Someone Like Her (A K2 Team Novel)

by Owens, Sandra

  “Well, I was in need of a bath,” he said as water sprayed over him.

  “Ha ha.”

  He deserved that and more so she kept the hose aimed at him. Water dripped down his beautiful face and if his eyes appeared sad, she didn’t care. Really, she didn’t. He just stood there in his wet T-shirt, board shorts, and flip-flops as if waiting for her to say something. Turning away, she twisted the nozzle to “Off” and grabbed a soft rag to dry Sally.

  When he took another rag from the pile and joined her, she said not a word. They worked in silence, him at the front and her at the back. It didn’t take long for it to occur to her that they’d meet in the middle eventually, and she’d be close enough to smell him, to feel his body heat. Even if he was in need of a bath, she’d probably still drool. She was so freaking pathetic.

  Stupid tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let him see her cry. Dropping the rag, she walked away. With no destination in mind, she ended up at the path leading to the beach. Halfway down it, Jake called her name. She kept going.

  “Maria,” he said again, closer.

  The sand was hot on her bare feet, but she hardly noticed. Not caring that she wore cutoffs and a T-shirt, she walked into the Gulf, leaned against the breaking waves, and when she was past them, started swimming. Maybe she’d swim to Key West, adopt some of the six-toed descendants of Hemingway’s cats and screw every beach bum that crossed her path. Okay, probably not that last part. That’d be too much like Lovey Dovey.

  The salt burned her eyes, a perfect excuse for the tears she couldn’t hold back. The water next to her rippled and Jake swam up beside her. She changed direction and he moved with her as if they had practiced a synchronized swimming routine. No way she could outpace a SEAL, so she turned for the beach, her unwelcome shadow at her side.

  Furious that he wouldn’t leave her alone, she spun to face him. “You’re an idiot, Jake Buchanan. You’re in love with me, but you’re as stubborn as a donkey and won’t admit it, even to yourself. There’s going to come a day when you’ll want to poke your eyes out for not seeing it. And if you’re really, really lucky, it won’t be too late. In the meantime, there’s a gallon of double chocolate fudge brownie ice cream calling my name. Who knows, I might get brain freeze and forget you even exist.”

  There was the barest twitch of his lips. “I freely admit that I’m a donkey, stubborn or otherwise.”

  “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. But that works too.” The hint of a smile on his face, though, gave her hope that he was ready to talk. She turned to leave, praying he would stop her.

  “Chiquita, please. Don’t go.”

  It seemed sometimes prayers were answered. At the edge of the surf, she sat and stared at the horizon as the waves pushed sand into her cutoffs, not at all surprised when Jake settled next to her. As the silence stretched between them, she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from speaking. If she opened her mouth, she’d likely make a fool of herself by begging him to love her.

  “The way I treated you was unforgivable,” he finally said.

  There was a sad truth. A sand crab scurried to bury itself before the next wave and she kept her attention on it. If Jake wanted her to speak, he needed to say a lot more than that.

  “I want . . . no, I need to tell you what happened in Egypt. I mean, I know you already know what happened, but I want you to understand . . . shit, I don’t even understand half of it.” He punched his heel into the sand as if he were furious with that particular spot.

  “I’m listening.” She’d known losing Rick was eating at him, but he’d used his grief and guilt to build a wall between them. She could have lived with that for a while, but not with the way he’d treated her and the things he had said.

  If he couldn’t share his heartaches with her, along with his joys, there was no future for them as a couple. That he sat with her now, willingly ready to talk, gave her hope. As he spoke, she drew a heart in the sand at her side where he couldn’t see, then watched as a wave washed it away.

  “Tennessee panicked. I knew he was on the edge of losing it, so I put him at the end of the hall where I thought he’d be safest. He would have been safe if one idiot bad guy hadn’t needed to take a piss.”

  Taking a deep breath, he continued. “All Tennessee had to do was slip around the corner and we’d never have been noticed. I guess something snapped inside him. He started screaming like some kind of wild man . . . firing his gun . . . just screaming over and over. Christ, I still hear him every time I close my eyes.”

  “Go on,” she said softly and slipped her hand into his.

  He brought their joined hands up and stared at them. “Between the yelling and the gunfire, the other two Tangos woke up. No surprise they had guns. Stewart and I managed to kill them, but Bayne was also shot. I ordered Stewart to get the kid out of the house and . . . and . . .”

  “And what?” She didn’t even try to stop the tears running freely down her face.

  “I-I held Tennessee in my arms. He begged me not to let him die, so I promised I wouldn’t even though I knew . . . God, I knew I was lying to him. The last thing he said was, ‘I don’t blame you.’ But I looked in his ey-eyes . . .” He cleared his throat. “I looked in his eyes and saw the truth. He did blame me. If he didn’t, he’d have never said that. And he was right. I should have called the operation off or at least left him behind at the safe house. He was coming apart and I knew it.”

  “Now you’re afraid to sleep because you’ll see him in your dreams?” When his eyes widened as if surprised she could know this, she shrugged. “When Logan got home after Evan was killed, he would cry out in his sleep.”

  Jake picked up a small piece of driftwood and sent it flying over the tops of the waves. “Yeah. I’m kind of screwed up right now, but I’m trying to work my way through it.”

  “Oh, Jake.” His eyes brimmed with tears, and she straddled his lap and held him close.

  Pulling her tight against him, he pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I need you, Maria. I don’t deserve you, but I can’t let you go.”

  She leaned her head away and peered at him. “That’s what all this has been all about? You pushed me away because you don’t believe you deserve me?”

  “I know I don’t. God knows, I tried to give you up, leave you to find a better man than me.”

  “And I thought I was stupid,” she muttered.

  “Hey, now. You calling me stupid?”

  “If the boots are the right size, you should put them on.”

  He gave a rusty-sounding little laugh. “Don’t you mean if the shoe fits?”

  “Whatever.” Maria hid her smile, pleased she’d gotten him to laugh. She lifted her face, hoping to see a hint of light back in his eyes.

  He glanced away, out over the water. “Yeah, whatever. That about sums it up.”

  “We all make mistakes of one kind or another. Yes, this one had the worst of consequences. Thing is, you can’t undo it. That leaves you two choices. You can let it ruin your life . . . wallow in your misery because you think that’s what you deserve. Or, not only can you learn from it, but you can find a way to honor Rick’s life.”

  An idea occurred to her then, something that just might help him. She’d need to make a phone call, set everything up.

  A muscle twitched in his jaw. “The thing is, the next time I’m about to step on a plane and find out you’re in danger, I’ll do exactly what I did before. I’ll come for you. That makes me a danger to my team.”

  “Do you really believe Logan wouldn’t have done the same if it had been Dani? Do you think he’s a danger to the team?” She could tell he didn’t want to answer. If he did, he’d prove her point. Gah, men were so stubborn.

  Finally, “Okay, I concede your point. Happy?”

  “Deliriously. Your mistake wasn’t in not leaving when you were supposed to. You
gave them their instructions, and you caught up with them in plenty of time. What you didn’t do was heed your instincts where Rick was concerned. I’ll bet you everything I own you’ll never make that kind of mistake again.”

  When he didn’t agree, she tried again. “Rick had to know better than even you and Logan that he wasn’t ready to go on an operation, yet he kept his mouth shut about it. I suppose he was trying to prove otherwise, to the team and himself. You know, not able to admit such a thing to all you macho, ‘I eat nails for breakfast’ dudes. But we’re responsible for ourselves first and foremost. He should never have put you in that position. That’s what I think, anyway.”

  At his silence, she stabbed a finger against his chest. “Am I wrong, Tiger Toes?”

  “Next time you poke at me be prepared for the consequences.”

  “Whatever,” she said just before his mouth came down on hers.

  Jake hadn’t dared to believe she would ever let him kiss her again. Not after the way he’d treated her. When he’d walked up Kincaid’s driveway and seen her in the sexy red top that didn’t quite reach the waist of her little denim shorts—when did she start wearing a belly ring?—with the fringe hanging down her long, tanned legs, he’d lost any hope of uttering words.

  All the things he’d thought to say when seeing her had joined the blood flowing south to below his waist. Wet from washing her car, her perky nipples had poked through her shirt and he’d just stood there, like an idiot gone even dumber, and stared. He’d heard and dismissed Kincaid’s “That’s my sister you’re wanting to bang” before the boss went into his house, slamming the door behind him.

  So he’d tried to show Maria he loved her by helping her dry her beloved car. When she’d walked away, he’d almost left with his tail between his legs like a kicked dog. Instead, his feet decided they should follow her. Then his mouth and brain decided they should team up and speak his shame.

  He was so messed up, but he was kissing her, and she was letting him, and there was someone tapping on his shoulder.

  “Hey, take it somewhere else. My kids aren’t old enough for a birds and bees talk, but they are old enough to be fascinated by what’s going on here.”

  Jake glanced over his shoulder to see a boy and girl staring at him and Maria. Something to remember—Maria had the ability to make him forget his surroundings. He’d been mere seconds away from laying her down in the surf and proving to her that she belonged to him.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I just told her I loved her and things got a little out of hand.”

  The man’s eyes flicked to Maria with more appreciation than Jake cared for. “Can’t say I blame you. The wife, she made me come over, but seriously, man, from what I’ve seen, a room’s in order.”

  “I’m so embarrassed,” Maria whispered from where she had her nose buried close to his ear. “Did you just say you loved me?”

  Well, he had, but it wasn’t how he’d wanted to. There were supposed to be flowers, an expensive dinner, maybe a two-hundred-dollar bottle of wine, and a moonlight stroll.

  He tugged her face away from his neck so she’d look at him. “You weren’t meant to hear that.”

  “You don’t love me?”

  The hurt in her eyes tore at him and he almost caved. But dammit, he had something special planned. “I didn’t say that.” He stood and pulled her up. “I want to ask you out on a date. Saturday night. If you want to find out if I love you, you only have to say yes.” This was it. She’d either agree or tell him to go to hell.

  “That’s four days away.”

  Her impatience made him smile. “I know, but I promise it’ll be worth waiting for.” First, there was something else she had to decide before he talked about love and marriage, not to mention the possibility of a baby.

  “Doesn’t sound like I have a choice.” After giving him an irritated little scowl, she turned to leave.

  “You have lots of choices, Chiquita,” he said, catching up with her. Like the one she’d need to make in a few minutes. He took her hand and led them up the path. “Right now, we need to go talk to your brother. Although I wish otherwise, there’s something you need to know.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Maria made a quick call when Jake excused himself to go to the bathroom. Once everything was set up, she only wondered how to get him there and how to get him to agree. Then she went outside and took a seat across from Logan and Dani, Jake joining them a minute later. By the darted glances between the three of them, they knew something she didn’t.

  “No,” she said after Logan told her Fortunada wanted to see her. Standing, she glared at them. “I can’t. I won’t.” Three pairs of eyes watched her pace across the back deck, and the only pair that appeared pleased with her announcement was Logan’s. “You two don’t agree?” she asked, flicking her gaze between Dani and Jake.

  “I don’t want you anywhere near him,” Jake said. “But can you walk away never knowing if he’s your father? You don’t owe him a damn thing, so if you want to tell him to go to hell, that’s your choice. I just think you should take a few days to think about it.”

  She never wanted to see Fortunada again, yet several times a day she thought of him and wondered. What she’d really like was for him to agree to a DNA test and for it to come back negative. Then she could walk away and never think of him again. In fact, the whole idea of finding her father had lost its appeal.

  She turned to Dani. “And you?”

  Her sister-in-law shrugged. “What Jake said.”

  “If I decide to go, will you go with me?”

  “Yes,” Logan and Jake said in unison.

  Dani rolled her eyes on a sigh and stood. “She wasn’t talking to you, sweetie. Let’s you and me go watch our son sleep.”

  “Come here,” Jake said when they were alone.

  He’d moved to a chaise and she crawled between his legs, resting her back against his chest. They still had some talking to do, but she no longer considered him a jerk. Which was good because she’d hate being in love with a jerk. Pushing her hair aside, he pressed his mouth to her neck.

  “I’ve got sand in my panties.” Dumb words were coming out of her mouth, but she couldn’t think straight after Logan’s announcement.

  His lips curved in a smile against her skin. “Can I see?”

  She slapped his hand away when he tried to sneak his fingers under the hem of her shorts. “Stop that. Do you think I should agree to see Fortunada?”

  “Not my decision, Chiquita.” He circled his arms around her waist and leaned back. “I just keep remembering your saying how you couldn’t stop thinking about the names in that book. What about the one in San Diego, what was his name? Garcia something?”

  “Miguel Garcia. No, I’m done with it. I tried once and look where it got me. My father could just as easily be the one who’s dead. It’s not like I’m a little girl anymore and need a daddy.” She didn’t. Her life was perfectly fine without one.

  It was a pipe dream without a happy ending. The little stabs of regret would disappear soon enough, she was sure of it. It wasn’t like she’d dreamed all her life she would someday find her dad.

  Damn Lovey Dovey and her stupid stud book. Even gone, it seemed her mother still found ways to mock her.

  “I don’t want to see Fortunada. He’s trying to pull my strings, and I’m not going to play his game.” She fiddled with a soft ring on Jake’s finger.

  “Good. I was hoping that’s what you’d decide.”

  “What’s this?” she asked holding up his hand for a closer view. When he didn’t answer, she craned her neck to look at him. His face had gone blank, which only increased her curiosity. She peered at his finger again and frowned. Was he wearing another woman’s hair braided into a ring?

  “Who’s hair is this?” she asked, dreading to hear there’d been someone in his past he cared enough about
to wear a part of her. Why hadn’t she noticed it before?

  “Yours.”

  His answer stole her breath. She twisted around and knelt in front of him. “Mine? I never gave you any of my hair.”

  Two spots of red colored his cheeks. “I . . . ah, I took some. When you came to the tent. While you were asleep.”

  The rat thief had stolen her hair and made a ring out of it? The smile on her face felt so lopsided she was sure she was grinning like a fool. A man didn’t do something like that if he wasn’t in love, did he?

  She leaned closer to him. “I want to kiss you.”

  “Hell, yeah,” he said.

  Jake had a way of taking over without seeming to take over, something she loved about him. He guided her, set the pace, and made her want to prove she could keep up with him, all the while understanding he took nothing from her she didn’t want to give.

  Kissing him was one of her favorite things to do, and she closed her eyes, shutting out everything but the feel of his lips on hers and how his hands felt gliding over her thighs. The hard press of his erection low on her stomach sent fire racing through her bloodstream.

  He rocked his hips, rubbing against her. “Maria.”

  “Jake.”

  “Jesus.”

  Logan’s voice penetrated her haze, and she lifted her gaze to her brother. “Go away, Logan.”

  Jake ignored the intrusion, not taking his eyes off her. “You tell ’em, Chiquita.”

  His grin reminded her of a mischievous boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. She grinned back. “Let’s just ignore him and hope he goes away.”

  “You left your phone on the kitchen counter.” Logan handed her the cell. “It rang.” He gave her a disgruntled glare before striding back into the house.

  As if she hadn’t caught him kissing Dani more times than she could count. The call could be the one she was waiting for. “Just a sec.” She punched in her code and listened.

  Jake slipped his hand under her T-shirt and walked his fingers up her stomach to the laced edge of her bra. “Hang up the phone, Chiquita.”