Stitched Up Heart (Combat Hearts Book 1)

by Tarina Deaton

  “She’s new. What breed?” Bree asked as she came to the edge of the kennel.

  “Some kind of shepherd mix.”

  “The K-9 unit interested in any of them?”

  “They want three if we think there are any viable candidates,” Denise said.

  “Really?” Bree raised her eyebrows.

  “Yup. Drug dogs, apparently.”

  “Cool.”

  “Yes, which is what I’ve been trying to tell you for fifteen minutes.”

  “Sorry.” Bree hung her head in mock shame.

  “Uh huh. You’ve got it bad, sister. I’ve never seen you like this. Not even when we got tasked to that SEAL team for two months in Jalabad.”

  Bree stared off into space. “Mmm…that was good times.”

  “My point is you’re completely distracted by Jase.”

  “I know.” Bree folded her arms on the stall door and rested her chin on them. “He’s only been gone a few days. It’s ridiculous. I feel ridiculous and I don’t know what to do. I’m being all… what’s the word for it?”

  “Girly.”

  “Girly!” Bree snapped her fingers and pointed at Denise like she had just solved the world’s energy crisis. “How do I quit being all girly and emotional?”

  “Don’t look at me. I haven’t done girly since I went through puberty. I’m void of emotions.”

  “You do emotions,” Bree said.

  Denise lifted the latch on the half door and entered the stall. The dog’s tail thumped on the ground as Denise knelt next to her head. “I do some emotions, none of which are girly emotions. My emotions usually involve fireballs and razing insurgent strongholds to the ground.” Denise pat the dog on the head and checked the water and food bowls.

  Bree quirked her mouth. “Valid point. Either way, I need to figure out how to quit doing them.”

  “Why?” Denise asked.

  “Why?” She opened the door for Denise. “Because I don’t want to be girly. I don’t want to moon over some guy and lose who I am in the process.”

  “Who says you have to lose yourself?” She swung the door closed and checked the latch. “Why can’t you figure out a way to be who you are and still fall in love with Jase?”

  “Um, first, no one said anything about being in love.”

  Denise gave her that look again.

  “Fuck.” Bree drew the word out as she groaned. She hated it when Denise called her on her bullshit. It was easy to avoid the truth without her around. “I can’t. It’s way too soon.”

  “Not according to Gran it’s not,” Denise pointed out.

  “Okay, Gran lived a fairy tale. We know that’s not how life really works.”

  “Says whom?”

  “Says everyone except Gran. Hell, even Elsa said you can’t fall in love with someone you just met.”

  “You’re referencing animated characters again.”

  “Hello? Fairy tale?”

  “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Whatever. You love my face.”

  “At the moment, I want to high-five your face,” Denise told her.

  Bree stuck her tongue out. Denise returned the gesture before leading the way back out of the barn.

  “Kimber! Kaden! Be careful with the dogs,” Denise yelled. Her young cousins laughed and ran around the large pen with three of the rescue dogs.

  “Okay, Aunt Denise!” Kimber shouted.

  Bree smiled at their antics. “So, this is different than your usual advice.”

  Denise continued to watch the kids run around with the dogs. “What is?”

  “This sudden give love a chance mindset. Not your usual stance on the subject.”

  Denise shrugged. “I just don’t think you should talk yourself out of something that might be worth giving a shot.”

  Bree knew her best friend better than that. She was avoiding. For all of Denise’s light-hearted banter and teasing, something was bothering her. An edge, a rawness, lying just below the surface. One that worried Bree.

  “Denise. What’s going on?”

  Denise crossed her arms and looked at her feet as she leaned against the barn. “Sarah isn’t going to make it,” she whispered.

  “Oh honey, I’m sorry.” Bree copied Denise’s stance, but rested her head on Denise’s shoulder. “How long?” she asked.

  Denise’s swallow was audible. Her breath caught as she inhaled. “Three months. Six at most if she continues treatment, but she doesn’t want to. She’s done with it. She wants to spend time with Kimber and Kaden. Enjoy it as much as possible, rather than spend days in bed or throwing up.” She shook her head, staving off her tears.

  “I’m here, you know that, right?”

  Denise nudged Bree’s head up off her shoulder and gave her a small smile. “You have enough going on right now.”

  “Never enough when you need me.”

  “Thanks.”

  Kaden tripped and rolled. He laughed as two of the dogs licked his face. Pushing them away from his face, he jumped up and ran across the grass. “When do you need to take them home?”

  “I told Sarah I’d have them back before six.”

  “You wanna come over after you drop them off? Chinese take-out and a movie?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “You know these are emotions, right?” Bree teased.

  “That probably explains why I feel the urge to carpet bomb an insurgent camp.”

  The intro for Boogey Shoes sounded from the side of her purse. Dancing in place, Bree pulled it out and smiled at Jase’s name on the caller ID. She stepped out of the line to answer.

  “Hey, are you back?”

  “We’re about an hour out. I need to drop Chris off. Do you have plans for dinner?”

  “I’m in line to get Chinese if you and Chris want to come over to the house. Denise and I were going to veg and watch a movie.”

  “We still need to shower. We’re pretty ripe.”

  “You can shower at the house if you don’t need to get a change of clothes.” Bree cringed as soon as she made the offer. Could she sound more desperate? Could she rescind the offer without sounding even more ridiculous? As she wracked her brain for an exit strategy, she heard Jase talking to Chris, asking if he had some clean clothes. Maybe she didn’t come across as desperate as she thought she did.

  “Yeah, we’re good with that if you are.”

  “Um, yeah. I’m good with that.” More cringing. Why was this conversation so awkward? “What kind of Chinese do you like?”

  “Beef and vegetables for me. Chris wants General Tsao’s chicken. Extra spicy.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

  “’Bye.”

  “’Bye.” She hung up before she turned it into a cheesy you-hang-up-first ordeal. Tapping her phone against her forehead, she replayed the conversation over in her mind. He had called her before he even got home to take a shower. Maybe he was just as moony as she was. Taking a deep breath, she got back in line.

  Receipt in hand, she called Denise while she waited for the order. “Are you sure you don’t mind? It was just supposed to be us.”

  “No, I don’t mind.” Denise laughed. “We’ve done plenty of girl time. We should probably branch out a bit. Think they’d be okay with watching Magic Mike?”

  Bree smiled. “I’m going to go with no on that one.”

  “Hmm. I might have to make sure it’s on when they walk in just to mess with them a little bit.”

  Bree laughed at that thought of Jase and Chris’s reaction to having to sit through Magic Mike. “I’m totally okay with screwing with their heads.”

  “Sweet! See you soon.”

  The doorbell rang as Bree pulled the last container of food from the to-go bag. Why did Denise ring the doorbell? She looked through the peephole to be greeted with a close-up of Denise’s nose pressed up against the viewer. That explains that.

  She threw the bolt and swung the door open. “That’s hot.” Denise’s dog shuffled in with
her and greeted Bree’s dogs.

  “I know. Right? How am I still single?” Denise kicked off her shoes by the door and followed Bree into the kitchen. “That’s a lot of food.”

  Bree set the containers on a baking sheet and put them in the warmer. “Two guys are coming for dinner who just spent a week camping, probably getting most of their calories from beer.”

  “I see your point.” She got a glass out of the cabinet. “I’m going to go cue up Magic Mike to Channing Tatum’s solo so I can press play right before you open the door for them.” She poured tea from a pitcher and returned it to the fridge.

  “I think you’re enjoying this just a little too much,” Bree said.

  “Maybe, but I’m not getting my kicks anywhere else, so I’ll take what I can get.”

  “I’m going to put towels and soap in the hall bath.” She poured a glass of water and joined Denise in the living room.

  “What time are they going to be here?” Denise asked.

  Bree curled her legs under her and leaned against the armrest of the couch. “Jase said an hour when he called, so should be soon. We’re watching The Expendables, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Just checking.”

  “On to more important things. Are there any suspects in your neighbor’s murder?” Denise asked.

  “Not that I know of. Tim hasn’t said anything.”

  “Would he, if he knew anything?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d hope so, but probably not unless they had a suspect.”

  Denise spread out on the couch. “That kind of sucks. You’d think having a letter left on a body addressed to you would give you some sort of insider connection.”

  “I’m pretty sure that happens only in the movies.”

  “Did they figure out who broke into your house?”

  “Nope. Tim said they haven’t gotten a hit back on the prints. Guess it really isn’t as fast as it is on CSI. More’s the pity,” Bree said.

  “No kidding. Talk about building up expectations.”

  The doorbell pealed from the foyer. Bree got up to answer the door while Denise scrambled to grab the remote.

  “Wait! Wait! Wait! Okay, I’m ready,” she called out.

  Bree shook her head as she opened the door to let in Jase and Chris, dressed almost identically in camo cargo pants and long-sleeved t-shirts.

  “Ah, so you’re Chris.” The guy on the couch. Even though he sported a few days’ worth of dark stubble, she recognized his steel-blue eyes.

  “Told you not to run.” He winked at her as he stepped into the foyer.

  Jase gave Bree a quick, hard kiss. “What’s that about?”

  “Nothing.” Bree closed the door and led them into the house. “Do you want to shower first or watch the movie? Denise picked it.” Denise had cued it up right to the part where Channing Tatum was grinding, semi-naked, on the stage.

  Jase and Chris stepped into the living room and froze, jaws agape, a look of absolute horror on their faces at the sight of Channing Tatum grinding, semi-naked, on the large screen.

  Chris dropped his bag and shouted, “Let it rain!” He undulated his hips in a way that put Channing Tatum to shame. Bree and Denise laughed and whooped when Chris turned and shook his butt at them.

  “Okay, okay. We’re kidding,” Denise said, wiping tears from her eyes. “We’re actually watching The Expendables, but good to know you’d be alright with half-naked guys dancing around on stage.”

  “Chris has a somewhat questionable past,” Jase said.

  Denise turned off the movie. “Nothing wrong with that.”

  Chris raised his eyebrows.

  Well now, Denise might get her kicks somewhere else after all. Bree led Chris and Jase down the hall and showed Chris the guest bath. When she tried to go back to the kitchen, Jase grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him.

  “Jase.”

  Tugging on her hand, he led the way into her bedroom and shut the door behind them.

  “I’m not having sex with you while our best friends are in the house waiting on us!”

  “I want a better kiss.”

  She smirked. “Better, huh?”

  “Way better.” His hands delved into her hair and tilted her head to the side. His mouth was hot and urgent. His arms wrapped tight around her and pulled her against him, forcing her up on her toes.

  He smelled like woodsmoke, outdoors, and sweaty man. As hot as the kiss was, Bree couldn’t help but think he really needed a shower. She pulled back slightly and created a hair’s breadth of space between their lips.

  “Would you take it the wrong way if I asked you to take a shower?”

  “Manly man-smell doesn’t turn you on?”

  “Normally, yes, but five days’ of manly man-smell is a little much.”

  He grinned before kissing her quickly. “I can fix that for you.”

  “Thanks. Dinner’ll be ready to go when you get out.” She pulled out of his arms and slipped through the bedroom door.

  Denise pulled the food out of the warmer and had already set plates on the table.

  “We’re eating in the dining room?” Bree asked.

  “Sure. Why not?” Denise shrugged.

  Bree grabbed silverware out of the drawer. “When was the last time we ate at the table?”

  “A couple of Thanksgivings ago?”

  “Oh, yeah. Wasn’t that the one where your date—”

  “Let’s not go there again.”

  A deep male chuckle came from the direction of the hall as Chris joined them. “Glad to hear I’m not the only one that has awkward holiday dinners. Is it okay if I leave my bag in the foyer?”

  “Sure. Make yourself at home,” Bree said. He rejoined them and sat at the kitchen counter.

  “Beer? Water? Tea?” Denise asked.

  “I’ll take a beer, thanks.”

  Denise took a bottle out of the fridge and popped the top, setting the bottle on the counter. “Bottle good, or do you want a glass?”

  “Bottle’s good.”

  “How do you and Jase know each other?” Bree asked.

  “We were in the same platoon. How do you two know each other?”

  She poured the rice into a large serving bowl. “Pretty much the same way. We were deployed together a couple of times.”

  “Army?”

  “She was.” Bree tilted her head toward Denise. “I made better life decisions and joined the Air Force.”

  Denise waved a serving spoon at her. “And yet you still ended up serving with the Army.”

  “With the Army, not in the Army. Big difference.”

  “I take it this isn’t a new argument,” Chris said.

  “We’ve had it a few times.” Denise smiled and bumped Bree’s hip. Bree bumped her back.

  Jase came into the kitchen, rubbing his belly. “I’m starving”

  Chris ran his hand up and down his beer bottle. “Well, if you hadn’t taken the time to rub one out in the shower, we’d be eating already.”

  Bree’s eyes widened. “Oh my god.”

  “Jackass.” Jase tapped the back of Chris’s head as he gave him a death glare.

  Denise shook her head a few times. “Not an image I needed in my head. Thankfully, I don’t have a weak stomach. Let’s eat so we can watch hot guys blow shit up.”

  Bree picked up two bowls to take to the table. “What do you do on the camping trips?”

  Jase grabbed another bowl and Bree’s glass. “It depends on the season and varies from group to group. Some groups are serious hunters and fishermen. Others just want to sit around, drink beer, and reminisce.” He sat next to Bree at the round table. “Most fall somewhere in-between. They’ll hunt or fish, but really aren’t that serious about it. I try to tailor the trips to the people in the group.”

  “A lot of guys want to go out with a group that understands where they’re coming from without it being a therapy session.” He took the carton of egg rolls from Denise. “I mean, it kin
d of is, but it’s not forced. If guys want to talk, they talk. If not, no one bugs ‘em. No questions. No recriminations. No judgment.”

  “Do you work for Jase or just volunteer?” Bree blew on a fork full of food.

  “I volunteer when I can,” Chris said.

  “Which is more often than not.” Jase took a bite of beef and broccoli. “He helps me run the classes as well.”

  “Jase said y’all are going on the trip with us next month,” Chris said.

  “We’ve both arranged to have the time off,” Denise said.

  Bree nodded. “I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t been camping in a couple of years.”

  When they finished eating, Jase and Chris offered to clean up the dishes while the girls packed away the few leftovers.

  Between Bree’s large sectional and lounger, the four of them were able to spread out without touching. Jase pulled Bree down in front of him after he lay down along one side of the L-shaped couch. Charlie jumped up and joined Chris, where he had propped his head up on a couple of pillows.

  Bree snapped her fingers. “Charlie, get down.”

  Chris wrapped an arm around Charlie’s big head and rubbed his ears. “Don’t worry about it. He’s good.” The other two dogs took up space near Bree and Denise. Fifteen minutes into the movie, Jase and Chris were asleep.

  “I guess camping takes a lot of a guy,” Denise said.

  “I guess so.” Bree shifted her hair away from the nape of her neck where Jase had his nose buried.

  Thirty minutes later, Denise stood and stretched her arms out over her head. “I’m falling asleep, so I’m going to head out.”

  “Okay, let me untangle myself.”

  “No, stay there. I know where the door is.”

  “I know, but I’m going to get blankets for them.” She lifted Jase’s arm from where it lay heavy on her waist and rose from the couch. Charlie raised his head from where it rested on Chris’s legs when she stood. He took that as his cue it was time to go outside and jumped off the couch. His hind paw landed square in the middle of Chris’s crotch, causing him to curl up in a fetal position and groan.