by Kelly Moore
We rent a truck and ride through Montana and stop in Missoula. The town sits nestled in a valley with a river running through it. We decide to stay for a few days and enjoy the great outdoors. It’s their annual snowmobile day. No other vehicles are allowed downtown for the entire day.
“Damn, I could get used to this place,” Lawson says, taking a bite out of his sandwich.
We’re sitting outside a small cafe in the middle of town, surrounded by outdoor heaters. Not my typical kind of place, but Lawson asked around as to where to get the best Philly cheesesteak, and this place won. Its only downfall was only outside seating was available. So much for staying warm.
“I miss the city, but I have to admit, I’m kinda liking this place.” I take a sip of water. “What’s the word on the honeymooners?”
“They’ve postponed it for a while. Theo wants to be at Williams’s funeral. After that, they can’t leave. Fiona’s photo gallery has it’s opening week right after that.”
“You must be so proud of her.”
“I am.” A goofy smile covers his face. “You should have a daughter one day.” His expression changes as soon as his words come out. “I mean…”
“I know what you meant. I don’t think it’s in the cards for me.”
He puts his sandwich on his plate. “Do you think you’ll ever date again?”
“No,” I answer quickly.
“I don’t think Fallon would expect you to stay single.”
“She’s the only one that would put up with my ugly mug.” I laugh to keep my pain from showing.
“Do you think you’ll ever find her?”
“Not unless she wants to be found.”
“I still can’t believe she hasn’t been in touch with anyone or Sean.”
“Nina had to have threatened her to make her leave.”
“Any word on the bitch?”
“No. She disappeared the same day Fallon and Sean did.”
“Do you think she’ll resurface?”
“There is no telling with her.”
“How about any new companies created that resemble her handiwork?” He takes another bite of his sandwich.
“Not according to our intel.”
A chill runs over my spine, and I scan the area. I’m sure it’s the mention of Nina’s name, but I feel as if I’m being watched. I pick up my sunglasses off the table and casually continue to glance around.
“What’s next on our mission board?”
“There’s been reports of a militia team waging war down in Texas over a…” I can’t finish my sentence.
“What’s wrong? You're as white as a ghost.”
I’m staring over his shoulder across the road. “A ghost,” I repeat his words. I pull off my sunglasses, blink a few times, and put them back on my face. “I thought I saw Nina.”
He jerks up from his chair and looks around. “Where?”
“Over there.” I point to a coffee house behind him.
“Why would Nina be in small-town Missoula?” He sits back down. “I’m sure you imagined her. We were just talking about her.”
“You’re right. My imagination got the better of me.” I don’t believe it. I can feel her. I know she’s here. I poke a fork at my food and pretend to be distracted by it. I’m not. I’m on high alert. “How are things with you and Honor?”
“I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“I didn’t think you were the marrying kind.”
“I wasn’t. But I’m ready to settle down. Maybe give Fiona a brother or sister.”
“Really? You want to start over?”
“Honor’s still young enough to have children, and I’d like to have a chance to raise my own kid, or two.”
“You might be a grandfather and new dad at the same time.” I laugh.
“I’d be okay with that.” He wipes his mouth.
“That’s something I’ll never have. Nina ruined all of that for me.” I grit my teeth.
“You’re the only one that can change that. I know you loved Fallon, but it’s time to move on.”
As he says the words, I see her clear as day. Nina is standing across the street, wearing a winter coat, a sock hat, boots, and dark glasses. I know her stance, her body language, the way she holds her shoulders.
My chair topples over when I stand. She sees me and smiles.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lawson is on his feet.
“She’s here,” I say as I dart off into the road, barely being missed by a snowmobile. By the time I make it to the other side, Nina is heading off on a bright red snowmobile.
“Damn it.” I run back to the other side and straddle my rented one, pulling out to chase after her.
I faintly hear Lawson yelling to wait for him. There’s no time. I haven’t been this close to her in years. She speeds through the small town, not stopping at lights and causing four others to crash. It slows me down from getting around them, but I quickly gain speed. She’s taking the scenic route out of town that leads to winding roads through the mountains. I get close enough to see her looking at me in the side mirror, and Nina swerves into the other lane, passing the truck in front of her. She makes it back across the double yellow lines just in time for a semi tractor-trailer to blow its horn, missing her by inches. I cross over, weaving between an oncoming car and the truck Nina passed. She’s put a large gap between us as she makes her way up the incline of the mountain. The road takes a hard left, and I lose sight of her for a moment. I pick up speed, and she’s rounding another deep curve. I catch up to her when she slows down with another car inching up the mountain. I go faster, and I’m at her bumper. I reach behind me and pull the pistol from my belt, aiming it at her snowmobile. She doesn’t stop. She takes her chances and passes the car on the curve. I follow on her tail. She rounds the corner and jerks over, leaving me facing an oncoming semi. I swerve, but his bumper clips my front end, sending me in circles. I can’t control it. I hit the guardrail and fly over it. All I see beneath me is mountainside and trees before my head slams hard into a rock.
Machines are beeping, and voices are surrounding me.
“Rebel. Wake up.”
The tiniest bit of light filters through my eyes, and I squeeze them shut.
“That’s it. You can do it.”
It’s Lawson.
“We’re all here, Rebel.”
Someone squeezes my hand, and I attempt to open my eyes again.
“That’s it, buddy.”
Lawson again.
My throat is dry and painful. I try to speak, but nothing comes out.
“Open your eyes, Rebel, and let us know you’re still with us.” I hear a different voice but louder this time.
My lids open, and my sight is blurry.
“I knew he’d be alright.” Lawson high-fives a big man.
Someone in a white coat shines a penlight in my eyes. “They’re both equal and reactive.” His light goes out. “Can you squeeze my hand?” he asks, and I feel his fingers in the palm of my hand.
Slowly, I grasp them.
“Good, now the other hand.”
I do the same.
He moves out of my line of sight. “Can you move your toes?”
I wiggle the ones on the left. Pain shoots through me when I try to move the right foot.
“It’s okay if you can’t. Nod your head if you can feel me touching you.”
I ever so slightly move my head. It hurts too.
I’m barely able to whisper. “What happened? How long have I been here?”
“You were in an accident three weeks ago.” Lawson frowns. “Don’t you remember? You were chasing Nina. I thought you were dead when I found you.” His eyes fill with tears.
“I don’t remember.”
A blonde woman moves from the end of my bed. “Do you think I could have a minute alone with him?” she asks, looking around at the men in my room.
“I need to do a thorough assessment of him,” the man in the jacket says.
“I’ll only need a minute.”
They all leave the room but her. She leans down and whispers close to my ear. I listen and try to take it all in. I have trouble focusing, wanting to drift back to sleep.
Chapter 6
Fallon - One Year Later
“Nice work today, Fallon. You’ve really honed your skills. You’re one mean fighting machine. Are you ever going to tell me what drives you?” Jacob wipes his brow with a small white towel.
He’s been training me in self-defense since we moved here a year ago. I never mentioned to him that I had basic skills I learned from Rebel and Lawson. I don’t even speak their names out loud unless it’s to Sean.
“What drives anyone to want to defend themselves?” I gulp down a bottle of water. It runs down my chin, drenching my sports bra.
He reaches out, running his hand along the outside of my arm. “You’ve been hurt.”
I stare at the path his hand traveled, wishing like hell it was Rebel’s touch on my skin. I long to be held in his arms again. Two years has not diminished my desire for him one bit.
“Would you like to go to dinner with me?”
My gaze is fixed on him. I’ve never gotten a glimmer our relationship was anything more than professional.
“What?”
“You have to eat. I just thought we could do it together.” He shrugs one shoulder.
He’s gorgeous, and any woman in her right might would be all over him. I gaze down his toned body. He’s lean, not too muscular. Perfect in all the right places. And those lips of his…what the hell am I doing? It’s been way too long since I’ve had sex, and my libido is in overdrive. “No. I’m sorry. I have to go help Sean at the tiki bar.” I shake the thoughts from my head.
“Is he why you won’t have dinner with me? Is he Lily’s father? You never talk about anything.”
I keep myself so closed off from everyone in case I have to bolt. He’s the only one that’s ever met Lily, and that’s because I’ve had to bring her here several times before I found a nanny I could trust.
“That’s a lot of questions,” I say, grabbing my bag.
“Look. I know you’re hiding from someone. Whatever you tell me, I won’t repeat. You can trust me.”
I’d love to trust another person, but I’d never risk getting close enough to someone again for my sister to take them away from me. She sees and knows everything. At least she did. Sean and I haven’t heard from her in months.
“He’s not my boyfriend, nor Lily’s father. There, I answered two questions.” I smirk at him, and he smiles. If Rebel smiled at me like that, it would melt my panties.
“If not tonight, tomorrow. Let me take you to dinner.” He raises a hand before I can answer him. “Just think about it.”
I open the glass doors to the front of the modern building. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Same time.”
I enjoy the fresh, warm air on my face as I weave my way through the resort property to our cottage. It sets among palm trees, and a path leads down to the ocean. Couples come here for romance, honeymoons, second honeymoons, or just a long weekend getaway. Love is always in the air here…for everyone else but me.
“Hey, Ember,” I say as I open the door to the cottage.
She puts a finger to her lips. “Lily is napping.”
“Good. I’m going to get a quick shower before I go to Castaway Cove.” Sean says he named the tiki bar after us being banished.
“I’m headed there now.” She picks up her purse.
“Lock the door behind you,” I say softly. I hop in the shower and rinse off the sweat. Rebel’s face flashes behind my closed eyes.
“Do you mind if I shower with you, doll?”
God, I miss his husky, sexy voice. I don’t know why he always asked. He knew the answer was yes.
“Mommy.”
Lily’s voice startles me. I push open the shower curtain. “You’re awake.” I turn off the water, wrap myself in a towel, and pick her up. “Did you have a good nap?” She lays her dark brown head full of curls on my shoulder.
“You’re not awake yet.” I kiss the top of her head. I lay her on the bed, and she curls into a ball. “Mommy has to get dressed. We’re going to go help Uncle Sean.”
I rummage through my drawers and find a pair of light blue shorts and a gray tank top. Sean and I tried to convince Nina we were a couple right after I found out I was pregnant. We wanted her to think Lily was his. The minute she was born, she knew we’d been lying to her. Lily’s eyes gave her away. There was no denying who she belonged to. We tried to persuade her into believing she had his eyes because Sean and Rebel are brothers, but she knew better.
“I hungry.” Lily sits straight up.
“I’ll get something to take with us, baby girl.” I open the fridge and grab her favorite Lunchable. I tuck it in my bag and slip on a pair of sandals. “Come on.” I hold out my hand. She’s going through a phase where she hates to be held. It takes longer, but it makes her happy. She stops to touch every blossoming flower along the way.
The bar around the tiki hut is full, and the tables on the patio area are filling up. I blink twice when I see Sean smack a quick kiss on Ember’s lips. I never saw that coming. I had no idea. I’m so blind to anything romantic even though that’s all this place is. Maybe I should go to dinner with Jacob.
“Hi,” I say, smiling at Sean. Lily signs hello to him.
“She looks like she just woke up,” he says, picking her up and placing her on the bar.
“I hungry,” she says again.
“You’re a bottomless pit.” He ruffles her hair.
Sean built a little table behind the bar so I could bring her with me when I help out. He’s great at reading lips and has a sign up that says, “I’m deaf, write down your orders or speak slowly.” Some patrons speak too fast, and he doesn’t catch it, so there is always someone here to help him. If I’m not here, Ember is. I guess it makes sense they’ve formed a relationship.
I open Lily’s Lunchable and place it on the table. Sean gets her down off the bar, and she sits. Ember grabs a tray of drinks and takes them to a table.
I tap Sean on the shoulder. “So, you and Ember?”
He smiles. “That’s none of your business. We work together and live together. I’d like to have something private.”
“As long as you don’t distract her when she’s got Lily, I think it’s fantastic.” Ember is ex-military and came to this island for a different life. I met her at Jacob’s place. I liked her immediately. She was a good match to take care of Lily. She’s strong and very loving with her. A thought hits me. “Did you tell her?” I drag him close to me and whisper. I know he can’t hear me, but I don’t want anyone else to.
“No.”
He knows I mean about our past. I trust her, but I’m not willing to risk it. “Good. You know you can’t share that.”
He lays his hand on my cheek. “Don’t worry.”
That’s all I’ve done for the past two years is live in fear, worrying about Nina showing up at any moment and taking back her agreement.
I reach over and turn down the music Sean has playing over the speakers. I freeze in place, with the hair on my arms standing tall when I hear a familiar voice.
“Don’t be silly, Fiona. You look beautiful. I love your belly.”
It can’t be. I stand tall and hide behind one of the round, thick wooden poles holding up the tiki bar. I press my forehead to it. No way. I lift my head and peek around it. Theo and Fiona are pulling up chairs poolside. She’s pregnant. I’d say at least six months. He glances in the bar’s direction, and I duck down under the counter. I reach behind me and tug on Sean’s khaki shorts. He turns around to stare at me as I motion for him to get down.
“What is it?” He squats.
“Theo and Fiona are at the pool.”
He raises up to look.
“Get down.” He slips behind the pole.
Ember walks in. “What are you two doing?” She glances around.
“Do you think you could handle the bar by yourself?” he asks her.
“No. It’s too busy.” She scowls at us.
“Give me that hat.” I point to a floppy hat with the tiki bar emblem on it. We sell them and t-shirts to the guests. She takes it off a hook and hands it to me. I grab a pair of sunglasses from my bag then get up.
“What the hell am I supposed to do?” Sean’s hands are in the air.
“You two are scaring me.” Ember frowns.
“Up there.” I point up at a parrot head mask hanging from the straw ceiling. “Put it on.”
“I can’t go around serving people in that thing,” he protests but pulls it down.
“Yes, you can.” I poke my hands through the eye holes to make them bigger. “You just have to be able to see to read lips.”
He tugs it over his head.
I glance down to see Lily is no longer sitting at the table. “Where is she?” I’m instantly frantic. I search around, and she’s headed straight for where Theo and Fiona are lounging.
“Oh, my god! Ember, you have to go get her!” I push her from behind the bar.
She does without question.
Lily is almost to the pool when Theo snags her hand. “Hey, little one. Where are you going so fast?” He picks her up before she walks into the water.
He casts his eyes in our direction, and I tug my hat lower.
“She’s quick,” Ember says as she takes her from him. “How about I repay you and your…”
“Wife,” Theo says with a smile.
“Drinks on the house.”
“I’ll take you up on that, but lemonade will have to do for the momma-to-be.” He starts walking in our direction.
No, Ember, I say under my breath. I squat, acting as if I’m digging through a box. Sean is facing the other direction. Ember walks behind the bar, holding Lily.
“What would you like?”
Sean turns around with his parrot head on at the same time to fill a glass of beer from the tap, and he drops it, shattering it at my feet. I force myself not to glance up.
“You alright?” Ember asks Sean.