The Darkest Knight (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 3)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  She looked up and nailed him with a narrowed gaze. What happened to the smile and glazed eyes? What had he said? She dropped the spoon onto the counter, shut off the heat to the pan, and stomped passed him. “Hey, wait! What happened?” He caught her at the door.

  “Come on, Abby.” The dog wasted no time before she was up and standing next to Reese waiting for her next command.

  “Reese?”

  She looked at him, her eyes cool. “If I’ve, in any way, made you think that I’m willing to have sex to get this project up and running…”

  “No. That’s not what I meant. Oh shit! How did this conversation get so screwed up?” He rubbed his forehead. “Look, I’m a little rusty at communication, but I assure you, that wasn’t my intention. I only meant that you’d have to give me solid details, a zinger that I can’t resist.”

  A second passed and she blinked twice. “Maybe I’m a bit sensitive.”

  “You have reason, I’m sure.”

  She crossed her arms. “The landlord I last rented off would always make inferences that if I’d give him a little, he’d take off a lot of my rent. I was more than ready to get the hell out of that apartment complex.” She dropped her hands. “You’ve given me no reason to believe you are like him. You’ve been nice to me.”

  “Well, I’m glad you feel that way.” His heart slammed against his ribs. He’d like to pay a visit to that landlord and teach him manners. “Want to sit down and have breakfast? You did make it after all.”

  “I’m afraid your expectations are too high if you can call that breakfast.” She chuckled.

  “We’ve both had worse, I’m sure.” He moved to the table, pulled out a chair, and he motioned for her to sit.

  After a second’s hesitation, her shoulders slumped and she dropped her arms to her sides. She took a seat.

  “Let me dish us up some of this grub. It smells delicious.” He picked through the burnt pieces as he filled their plates.

  When he put the plate in front of her, she laughed. “For heaven’s sake. You must wonder how a woman who can’t fix a simple meal of eggs and potatoes can stay alive across the ocean.”

  “Let’s face it, cooking takes so much more than just skill. It takes creativity and patience.” He joined her and stabbed a piece of potato and egg and popped it into his mouth. He bit into a charred piece and chewed. If he’d been a weak man, he might have admitted the meal was a bit overdone, but he’d learned long ago never to complain about a woman’s cooking. He took into consideration her intention. She’d went out on a limb to make him breakfast.

  However, trust didn’t come naturally for him. He couldn’t remember a time when he had a girlfriend that he didn’t suspect was with him because of the numbers in his bank account. But when he looked at her, working that bottom lip again with a certain glow in her eye, he realized she was sincere in her offering. Yet a man could never be too careful when it came to a smart, beautiful woman. The combination of both made a woman dangerous. For several reasons. She could turn a man into a bowl of jelly. He realized how she anticipated hearing his acceptance of the project, and truth be known, he was leaning that direction. The more research he did, the more he was understanding how many men and women were coming home with seizures induced by head trauma. Yet Seth had never been a man who rushed into anything, always looking at every angle, every path, before moving forward. That’s what had made him a damn good Ranger. He was taught to monitor every strategic point carefully, and at the moment, one of those happened to be his heart. He wasn’t used to feeling…well, anything. He’d closed off his emotions long ago. “You’re not hungry?”

  “I’m just waiting to make sure you don’t die. You didn’t.” She stabbed a piece of potato. “By the way, I did notice that you shaved.”

  She showed no signs that she was teasing. He swallowed another bite with a drink of water, then sat back into the chair. “And?” He rubbed his chin. It’d take some getting used to.

  “Not that the beard did you any harm in the looks department, but with a smooth jaw line, you look less mean.”

  He laughed. “Maybe I should grow it back. By the way, you do realize the cabins here are not in living order? They need work, lots of it, and I’d consider it a big renovation.”

  She pushed her half full plate to the side. “It seems a waste to have all this space and cabins sitting here, homes for furry critters. When you bought the property you had a vision, you said so yourself.”

  He rubbed his jaw, not used to feeling it smooth. “My dad had the vision.”

  She gave a small shrug. “Okay, but if you didn’t love it here, you wouldn’t be here.”

  “Oh, I love it here, but I also like the peace and quiet.”

  She shifted and a tendril of hair slipped out across her cheek. He had a deep craving to help her by tucking it away, but instead he tightened his hand into a fist on his thigh. He wasn’t sure where that desire grew from, but he needed to numb the source before he had any more foolish thoughts.

  “And it’s been sitting like this for how long?”

  “Over five years. It was sitting empty when we bought it. The owner had passed away and because he was in debt, the land was held up in court for a while.”

  “You know, people would flock here from all over. It’s beautiful. Isn’t everyone needing a respite from their daily lives?”

  “Be careful, you’re supposed to be convincing me to turn it into a working retreat, not a vacation spot.” He smiled.

  “I’m only saying, if we start this project and, if for some reason, it doesn’t head the direction we want, you’ll still be able to turn it into the retreat your father envisioned. And imagine the tax breaks. I’m sure you Knights know all about those. Don’t forget, you still have lots of land here. You could eventually build your personal haven in another spot.”

  “Oh, so that was your strategy? Future investments and tax breaks.” The more he got to know her, he was understanding just how smart she was. He also appreciated that she could see outside of just the project.

  She played with her fork. “I can appreciate the need for solace, but this,” she swung her hands around, enveloping the space around her, “is more than quiet. It’s borderline hermit.”

  “There’s a difference?”

  One thin brow lifted. “Exactly why you need change.”

  “Change is waking up every day.” He crossed his arms. It was best they change the subject. “What made you decide to enlist?”

  “I graduated from college at twenty-three and enlisted the next day. Before I knew it, I had bounced from Syria to Germany, then Pakistan to Iraq.”

  “Did you miss home?” He wanted to keep asking questions because he enjoyed hearing her talk.

  “I missed my grandma’s homemade chicken and dumplings and my mom’s butternut squash cake that we’d have every Sunday.” She smiled, but the shine didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Isn’t it weird how when we’re far away from home we start to think of those little things that we took for granted? Like hot showers. Late mornings in a comfortable bed. Peace.”

  “I’d ask you to make the dumplings and cake, but…”

  She picked up her napkin and tossed it at his head. He caught it. “I’ve officially laid down my apron.”

  “Practice makes perfect.” He rubbed his jaw, realizing he was laughing and having a good time, something he hadn’t done in a long while. He quite enjoyed it. He dropped the napkin onto the table and met her gaze. Her eyes were gems and her smile socked him in the stomach with its vibrancy. He wasn’t sure why, or how, or even where these feelings came from, but one thing he was sure about, he wanted Reese here and the only way that would happen is to falter and jump into the project with both feet. “Let’s move forward with Step for Light.” He half expected his gut to twinge once the words were out, but instead he felt a jolt of excitement, another sensation he hadn’t felt in years.

  Her eyes widened and she stared for a good three seconds. “Are you serious?
”

  “Let’s not dig too deep and just go with the flow. There’s a lot of planning to this and it won’t happen overnight.”

  Before he knew what was happening, she shot up from her chair and was hugging his shoulders in the sweetest embrace. Her hair brushed his face and he caught a strong scent of flowers and something else…pure woman. That certain scent that couldn’t be explained, just experienced—straight through the body like an electrical current. She was so warm and soft…but before he could enjoy it too much, she pulled away and their gazes met. Her smile was still strong, but something flashed in her eyes, almost primal. Did she realize she’d crossed an invisible line? She stuck her hands into the back pockets of her shorts and took a step back. Redness appeared in her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry.” She shrugged.

  “Don’t be.”

  “Thank you. I’m so excited. Where do we start?” There was a hitch in her voice.

  “Well, let’s slow down a bit. There’s some legal papers to push around for this to get started, but I think we can begin by making simple plans and buying supplies to get these buildings up to standard. I hope you’re better with a hammer and paint brush than a wooden spoon,” he teased.

  “You’d be amazed just how good I wield tools.” Her eyes dazzled.

  “I’m sure I would be.” He cleared his throat, pushed back his chair and stood. “I’ll get the materials we’ll need. Paint, hammers, wood, etc. I’ll call in a local contractor, some buddies I know, who can help with the renovations. And didn’t you say you had someone who is in the training business?”

  “Yes. I can contact him, but I’m afraid I don’t have service out here.”

  He nodded. He made his way to the desk, opened the top drawer and tossed her the phone. “That’s an extra. You shouldn’t have any problems getting service with that. Keep it.”

  “Thank you again.” Her smile was gone and things were turning awkward. He wondered if she was still reeling from the hug? He was a cautious man, and entering this partnership with her had its risks, and he wasn’t talking money. The woman seemed open and honest, and genuinely pleased—or rather relieved—to have something to move forward with.

  He had a feeling she was a woman with many layers and he was curious. Feeling focused on something other than the past was important and he understood that all too well. He’d seen a lot in his days in the military. More than should be possible. He’d guess she’d seen some of those same things. From mothers who’d send their children into soft targets with bombs attached to their stomachs because they were ordered to by terrorists, to others who’d steal, lie, cheat, and kill to protect their children from the inhumane bullies of the world. The horrors were impossible to wrap the brain around, even if one witnessed it firsthand.

  This woman standing here was very similar to him. Although she was relaxed and making herself more at home, he could sense an underlying cautiousness and edginess, even after he’d approved the start of the project. Yet there was no doubt she was happy to do this.

  Seth liked that he could give her that smile. And in return, he felt good. He’d been fortunate enough in his lifetime to have the means to help others, and although he’d gotten a lot of satisfaction by those actions, helping Reese was about as satisfying as knowing how many veterans they were going to help.

  “I guess I should go make that call now.” She waved the phone and walked to the door.

  He walked with her, leaning his arm against the door-jamb. “Let me know when we can meet with him.”

  “I sure will.” She stepped out onto the porch and the worn wooden slabs creaked under her. Halfway down the dirt walkway, she stopped and turned to look at him. The sun’s rays seemed to make her eyes three shades lighter. “Thank you, Seth. You won’t regret this. I’ll work my bottom off.”

  Abby brushed against his leg as she hurried to follow Reese.

  “I hope you don’t.”

  “You plan on working me hard?”

  Did she realize how sensual her words sounded? Maybe he was just allowing his brain to work overtime. He needed to reel back into reality. Get his head back on straight. “You wouldn’t want me to take it easy on you because you’re a girl, now would you?” He smiled.

  “Not in a million years.” She winked and continued on her way. “You should change out of that towel before you lose it,” she yelled.

  At that second, as if she’d somehow made it happen, the knot loosened at his hip and the material slid down his hips. He caught the towel and held the cotton against his package.

  He stood there for a long time and pondered their last words. He had no doubt that any woman could work just as efficiently and hard as any man, but he didn’t agree to the project to have her doing all the hard work. He wouldn’t expect her to build walls, roofs, and whatever else popped up, but he had a feeling she’d jump right in, ready to get her hands dirty. She was definitely different than the women he used to date who would shed a tear or two over a chipped nail. But those times were long gone. He didn’t date anyone now.

  Closing his door, he dropped his towel over the couch, went to his desk and turned on the screen to his laptop with a mental list of the things he needed to get done.

  Suddenly, he was looking forward to the project too.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Seth had his head stuck under the hood of the 1970 Mustang Mach 1 in the garage. He was contemplating the car’s engine and his visitor, both as hot as the afternoon desert. He enjoyed getting out to work on the classic, a splurge he’d gifted himself when he came back home. The restoration was a ‘nut & bolt’ refurbishment…stripping it down to bare metal and starting over, including the body that looked like it had been through a war. Up until recently, he’d planned to work nonstop on the beauty, but that was looking bleaker by the minute.

  Reese had been at Landing Knight for nearly four days now, but they hadn’t sat down for a meal, or conversation, since he’d agreed to the project. He wondered if she was keeping her distance, but at the same time so was he.

  He’d gone to town yesterday and came back with a truckload of materials and groceries including several bags for Reese and dog food for Abby. Instead of knocking on her door, he’d left the bags on the step along with an envelope containing the contract his attorney had drawn up. He expected her to read through it carefully before she signed it.

  “She coming along, buddy?”

  Seth looked up and spotted his friend, Gage Howard, admiring the Mustang. “Not as far as I’d hoped.” Seth ducked out from the hood and wiped his dirty hands on a rag.

  “Imagine what this thing will be worth once you’re done.” Gage whistled between his teeth.

  “If she ever gets done.” Tossing the rag onto the workbench, Seth reached into the mini fridge and grabbed himself a water.

  “Hell, if anyone can do it, you can. I’ve never known you not to finish something once you get started.” Gage came around the car and leaned against the workbench. Recently he and his two older brothers had opened the doors to a home builders company, Howard and Brothers Builders, and business had been slow, but Seth tried to send as much business their way as possible. They would be perfect for the project here at Landing Knight.

  Seth dropped back into a shabby, overstuffed chair and sent several receipts flying from the workbench that landed on the concrete floor. One receipt was longer than his arm. Those were the supplies he’d bought to start on the cabins. His plan was to begin painting the only two cabins that didn’t need remodeling to be livable. For the others, that’s where Gage came into play. They’d have the renovations done in no time as long as they didn’t have too much on their plate. “You and your brothers have some time for a job?”

  Gage removed his cap, scratched his head full of blonde curls, and replaced the hat, smashing it low. “I wish I could say no. You need something?”

  “I need to get these cabins up to code. Think it can happen?”

  One brow lifted. “You going to fina
lly do something with this place?” He seemed shocked.

  Seth shrugged. “Something like that. I’m going to turn this place into a retreat for veterans, help them get set up for the things they need.”

  “Now that sounds like a plan.”

  “That’s not the only part. A resort for veterans with seizures caused by head trauma. We’re going to train service dogs right here.” He gave his friend the details.

  “Wow, this wasn’t what I expected when I got your call. How many cabins you have out here?” Gage pointed to the open door.

  “Twelve. Two are livable. I made a quick inspection yesterday and I think there are only five that’ll need a strip down. The others need only minor renovations with a good coat of paint. You’ll want to take a look and tell me what you think.”

  “When do you want us to start?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “I’ll get with the boys and we’ll get out here tomorrow. You still living out here all alone, bro?”

  Why was everyone so suddenly worried about his living situation? “I have a visitor in the guest cabin. She’ll be heading up this project with me. In fact, it was her idea.” He automatically turned his attention to the open garage door. From where he sat, he couldn’t see the cabin, but he’d caught a sneak peek of her that morning while she was running with Abby. He’d waved and she’d greeted him with the same, but he made sure he’d continued at a fast pace toward the garage. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk to her, it was that he did, and that was the problem. He wanted to more than he needed to.

  “Did you say ‘she’ is partnering with you?” There was new curiosity in his buddy’s face.

  “Yeah. And?” He really didn’t need to hear the other man’s words to know what he was referring to, but Seth sure as hell wasn’t going to head down that road.

  “Is she a looker?”

  “Would it matter one way or another? She’s a business partner. Point blank.” He scratched his chin.

  Amusement sparkled in Gage’s eyes. “Just what I thought. There had to be a woman involved to get you to move on this property.”