by Theresa Hall
His hand slipped through her hair to caress the back of her neck. He leaned in and kissed her mouth with a tenderness she’d never experienced before. Allison touched his face with her palm. The pressure on her lips grew more intense as he kissed her. If she didn’t know better, he was kissing her like their lives depended on it. And in a way, they did.
He pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “I can’t lose anything else in my life. I’ve already lost everything once. I don’t know if I can do that again. Right now, I don’t even know if I would want kids again.” He raked a hand into his hair. “There’s so many complications to this.”
“Jackson, I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself. I have faith that this will work out. In fact, I have a Bible verse that hangs in my office. It’s from Proverbs 20:24. ‘Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?’ Every time I get scared or worried, I always think about that verse. I put my faith in Him and I keep going.”
“You’ll need to have enough faith for the both of us. I had a relationship with God once. I turned my back when my family was taken. I wish I hadn’t. I spent years wallowing in misery. Going through all this with you changed me. I found myself praying for you, talking to Him. I realized it wasn’t God who left me. I was the one who left Him.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m scared, Allison.”
Her eyes widened. “You take on drug dealers, the cartel and people with guns pointed at your head, but I scare you?”
He laughed and tapped the end of her nose. “To death.”
She giggled at the serious expression on his face.
His hand cupped her cheek. “I can’t let you go, Allison. Somehow, when I least expected it, I fell in love with you. And before we go any further here, I need to make sure you know one thing.”
She held her breath, waiting for him to finish.
“No one can ever take Hope’s place.”
“Jackson, that’s not what I—”
“Let me finish. That’s not what I’m looking for. It’s never been what I wanted. I knew if I ever loved again, it wouldn’t be to replace her. I love you for who you are. Allison Moore, I may have saved your life, but make no mistake, you were sent to save mine. I love you, Allison.”
Jackson kissed her lips. He pulled away, and she took a deep breath to steady her heart. She narrowed her eyes at him. “I love you, too, Jackson. But do you think you can tone down that salty attitude a little bit?”
His laughter filled the cab of the truck. “Oh, I think I can do anything for you. Now, let’s go tell your sister I’m taking you back to Houston.” He kissed her forehead. “And I’m not letting you out of my sight for the rest of your life.”
Allison kissed his cheek. “That sounds like the best plan I’ve ever heard.”
EPILOGUE
One and a half years later
Allison raced to the front door. “They’re here!”
Jackson watched as she turned to grin at him. It still amazed him how much his life had changed in such a short time. That cold night on the highway now seemed like ages ago. Allison had found him at a time when he doubted God had anything good left to give him. How wrong he’d been.
He watched her as she made her way to the foyer. Memories of their wedding day flashed before him and brought a smile to his lips. He would never forget how beautiful she looked. A few months after the wedding they’d moved to Houston, and a short year later they’d been blessed with a son. Life couldn’t be better.
“I’m so glad they’re here!” She smoothed her hair and clothes.
“Let them in.” He laughed at her childlike excitement.
Allison opened the door to Maddie and her family. She hugged each of them and kissed the girls.
“Where is he? Where’s baby Aaron, Aunt Ally?” Phoebe bounced up and down as she pulled on Allison’s shirt.
“He’s sleeping right now, but as soon as he wakes up, you can give him lots of hugs and kisses.”
Jackson walked toward the door. Charlotte toddled up to him and held up her arms. He picked her up and kissed her cheek. “I’ve got barbecue on the pit and the football game on in the den. Scott, want to watch the game?”
“Oh! That reminds me. I have cookies in the oven.” Allison tapped the end of Phoebe’s nose. “Chocolate chip. Your favorite.”
The sound of crying echoed from the hallway. Maddie piped up. “I’ll get the baby.”
Allison hugged her sister. “Thank you. I’ll get dinner ready. Phoebe, go help your mom. Jackson, can you help me in the kitchen for a second?”
Jackson handed Charlotte off to Scott. “Sure.”
Once inside the kitchen, Allison turned to him and smiled.
“What do you need help with?” He grabbed for a cookie lying on a plate by the oven.
She tapped his hand. Her tone turned serious. “Put that down. I have something to tell you.”
“What’s wrong?” He dropped the cookie and gave her his full attention.
“Avery Guerrero called me about ten minutes ago. He said he is looking to expand his hotels into the Austin area. He said if I’m interested, he could relocate me to Stonewater. That’s if you want to move back.”
Jackson looked into her eyes. This woman had given him so much, and she was still willing to make sacrifices for him.
“Allison, I like it here. I enjoy working with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. I like our house, our church. I love our life here. I want to raise our son here. Do you really want to move?”
Her eyes drifted to the floor. “I don’t know. I just thought...”
Jackson’s heart melted. “You thought what? That my old life was in Stonewater and that I missed it?” He pulled her to him and held her against his chest. “Allison, you are my life. You and Aaron are my world. You’ve made me happier than I ever thought I could be. You taught me that God does heal, and that He never leaves me. My life was in Stonewater once, but it’s here with you now. So stop worrying about me.”
Allison giggled and pulled away enough to look up at him. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. “Always salty. I love you, Jackson.”
Jackson’s laugh filled the kitchen. “I love you, Allison.”
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Under Suspicion by Sommer Smith.
Dear Reader,
How great is it that we serve a God of second chances? One who knows us better than we know ourselves. No matter how hard we try to make things happen in our own way, or in our own time, it won’t work if it’s not God’s plan for our lives.
In this story, Jackson is a man scarred by pain and loss. He never considers God’s plan for his happiness until Allison is thrown into his life. Her faith, even in the most trying circumstances, makes Jackson reconsider the distance he’s put between himself and God.
After writing for more than twenty years, I wondered when my time would come to be a published author. I was busy as a wife, mom and full-time elementary school teacher. Now that my kids are grown, I look back and wonder how I could’ve fit another career into my life. Just as in Jackson and Allison’s story, God’s timing has always been perfect in my life, too. Accidental Target is my debut novel for Love Inspired Suspense.
Thank you for reading Accidental Target. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
God’s blessings,
Theresa
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Under Suspicion
by Sommer Smith
ONE
Locked.
Keilani knew she should have expected as much. This navy SEAL base had top-
notch military security, after all. It didn’t matter that she was something of an expert at getting through barriers. She wouldn’t take the risk of going inside without permission. She wasn’t here to cause trouble, only to get a sense of the layout before her job working with the dolphins started.
All she wanted was a little sneak preview of what she would be working with—any prior knowledge she could arm herself with would help. New situations had always been difficult for her, and she merely wanted to familiarize herself with the area, perhaps relieve her anxiety just a little bit. The admiral had assured her it was safe for her to look around.
She uttered a little prayer for strength. Men in uniform still made her nervous, after all that had happened, but the job had been too good to turn down. She had overcome this type of situation before and she could do it again.
And the dolphins needed her, especially if she found out the rumors were true. She owed it to her friend Gretchen at the World Animal Protection Agency to investigate. If not for Gretchen, she might not have made it through vet school.
Keilani had held a deep affection for dolphins since she was a tiny girl. She hoped to discover it was all just a big misunderstanding, but she was determined to know for sure.
With no other option left to her, Keilani decided to take a swim. From the layout of the base’s SEAL training facilities, there were only two likely locations where the dolphins might be housed. The fences of the navy base extended far out and around the actual buildings, so the only way she might get a look without an escort would be by way of the water. There was no close beach access, though, so getting there from outside wouldn’t be an easy feat. Fortunately, she was a very strong swimmer.
The sand was warm and a bit rough beneath her bare feet. The water was clear and cool today and no one seemed to be about. Did the navy patrol this particular section of the beach? She couldn’t be sure, so if she didn’t want to be questioned about her reasons for being there by more uniforms, she would be wise to get going. She worried that the admiral might not yet have told patrols there would be a civilian on base, and the fewer men in uniform she had to speak to, the better. It wouldn’t be a concern once she received her credentials this afternoon.
She’d need to get over this fear soon if she was going to work on a military base.
After removing the T-shirt and shorts she wore over her swimsuit, Keilani pulled on her wetsuit. At the last second she pulled her Glock from the bag and tucked it safely inside the waterproof barrier of her wetsuit. It shouldn’t be left out for anyone to find. She also felt safer with it close by. Some habits were hard to break.
She met the cold waves with a deep breath and began swimming before she could change her mind. When the tide started to pull, she swam with it for a little ways before doubling back toward the shoreline where it ran close to the base. The tide could be dangerous to someone who didn’t know what they were doing, and even strong swimmers could get caught up in it, so she kicked harder and hurried her strokes, trying to keep her bearings. It wouldn’t do to get lost out here on the day of her arrival.
Diving below the surface, she found what she had hoped for. Slender lines barely disturbing the water indicated the division wall of the dolphin enclosure. She had seen enough of them to recognize it immediately. She emerged from the water to take a breath, and then plunged in deep for a good look.
This time, however, something else caught her eye. Off to her right, two figures in scuba gear were swimming clumsily with what appeared to be a small crate or chest of some sort. Farther out to sea, the shadow of a boat darkened the water. Beyond that, the bay looked deserted. Odd.
Probably time to go before she ended up in trouble somehow. If she had happened onto some kind of top-secret training or something, she could be endangering her job. She hadn’t even had a chance to prove her abilities to them yet, and they might not understand her need to get to know her surroundings. She tried to keep her past from affecting her future, but military protocols made her nervous.
Spinning herself around with one leg, Keilani found the other leg caught in a vise-like grip. A swift tug on it plunged her deeper into the blue depths. Panic swamped her. Instinct prompted a gasp, which she barely suppressed in time to avoid drowning. She gave a fierce kick, but the hand barely loosened. Kicking and struggling as hard as she could, Keilani finally managed to break the iron grip. She swam hard, fighting the current all the way back to the break on the beach. She could feel an occasional brush against her bare feet, assuring her she wasn’t yet safe. The diver’s presence loomed behind her, a silent but very real threat.
Lungs burning, Keilani prayed silently. Whoever pursued her didn’t intend to help her to shore; that much she knew. She was thankful for her years of competitive swimming, which had conditioned her to withstand the rigors of this chase. It seemed her pursuer wasn’t at all a bad swimmer, either, though. She hadn’t gained any significant distance on him.
Finally, a current caught on the edge of the break, pushing her toward shore and her pursuer back out to sea. Breaking the surface, she gulped in air, finally in sight of the shore. She didn’t dare take long to rest, however. She dove forward, allowing the waves to help propel her onto the beach, where she stood and began to run.
The sand, thick and damp, sucked at her ankles, slowing her progress, but she fought for speed, muscles burning with every step. Ignoring her discarded belongings, Keilani kept running until she reached the edge of a parking lot near the naval base. At last she turned to look over her shoulder at her pursuer.
He was gone. Facing forward, she heaved in deep breaths, one after another, until two strong hands clamped onto her arms from behind.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” A fierce frown was the first thing she noticed about the man.
Keilani tried to lurch back at the gruff question, but the grip held firm. She squirmed, twisting and turning. Ugly memories invaded at the physical contact. The strong hands gave her a little shake.
“Answer me.” With that deep voice and confidence, he was probably used to being obeyed immediately.
At last she took a deep breath and really looked at him. He wore a navy uniform and was completely dry. He couldn’t possibly have been her pursuer. “M-my name is Keilani. Dr. Keilani Lucas, actually.”
He just stared at her, expression hard, waiting for her to continue.
“I’m—I’m the veterinarian and dolphin trainer here as a consultant for the naval marine mammal program.” She twisted her shoulders once more. “Please. You’re hurting me.”
He released her slowly, as if afraid she would run, then frowned. But he didn’t apologize.
“You aren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow.” His steel-gray eyes betrayed nothing.
“I got here a day early and wanted to look around. The admiral gave me permission to explore my new surroundings.” She hated the weakness she heard in her own voice.
“By swimming? And running up the beach like you’re on fire?” His voice demanded an explanation.
She tried to resist. “Yeah. Sure.”
His steely jaw hardened further, lips set in a hard line. “Start talking.”
He stepped closer, his sheer size menacing in itself. The breadth of his chest blocked her view of anything beyond him, his height casting a shadow over her.
“I was swimming and someone grabbed me by the ankle. I got scared.” It seemed explanation enough, but he wasn’t satisfied. The gray eyes narrowed.
“Where were you?”
She pointed vaguely. “Out in that cove.”
“Where in the cove? Next to the dolphin enclosure?”
“Not exactly. I didn’t get close to it.” She had no idea if he would be angry if she had. She didn’t want to take that risk.
“Close enough you saw it.” It wasn’t a question.
She nodded. He saw through her.
“There are no civilians allowed in that area without clearance. Technically, you don’t yet have clearance.” His expression was as hard as his voice.
Don’t look at the uniform.
Keilani took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to let him intimidate her—or at least she wouldn’t let him know that he did. “I didn’t think the area was restricted. It isn’t posted, and I was just swimming.”
“It is posted.” He paused to point, then looked back at her, his expression saying something wasn’t right. “Well, it is supposed to be. They must be replacing the signs. But you should have had navy personnel escort you if you wanted to look around. It could be dangerous.” His mouth was a hard line. Somehow, he still managed to be handsome.
Keilani just stared back at him, ignoring the salt water tickling down her skin as it dried in the sun. She reached up and twisted her long, dark hair until the water dripped out. Her breathing was still coming fast and hard. Dangerous, yes. She was finding that out.
He huffed out a breath. “I can make things difficult for you if you want. Or you can cooperate.”
She looked up at him with a shrug. “With what?”
“Who was chasing you and why? I want details. All of them.”
When she remained silent, he reached for her again. “Maybe someone else should have the dolphin trainer consultant position. Let’s go have a talk with my commanding officer. Or Admiral McLeary, since you already seem to know him well.”
She planted her feet in the sand and glared at him. “I don’t know, okay? He was wearing a full wetsuit and scuba gear. And I have no idea why the guy chased me.”
He scrutinized her for a moment before nodding. “Then we’d better get you checked in. Someone needs to know you could be in danger.” He motioned for her to follow him.
“Can I at least get my belongings? I left them on the beach.” She still hadn’t moved.