”
“Yes. They were following you.”
“I wonder if the ones who hired them knew where I was going?”
“See? That’s a good question. However, I doubt it. There is no signal or cell service for 50 miles out at least.”
“B-but what if…”
He poured her just orange juice this time. “If they come, I light out of here.” He handed her the glass.
Absently, she took it. “Light…?”
Dammit. Now he was talking too much.
“How can you do that? You said we were too far away from civilization.”
“We are.”
“How can you just sit there so calm?” She rose up. “You mean an army of hit men could come up here and take us out?”
“Sure. It is always a possibility.”
“And then what?” She raised her hands in the air.
“We fly out of here.” He sipped his whiskey.
“F-fly?” She leaned out from the barstool and looked at his back. “Can you sprout wings?”
He smiled. “No. I have a little bird.”
Ridge started laughing. “Okay, either you’re too drunk or I am! A little bird.” She bent her arms under with her elbows sticking out and flapped like they were wings. “Squawk, squawk!”
He laughed. “You are a funny drunk, you know that?”
She huffed and sat back down. “You’re the one with the sense of humor. A little bird.” Rolling her eyes, she took another sip of her drink.
“It’s an MH6.”
She paused and batted her eyes at him.
“A helicopter, Ridge.”
Her eyes rounded at him. “You have a helicopter here?” Her voice rose.
Again, he sighed. “Yes, among other vehicles.”
“What kind of set up is this?”
“I told you. We built this place to get away.”
“Yeah, you mean to hide away.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“So, I’m on a mountain with a special ops guy. Who is probably being hunted?”
Nodding his head, he took another sip of heat and replied, “That pretty much sums it up.”
“And I knew one of the men you served with…”
“And just how did you know him is what I need to know.”
“I-I have nothing.”
He turned his head to look at her. “What if he’s…”
Ridge leaned close. “He’s?”
“What if he’s your boyfriend or husband?”
She pulled her head back.
“All while…I’ve been wanting to have you for myself,” he openly admitted.
“Oh, wow…” She looked stunned.
“Yes, you get it now, right? I no longer think you were coming up here to actually do me harm.
“No longer? You mean you thought so before this?” Her face lost a bit of color.
“Ridge, in my life, one mistake is all it takes to end me. You cannot know what it’s like.”
She placed her hand on his. “I really don’t think I would…” She lowered her head.
Reaching out, he tipped her chin up. “What?”
“Want you like I do if I had someone already.”
“But we can’t be sure Ridge. You lost your memory.”
“Yes, but not my feelings!”
“It happens every day. People wanting someone else suddenly.”
“Suddenly?” Her eyes narrowed at him. “So, you’re saying I am a slut!” She stood up off the barstool.
“No! No.” Dammit, how did she get that from what he just said?
She nodded. “That is what you just implied.”
Noah knew she had taken it all wrong. He reached out to take her hand.
Stepping aside, she grabbed her glass and gulped down her juice. Then slammed it down on the bar. “Well, this party is over. The slut is leaving!”
“Ridge…”
“No! I get it now.” She marched off to her room.
Releasing a breath, he knew he’d fucked up. Hell, he’d never pursued a relationship with a woman before. Not since high school and they were girls, not women. His raised his head. Pursue a relationship? Like in serious? Like love? A future? He realized suddenly that after all this time, all the women and his wayward work, he finally wanted a woman for keeps.
Slamming his fist down on the bar, he rattled the glasses. And he couldn’t live a normal life now with picket fences, kids and a dog. He couldn’t endanger her by keeping her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ridge cried herself to sleep. Then she tossed and turned. Walker’s face kept appearing. At first, he looked like the image she saw tonight. Then something strange happened. He was younger and tossing a ball to her in a yard. “Come on Riley! Catch the damn thing!” Suddenly, that changed and they were sitting watching TV together. Many other images rolled through her head. Going to Baseball games, hanging out at the beach.
Sometime later, she rolled over and opened her eyes.
Harris was crouched down at the fireplace.
Flames were licking the wood and catching.
She watched him for a couple of minutes. It seemed he had no intention of leaving. “So tell me your real name,” she spoke softly.
“It’s Noah.”
“Noah…wow, nothing at all like Harris.”
He kept his back to her. “My call name.”
“Noah…” she said it again.
He finally turned his head to look at her.
“Just testing it out.”
“You can see how preposterous your accusation is. If I believed you were…a slut. I would’ve had you by now.”
Ridge sat up. “What?”
Noah stood up and came her way to stand in front of the bed. “I’ve wanted you since you first opened your eyes.”
Swallowing heavily, she didn’t reply. He knew she wanted him already.
“First, I have to choose my women carefully.”
She tilted her head at hm. “Why?”
“I get a bit carried away.” He smiled.
Her chest tightened at that smile. She just lost her breath. But she knew this about him already. Carried away. She almost giggled. I bet.
“You might just fit me.”
Her cheeks heated up.
He chuckled. “Yes, I can see how you might take that line.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she stated.
“What?” He looked confused.
“Tanner, he’s not my boyfriend.”
“How do you know?”
“I-I had memories just now. I saw him much younger. By what I saw I think we grew up together. He called me Riley.”
“Riley,” he whispered. “So what was he to you? Your brother?”
“Maybe?” She shrugged.
He sighed. “Well, that isn’t much better.”
“What do you mean?”
“The man saved my life.”
“That’s a good thing, Noah.”
“I can’t take advan
tage. I should take care of you.”
She rose up on her knees. “You have! You saved me, fed me.” She giggled. “Showered me and washed my hair.”
He raised a brow at her.
“Why are you so afraid?” she asked in a whisper.
“Afraid?”
“Yeah,” she challenged. “It’s like you’re too scared to fuck me.” Damn Riley, you are the brave witless one aren’t you?
At this accusation, he pulled his head back. “I’m not afraid to fuck you.” He took a step closer. “I am afraid I might fuck you too hard. Rattle your brain loose. Make you pass out from…” He clenched his fists as his body suddenly relaxed and he grinned at her. “Dammit, you are a clever girl.”
She had the audacity to place her hands on her hips. “At least, I’m not a scaredy cat!”
He laughed. “Sticks and stones, Ridge. Besides your brave pussy, what else ya got?”
She sucked in a breath. Wow, this was flirting on steroids! “Okay, mister you asked for it!” She rolled her sweatpants down.
He took a step back.
She tugged them off her feet and tossed them at him.
Noah caught them and let them drop to the floor. His eyes went a deep, dark green. His expression looked hard like flint.
“See? You are one scared soldier!” She couldn’t believe she was doing this but he asked for it. “I’ve got these!” She turned around and dropped to her stomach then up on her knees. Her bare ass cheeks sticking up like a red flag. She bit at her lip as her stomach swarmed with the flutters. She wanted to laugh and run away at the same time.
Silence.
A full minute went by.
He left didn’t he? He’s always leaving. I won’t be able to face him now. How humiliating! I shouldn’t have—
Warm hands rubbed over her bare ass.
She held still.
Grasping her waist suddenly, he hauled her up.
Yes, yes! Finally!
Swinging her around, he laid her over his lap. “You earned this sweet cheeks,” he whispered.
Her eyes rounded. He wouldn’t!
He lowered his fingers between her thighs.
Oh, wow, he isn’t going to actually do it, is he? She remembered what he said about spanking her, while filling all her holes. Her legs opened to give him access.
