by Alison Mello
At the bottom lay his name, Rafe Bryant, with his cell phone in brackets and a title of CEO.
Wow, I didn’t expect that.
She flicked the card over, and on the back, in clear scrawl, he had written:
Call anytime.
Walking to the garbage can, she held the card in front of her to toss it away but stopped short of letting go and placed it in her pocket instead. She reasoned she wouldn’t use the number, unless she had an emergency. Summer headed back to serve her customers, determined not to pay any mind to Rafe, or Charlie, for that matter.
Lifting several plates into her arms from the table, she carried them and hoped she didn’t drop them all to the floor. Staring at the clock as it chimed nine-thirty, she walked into the kitchen and dumped the empty plates. She debated whether to tell Charlie that she had changed her mind.
Would she be giving him the wrong idea if she went out on a date with him?
Chewing her bottom lip, she strolled back in the diner and over to his table, aware that Rafe sat to her right, two tables away, in the corner with his laser focus on her. Unable to stop, she glanced over and met his eyes as he sipped his coffee, staring at her. His square jaw and well-defined cheekbones moved as he swallowed.
Look away.
“Summer, I’ll see you at seven on Friday. Summer, I hope I’ll have your full attention then.”
She stared back at Charlie with his warm brown eyes and boyish face with a gentle smile. He was around the same height as Rafe but slimmer.
“I’m sorry. My mind isn’t here today. I had a run-in with a creep last night. It’s shaken me more than I realized.” She covered her mouth with her hand to stem the cry that threatened to escape. Charlie reached for her other hand and squeezed it.
“What happened? Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine, but I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is? I mean, you keep checking on the guy in the corner, and I know he isn’t from around here. Are you in trouble?”
She sighed. “No, that’s not the issue, Charlie, honestly.”
“Okay. All I’m saying, Summer, is that I’m here if you need a friend. Just bear that in mind.”
She edged closer to the table and leaned over to Charlie, worried that somehow, she had created the wrong opinion of Rafe.
“Thanks, but that man isn’t the customer I had an issue with. In fact, he came to my defense. He saved me from being hurt.”
As that word tumbled out, her voice broke. Charlie stood and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she shook in his arms. Knowing everyone was staring, she inhaled and pressed against his arms to release her.
“I’m okay, honestly,” she said more quietly than before.
Charlie leaned closer. “Be careful, Summer. That man may have rescued you, but he’s a stranger. You shouldn’t trust him. Look, if you change your mind about a lift, give me a call, okay? Otherwise, I will see you Friday.”
Summer rubbed her forehead. “Yes, that sounds good. Thanks, Charlie.” She didn’t protest when he clenched her shoulder with his hand and dropped a light kiss on her forehead before moving away. He was a kind man. Even if she worried over this date, perhaps she should give it a try. She twisted around and collected the money from the table, refusing to look in Rafe’s direction.
Despite the fact she hadn’t known him long, an instinct told her that Rafe wouldn’t physically hurt her. Hell, last night she had made all the moves, and when she asked him to leave, he did. No, Summer could trust him to be honorable. The problem wasn’t him but her. She didn’t trust herself around him at all. She smiled at Nicki and wished she could share her worries with her friend.
***
Rafe
Rafe lifted out a single twenty from his wallet and slapped it on the table next to the bill. He thought about staying to talk with Summer, but her avoidance sent a clear message.
Stay away—you’re not wanted.
It also grated on him that Summer had switched tables to avoid him.
How the hell was he going to regain his footing with her?
Last night had been a monumental disaster, and today, it was obvious she wanted to forget what happened between them. He wiped his mouth with his hand and cursed himself for not being in control. But as he watched the interaction between Summer and a guy dressed to the nines in an expensive suit as he put his hands on her, he’d almost lost it. Brooding quietly, he watched as the suit rose to leave and kissed Summer on the cheek. Rafe lifted out of his seat and took a breath before he lowered himself right back down.
Shit. Calm the fuck down, man.
The waitress with purple hair and a nose piercing sauntered over to him with a big smile plastered on her face. “All set?” She lifted and counted the money.
“Yes. Keep the change. Thanks.”
“You sure?”
He lifted his eyes away from Summer and ran his gaze over the slim woman with dark almond-shaped eyes, but his gaze wandered back to Summer. “Keep it,” he said as his focus switched back to the woman who held his rapt attention.
“Word of warning: Summer has been through some serious shit. Don’t mess with my girl, because if you do, I will rip your balls out and serve them up on a platter for breakfast. I also have four brothers who run a martial arts center, and they know exactly how to inflict pain.”
Rafe’s head snapped to the side as he sized up the slender and quirky woman once again. Her words were a clear warning. A smile skittered across his lips, one he couldn’t stop at the menace delivered in her threat. He didn’t doubt she would collect somehow, but tackling her brothers was not much of a threat because after his years of service with the teams, he knew the exact places to cause maximum damage. He rubbed his hand over his beard. Summer made friends wherever she went.
“I don’t intend to hurt her, Nicki,” he said gruffly. Eyeballing the waitress, she delivered a curt nod. Sighing, he grabbed his jacket and slid out of the red leather booth, nodding at customers as he passed by. In truth, Summer was more likely to hurt him than the other way around, even if she didn’t know that. He made a clear pathway to the entrance, but at the last moment, he changed direction to search for her. In the middle of the busy diner, she stood out. In the far corner, she leaned over, pointing at something on the menu to an elderly woman. He watched, unable to tear his eyes away as she swept a stray strand of her long, dark hair behind her ear to tuck it away and she twisted her mouth as she wrote down the woman’s order, full of concentration. She glanced over her shoulder at him, and he stepped forward, but Summer resumed her conversation with the woman, ignoring him. Making a U-turn, he strode away and headed outside.
Watching Summer with another guy twisted his gut until it burned like acid. Months ago, he had made a promise, but being this close obliterated his rational mind, and his control slipped. She always called to him. One look was enough to create this pull that gripped his heart and soul, tying him to her, leaving him helpless. No one understood the power she held or how lost he was without her. Walking away from the diner and over to his Harley, he grabbed his helmet. Sitting down on the bike, he paused to look back at the window in the diner, but he couldn’t spy Summer. Shoving the black helmet on his head, memories of another time and place flew around him like ghouls.
Running down the street, he didn’t dare take a breath. He knew she would be mad as hell, and he had given her too many reasons lately for that. Tonight was meant to be different. Shit. He glanced at his watch again, but it didn’t change the fact he was late. Bumping into people on the crowded, rain-soaked sidewalk, he didn’t stop to apologize. He ran faster and stormed ahead until he stopped at the burgundy door of La Rosa’s. The panes of glass at the top were misty from the downpour. He brushed his hair back from his face and pushed the door open.
The warmth greeted him, and steam rose from his soaking suit as he dripped in a puddle on the floor. Ignoring the looks from stunned
customers at his drenched appearance, he strode ahead, pulling his suit down and adjusting his tie as he searched the full-to-capacity, swanky Italian restaurant he couldn’t afford. A thin waiter in immaculate black pants and a crisp white shirt approached him, waving him back, but he ignored him and turned his head right and left to find his wife himself.
There, in the corner seat, staring out the window, was his love. Her long, dark hair hung free and flowing down below her shoulders. The dimmed light emphasized the chestnut tints in her glossy locks, which reminded him of fall and apple pie. The waiter tapped on his jacket, and he twisted away to approach the table, but the man shouted.
“You cannot come in here. You’re drenched and making a mess.”
“My wife is over there waiting.” Rafe put one foot in front of the other, but the waiter scowled at him.
“Stronzo.”
The waiter called him an asshole, and he swung around, almost knocking over a table. He apologized to the couple who sat there, but the man gripped him by his collar.
Rafe pushed his face right into the waiter’s, looking down at the smaller man, whose cheeks blanched white like paper. There were gasps from the onlookers, and the heat in the restaurant made his head thump.
“Rafe, Rafe, it’s me. Please, let him go. You’re making a scene.”
Hushed words at his back were water to the wildfire that had taken hold of him, and he let go.
The roar of his bike ended his miserable trip back in time. Tearing his gaze from the diner, he rode away as fast as he could.
CHAPTER 6
Rafe
Rafe stared around the impressive multi-level outdoor ropes and assault course that stood empty for the first time in weeks in Fryeburg, Maine. He glanced down at the plans for the additional building work to be completed over the next twelve months, phase two of STEPS. Scratching his short beard, he studied his friend Niall’s serious expression.
“I like it, man. I like it a lot,” Rafe said.
His close friend, and ex-military brother, sighed. “I think your parents, even Ashley, would be proud of what you’ve accomplished here.”
Hearing Niall talk about his dead girlfriend and his parents reminded him of the past he wanted to forget. They were the reason he entered the Navy SEALs. He replaced his family with the teams and never looked back. He looked again over at the site and back at Niall.
“I think what we have created is something we should all be proud of, don’t you think?” he said, not wishing to discuss his family or the mistakes he made in his youth.
“Of course. I think architect Paul Mitchell has delivered our vision for STEPS. Look, I need to bring Bill Markham up to date with the progress and get his final approval. But I don’t foresee any issues.”
“Markham has pretty much given us free rein on this project, so why would he have objections now? He chose us because of our backgrounds in the Navy SEALs. We discussed our proposals for the educational center and dorms. He knows our vision for STEPS, and he’s eager for our plans to build a center that’s more than your average adventure experience as long as it makes him money. This place will provide all the necessary education and training to survive a catastrophic event as well as promoting how to exist in the natural environment. We have no other option than to succeed.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rafe sighed. Niall stood at the same height as he did. They had both served in SEAL Team Three and both had been injured in a blast by an improvised explosive device. Whereas Rafe’s injuries had comprised of embedded shrapnel in his right leg, a fractured arm, several broken ribs, a concussion, and several lacerations over his body, Niall had required an above-knee amputation. Both were honorably discharged from the SEALs, but recovery had been a long haul and ongoing in varying degrees for them. Studying Niall now, the intense dark giant who rarely smiled walked with a casual ease that hid the fact that he wore an artificial limb. It didn’t surprise him. Niall was one of the bravest and toughest men he had ever encountered. He never gave up on anyone or anything and had balls of granite. They had been the lucky ones that day in Syria.
But now, Niall rubbed his neck and avoided eye contact. Rafe found civilians easy to read. SEALs, however, were trained to close off their expressions to reveal nothing. Studying his friend right now, he knew something was wrong.
“What’s going on man?” Rafe asked.
Niall shifted onto his right leg and placed his hands on his hips, meeting Rafe’s direct gaze.
“The cost is more than we forecast.”
Rafe nodded. “How much?”
“We’re a hundred thousand off the target amount. Some of the VA’s fundraising will help, but it’s falling short. I have an idea, but I’m waiting on a few calls. I want to get everyone together to make sure you’re all on board with my plan before I take it any further.”
Damn it.
Rafe ran his gaze over the flat land with the surrounding forest and rugged mountains in the distance. This business made civilian life tolerable for him and his military brothers. Sheer determination, perseverance, and hard work led to this stage. Each of them had sunk their money into the scheme. One hundred thousand dollars may not seem a fortune in the grand scheme of things, but it might as well be a million dollars because they didn’t have another cent to spare. Summer’s father had given him a check surpassing the amount they now needed, but he had torn it to shreds a long ago, not wanting the man’s money. One way or another, he would find the extra funds. Failing was not an option.
“I trust you, Niall, but can you give me a heads up as to what you’re planning?”
His friend shoved the plans in his back pocket and raised his head skyward. “Your trust means a lot, man. You know that, but I don’t want to say anything until I have all the information I need. We’ve all busted our asses for this. I’m not going to let you or the others down.”
Rafe stepped closer and slapped his hand on Niall’s shoulder. “That’s all I need to know. I’m counting on you to do the best you can, but we’re in this together. Do what you need to do, and we’ll thrash it out later. How about a beer after at the bikers’ bar?”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. As for the drink, not tonight. But Chayton and a few of the others are heading for that new bar. I’ll send you the details. They said the food is good and the serving girls aren’t bad to look at, either. You should go.”
Rafe raked his hand through his hair. After the other day at Betty’s with Summer, he had skipped the diner to give her space. But Summer’s dark brown eyes, which had spoken of a simmering desire, flashed at him at every turn. She had turned to him for comfort after the attack, but despite the intimacy, nothing had changed between them. Nothing had stirred her memories of the past. In fact, the passion they shared only served to increase the distance between them, and seeing her kissed by the man in the suit left him floored and powerless. His sour mood afterward hit unpredictable territory, which he didn’t like. Maybe a light distraction would solve that.
“Maybe. I’ll give the boys a call and we can meet here at three to hammer this out. The plan for phase two needs to start soon or we’ll never be ready for spring next year.”
Niall nodded. “I need to head back to the office, but I’ll be ready this afternoon. I won’t let you down.”
Rafe nodded as his partner walked away, and he hoped to hell he didn’t. The idea for STEPS came during the worst of times and seemed to be the answer to his prayers at the time, which showed him where he was. Summer was one for prayers, not him.
Niall lived down the street from Rafe in Cambridge, and the group of four friends had gathered in his messy apartment to discuss the long-awaited news about gaining an investor to help take his plan of STEPS from a rowdy drunken dream to reality. Niall was the money man, their accountant, and the one holding the vital piece of news they all wanted to hear.
“Come on, Niall. How did it go?” Rafe sat down on the well-worn leather couch, pulling back on a beer and glancing arou
nd at the several empty bottles on the worn wooden table as Gabriel and Chayton chugged theirs. He flicked his wrist to study the time on his watch. He needed to make this the last one and head out.
“Bill Markham said yes! He’s given us the go-ahead but wants this to move as quickly as possible. This is a drafted contract for us to review, and he wants to meet everyone first thing on Monday with an answer. We need to get our lawyer to check it thoroughly and make a list of questions we need to ask. Now is the time to make our demands known, so if you’re not happy with anything, we need to address it now. He was impressed with your presentation, Rafe. He wants in but also has ideas he wants to share.”
“Fuck, yes.” Gabriel punched the air with his fist.
“Son of a bitch. I’m blown away. We did it.” Chayton slapped Niall on the back.
Rafe couldn’t express how he felt in words. The surprise of the news hit him between his shoulder blades, knocking him back like a grenade. Shit, this was going to happen. Observing his friends congratulate Niall, a tidal wave of relief washed over him like he had never known, and he sat back on the couch. His hands covered his face. A playful punch on his shoulder jolted him out of his thoughts.
“This is it, Rafe. Your idea for the survival camp is going to happen, my friend.”
He dropped his hands and opened his eyes to face his buddies, who stood in a line in front of him with a bottle raised to toast him.
“To taking STEPS to the limit. To Rafe,” Niall said.
Gabriel leaned over and handed him a beer.
He couldn’t say no, so he joined them. A smile broke across his face. A smile of relief. “To STEPS and to those who push us to find ourselves,” he said.
As each friend clinked his raised bottle, Rafe thought of his wife and how she always encouraged him to explore the options away from the military. The last several months had been hell, but she hadn’t given up on him, even when he did. Drowning another long cool swallow of beer, he nodded at the group.
