Blaze lowered his attention back to the block of basswood, concentrating on running his gouge in the right direction and at the right depth. With only one eye, he struggled with depth perception. But like everything else he attempted, he conquered the weakness.
Slowing his breathing to match his strokes, he asked, “You made the decision to increase our number of shipments? On your own?”
Silence dropped into the air like a front-end loader dumping a bucket of boulders.
“N-no, sir,” Caleb stuttered out. “The increase in shipments was a recommendation.”
“Increased shipments mean an increase in my costs. Increased costs cut into my profit. Decreased profits mean less money to put towards your mother’s dinner table.” His one-eyed black gaze met his son’s. “How would I explain that to your mama?”
Caleb’s shoulders slumped and he ducked his head. “Sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Pleased by his son’s submission, he set his carving tool to the wood again. “Your heart was in the right place. But don’t ever forget this is my business and I make the decisions.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Rather than more shipments, we’ll store our product in smaller quantities at numerous locations. Once we have enough to transport, you’ll combine the product and send it off.”
“I’ll search for new locations right away.”
“They must be secure, out-of-sight, and climate-controlled.”
“Of course.”
The door burst open, and Blaze tore his sidearm from his hip holster.
“Granddaddy, look what I made!”
He slid his Glock back into place and noted Caleb doing the same. His five-year-old grandson leaped, and Blaze caught him midair before settling him on his lap.
“Tobias,” Caleb scolded. “I told you to knock before coming into Granddaddy’s shop.” He held out his hands to take the child. “Sorry, Daddy. Let me get him back to his mama.”
Waving Caleb off, he said, “The boy can stay.” To his grandson, he said, “What have you got there?”
“A boat!”
“Why, yes. I see it now.”
“I’m going to sail to Disney World.”
“Why not let your parents drive you? Or better yet, fly.”
“Mama said we’re never getting out of his hellhole.”
His gaze rose up to Caleb’s once again. “Did she?”
“Yeah,” Tobias said, oblivious to the tension. “She doesn’t like it here much.”
“Florida’s quite a distance. You might need some food.”
Tobias stared at his paper boat, no doubt devising a plan to get himself and his provisions aboard his creation. His young mind never stopped. Unlike Caleb at that age, when all he’d focused on was making mud pies.
“What’s that?” Tobias pointed to the block of rough-carved basswood.
“A duck.” He drew the carving closer so his grandson could rub a grimy finger across the woodgrains. “Can you see it?”
Tobias tilted his head. His finger stopped where the head would soon appear. “Wing.”
“Smart boy.” To Caleb, he said, “Leave him with me.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the workshop door opened, he warned his eldest, “Search quietly. My contact at the Service said they’re more determined than ever to locate the owner of the barn warehouse.”
“It’s good you buried your connection behind a wall of shell companies.”
“Yes, I did my part.” He allowed three heartbeats to pass. “Did you?”
“They won’t find anything. The only thing we left behind was a betrayer.”
“I hope your confidence is warranted.” He brushed a hand over Tobias’s blond head. “I truly do.”
4
Evie slung her bulging Louis Vuitton handbag—a birthday gift from her brother, Grif—over her shoulder and retrieved her carryon suitcase and snack bag from the trunk of her Nissan Rogue. Given the space limitations in the RV, she’d packed light knowing that if she ran out of clean clothes she could stop at a local Laundromat.
She trudged toward the RVs idling in the Blue Valley Medical Clinic’s parking lot. To get the most use out of their two-week tour, they traveled in two RVs. One for staff to use as sleeping quarters and a bigger one for treating patients.
Although the space within the Med Mobile was limited, they had everything they needed to treat common ailments and injuries for up to two patients at a time. The RV held two small but private exam rooms, each containing a comfortable table, otoscope and ophthalmoscope to check eyes, ears, nose and throat, a blood pressure cuff and thermometer, plus scalpels for incisions and abscess drainage and forceps to remove foreign bodies.
Each room had a strong light source for suturing wounds and an array of syringes and needles for local anesthesia, blood draws, and vaccines. The RV even had a defibrillator and gowns for women who came in for their annual physicals.
About halfway to her destination, Evie’s suitcase rollers stopped working and began dragging across the asphalt.
Setting her bags down, she crouched to have a look. “Oh, for Pete’s sake.” One of the rollers had hit a wad of blue bubblegum, which had snagged a large rock. Rock and gum were now wedged in the metal well between the roller and suitcase.
Perfect. “Lord, if you have any mercy, you won’t let this be the tone of our entire tour.”
Standing, she glanced around for a stick, discarded paper cup, anything she could use to dig out the crap lodged against the roller. Nothing. Not even a straw or oversized stone.
She laid the suitcase on its side and pulled her favorite pen out of her bag. Regret speared through her, but she pushed it aside and got to work. The wheel hollow was so deep and the angles so sharp that her pen could only stab tiny holes in the gum. She couldn’t reach the rock, at all.
Dropping the pen back into her purse, she stared at the gummy gob, dreading what she would have to do. If her finger slipped into the gum…she shuddered. Lord only knew whose mouth that had been in. She could do this. The RV had plenty of soap and sanitizer. If all went well, the gum would come out with the stone.
Before she talked herself out of it, Evie plunged her fingers behind the roller to hook around the rock. The damn thing was stuck good. She pulled and pushed and pulled and pushed. When she’d made up her mind to just carry the damn suitcase, her fingers slipped into the gum.
“Ugh!” Out of reflex, she jerked her hand away and three long lines of blue bubblegum followed. She flicked her hand and only managed to fling the gum against her leg. She tried lifting it off with her other hand and the gum acted like a frickin’ stalactite, clinging to her flesh as if its life depended upon it.
“This can’t be happening.”
“Evie?”
She froze. Her brain recognized the voice but shied away from tying it to a name. To do so would lead to mortification. Full-on red-cheeked mortification. She tried to remove the gum from her fingers, but it kept fighting for superior position.
A pair of worn cowboy boots entered her line of vision. She refused to lift her head. Refused to look into the pair of iridescent blue eyes that had haunted her dreams since their conversation at Triple B.
“Looks like you’ve got a mess on your hands.”
She closed her eyes against the amusement lacing his words. “Yep.”
“Dare I ask why you’re playing with gum in the middle of the parking lot?”
“Go away, Deke. Or I’ll be tempted to rake my gummy fingers through your hair.”
He kneeled next to her and reached for her hands.
“Don’t touch me, or you’ll end up tangled in raspberry bubblegum, too.”
“I’ve had my fingers stuck in worse.”
She raised a brow.
“Don’t ask.” He motioned for her hands. “Give over, Evie.”
Presenting her blue fingers to him, she asked, “What are you going to do?”
He produced a bandana and
proceeded to wipe her fingers clean. “The rest you can remove by dousing it in hairspray or peanut butter.” He eyed her jeans. “Got a microwave or freezer in that RV?”
“Both.”
“Throw your pants in the freezer until the gum is frozen. Should be able to scrape it off then.”
“How is it that you’re so knowledgeable about gum?”
“My kid brother.” His gaze roamed over her. “What happened? Did it get stuck to your shoe?”
She pointed to her suitcase. “My roller. The rock’s still in there.”
Using his good arm, he lifted her carry-on as if it weighed nothing, analyzing the stubborn rock. He wiggled the roller, then whammed his palm against it a couple times. The rock dropped to the ground.
“Where were you ten minutes ago?”
“Over there. Talking to Lisa.”
Peering over his shoulder, she saw the nurse practitioner loading supplies into the staff RV. “I should get over there. I’ve wasted enough time on this goofy thing.”
After helping her to her feet, Deke grabbed her bag.
“You don’t have to carry my suitcase. I doubt God would put me through an ordeal like that twice in one day.”
“I don’t mind.”
Deke entered the staff RV and set Evie’s suitcase near one of the two sleeper sofas. A large brown canvas bag sat next to the other sofa. The bag didn’t belong to Lisa, who had a zebra print suitcase. Besides, as team leader, Lisa enjoyed the queen-sized bed in the back of the RV.
“What’s going on?” Evie asked.
“Hey, Evie,” Lisa said, entering the RV. “I didn’t get a chance to call you. Deke’s going to join us on this tour.”
“What?” she asked, a little bit shriller than she’d intended. “Why?”
“He’s going to write an article about the MedTour.”
“I don’t understand. Aren’t you still recuperating?”
“In my spare time, I like to freelance for different magazines in the area. Traveling around the mountain while observing two talented—and beautiful—women seemed a much better way to spend my time off.”
“Our tours have nothing to do with wildlife.”
“Exactly why I’m here. I’m spreading my writing wings. Health care’s a big issue these days.”
“This makes no sense.”
“When you spoke about your tour at lunch the other day, I became intrigued. I contacted Lisa to see if she minded me hovering around, asking questions, interviewing patients, and taking pictures.”
“And I said yes. Getting some free press can’t hurt. We’re always in need of sponsors and supplies.”
She glanced between Lisa and Deke, trying to decipher Lisa’s comment about sponsors, while still reeling over Deke’s presence. “You’ll be traveling with us the entire two weeks?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Sleeping in here?”
Concern crinkled the corner of Lisa’s eyes. “Is that okay? Deke said the two of you have known each other for years. I thought you’d enjoy his company, especially since I’m such a loner at times.”
Her thoughts collided like molecules, sparking into a flame. She wanted nothing more than to spend two weeks hovering in Deke Conrad’s orbit. But she’d sworn off the damned man. How would she survive such close quarters while pining for a guy who didn’t see her?
Being the youngest Steele, she’d learned a number of survival techniques, including how to brace herself against any storm. But sharing sleeping quarters with Deke might require a Herculean strength of will she didn’t possess. Dammit, she wasn’t prepared for this.
“If you’re concerned about your modesty, I promise not to peek.” Deke produced his lopsided grin, though he held her gaze, challenging.
She glared at him simply because it felt good. “I doubt I have anything you haven’t seen before.” Or anything you want to see.
Lisa laughed. “What do you say, Evie? Won’t it be fun having a token male around? Someone who can carry all our heavy equipment?” She sent him a flirtatious, teasing smile. “Someone to do our bidding?”
“Does he do laundry?”
“Only if it includes your underwear,” he said.
Out of nowhere, a thought occurred to her. “You’re not here to spy on me, are you?”
“Why would I spy on you?”
“Did Britt, or one of my other brothers, put you up to this?”
“Hell, no. They wouldn’t do that to you—and neither would I.”
“Are you kidding? They track my every movement. During my first few years at college, my brothers would take turns popping into my dorm, or wherever I was living, unannounced.”
“Sounds like they were worried about you.”
“That’s one theory.”
“What’s another?”
Her gaze flicked between him and Lisa, suddenly uncomfortable with the topic.
“Doesn’t matter. If I find out you’re sending updates about me to my brothers, I’ll kick you out. I don’t care if we’re maneuvering a four-thousand-foot switchback at midnight.” She made an ass-kickin’ motion with her foot. “Out you go. Are we clear?”
“I think I got it, yes.”
“O-okay.” Trepidation tinged Lisa’s voice. “Now that we have that settled, why don’t you unpack. We’ll roll out of here in ten minutes.” She focused on Deke. “Ride with me in the Med Mobile.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Lisa nodded and left.
A tsunami of silence followed in her wake.
“What’s going on, Evie?”
She unzipped her suitcase, refusing to look at him. “Nothing.”
When she made to open her bag, a large hand held it down.
“Don’t feed me bullshit.”
Instinctively, she met his gaze. Big mistake. He was too close, too gorgeous, too everything that was dangerous to her. She broke eye contact and stepped away.
“Give it up. You’ve been itchin’ for a fight since lunch the other day. Get off whatever’s on your chest so we can move on.”
Bile burned its way out of her liver and idled in the back of her throat. Anger like nothing she’d ever felt before made her see a kaleidoscope of colors before it finally landed on red. How could he not know what was bothering her? Was this some kind of male denial? Could he have forgotten already?
Or was she making too much of their kiss?
Sweet Mary, he was driving her insane.
She blew out a hard, decisive breath. “There’s nothing on my chest. As long as you’re not here at my family’s request, I have no problem with you joining us.”
“You’re avoiding the issue.”
“There’s no issue to avoid.” She put on her best Evie smile, dimple and all. “We’re cool.”
He stared at her, suspicious. The way she was acting around him today, and at Triple B, was completely out of character. They both knew it. For the first time since she’d survived puberty, she didn’t have control over her emotions.
But he had to have made the link as to why. Surely he couldn’t be that dense.
“All right, then.” He scraped a hand along the back of his neck. “I’ll unpack tonight.” An engine roared in the distance. “Sounds like Lisa’s ready to go.”
“Better hurry up, or you’ll be forced to ride shotgun with me, instead.”
His features hardened. “Wouldn’t want that now, would we?”
“Not today.” She turned back to her suitcase. “See you on the other side of Weaverville.”
Once the RV’s door closed, she collapsed onto the sofa. Her heart raced a million miles an hour and her face throbbed from the sudden rush of blood. No, no, no. Not now. She sat up, trying to get control of her breathing, concentrating on each inhalation. I’m not suffocating, I’m not. Just get through the next ten seconds. You’re fine.
She talked herself through the panic attack until her body began to calm into its normal rhythm. No one knew about her attacks, not
even her mom. They had started when she showed up for her first day of college.
Freshman move-in day. Nothing in her life had prepared her for the organized chaos. Hundreds of wide-eyed freshmen unloading their belongings from their parents’ vehicles, rolling carts full of colorful possessions, crying, hugging, laughing. Scared out of their wits.
When Mom and Britt had hugged her goodbye, she’d held tight, afraid to let them go. She’d made it to her room before the attack hit. The episode had been terrifying. She’d been certain that her first day of college would be her last.
Her new roommate found her sprawled on the floor, stabbing ineffectually at the keypad on her phone. As luck would have it, her roomie Karen had an aunt who suffered from panic attacks. Karen knew exactly what to do and, before long, Evie could breathe again.
When her mom had called later that night, she’d said nothing. The last thing she’d wanted was to worry her—and Britt. They would have hightailed it back to campus and taken her to the doctor. Mortifying.
Karen had explained that there was little she could do to prevent panic attacks from coming on, but a strong, calm mind would reduce their severity.
Suddenly thirsty, she pushed to her feet at the same time her phone vibrated. A text from Lisa. Ready?
Give me 5 min. Nature’s calling.
Shuffling over to the small fridge, she retrieved a bottle of water and downed a third of it before dropping trou and stuffing her gum-stained jeans in the even smaller freezer. She shoved her legs into a pair of backup jeans, then cleaned the gum off her hands. Slipping into the driver’s seat, she forced her trembling fingers to wrap around the steering wheel. She closed her eyes, willing tranquility into her mind.
Having Deke so close for such an extended period of time wouldn’t reduce her to rubble. She’d known him most of her life. He was gorgeous and charming and funny as hell, but not so special as to tie her in knots and make her lose control.
No siree, Bob. She would admire him and that was it. No more what-ifs, maybes, or hopes for this Steele girl. She had better things than Deke Conrad to fill her brain cells. She had people to treat, kids to help, diseases to kill.
To hell with Deke.
To hell with her dreams.
Roaming Wild (Steele Ridge Book 6) Page 3