by Em Petrova
Her mother interrupted her thoughts. “I noticed when we were getting plates out that night that Woody’s cupboards aren’t very organized.”
“Mom!” Shock hit. “Are you telling me that you’re going over to his house to help organize his cupboards?”
“Well… He could certainly use some help. His bowls are sitting next to bags of potato chips and cookies, and there are about thirty plastic lids with no containers to put them on.”
“What have I created?” Atalee shook her head in wonder.
“A monster, I guess. Anyway, I’ll be home the other nights this week, so you and I can finish up my room.”
“Mom.”
“Yeah, honey?” She spoke over a horn blast from one of the cars in traffic.
“Could this have anything to do with Woody having nice blue eyes?”
“Oh Atalee! We aren’t all easily persuaded by blue eyes. I’m just going to help, and Woody is easy to talk to as well. It’s nice to have someone my age for company.”
“Uh-huh.” She wasn’t buying it, now recalling how the two had exchanged a certain smile.
Wait. If their parents hooked up, would that make her and Shaw step-siblings? Oh God.
You’re getting ahead of yourself.
“Have a safe drive. I’ll talk to you soon, Momma.”
“Love you, honey.”
When they ended the call, Atalee drifted to her office window and looked down at the boring parking lot, her mind skimming over the many things she couldn’t wait to tell Shaw.
Suddenly, she had an idea. Weeks ago, he’d taken a chance by showing up at her house and waiting for her to finish her run. It was time to turn the tables on her special ops man.
* * * * *
“Men.” Colonel Downs strode into the room, and all five of the Ranger Ops jumped up to salute. Linc’s empty seat around the shitty conference table left a hollow in the room, and each of them took turns darting looks at the chair, probably wondering as Shaw was how their buddy was faring in DC.
“At ease.” Downs gave a hard nod to Sully. “How are things with Reed? Have you heard from him in DC?”
Sully widened his stance to give his report. “Heard from Linc yesterday, Colonel. He’s receiving the best care. They’ve got his burns tended to and he’s on the mend.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, take your seats, gentlemen. I’ve got things to share.”
Fuck, Shaw didn’t like the sound of that. As he sank to the seat, he braced his elbows on the table and stared at their captain. Sully hadn’t said a word about why they’d been called together today, but Shaw had his suspicions. For months, OFFSUS had been at odds with Homeland Security about whether or not Ranger Ops was essential. By now, he’d like to think they’d done a lot of fucking good in this part of the country and over the border. But it was hard to say if Homeland felt the same.
He caught Sully’s eye, though his captain’s face was blank and unreadable. Shit, he probably didn’t know what was going on either.
This couldn’t go well.
“Let me begin by stating you’ve all followed your orders to a T and gone above and beyond in the line of duty.”
Fuck, here it comes.
Now that Shaw might be facing the dissolution of Ranger Ops, he realized he didn’t want to return to regular duty as a Texas Ranger. After the adrenaline rushes, the victories—even the tough dips and valleys—he couldn’t imagine not being with his team.
“I think you’re all aware of what OFFSUS says about you.”
“Could you refresh our memories, sir?” Lennon’s voice held a note of strain that was most likely in part because his twin was in DC being patched back together.
The colonel shifted in his seat, looking down at the legs. “Damn, these chairs are real junk, aren’t they? I’m going to stand to talk to you all.” He did, and they all looked up to him.
“I’ve spoken with everybody but the President on this matter, it seems. And they’ve agreed to keep you together a while longer. We’ve got some shit brewing that could take Knight Ops away for a while, and that means we need you guarding the South.”
“West,” Cav drawled out.
Downs bit off a smile. “I’m not gettin’ in on that old argument.” There would always be someone with an opinion about whether Texas was in the West or South of the United States.
“Does this mean we can stop fearing that tomorrow we’ll be unemployed, Colonel?” Sully asked point blank.
He gave a hesitant nod, which Shaw didn’t feel confident about at all. “For now. This is a month by month, day by day thing, it seems. But know that I am fighting to keep you all here because I know the good you’ve done over the past months you were instated. With that said, I have two more things to say.”
Shaw resisted the urge to tap his fingers on the table to hurry him along. The day by day thing with Ranger Ops and Homeland was pissing him off, but as there wasn’t a thing they could do about it, he just wanted to head out, find Atalee and make the most of now.
“First, I’m going to see you guys have some better seating for meetings.” Colonel Downs dipped his head to glare at the chair that had almost dumped his ass on the floor. He looked around at each of them. “And second, I’m sending ya’ll a replacement until Reed is back on his feet.”
Sully spoke up, “Who is it, sir?”
“Hawk from Team Rougarou.” He flashed a grin. “Hope you’re all ready for a bayou boy. Hawk’s the best of the bunch, and you’re sure to learn a thing or two from him.”
“He’s sure to find out we don’t take shit from a swamp rat,” Shaw drawled out, and they all laughed. Hawk was known all over the South and beyond for his tactical skills, and he was also part of the Knight family since he’d married their sister.
“He won’t want to leave the Ranger Ops once he sees decent country and not swampland.” Jess leaned back in his seat.
“All right, Ranger Ops. You’ll meet up with Hawk in…” Colonel Downs glanced at his wristwatch, “two hours. You’ll be receiving your orders before then.”
Well, there went Shaw’s plans to see his woman—in two hours he’d be shoved up the crack of some terrorist cell, trying to keep guns from getting in the hands of a bunch of nationalists with their eye on the governor again, recovering a truckload of humans who were being trafficked or God knew what else.
It was frustrating—but it was his job. And he fucking lived for it. Just as Atalee found passion in her profession, Shaw did too. She would understand all the missed holidays, anniversaries and nightly cuddles, wouldn’t she?
Sully saw Downs to the door and then shot Shaw a look. “I’m running back to kiss my woman. You’d best do the same. Everyone, I’ll see ya in a few.”
“This Hawk guy better be able to handle his burritos,” Jess remarked, getting up and heading for the door. “See you, assholes.”
Shaw and the rest hurried out to get things in order before they rallied. The only thing he needed to take care of was locating his girl.
In the parking lot, he grabbed his cell and called her. She answered straightaway, her sweet voice filling his ear and sending love and desire through his body.
“Where are you?” she asked. “I came by your house. Are you still in your meeting?”
“Yeah, Downs was runnin’ late. Look, baby doll, I’m being called out.”
She fell silent. Damn, this was the hard part.
“I want to kiss you goodbye. Will you meet me?”
“Yes,” she said at once. “Where?”
He named a place, a bit off grid in case he had a few spare minutes before heading back and getting geared up.
They hung up and the entire drive, his mind was flooded with thoughts of her. He was damn lucky to have her to kiss goodbye, and he needed to make sure she knew how much she meant to him.
When his phone rang, he grabbed it and glanced at the screen. “Atalee.”
“Shaw, I can’t make it.” She was crying, her voice breathy with tears
.
“What happened? What’s wrong?”
“I’m stuck in this damn traffic routed around construction. I wasn’t thinking or I would have taken another route—I only jumped in the car to head straight to you. Now, I don’t know how long it will take. I’m going to miss you.”
“Where are you?”
She named a part of town.
He cussed. That was difficult to pass through on a day of light traffic, let alone when it was congested as it was now.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to see you, but short of abandoning my car and running a few streets to catch a taxi…”
He chuckled, though ruefully. “It’s all right, baby doll. I wanted to see you, you wanted to see me, but we’ll make up for it the minute I’m back. Okay?”
She sniffled. “I love you, Shaw. Know that.”
“I do. And I love you. When I come back, we’re going to stay in bed for two days.”
“Only two?”
He smiled. “As long as I can. Keep talkin’ to me, baby doll. Tell me about your day.”
While she spoke, he pulled over to the side of the road and listened to her voice oozing excitement as she told him about the homeless veteran group she and the head of the department were establishing. When she told Shaw about her idea to partner with a Y or a gym, he stopped her.
“There’s a man you may have heard of. He was recently all over the news after he lost his job because he was slipping food out to the homeless. One of the other restaurants snagged him up, and you might be able to find him and see what he could do for you about providing some hot meals to your group.”
“Oh my God, Shaw, you’re brilliant! That is so helpful!”
“And I wanna help too. Actually, count us all in—the whole team. We’ll fundraise for you or pitch in any way we can.”
Her tears were back, and she gave a loud sniff. “You’re amazing, all of you. You already give so much to the world and now this.”
“It’s a cause we can all stand behind. None of us want to be forgotten, and those guys might be at low points in life, but we can offer them hope and thanks and maybe a leg up.”
“Shaw.”
“Yeah, baby doll?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Another thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“When you come back, don’t shave right away.”
His cock stiffened immediately, thinking of rubbing his beard between her sensitive thighs while he licked her sweet juices from her pussy. “Deal. But you’d better meet me at the door in your birthday suit.”
* * * * *
“Jesus Christ. Who did that?” Sully rolled down his window and Shaw’s too with a tap of two fingertips. The SUV filled with noxious gas.
Shaw whipped around to see Lennon shaking with laughter and the other guys with hands over their faces to ward off the smell.
The other windows rolled down, and the Texas—God bless Texas—wind poured into the vehicle, though it took a while for the smell to leave.
“Hell, I need a lung transplant after that one. Man, your ass is foul,” Hawk drawled. Cav reached over the seat to bump fists with him in agreement. After the fucking shit they’d just seen—and done—they had a new brother, an honorary member of Ranger Ops that would forever be one of them.
“You’d better shower after that one, Lennon.” Shaw shot him a grin, feeling happy to be on the road home, with the Texas state line well behind them. He missed his stompin’ ground, missed the big sky.
Missed the fuck outta his girl.
“Hell, I need a shower for just sittin’ next to him. I can’t go home to my wife smelling with that stench lingering on my clothes. Didn’t your momma teach you better?” Hawk sent Lennon an accusing stare that only made the guy laugh.
“She did, but Linc and I reserve our manners for the ladies.”
“At least you’re not a guy who’s rippin’ one like that while in bed.” Jess’s comment had them all laughing again.
“When I get back, I’m heading straight for the pizza joint. I’ve been cravin’ good stone-fired pizza since we left.” Cav looked out his window.
“Man, you just ate a bag of Mexican food that would feed a family of six,” Jess ribbed him.
“I could still eat. What are you doin’ when you get back, Jess?” Cav asked.
“Hittin’ the shower then hittin’ my bed. Then hittin’ some booty.”
“Which one is it this time?” Lennon asked him.
“I don’t have a special lady. They’re allll special,” he drawled out, sending laughter through the SUV again.
“Pins ’n Sins later this week?” Shaw threw them each a look. “Atalee asked to come along.”
“Atalee doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into,” Cav remarked from the very back.
Shaw grinned. “She doesn’t. But I hope ya’ll will go easy on her. Hawk, will you join us?”
“I’ll be headin’ back to Louisiana as soon as we debrief.”
“Next time then.”
“I’ll take ya up on that.” The man slanted a smile Shaw’s way.
The rest of the drive was spent listening to more banter, but the closer they got to home, the more Atalee took up the majority of Shaw’s thoughts. What had she been doing this past week? Had she gotten anything settled for her group of vets? Realizing he’d forgotten to fill in the guys on the fact that he’d volunteered them to help, he did now, explaining the cause.
Sully sent him a glance. “You know I’m in. Anything to help a brother.”
Everyone agreed, and Shaw knew Atalee would be very happy to hear the news. He raised a hand to his stubbled jaw. She’d also be one exhausted woman after he spent hours between her sexy thighs…
Sully pulled the SUV into the parking lot of the building that served as their home base. When they walked inside, Shaw stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze fell over the new chairs circling the original table.
“Downs came through,” he said.
“At least the man’s fightin’ our battles, one chair at a time,” Jess commented, touching the back of one heavy wooden chair.
Then they each were called in to debrief and when Shaw was finally free, he found a new pep in his step, his energy restored at the thought of being with Atalee again.
He’d had a stressful week, and he couldn’t wait to talk to his own sexy little therapist.
* * * * *
Atalee stood back to look around the room. From neat and tidy bookshelves to a new furniture unit with labeled baskets holding all of her mother’s makeup so she could see exactly what she owned before buying more, the room soared above all the expectations Atalee had for it.
“Mom… we did it.” The smile spread across her face. She touched the new lamp on a table they’d unearthed from the room that Atalee hadn’t even known was here until they excavated it from beneath a pile of throw blankets. Next to the table was a cozy armchair they’d pushed and shoved into the space from her mother’s bedroom that she never used.
“It’s amazing. I never thought we could do it.”
Atalee stared at her mother. “You worked all this time with me on a project you thought would fail?”
She chuckled. “I figured we’d both give up long before we completed it.”
“Mom, that’s shocking. I’m not a quitter!”
“You aren’t. Look at how long you tried to keep things alive with Johnny.”
Atalee stifled a groan at the mention of her ex. “I’m in such a better place now.”
“You are. Oh honey, I’m happy for you, and happy that we had this time together. It was a weird sort of bonding experience, wasn’t it?”
“More like a revelation that my mother is a hoarder.”
Her mom balled up her fist and punched Atalee’s upper arm. They both laughed and then hugged.
When they pulled away, they were a both a little misty-eyed. Atalee waved at the chair. “Well, test it out.
Enjoy your new space. What are you calling it? An office? Den? Beauty room?”
“I think I’ll call it my haven,” she said, sinking to the armchair and crossing her legs as she looked around with satisfaction. “Now if I could get Woody to work with me on his kitchen as well as you and I work together, I’d be happy.”
“Are you still going over to organize his cupboards?”
She nodded and splayed her fingers over her face, peeking out between them. “It’s horrendous.”
“Huh. I’ve seen something similar before.” She widened her eyes at her mother, who only laughed and got up from the chair. She opened her mouth to say something else about how much time her mom had been spending over at the ranch with Shaw’s dad, but her ring tone interrupted her.
She drew her phone out, thinking it could be work calling with an emergency, but her heart tumbled end over end as she saw who it was.
Her hand wavered as she hurried to bring the phone up. “Shaw!”
“Hello, baby doll. God, it’s good to hear your voice.”
His deep sugary drawl set her body on edge with only a few words. She half-turned away from her mother in order to hide the way her nipples pinched under her top.
“Where are you?”
“Headed to my place.”
“Then I am too.” She was already looking around for her purse but realized she’d left it at the front door. “Love you, Momma. I’ll see you later.” She leaned in to plant a kiss on her mother’s amused face and practically ran to the front door.
“When you get here, I’ll be in the shower. Waiting.”
“I’m already wet.” She lowered her voice as she hit the sidewalk, determined to get to her car and then to Shaw as fast as possible.
* * * * *
He opened the door in nothing but a towel.
Holy mother. I’ve hit the jackpot with this man.
Atalee’s nipples bunched and her panties dampened as she looked him over from toe to head. Bare toes, lightly furred, strong legs cut off by the black towel that swathed his perfectly muscled hips. Above that, the V—the spot between abs and groin that made a woman fall to her knees. Broad chest dipping and swelling in all the right spots and shoulders a girl could latch on to and ride him long into the night.