by Rachel Grant
Their oldest sister, Laurel, was five years older than Hazel. While she and Laurel were close, their relationship wasn’t the same. Hazel could fool Laurel in a heartbeat. But Laurel wasn’t the sister who would be in the caravan heading to the Mountain Lakes region of West Virginia today.
They’d arrived at the Raptor DC office parking lot at nine as instructed. Three cars were already in the lot. Sean parked several spaces away, presumably to give her a chance to collect herself before they stepped into their roles.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Here goes.
He took her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Everyone here is going to be happy to see you, you know.”
She spotted Matt and Ivy’s SUV pulling into the lot with Matt at the wheel. Her stomach clenched. This was about to get hard. “I hate this,” she muttered.
“Is it so hard to pretend you’re into me?” Sean asked softly, his mouth against her fingers.
Her gaze flew to his at his use of a warm, almost seductive tone. Heat flooded her as if he’d flipped a switch and turned on the furnace.
She gave him a stiff smile, not wanting him to see exactly how much she wanted him, not when they weren’t putting on a show for others. She would be acting twenty-four seven for the next two days. Alone with Sean, she’d be pretending she didn’t want him. In front of others, she’d be pretending he was all hers.
Good times.
“You know that’s not the issue,” she said softly.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m not comfortable with lying.” And yet even those words were a lie. The real reason she dreaded this farce was simple: She couldn’t stand the idea of being close to him, of pretending, but not having him. It would be all too easy to mistake his words and touch for the real deal, and she feared making an ass of herself again.
He placed a hand behind her neck and tilted her head back, bringing her face to his. She knew Ivy was in the car that pulled into the spot beside them, but her back was to it as she faced him. He was performing. “Then leave the lying to me,” he whispered. His lips caressed hers. Soft. Sweet.
At some point this weekend, they’d likely share a deeper kiss in front of an audience. That it would be fake already broke her confused heart.
He lifted his head. His eyes were warm. More than warm. Hot. He was good at deception. “Let’s do this,” he said, then released her and pushed open his door.
Hazel took one more deep breath and climbed out of Sean’s SUV. No sooner were her feet on the pavement than Ivy was climbing out of her car, her expression one of confusion and surprise. “Hazel? What are—?”
“Surprise!” Hazel said as Sean rounded the vehicle and slipped an arm around her waist.
“Hey, Ivy. Matt,” Sean said, nodding to her sister’s new husband. “Hazel agreed to be my date for the wedding, and we thought it would be fun to surprise you.”
Ivy’s gaze bounced from Hazel to Sean. Definitely surprised, a little confused—which made sense, considering Hazel usually told her everything—but happy. She spread her arms wide, and Hazel stepped into them. She squeezed Hazel tight and whispered, “So, Sean, huh? I knew it. It was obvious you were interested in Grand Cayman.”
She said the last part louder than Hazel would’ve wanted.
Sean’s laugh was relaxed and smooth. “I was working in Grand Cayman, so I had to play it cool.” Ivy released Hazel, and Sean put his arm around her again and added, “But this weekend is all fun.”
Hazel nearly choked. That was the most blatant lie yet. She looked up at Sean and narrowed her eyes, but a laugh escaped, ruining the stern look. He flashed an innocent grin and dropped a kiss on her nose.
And with that gesture, her nerves settled. This was Sean. Warm, funny, fascinating Sean. Smart, sexy, objectively perfect. Pretending to be crazy for him wouldn’t be difficult because it wouldn’t be pretend. And he would make it easy for her. He was showing her now he would do all the heavy lifting in the acting department. After all, he had to pretend to be infatuated with her. That required Shakespearean training.
She wasn’t objectively attractive, not like Sean. She didn’t have enough curves. Her face was too broad and her thick hair had a tendency to frizz in humid air.
She appreciated Sean’s acting abilities. He’d make this work. She relaxed against him and, as she had when he held her the other night, she felt safe.
She hadn’t realized how unsafe she’d felt until he held her and her fear lessened. And that was the beauty of Sean Logan: he was her bodyguard, protecting her from some mysterious threat she didn’t believe existed, but really, she felt safe with him in a way that had nothing to do with threats or politics.
She slid her arm around his waist and gave a light squeeze. His hand on her shoulder squeezed back, a gentle communication. They were a team.
“Where’s Julian?” she asked. The five-going-on-six-year-old was nowhere to be seen.
Matt smiled as he held Ivy’s hand. “Mara’s mom is insane and offered to pick up Julian from kindergarten this afternoon and keep him overnight. She’s also watching Tobias and Grace tonight and will drive all three kids to the inn tomorrow morning.”
Hazel wasn’t sure how old Tobias Dominick was, but she was pretty sure he was less than a year. And Grace Scott couldn’t be much more than a year and a half. “She’s doing a sleepover with a baby, a toddler, and a kindergartener by herself?”
“Mara’s aunt is helping, so she’s not alone,” Ivy said. “But I’m sure the babies will be a handful. Julian was excited to stay at Catherine’s for the night—she lives in a condo with a pool, and after his summer on the boat, he’s been going through water withdrawal.”
Ivy and Julian had spent the summer on Matthew’s yacht, cruising the Caribbean. Hazel had enjoyed the frequent photos Ivy had sent of their family adventures as they made their way to south Florida, where the boat was now.
“We should join the others,” Sean said, nodding to where Erica and Lee were chatting with Trina, Keith, Curt, and Mara.
She couldn’t help but brace herself. Her connection to this group was tenuous. A few of the men, like Sean, she’d met several times over the years through Alec and Raptor functions, while she’d met the women through Ivy, Isabel, and her work in helping identify the remains of submariners for Naval History and Heritage Command—where all except Isabel worked—last year.
In spite of her hesitation, everyone treated her like an old friend, greeting her with warm, welcoming hugs. It brought a rush of emotion to her eyes, really, this pure acceptance from a tight-knit group, and for the first time since Alec had suggested it, she was glad to be here. This weekend could even be…fun.
Honestly, it hadn’t crossed her mind that she might enjoy this weekend. She’d been certain it would push her out of her comfort zone on fifteen different levels. But now, it was sweet to see Erica and Mara drape their arms around each other as they shared the joy—and worries—of having a full day and night without their babies. For both moms, this would be their first twenty-four hours away from their babies since birth.
Alec and Isabel arrived and had just finished their hellos and hugs when the bride and groom drove into the lot to hoots and hollers from everyone. The level of joy was palpable.
“I can’t believe my little girl is getting married,” Trina said as Cressida climbed out of the car.
Cressida laughed and gave her matron of honor a hug. “You’re only four years older than me.”
“Yes, but you’ll always be that little girl I took in as intern.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Cressida said as she draped an arm over Trina’s shoulders, looking at least five years older than the shorter woman, but then, Hazel would bet Trina still got carded regularly.
Cressida was one of the most naturally beautiful women Hazel had ever seen. Flawless skin, big brown eyes. She bore a striking resemblance to the actress Natalie Portman. And her joy today made her absolutely radiant.
Cressi
da’s gaze landed on Hazel. She beamed and released Trina. “Hazel! I was so excited when Ian told me Sean was bringing you!” She gave Hazel a squeeze and then released her to Ian, who also hugged her.
“Thank you for letting me crash your wedding,” she said.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ian said. His eyes were warm as he studied her. “Heard you had a rough time in Croatia.” His words were low, under the din of excitement as Cressida hugged the other guests.
She nodded.
After her ordeal in Ukraine, she’d had a lengthy conversation with Ian about working in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans. He was one of the few people who really understood the ramifications of her detainment, one of the few she’d been able to open up to about how utterly terrified she’d been. He also loved that part of the world with all his heart but was unlikely to ever return. It wasn’t safe for him after he’d been outed as a CIA case officer. She’d decided to take the Croatia assignment after that conversation. She’d been determined to reclaim the job that meant so much to her.
Perhaps Dr. Parks was right, and her panic attacks had more to do with Ukraine than she’d realized.
Ian’s face was solemn as he said, “I’m glad you’re with us.” Then he smiled. “Because it’s time to play.” He then hugged Sean and said, “Nice job, man. Smart move. Finally.”
“I have my moments,” Sean said, squeezing Hazel to his side again.
Trina clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, you might all be wondering why we’ve gathered here—”
“Treen, that speech is for tomorrow,” Erica said with a snicker.
Trina flashed a devilish grin. “C’mon. You didn’t think we’d all simply drive for four hours to the inn, did you? When we can make it a competition?”
“What kind of competition?” Mara asked, suspicion in her voice. “I’m not a fan of road races.”
Meanwhile, all the men were standing a bit taller, more alert. But then, half of them had trained for high-speed chases, evasion, and fancy maneuvers.
Trina burst out laughing. “Oh, goodness, the looks on your faces! Ian’s certain he can make it to the hotel in three hours, while Mara and Erica are ready to bail. No. Not that kind of competition. A scavenger hunt.” She pushed her glasses back on her nose, then pulled a stack of envelopes from her purse. “Each of these envelopes contains an identical list of the types of places we’ll pass on our route. Every couple is a team. When you find a place that fits the scavenger hunt, stop and take a selfie—both of you must be in the shot—proving you were there. Ten points for every stop. The team with the most points wins a fantastic prize. But—”
“You sure this is a good idea?” Mara said. “I’m still imagining lots of speeding to make as many stops as possible.”
Trina laughed. “I was just getting to that. First—no team can make more than seven stops, and second, a point is deducted from each score for each team that visits the same place.”
“So it’s a maximum of seventy points, as long as you don’t go to any of the same places as the other teams,” Ivy said.
“Exactly. If five teams visit the same site, the stop is only worth five points each. There are also some bonus points possible—if a site fits the bill for two categories, it’s worth twenty-five points instead of ten or even twenty.”
“So, what’s the prize?” Ian asked. “Besides bragging rights?”
Trina hit a button on her car key, and the trunk popped open, revealing a beautifully wrapped gift bag in silver and black. “That.”
“Trust me, you want it,” Keith said.
As Trina’s husband, he would know the details. The men looked at the gift bag with renewed interest thanks to the former SEAL’s endorsement.
Trina was just about to pass out the envelopes when another car pulled into the lot. Her eyes widened, and she squealed with excitement. “Oh my goodness! They made it!”
It took Hazel a moment to recognize the couple in the sedan. Undine and Luke. The couple lived in the Pacific Northwest, but she’d met them at Alec and Isabel’s wedding last year. Luke had gone with Ian to rescue Ivy in Palau. Hazel was forever grateful to both men for bringing her sister back from that nightmare.
“When your flight was delayed, I didn’t think you’d make it in time,” Trina said as Undine jumped out of the car and hugged her.
“They got us on a red-eye,” Undine said.
Luke embraced Ian.
“Glad you could make it,” Ian said.
“Wouldn’t miss it. Congrats, my friend.”
Luke and Ivy hugged, then Ivy glanced sideways at Hazel before she said, “Luke, this is my husband, Matt.”
Matt held out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you. Ivy’s told me about what you and Ian did for her.”
Luke’s gaze also flicked Hazel before he shook her brother-in-law’s hand. His face transformed into a broad, warm smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Matt.”
Sean’s hand at the small of her back pulled her attention away. She looked up at him, and he grinned down at her. Dimples and all. He whispered in her ear, “I’m glad you’re on my team.”
The warmth in his eyes said he meant it. This wasn’t acting. Was it?
Then his lips brushed over hers again, and she tried to keep her brain from blanking out. It wasn’t even a real kiss and she was going all swoony. But it was Sean. Real or fake, he was potent.
After the round of hugs for Undine and Luke were completed, Trina then explained the scavenger hunt rules again. “Okay, so we have seven cars with seven teams of two. Keith and I will be in the convoy, but we aren’t competing. We’ll meet you all for lunch, which is listed on the sheet. Don’t be late for lunch, or I’ll deduct points.”
“You need to spot Luke a few points,” Ian said. “He’s just taken a red-eye, and everyone knows SEALs aren’t good for much when they haven’t gotten their beauty sleep.”
Matt and Alec snickered. Alec had been an Army Ranger, Ian, Delta Force. Matt hadn’t served, but according to Ivy, he and Ian had bonded immediately upon meeting.
Undine laughed too, then shrugged at her husband’s side-eye. “He’s the groom. We have to humor him. For the next two days, we’ll pretend Delta Force guys are actually badass.”
Keith—a former SEAL like Luke and Sean—laughed and held up his hand for a high five from Undine.
“Children, please,” Trina said. “We’re wasting time when we could be having champagne.” From her open trunk, she grabbed a bottle of champagne. “Keith, grab the glasses.”
Keith handed out pretty plastic champagne flutes as Trina popped the cork. With sixteen people, it took two bottles until everyone had a glass.
“Can I make the toast?” Cressida asked.
“Of course,” Trina said.
Cressida smiled at Trina. “Thank you, Trina, for everything you’ve done in helping with the planning these last months, and thank you so much for this, for starting the party here in DC, so we can celebrate every moment of this journey.” Cressida’s eyes moistened, and she glanced at her fiancé. He squeezed her hand. “If I start to cry, you’ll take over?”
“Always,” Ian said.
“’Kay.” Cressida took a deep breath, then resumed. “It’s been a helluva journey that started on a plane in Turkey—”
“In a nightclub for me,” Ian said. “That’s when I first saw you. And was captivated.” He grinned. “She dropped a guy with one punch. It was hot.”
Hazel laughed. She knew parts of their story—Ivy’s ex-husband was a key player in their ordeal—but she’d never heard that detail before.
Cressida flashed a toothy grin. “Our journey continued through Syria and Iraq.” She met Sean’s gaze. “Where Ian met Sean for the first time. Trina, Keith, Curt, Mara, Erica, and Lee all worked so hard to get us home. And in the time since, we’ve been blessed with a growing group of friends to share our ongoing journey. Ian and I debated long and hard about whether we should just elope
like Trina and Keith, have a massive wedding like Alec and Isabel, or something in between. In the end, we realized we don’t know enough people for a massive wedding.” She smiled as everyone chuckled. “But the people we do know, the people who matter—everyone here, right now—we wanted to share this with you. We’re all so busy. I can’t remember the last time we were all together for wine-tasting night.
“The only thing we were certain of is the last time we were all together was for Alec and Isabel’s wedding. And we wanted that, an excuse to spend time with all of you. So we decided on a weekend at one of Ian’s favorite places in the world with the people we love most. Tomorrow, there will be more guests at the wedding—people who are also important in our lives—but they aren’t you. Thank you for carving these days out of your lives to share this moment with us.”
Cressida’s eyes teared again, and Ian raised his glass. “So here’s to all of you. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for joining us on this journey.”
Everyone raised their glasses and drank. As Hazel sipped her champagne, she felt guilty for intruding. She was drinking some other woman’s champagne, with some other woman’s date at her side. But still, Cressida’s heartfelt words affected her. She liked these people. She wanted to belong.
Hazel watched Matt, the other newcomer, as he drank his champagne. Did her new brother-in-law feel as out of place as she did? He didn’t look like it. But then Matt always exuded a calm competence that she’d liked.
He was nothing like Ivy’s ex, thank God. It was weird for Ivy to have gotten so involved with someone so quickly, and she’d had Julian to consider. But Matt had never triggered any red flags. He was quiet, but not cold. Charming without being smarmy, and he always looked at her sister like she was the center of the universe.
Sean had run a background check on him when they were still on Grand Cayman. Sean was there as Ivy’s bodyguard, after all. Matt’s unhesitant acceptance of the investigation had been a mark in his favor. Now Hazel and Matt were the odd ducks in a group of close-knit friends. But of course, Matt had Ivy as his reason for being there, and Hazel had…a fake boyfriend.
