by Elle James
At that moment, the trees parted and opened into a clearing where a house stood on a rise with a backdrop of the Crazy Mountains behind it. The sprawling two-story home had wide front porches that wrapped around the sides.
As Jack pulled to a stop in front of the house, a man stepped out onto the porch, carrying a small baby. He was tall, broad-shouldered and dark-haired. A little girl with blond curls followed him. Behind them, a beautiful blonde emerged from the house.
Anne recognized the woman as Sadie McClain, the star who’d claimed the hearts of many people through her movies and acting. Even dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, she was stunning.
Anne felt positively bedraggled next to this woman.
“We shouldn’t have come,” she said as she looked at the perfect family poised at the top of the porch stairs.
Jack reached across the console, took her hand and gently squeezed her fingers. “Hank and Sadie are people just like everyone else. Don’t judge yourself based on them. And Hank is different than a lot of other people. He has skills that most people don’t acquire in a lifetime.” Jack chuckled. “Although I do know what you mean. Meeting Sadie McClain is an absolute perk and a bit intimidating.”
Anne glanced toward him. “You’re intimidated?”
He nodded. “Just a little. I’ve never met a movie star before.”
“Me either,” Anne whispered.
“Again, just remember they’re people,” he said. “They put on their pants one leg at a time, just like everybody else.”
“I still think you should have left me at the last gas station,” Anne murmured.
“Well, I can always take you back there, but at least let’s go meet them.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to tell the guys back in Coronado that I met Sadie McClain.”
Anne squared her shoulders and told herself that she was being silly. She wasn’t afraid that she wouldn’t be worthy of Hank Patterson’s charity. She was actually more afraid that she might place this beautiful family in danger and still not escape Derek.
Chapter 9
Jack’s chest swelled when he saw Hank step out on the porch. He had served with this man on several missions and had gotten to know him as another brother. Hank would do anything for his people. As a highly skilled Navy SEAL, he had done so on many occasions.
Jack cupped Anne’s elbow and walked with her up the steps. He greeted Hank by locking forearms and pulling the man into a hug.
Hank pounded his back. “Good to see you, Jack.”
“Same,” Jack said. When they broke apart, Jack turned to Anne. “Hank, this is Anne Smith.”
Anne smiled and held out her hand. “Anne Smith is the name I used when I thought I could get away from my ex-boyfriend. My real name is Deirdre Anne Tyler. You can call me Anne. I’ve gotten used to using my middle name.” She touched Jack’s arm. “I might as well go by my real last name since Derek was able to find me anyway. If I move, I will have to go into hiding again. I’ll have to change my name again, anyway.”
Jack nodded. “Deirdre.” He whispered, liking the way her name rolled off his tongue.
Anne smiled. “You don’t have to call me Deirdre. I’ve been using Anne for a while. I’m used to it.”
Hank gripped Anne’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Anne. I’m glad you came to the Brotherhood Protectors.” He stood back. “This chunky monkey is our little man McClain. McClain Patterson, meet Anne Tyler.”
Anne smiled at the baby, her face softening. McClain leaned forward, his hands outstretched. Anne took him in her arms and held him close, her eyes filling. “He’s precious,” she murmured.
She looked natural holding the baby, Jack thought. For the first time in a long time, he thought about what his life would be like with a family of his own. He looked at Hank, Sadie and their two children, and a strong sense of longing tugged at his gut. It made no sense whatsoever. He belonged to the US Navy. As long as he was a SEAL, he didn’t have room in his life for a wife and children.
Hank had left the Navy SEALs before he’d started his family. He was a perfect example of what life could be after leaving the SEALs.
Jack wasn’t ready to give up his life in the Navy, but seeing Anne holding baby McClain made him long for something he hadn’t thought about in a long time. Maybe when he retired…
Hank took another step back and waved a hand toward his wife. “Anne, this is my wife, Sadie.”
Sadie gave her million-dollar smile and reached out to touch Anne’s arm. “It’s so very nice to meet you.”
Anne smiled over the baby’s shoulder. “Seriously, I’m totally fangirling right now. I can’t believe I’m standing on Sadie McClain’s front porch holding her baby in my arms.” She laughed and a tear slipped down her cheek. “He’s beautiful.”
Sadie smiled at her baby. “We think so, too.” She stepped aside and grinned down at the little girl. “This is McClain’s big sister Emma.”
Emma looked up at Anne and held up three fingers. “I’m three years old,” she announced in her little voice.
“You’re such a big girl,” Anne said. “Do you help take care of your brother?”
Emma nodded. “I pick up his paci when he drops it and bring his diaper when Daddy needs to change him.”
Jack grinned at Hank.
Hank shrugged. “I’ve been known to change a diaper or two.”
Sadie slipped an arm around her husband’s waist. “He’s an expert; don’t let him fool you. I don’t know what I’d do without him when I go on location to shoot a movie.”
Jack dropped down to one knee and held out his hand to Emma. “I’m so glad to meet you, Emma. My name is Jack.”
Emma shook his hand, her face very serious. “Pleased to meet you, Jack,” she said in her soft voice with her very grownup words.
Jack glanced up at Hank. “I bet she’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”
Hank chuckled. “Absolutely. She looks so much like her mother and has the best personality. I can’t help but love her.” He bent and pressed a kiss to Sadie’s forehead. “I never knew what I was missing until Sadie came along. I take that back, I missed her from the time I left high school until I found her again back here in Montana, but I never knew what I was missing without children. These two and my wife are my world.”
Sadie leaned into Hank. “And he’s ours, but let’s not stand out here getting all squishy. Come inside, I’m sure you two are exhausted after being up all night.”
Anne chuckled. “Considering I slept a lot of the way, you’d think I’d be well rested.”
“No one sleeps well in a moving vehicle,” Hank said. “Although we’ve had our moments, haven’t we?” He looked across at Jack.
Jack met his gaze with a grin. “I’ve fallen asleep in the back of an armored personnel carrier and almost put my rifle through my chin because of it.”
“I’ve had similar experiences,” Hank said. “When you’re tired, you’ll sleep just about anywhere. Even in a foxhole filled with water.”
Jack laughed. “Not that there were too many foxholes filled with water in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“No, but that heat can totally knock you out. Especially after days on your feet.” Hank stepped aside and waved them toward the door. “Come on.”
With a hand at the small of Anne’s back, Jack urged her forward, and they entered Hank and Sadie’s home. They stepped into a wide-open living area with brown bomber-jacket leather couches, a massive stone fireplace and wood flooring covered with large area rugs. Emma ran ahead of them and grabbed a doll from one of the seats and hugged her close.
“You can put McClain in the playpen,” Sadie said. “He’s pretty good at entertaining himself.”
Anne crossed the room to a playpen set close to one of the sofas and stood beside it staring into the baby’s face.
He giggled and patted her cheek with his chubby hand.
Anne smiled into his eyes. “You are quite the charmer, aren’t you?”
He giggled and grabbed her ear
.
Anne laughed. “I might need that back,” she said, prying his fingers away from her ear.
Then he leaned toward his playpen and the colorful toys littering the floor of it.
“Okay, little man,” Anne said, “down you go.” She sat him in the playpen, and he grabbed a keychain of bright plastic keys and brought them up to his mouth.
Sadie smiled down at her son. “He’s teething.” She glanced across at Anne. “What can I get you to drink? I’m sure you’re probably parched from that trip across the desert. Would you like coffee, tea or soda?”
“Water or milk would be fine,” Anne said.
“What about you?” Hank directed the question to Jack. “Want a beer? You’re on vacation.”
Jack nodded. “A beer would be great right about now.”
“You three have a seat. I’ll take care of it,” Sadie said.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Hank smiled at his wife, pulled her into a hug and kissed her full on the lips.
Sadie laughed and smacked his arm. “Hey, sailor, save the PDA for later.” And she winked.
“I’m not on active duty anymore,” Hank said. “I can do all the public displays of affection I want.”
“True. And I love every bit of it.” She leaned up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “But let me take care of our guests first.” She turned, and before she could walk away, he swatted her playfully on her backside.
Sadie laughed all the way out of the room.
Hank turned back toward Jack and Anne. “Have a seat.”
“If you don’t mind,” Jack said, “we’ve been sitting for a long time. We might do better standing to let the blood flow back into our legs.”
Anne nodded.
“That is a long haul from Las Vegas. What is it, twelve or thirteen hours?”
Jack nodded. “That’s about right.”
“Any more run-ins with Anne’s ex-boyfriend along the way?” Hank asked.
Jack shook his head. “Since he’s a hacker, I was careful not to use my credit cards. Any time I fueled up, I used the cash I had on hand.”
Hank nodded. “Smart move. I’ve had Swede working all night in our data center below.”
“And?” Jack questioned.
“He blocked a couple hits on your credit and debit cards. But when Swede tried to trace them back to the source, it led him on a chase through the dark web.”
Anne shook her head. “I’d guessed that he was hacking and, based on the fact that he found me in San Diego, he’s probably pretty good at navigating his way through data collection sources, including webcams using facial recognition software.” She shook her head. “It won’t be long before he traces us to all the truck stops we stopped at along the way. And if he can hack his way into your phone, he could trace us using your calls to Hank.”
“I haven’t used my phone since Vegas,” Jack said.
“But you called Hank before Vegas and before you met me,” Anne pointed out. “He could put two and two together.”
Hank nodded.
Anne bit her bottom lip. “Which means we need to leave. No, I need to leave. If he finds his way here, it will put your family in danger.” Anne stared down at McClain in the playpen. “I’d hate for any of you to be harmed because of my poor choice in a boyfriend.”
“We had a security system wired into this place when we built it,” Hank said. “He won’t get in without alarms going off and every one of my team being alerted. I’m not worried about that. I am concerned because my entire team is currently assigned to protection duties. The only ones available are those in the new office in Colorado, and Swede, who runs my computer operations center here at the ranch. Now, I can take on Anne’s protection myself, but not until I get back from LA on Monday. In the meantime, Swede can take over the responsibility of keeping Anne safe while running the operations center here at the ranch.”
“Can Swede protect Anne and man the operations center at the same time?” Jack asked.
“Swede’s my righthand man. I trust him with my life and with the lives of my family.”
Anne shook her head. “Can’t you just take me to the nearest truck stop and let me disappear on my own? I don’t want to put your family in jeopardy.”
Hank shook his head. “I’m taking Sadie, McClain and Emma to LA this weekend. Once they’re settled, I’ll return and take over bodyguard duty. My family will stay in LA for the next month while Sadie is on location.”
“And who will protect them there?” Anne asked.
Hank grinned. “I have one of my guys who’s stationed out on the big island of Hawaii flying in Sunday night. He’ll be there to help Sadie and the kids through the week and until we can resolve this issue with your ex.”
“I can’t take you away from your family. You need to be there for them.” Anne stared down at baby McClain. “They need you more than I do.”
“Not from what Jack says. Besides, I trust my guy from Hawaii. The other option is that I can send Swede with Sadie and the babies to LA to meet my guy from Hawaii. That way I stay here, and you have continuity of protection with me, until I can free up one of my guys from their current assignments or bring one up from Colorado.”
Sadie entered the living room carrying a tray with a couple of beers, a glass of lemonade and one glass of milk. Also on the tray was a bottle of milk and a sippy cup.
Anne hurried forward. “Let me help.”
“If you’ll take your glass of milk, I can do the rest,” Sadie said. “I’ve really got this mom juggle down.”
Hank hurried over and took the two beers and the tray.
Sadie laid her glass of lemonade on one of the end tables then handed the sippy cup to Emma. Sadie snagged the bottle and lifted the baby boy out of his playpen. She settled in one of the chairs and fit the bottle’s nipple into baby McClain’s mouth. The baby wrapped his fingers around the bottle and sucked noisily. “Now,” Sadie said looking up, “what’s been decided? Is Hank coming with me or staying here?”
Hank said, “Staying here.”
At the same time Anne said, “Going with you.”
Sadie laughed. “I’m perfectly comfortable traveling with Swede. He’s quite good with Emma and has actually changed a diaper or two of McClain’s.”
“Hank’s needed here,” Jack said, “but Swede’s your computer guru, from what I understand. Doesn’t he man the communications for the rest of the team?”
Hank nodded. “He’ll carry a laptop, and he can tap in wherever he goes. And his wife, who happens to be my sister, will accompany Sadie and the kids and help out. So, we’re covered.”
Jack shook his head. “I don’t like it. Hank, your family needs you, and Swede needs to stay here and work for the other guys on your team.”
Hank frowned. “I have to get Sadie down to LA this weekend, and I don’t have time to wait for one of the guys to come up from Colorado. We’re leaving bright and early tomorrow morning on a private plane.” Hank cocked an eyebrow. “There is one other option.”
“Good,” Jack said, “what is it?”
Hank grinned. “Seeing as you’ve already provided protection for Ms. Tyler, she could accompany you to the fishing cabin and stay there until I can get back on Monday.” He raised his hand. “I know you came out here to get some peace and quiet but hear me out.”
Jack held his tongue.
Hank continued. “The fishing cabin might be the answer to keeping Anne safe. It’s completely off the grid, as long as you two aren’t bugged. I can have Swede run a bug detector over both of you. If you’re clean, nobody can track you there. The only people who would know that you’re there, are the people in this room and Swede. You would need to leave your cellphone behind, not that it would have any reception out there, but Swede could hook you up with a satellite phone in case you have an emergency. Or you could stay here at the ranch with Swede, under the surveillance of our security system here, but that would mean putting off your vacation and your fly fishing for
a couple more days.”
Anne was already shaking her head. “No way, this man has already put up with enough from me. This is his vacation. I won’t be the cause of him missing another day.”
Before he could think, Jack opened his mouth. “Anne will come with me to the fishing cabin. For the duration of my stay. You don’t need to assign one of your guys.”
Anne shook her head. “I won’t,” she said. “This was where we were supposed to part ways. You’re going fly fishing, free of the responsibility of me. I can stay here with Swede. I’ll be safe enough.”
Jack frowned. “I’ve been thinking about everything, and this is how I feel.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “I got you this far. I can’t ditch you now, even if Hank had somebody available to assign to you today. I wouldn’t feel good about it. You see, once you save a person, that person becomes your responsibility.”
“I’m not your responsibility,” Anne said, “and I never should have stowed away in your truck.”
He raised both hands. “Either you go with me to the fishing cabin, or I stay here with you and Swede. I’m not leaving you alone for that bastard to find you.”
“Can’t you just take me to a truck stop?” she asked, her voice weakening.
“No,” he said, “letting you disappear is not an option.”
“But you won’t get the peace and quiet you want, not with me tagging along,” she said.
“I won’t have peace and quiet even if you aren’t tagging along with me. In the back of my mind, I’d be wondering what’s happening with you.” He held out a hand. “You might as well stay with me.”
“I never should have stowed away in your truck,” she repeated. Despite her words, she laid her hand in his.
He drew her closer. “You didn’t really have a choice.”
Her other hand rose to rest on her belly. “No, I didn’t.”
“What’s it to be?” he asked.
She sighed. “I guess we’re going fly fishing.”
Jack raised a hand. “On one condition.”
Anne’s brow furrowed. “And what condition is that?”
He grinned. “You stop apologizing for stowing away in my truck.”