Call to Redemption

by Tawny Weber

  Instead, he pulled up the sheet and tucked it around her to keep the morning chill away.

  Used to dressing fast, it only took him about a minute to be ready to walk out the door. But he still hesitated.

  He watched Darby breathe, then—despite feeling like an idiot but unable to resist—he leaned down to brush a whisper-soft kiss over her cheek.

  Damn, he was getting sappy.

  But he didn’t care.

  She made him feel good.

  But more, she gave him a feeling of peace. Something that, in all his years of fighting for peace, he’d rarely felt within himself.

  Something to think about, he decided, looking back one last time before slipping out of the room.

  After a sweaty trip to the gym, an invigorating ocean swim and a quick shower, Nic made his way down to breakfast. As soon as he stepped onto the lanai, he saw his uncle at the far table with his coffee and his tablet. So far he’d managed to avoid the prolonged one-on-one with its inevitable life lecture, but family was family.

  So he strode across the porch to do his duty.

  “Uncle Michael,” Nic greeted when he reached the older man. “Can I join you?”

  “I was hoping you would.” His Panama hat low on his brow to shield his eyes from the morning sun, Michael set aside the tablet, with its morning news story, and gestured to the empty seat next to him. “Are you alone, Dominic? Where is your lovely companion?”

  “Sleeping, then shopping.” Dominic gave his uncle a grin as he slid into the chair and snagged one of the muffins from the basket. “Not that the resort doesn’t have great stores, but if you don’t want people spending their money somewhere else, you shouldn’t provide a bus tour to all the best local shops.”

  “More variety makes our guests happy,” Michael said, shrugging off the possible loss of sales. “And you, my nephew, look like a happy guest. This has been a good visit, yes?”

  “Yes.” Nic left it at that. He knew perfectly well that Michael was making regular reports to his mother. There was no point giving his uncle any reason to get the woman’s hopes up.

  “She’s a lovely woman,” Michael said, rich scent wrapping around them as he poured Nic coffee. “Not your usual type.”

  “I have a usual type?”

  “Beautiful, interesting career women who are not interested in more than the here and now.”

  “Huh.” Nic nodded his thanks to the waiter who set the family-style platter of eggs, pancakes, bacon and ham on the table. “If that’s my type, then it sounds like Darby fits.”

  “No, no. She’s more.” Michael waited until they’d filled their plates, poured sugarcane syrup over their stacks of pancakes and had a few bites before he pointed his fork at his nephew. “She intrigues you.”

  Hell, yeah. She was sexy, clever and damn creative in bed.

  “She’s an intriguing woman,” he agreed, forking up another stack of pancakes.

  “This is good. You’re reaching an age that you need more balance in your life.”

  Nic paused in the act of eating his second piece of bacon to arch a brow. “I’ve got great balance.”

  “No. If you’re not careful now, you’ll tip too far to one side. Your world will become one-dimensional. You are so committed to duty that you don’t allow anyone into your life that will distract. Even family is kept at a safe distance.” Michael lifted one hand before Nic could say anything. “Yes, yes, you put that wall around the family for our own good. And more importantly, for yours.”

  “I’m not one of those guys who thinks a SEAL can’t handle a relationship,” Nic protested. “Two of my guys are married, another is hitting the aisle in the next couple of months. If a guy has a handle on his career and falls hard for the right woman, I think he should give it his all.”

  “Ahh, but what defines the right woman?”

  “First, she has to hook a guy—body, mind and soul.” Nic mulled over his words as he drank the coffee. “Second, she has to understand what it means to be involved with someone on active duty in the military. And third, she’d have to accept that being involved with a SEAL multiplies the risks, the stresses and the demands.”

  “So you believe all the understanding and compromise are on the lady’s side?”

  “Of course not. It requires equal work and commitment from both sides.” Nic refilled his cup, gestured with the pot before setting it back on the warmer at his uncle’s refusal. “But it takes an amazing woman to handle a relationship with a SEAL.”

  “Which invites the question, do you consider Darby to be an amazing woman?”

  “Uhh.” Speechless in the face of his uncle’s grin, Nic could only shake his head as his breakfast turned to lead in his stomach at that question.

  Thankfully, his phone buzzed, saving him from having to answer a question he wasn’t ready to consider.

  “Speaking of Navy business.” Nic dug his phone out of his pocket and lifted it in apology as he got to his feet. “Excuse me.”

  He waited until he’d reached the water’s edge before answering.

  “Savino.”

  “Louden here. How’s Hawaii? Having fun? Enough small talk. You need to return to base.”

  No longer enchanted by the ocean’s dance, Nic’s easy mood evaporated like the sun hiding behind a cloud. Any thoughts he’d had about something—someone—taking precedence over his career disappeared as all his senses came to attention.

  “Report,” he ordered his second-in-command. Lieutenant Commander Ty Louden was known as a hard-ass, a man with a special instinct for men and situations that was legendary among his team. If he said Nic needed to return to base, he had a damn good reason.

  “Things are heating up and it’s all going to blow to hell if you’re not here to contain it.”

  “New intel?” With three men digging further into Ramsey’s past and Lansky on tech, he’d been expecting a breakthrough. But not one that’d get Louden twisted with concern.

  “Not yet. We’re gathering a lot of details, but no solid breaks. Lansky’s close. You know how he gets. He’s muttering and swigging Mountain Dew like it’s water. Guy’s gonna glow in the dark soon, but he hasn’t broken through all the firewalls yet.”

  Nic allowed himself a single second to feel the surge of impatience and frustration, then he set it aside.

  “And look, I know Jarrett said it was no big, but that’s bullshit. No way a three-hour meeting with Naval Criminal Investigation doesn’t carry weight. He was sweating, too. Guy is like a minnow when it comes to any sort of confrontation.”

  It was common knowledge that Louden didn’t think much of Jarrett. But Nic knew the man’s personal opinion never factored into performing his duty. Just as he knew Jarrett’s inability to live up to the SEAL’s high standard didn’t make him a bad officer. Still, the disgust in Louden’s voice needed to be curbed before it got out of hand.

  “On Cree’s orders, Jarrett is building the case against Ramsey. He’d likely meet with NCI to do so.”

  “He was sweating when the NCI weasel left his office. He was still sweating when he ordered me to give him every piece of intel we’ve gathered so far. Every piece, verified or not.”

  “Procedure—”

  “Our investigation is unofficial, sir,” Louden reminded him. “You requested that our men be assigned to the official investigation but Jarrett claimed we’d hurt the case. Some stupid crap about tainting evidence or something.”

  His eyes on the waves, Nic watched each one pour over the other in a froth of white until the fury at that reminder faded. He’d understood his men’s insult at the time, he understood it now. But he understood Jarrett’s point, too. It wasn’t just Poseidon’s reputation at stake. It was the team itself. If they weren’t cleared, they’d be ordered to disband. Instead of all serving togethe
r on SEAL Team Seven, they’d be scattered. Instead of being the elite, they’d be outcasts.

  “Stall,” Nic ordered. “I’ll deal with Jarrett’s request when I get back.”

  “Thanks,” Louden muttered, dropping his military tone for one of frustrated gratitude. “This is crap, Nic. We’re clear. Ramsey tried to pin his crimes on Torres, we cleared him. He tried to lure in Prescott, we nailed his ass and threw him in the brig. Why the hell is Poseidon being targeted, and what’s it going to take to clear our names for good?”

  Excellent question. Since he was technically on vacation, Nic gave in to the need to pace along the sand—something he’d never do in front of his men.

  “We pin down the mastermind, find whoever is behind this treason ring, and we’ll take down the entire operation. We do that, our names are clear. Until then, we’re under fire.”

  “Lansky says he’s close. As soon as Prescott is back in the country, I’ll put him on tech, too. He’s not as fast as Lansky, but he’s better at deciphering code.”

  “Do that. I’ll make some calls, light some fires. I’m back in three days. We’ll begin preparation for Operation: Enlightenment. It’s time we showed these fuckers what happens when they mess with Poseidon.”

  “Yes, sir,” Louden snapped with barely concealed triumph. “We’ll be ready.”

  “Everyone,” Nic instructed. “Pull the entire team together. My office, oh-eight-hundred, Sunday morning.”

  Nic disconnected without waiting for a response. He gave himself a moment to stare out at the ocean, letting the view of the water’s dance wash away the disappointment in his gut.

  It wasn’t that he’d actually considered extending his leave to spend more time with Darby. But by choosing to meet his men the day before he was due to report for duty, he was ending their time together a day early. And damn if that didn’t leave a tight ball of regret in his gut.

  He should be happy to say goodbye. After all, baring his guts to someone like he had to Darby last night wasn’t his usual MO. He didn’t like sharing emotions. Hell, he barely liked having them, since more often than not they just got in the way.

  But last night was different. Talking with Darby had purged him of a poison he hadn’t realized was festering in his heart. It hadn’t been necessary to divulge confidential details, or even dance around them. He’d felt just as comfortable talking with Darby as he would any man on his team.

  Which meant he trusted her.

  So, no. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. He passed his cell phone from hand to hand and considered the situation. Perhaps it was time to renegotiate their deal.

  Debating the various arguments he could use to convince Darby to continue to see him after vacation was over, Nic turned back toward the hotel.

  He hadn’t slipped his phone into his pocket before it buzzed again.

  “Savino.”

  “Commander, report for duty.”

  “Sir?” Subconsciously coming to attention, Nic did an about-face toward the ocean. “Could you repeat that order.”

  “You were part of the joint operation planning of Operation: Barracuda. You liaised with Captain Shamon of the Egyptian Navy. You and your men will implement Operation: Barracuda in two days,” Admiral Cree barked through the line. “As of this minute, you’re back on duty. Report to PMRF base within the hour to meet your flight back to Coronado.”

  An hour gave him just enough time to grab his gear if he was going to catch that plane. But he wanted to renegotiate with Darby. Or at the very least, tell her goodbye. He needed more time with her. Wanted to see where this could go.

  Jaw clenched against the rage of disappointment surging through him, Nic did the only thing possible.

  “Yes, sir. I’ll be in your office with the operation plans and my team recommendations by eighteen hundred hours.”

  “Cree, out.”

  Damn.

  Looked like vacation—and everything that went with it—was over.

  * * *

  WELL, HELL. SHE was going to break her vow.

  Worse, she was going to be a total girl, and break it for emotional reasons. Was that better or worse than breaking it for unemotional ones?

  It didn’t matter, she decided as she dabbed perfume on her pulse points. Whatever the reason, she’d spent half the day arguing with herself. When not one of those arguments had panned out, she’d decided to go for it.

  She was going to ask Dominic if he’d be interested in a relationship. An actual relationship. She gave a giddy laugh.

  Her fingers itched to grab the phone, but she ignored them. A part of her wanted to call Grace, to run her plan past the other woman so she could point out how crazy it was to try to turn a vacation fling into something more. But what if Grace made excellent points? Ones smart enough to derail Darby’s crazy intentions? Then she’d have to accept that all she had left were two more nights with Dominic.

  Or worse, what if Grace thought it was a great idea?

  Knowing herself, Darby figured as soon as the other woman praised the idea, she’d find a million excuses and get her ass on the first plane back to California.

  Better to go it alone, she decided.

  Alone, but fully loaded.

  Darby checked her reflection in the sitting room’s full-length mirror.

  Step one in her brilliant plan. Blow his mind with a visual reminder of why they should toss that no-last-name vow out the window.

  She skimmed her palms up her hips and gave a saucy nod. Yeah. She had the visual down pat. The blue bodycon dress hugged her curves, showing plenty of skin dusted a glimmering gold. Narrow straps plunged in a deep V, the skirt hit midthigh, leaving her legs bare all the way to her sassy four-inch blue satin Manolo lace-up sandals with their tiny black pom-pom trim. Her hair spiked around her face in an edgy fringe that accented the smoky color on her eyes and the slick gloss on her lips.

  If a hot-oil body massage, a mani-pedi and her sexy new dress didn’t wow the pants off him, she didn’t know what would.

  Fighting off nerves, she dug into the bags she’d tossed on the chair to search for the bag she’d bought to go with her new sandals. The minuscule black patent-leather envelope purse sported the same pom-pom fringe as her shoes. Darby tossed the few necessities that would fit inside, then flicked one pom-pom with her finger and smiled. She wasn’t usually the pom-pom type, but like reneging on her vow, she was willing to give it a try.

  She checked the clock to see how much time she had before their six-o’clock reservations and noted the message light blinking on her phone.

  She frowned, wondering who’d call her here.

  Nic would have come by. Grace would call her cell.

  That left her mother.

  She cringed, wondering how her mother had found out where she was staying. Nope, not checking, not calling. Tonight was for fun.

  Before she could give in to the automatic guilt, she grabbed her bag and hurried out the door.

  She knew she’d feel better when she was with Dominic.

  She hadn’t seen him since the night before.

  They’d made love on the beach—and yes, even her own mind faltered at the term love, but she knew there was no better description for what’d gone down in that sandy moonlight.

  He’d walked her back to her room in silence, a trek she still wasn’t sure she could have done on her own given that her knees had been the consistency of Jell-O.

  Which was probably why he’d had to prop her body between his and the door when they’d done it again. Everything was a little hazy after that, although she had the vague memory of sighing when he’d carried her to bed.

  But as hot as the memories of their night was, she’d woken up alone.

  She’d spent the day the same way.

  On purpose, sh
e admitted as she wandered down the wide marble stairs toward the lobby. She’d decided that they needed some distance. Or rather, that she needed a break.

  A little time away from him to gauge her feelings, to step away from the crazy and figure out if she’d fallen into a sexual haze, or if all of the unfamiliar emotions surging through her system meant that she was truly starting to care about the man.

  After six hours of shopping, she was seven hundred dollars poorer and no more sure of her feelings than she’d been when she’d woken.

  Darby took a deep breath and stepped into the foyer of the restaurant. She breathed in the heady scent of a floral arrangement almost as tall as her and pressed one hand to her jumping stomach.

  So here she was, not only unsure of Dominic’s feelings, but also clueless about her own. And she was going to go for it anyway.

  With that in mind, she lifted her chin and let her smile widen as she sauntered toward the podium.

  “Ms. Raye.” The maître d’ greeted her with a warm smile. “Please, let me get you a seat at our finest table.”

  “It does pay to have connections,” Darby said with a laugh, placing her hand in his beefier one and letting the older man lead her through the diners to a secluded corner of the balcony.

  The table for two was set with a fat white flickering candle under a hurricane glass and a squat vase overflowing with rich purple flowers. Instead of chairs sitting opposite each other, there was a cozy love seat nestled behind the table, facing the view of the water. Twinkling lights wove in and out of vines dripping from overhead, the greenery heavy with lush white blossoms.

  Romance.

  The setting was screaming it just as loud as the voice in Darby’s head.

  “What a beautiful spot,” she said instead.

  “Indeed. Only the best for you.” He kept up a stream of light, friendly chatter as Darby took her seat. “Is this your last night with us?”