“I’d have no problem with you staying there,” Mick said, “but there’s codes, insurance and legalities we have to abide by. The bunker is the best we can do.”
Emma swallowed a groan, wondering what sub-standard structure she’d call home for three days. Did it have air conditioning? Shower facilities? Or would she completely rough it like an actual recruit? Or “boot,” as Shane mentioned guys in the military called newbies who hadn’t seen combat.
Disappointment deepened when she realized this hardly encouraged romance. Sweat and body odor mixed with mud and dirt sounded less fun than a monsoon on the Fourth of July. No fireworks for you, she though glumly.
“Is it clean?” she asked Mick.
“Spin n’ span, ma’am.”
“He’s a poet in his spare time,” Shane joked. He didn’t seem worried. She felt a little guilty for considering worst case scenarios while he balanced his own massive duffel over his shoulder and carried her giant suitcase through rough terrain without complaint.
“We don’t take cleanliness lightly,” Mick said. “When these boys leave, the buildings and grounds are spotless.”
A ray of sunshine pierced her previous gloom.
The woods thinned, opening onto a wide field. To the left a short building squatted amid tall swaying grasses. The cinderblock construction was minimalist but serviceable. Glass block windows suggested a shower area, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Shane deposited their belongings on the covered porch, lined with picnic tables, that faced the surrounding fields. Purple and yellow flowers dotted the golden grasses. Butterflies dipped and swayed as if guided by the music of a symphony. Colorful birds glided and darted in playful reverie. Distant water lapping against a shoreline sounded serene.
If the building was minimalist, the surroundings were a feast for the senses. Pleasantly surprised, Emma relaxed, breathing in the rich scent of the cool woods mingling with sun-warmed grass.
Shane chuckled. “You look like a girl whose life sentence just got commuted to time served.”
“I admit, I was nervous.”
“Would I steer you wrong?” When she tilted her head to the side in contemplation, he frowned. “Don’t answer that yet. I’ll give you the full tour, and you can decide then.”
“Okay.” She shrugged cheerfully. She reached for her suitcase, but he blocked her attempt.
“The only time you lift a finger here is during training.” After Mick unlocked the door and handed Shane the key, he stepped aside so Shane could follow Emma inside. He set her luggage next to the foot of the first bunkbed. “I call dibs on top,” he said, throwing her a wink.
She rolled her eyes. “There are eight bunkbeds. I think we can each have our own.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he teased.
Mick said through the screen door, “There’s fresh linens and towels in the closet. Help yourselves.”
“Oh, good.” She eyed the thin, plastic-sheathed mattresses. Amazingly, the place smelled like lemon dish soap and not pubescent boys.
Shane came up behind her, his body heat radiating from his powerful presence. The shadow of beard on his jaw grazed her earlobe as he whispered, “What it lacks in glamour, I’ll make up for with enthusiasm.”
The sexy rumble in his chest sent a shiver coasting down her spine. “I’ll look forward to the transformation,” she hinted playfully.
As he stepped away, she sensed the pressure of his gaze contouring to her curves. A smile warmed her from the inside out. Forecast update: clear skies and sunshine.
While Shane returned outside to finalize details with Mick, Emma unhooked her sandals, then pulled her sundress over her head and placed it on one of the hangers in the linen closet. She changed into an ample sports bra with extra padding to contain the girls, capri workout pants, and an old t-shirt she didn’t mind throwing away if it ended up ruined. She laced a ratty pair of sneakers over ankle socks and sprang out the door, ready for action.
Shane grinned. “Easy there, tiger.”
Ironically, he’d called her the wildcat she had related him to earlier. She remained a clueless cub compared with his expertly-honed instincts.
“I guess she’s ready to hit the trails. We know better than to keep a lady waiting.” Shane shrugged, and Mick took the hint.
“Good luck, soldiers.” Mick gave them a salute, and the first glimpse of a smile she’d seen from the serious professional. Apparently, everyone in Shane’s life wanted to see him with a nice girl. “I’m gone for the weekend, but there’s a maintenance person on staff who comes daily. There are emergency contact points located throughout the trails and obstacle courses, and two by the lake. They work all year around. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to hit the button and call for help.”
Emma hadn’t expected the extra security measure. “That’s really thoughtful.”
“We’re a military school packed with teenage boys. Accidents happen. Safety is paramount.” The man didn’t waste words.
“I think I’ve got it covered.” Shane’s assurance received a nod from Mick.
“Kick ass. Take names. Oohrah.”
“Oorah.” Shane shook Mick’s hand. They slapped each other’s shoulders before Mick departed, leaving Emma alone with her weekend date.
Nervousness crept up on her from the trenches of her subconscious, leaving her breathless and suddenly shy. They were very much alone out here. And that realization swooped through her stomach like the sparrows darting in the field.
Shane stood beside her. “‘Being ready is not what matters. What matters is winning after you get there.’ Lieutenant General Victor Hrulak said that.”
“A wise man.” She pasted on a smile.
“Walk with me?”
Hands in his pockets, he set off on a trail edging the outskirts of the field she hadn’t noticed before. Watching his retreating back, he looked less like a tiger prowling than a sweet, funny, incredibly sexy guy who’d requested her company.
How could she refuse? She fell into step a few paces behind him, letting her palms dust the soft, fluffy tops of the grasses bending to the whim of the wind.
It was stunningly beautiful here, quiet and peaceful, surrounded by nature. In this serene setting, she had no choice but to unplug from the worries and technology that ruled her daily life. Amazed, she realized she hadn’t checked her phone since she woke up that morning.
This unique experience offered opportunities more impressive to her than a cooped-up spa day or testing the limits of her blood pressure attempting extreme sports with a rock star. With her fear of heights, she didn’t have to worry about getting stuck at the top of a Ferris wheel, or tempt ghostly apparitions by braving a haunted hotel.
With a soft sigh, she knew beyond doubt she’d bid on the right date, with the right man. She hurried her pace to catch up to Shane’s long-legged strides.
“I’m glad to be here.” She twined her fingers. “Sorry if I had doubts or didn’t trust your judgment, even for a minute. This place is beautiful, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else—with anyone else.”
He turned his head to the side. His stunning profile and half-smile relieved her worries that he might’ve thought she didn’t appreciate his weekend date.
“I kinda figured, going in, my plans weren’t meant for every woman in that room. Just one special one I could share this with.” He draped his arm around her shoulder, loose and casual. “I’m glad it’s you, Emma.”
She smiled up at him, though his eyes were shielded by mirrored sunglasses. “Me, too.”
Something soft and compelling unfurled from deep within her emotions. He made her feel special, as if he would’ve been disappointment had another woman bid on him.
They walked side by side until the fields dispersed. As they crested a hill, a glistening lake sprawled before them. A hawk soared above them, landing in a treetop nearby. Wind whispered through the canopy of leaves, a quiet rustle that mirrored the gentle lap of water against
the tree-lined shore. Sunlight glittered atop the crests of gentle waves.
His hand remained curved around her shoulder. “If you want to camp out and enjoy the scenery, take walks, hike, have cookouts by the lake, I’m okay with that. We don’t have to do anything else.”
For a moment, the images he described sounded idyllic and tempting. But she came here with a purpose. She wasn’t leaving without the training and knowledge he’d promised.
“That’s a nice offer. Some girls might take it. But that’s not me. That’s not why I’m here.”
He grinned down at her like she’d told him he could have his cake and eat it, too. “I didn’t think so.” He nodded. “Good.”
Swiveling them both around to face the path they’d come from, he squeezed her against his side. “Let’s go check out the fun stuff.”
Chapter Five
WHEN EMMA ABSORBED the full extent of the obstacle courses set up for the young men who attended this military academy, she debated running in the opposite direction. Still, she refused to back down from this epic challenge laid at her feet if she chose to accept.
Yes, she said to herself, taking a deep breath. She stared ahead, determined, undaunted. I accept.
Monkey bars, Olympic-style rings and lines of ropes hovered over deep mud bogs. Seemingly unscalable wooden walls dared trespassers to breach them. At the end of each obstacle, a gravel pit waited to welcome the footprints of the highest achievers. In the finale, endless strips of barbed wire hung in low loops, challenging even those who’d perfected the army crawl.
The remarkable course loomed like a thunderstorm across a prairie, as intimidating as it was breathtaking. She’d wanted the real deal, and Shane had delivered, beyond her wildest expectations. He was the real deal.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“Ready, ‘boot?’”
She was about to attempt the most impressive feat of her life. “So ready.”
Juggling the towels and water bottles he’d brought along, he ushered her to the starting place. Every fear her imagination could conjure rose up to stop her. Can I really do this?
Hell, yeah, she answered them.
Part of her wished she had her phone to snap a picture of the Mount Olympus she was about to scale like the ancient Greeks. Yet no image equaled the monumental pride she’d feel when she reached the finish line. She channeled her fixation on that finish line.
This was her private challenge, her personal victory awaiting. Images couldn’t begin to capture the exhilarating emotions she yearned to feel.
She glanced at Shane. He’d slid his sunglasses into the neck of his faded orange t-shirt.
Beneath the brim of his ballcap, in his silver-blue eyes she saw his belief in her mirroring her like two reflective pools. She couldn’t wait to prove him right.
She smiled.
He smiled back and snapped his fingers. “Let’s hit it!”
An adrenaline rush spiked her veins. She’d never felt anything like it.
She ran side-by-side with him down the hill to the first obstacle. Without hesitating, she tackled the monkey bars, followed by the Olympic rings, with gusto.
She’d spent countless hours at the gym over the past year focused on her core. The vital muscles she’d built up in her abs, chest and torso enabled her to tackle these initial obstacles with confidence.
Gasping for breath, she landed on the pebbles at the end with pride. Swiping the sweat from her eyes, she went on to the next.
The rope obstacles proved more taxing, requiring her arm muscles as much as her core, plus dexterity to maneuver herself across the pits below. In the first, she felt like a pirate on a ship, climbing rope ladders. They swung, pitched and toppled her into the mud. She wiped the initial failure from her brow and tried again. And again.
Finally, she scaled the final rope obstacle. Her feet landed in the prized gravel after the last of the three challenges. Another adrenaline spike urging her onward, eager for the next accomplishment.
Exhaustion trickled down the muscles of her arms. Fatigue ached in every limb.
Then the first of three walls loomed large, as effective a blockade as a medieval castle reinforced by iron and built to withstand intrusion. This required a different set of skills.
Panting, she set her hands at her waist and sized up the structure. Sweat soaked through her shirt and socks.
“Hydrate, boot,” Shane demanded.
She accepted the bottled water and drained it without taking her eyes off the wall. She noticed notches carved into the sheer face. Silently, she thanked Therese for encouraging her to join a couple rock-climbing sessions, her coworker’s passion. Only, for this challenge she couldn’t rely on a belay to have her back, ready to loosen or tighten ropes protectively slung around her legs.
Rock climbing was all about strategy. Seeing the next hand-hold or foot-hold, always angling for the future reach. Mapping out a tactical approach with the notches available, Emma walked up to the wall and stared it down like she owned it.
This obstacle leeched the last reserves of her upper body strength. She scaled to the top carefully and admirably, if slowly. As she went over the wall, she didn’t judge her landing right. The bright sting on the soles of her feet traveled up her nerve-endings. She shrieked in pain.
“You okay?” Shane asked, looking concerned.
“Fine,” she said through gasping breaths. “I’m fine.” She bent over, resting her elbows on her knees. “How many…more…to go?”
“Two obstacles.”
“Okay.” She blew out a fortifying breath. “I’ve got this.”
She took a step forward. Shane stopped her.
“You’ve accomplished more before dinner than most recruits manage in a week of training. Give yourself a minute, Emma.”
“I didn’t come here to…give myself…time. I came here…to give myself…proof.”
“Proof of what?” he asked quietly.
Proof that I can tackle any obstacle life throws at me. Proof I am stronger than I let myself believe. Proof my past won’t haunt me forever. Proof I… She swallowed. Proof I’m capable. Because life took from me too many people who weren’t.
“Doesn’t matter,” she told him.
“Like hell it doesn’t.” He brushed a sweat-soaked lock of hair from her face. His expression showed no judgment. Instead, his silver gaze pierced her well-fortified cloak of armor. “We all have our reasons. Why we push. Why we challenge ourselves. Why we deny ourselves rest from running from our demons, when a break is exactly what we need.”
“Who said anything about demons?”
He gazed at her patiently. “You didn’t have to say it. People like us, we know it when we see it.” He cupped her shoulders. “Whatever you’re running from, you won’t conquer it on this obstacle course.”
Unexpected, blinding anger flashed through her. What did he know?
“Says you,” she spat.
Tearing away from his hold, she felt a moment of relief that she’d dodged an emotional obstacle she had no intention of sharing. Not now, not ever.
Within minutes, however, she did need his help. Stuck at the top of the second wall, she felt her solid muscles turn to spaghetti, and the meat of her bravery turn to ground beef.
Straddling the wall, she could go no further. The sun above was an angry ball in the sky, scorching her with its one-eyed glare. Swear rained from her pores.
I’m not giving up, damn it.
“Emma, I’m coming up.”
“No,” she shrieked. Her chest heaved. “I’ve got this.”
“Sorry, honey. But I don’t think you do.”
His doubt spurred her like a hot brand to a steer’s rump. She sprang up, arcing her leg over the wall. She didn’t remember the descent down, except that she landed in his arms.
“I think we’re done for today.”
She fought him, breaking free of his hold. “I’m not done.”
Then she gazed up at the next obstacle, the
highest wall, and crumpled.
“No one aces a semester of algebra on day-one.” His kind whispers both soothed and irked her. “Whatever you expected to accomplish—”
“Is what I will achieve. I’m finishing this, even if I don’t climb that blasted wall.” She glared at the wall like an arch-nemesis. She hated walking around it, despised herself for it, for taking a shortcut, but she needed to finish this course. “I’m going into the barbed wire.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Concern saturated Shane’s voice.
“I don’t care what you think.” Iron wrapped around her tone.
She dove into the pit of mud, half-dried by the sun and lack of fresh water since the military students had finished with the semester. She didn’t care.
Then she wished it had rained last night. The mud, fully exposed to the sun, had dried in uneven grooves, at unaccountable depths. One minute, she coasted on her elbows beneath the barbed wire. In the next second, she sank into the consistency of quicksand. Two-thirds through, the muck below seemed to claw her into the muck, as if souls from the underworld reached up to claw her down to join their wretched despair. She coughed and spluttered.
In the overwhelming, suffocating quicksand mud patch, her muscles collapsed. Her lungs gasped for breath. She couldn’t keep her chin above the muck.
“Shane,” she cried, panicking. “Shane! I can’t—”
“I’m here. I’ve got you.” His calms words, and the eventual release of her t-shirt from the skin-scraping snag of barbed wire, allowed her to make a valiant army crawl two more yards, before she collapsed.
Above her, he carefully separated the barbed wire, a hole wide enough to lift her up, sling her over his shoulder and walk her out of harm’s path. Dipping to his knees, he set her down on the grass. She grasped the green strands in her fists like a lifeline, as if she really had faced the gray darkness of the underworld and resurfaced to earth’s incomparable beauty. She breathed the scent of that grass for a long time, lying on her side, refusing to move.
After Shane forced what seemed like gallons of water past her lips, the world around her brightened like life had flooded back into her veins. He rested her head on his lap, stroking her hair.
Bidding on the Bodyguard Page 5
