The scream queen popped on screen in her tight pink sweater and flowing blond ringlets and within three minutes was running for her life covered in really bad fake blood. Over the next several hours they shared popcorn and picked apart non-existent plot lines in that movie and then two more.
But Ty’s heart was no longer in it the way it had been.
* * *
THE DAY HAD started out so well. And had ended fine. After those few moments of tension between them, they’d found their way back to a comfortable camaraderie—mostly thanks to bad acting and terrible special effects.
They’d laughed, joked and eaten junk food. At one point, Kaia joined them, taking up more than half the bed.
Her presence was a buffer, one they’d both needed.
But there was something missing. And despite knowing it wasn’t a good idea, Van wanted it back. She wanted the easy bond they’d developed over the last few days.
In an attempt to find it again, the next morning, over eggs, bacon, pancakes and fried potatoes, Van suggested they take Kaia out for a hike.
Ty’s gaze narrowed. “You’re letting me out of the house?”
“We’re going on a hike, not climbing Mt. Everest. I don’t even plan to break a sweat.”
Snagging her around the waist, Ty lifted her into the air and plopped her back down into his lap. His mouth found the curve of her neck, sucking and licking his way up to the spot right behind her ear that always made her shiver. “I can think of better ways to work up a sweat anyway.”
She was tempted to let him have his way. It would be so easy to give in to the desire that was spreading through her. But she needed some distance—a break—if she had any hope of keeping her heart intact when it was time for him to leave.
So, pushing away from him, she rose to her feet. “Hike now. Sex later.”
With a huff, Ty glared up at her. “Spoilsport.”
She shrugged. “My dog needs exercise.”
The words fell off her tongue easily. More easily than she’d have expected only weeks ago. Somehow, over the last few days, Kaia had become her dog. Not Ryan’s. Not the military’s. She was Van’s, worming her way straight into her heart.
At least, when everything was said and done, she’d have Kaia in her life. No longer alone.
The thought was cold comfort when Ty wrapped his arm around her waist and dragged her down the hallway toward the bedroom.
“Fine. Hurry up, then. The sooner we get on with it, the sooner we’ll be home, the sooner I can get you naked again.”
Ty pushed her into the bedroom ahead of him, swatting her rear. Van squealed, growled and tossed a glare over her shoulder. “You’ll pay for that later.”
“Lord, I hope so.”
Van threw on some cargo shorts, a lightweight T-shirt, thick socks and the hiking boots she’d pulled out of the closet back home. Snatching a ball cap Ty had left sitting on the dresser, she pulled her long hair through the hole in the back, letting the loose tail trail behind her.
“Hey, that’s mine.”
Tossing him a saucy grin, Van said, “Not anymore,” and dashed out of the room, leaving him tugging a dark gray shirt over his head.
She didn’t bother with makeup, just some moisturizer with sunscreen. It was nice knowing Ty didn’t give a rip if she put on concealer, mascara and lipstick. With him, she could just be herself.
Grabbing a few supplies for Kaia, she stuffed them into a small pack and started to fling it over her shoulder. The bag was caught midarc and snagged out of her hand. “What kind of man would I be if I let you carry that?”
“The kind that recognizes I’m perfectly capable of carrying my own bag.”
“Of course you are, but that doesn’t mean you should have to.”
A bright sensation bubbled up inside her chest. Ty gave a shrill whistle. Kaia jumped up and loped over to them. “I’m not sure how much of a hike she’ll be up for.” A frown tugged at the corners of Ty’s mouth.
Van hadn’t even thought about that. Kaia approached her disability with such calm and acceptance that Van often forgot she didn’t have a leg. It didn’t seem to slow her down, not one bit.
But then, they hadn’t set out for a hike in the Rocky Mountains before.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go.”
“Nope. We’ll take our cues from her and see. Gotta try it sometime. Besides, she loves to hike. It’s kinda part of the job description...long marches.”
Van sucked in a deep breath and held it. Ty talked about his life in Afghanistan so flippantly. Like it just was. And she supposed that was true. For him, marching for miles in the rough countryside loaded down with supplies and gear was business as usual.
The same had been true for Kaia.
Staring at him, she wondered if Ty would handle the transition back to civilian life as well as Kaia had.
And when that might be.
He wasn’t as young as he used to be. The wear and tear on his body had to be making itself known. In fact, she’d noticed him rubbing at his knee after that long run when Kaia bolted at the parade.
How long until he gave up the life? Had he even started thinking about it?
God, she wanted to ask him. Hope bloomed inside her chest. But she was afraid to. Afraid of an answer she didn’t want to hear.
The military was all Ty had ever known. Would anything be able to convince him to leave that work behind? Leave the dogs?
Van didn’t want to ask the question only to find out the answer was that his career, the dogs, meant more than she ever could. That would hurt worse than him simply leaving.
They piled into the car and headed for the mountains. Ty seemed to know exactly where they were going so Van didn’t ask. Instead, she stared out the window, her mind racing and her spirit plummeting with each unhappy thought.
After about twenty minutes they pulled into a little parking area at the head of a trail. Several vehicles occupied the lot, but there were no people. They were probably all out on the trails.
Ty let Kaia out of the car. Van moved a little slower. She’d just closed her door when a warm wall of male pressed up against her back. Hands on her waist, Ty turned her and flattened her against the curved body of the vehicle.
“Whatever’s going on in that pretty head of yours, stop it.”
Van’s startled gaze met his, then darted away as his words sank in.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Hands bracketing her face, Ty forced her to meet his stare.
“Oh, I think you do, princess. I can see the frown lines crinkling your brows.” The soft pad of his index finger trailed over the offending spot.
Van batted his hand away. “Gee, thanks for pointing out that I’m developing lines on my face. What every girl dreams of hearing.”
“Van.”
“What?”
“Shut up,” he said, right before his lips brushed softly against her own.
She couldn’t help it. She responded, melting against him and grabbing hold. Her fingers curled into his biceps.
After several seconds he pulled away. She was left breathless. His blue eyes, so deep and close, stared down at her.
“Whatever’s got your head spinning, leave it alone for a little while.”
Nodding, Van’s tongue slipped out to trail moisture across her suddenly dry lips.
The three of them set off on the path, the world around them gorgeous. Lush and green. Harsh rocks jutting out from fresh growth and bright colors of summer. The blue sky hung overhead, unbroken and cloudless.
“I read there’s a waterfall ahead.”
“You read?”
“Yep. The internet is a wonderful thing. Interested in seeing it?”
“Absolutely.”
Kaia
ran ahead of them, bounding off her leash with exuberant joy. Every few paces she’d glance back at Ty, though, checking in to see if he needed her. She sniffed at trees, nosed at rocks and darted several feet into the underbrush.
The first time she did it, Van startled, pulling at Ty’s hand wrapped around hers so she could dart after the dog.
But he wouldn’t let her go.
“She’s fine.”
The anxiety in her chest wasn’t certain it agreed with Ty, but looking into his calm, steady gaze, she gave him a reluctant nod.
They walked in companionable silence. But the sounds of nature surrounded them—birds, small rodents, leaves rustling. The air was clear and crisp, the heat of the day not yet baking everything in sight.
Between them, Ty swung their hands in a gentle motion that felt natural...right.
And slowly, Van felt the tension that always held her body in its tight grip slipping away.
“This is nice.”
“Mmm,” Ty agreed.
About an hour in, she started hearing gentle sounds of water rushing over rocks. Around a bend in the trail they joined with a small stream. Water frothed over rocks and flowed easily into the darker line of forest around them.
They continued until the gentle babble began to pick up speed and became a dull roar. Then grew louder and louder.
Breaking through the line of trees, Van sucked in a sharp breath. “It’s beautiful.”
The falls weren’t big, but they weren’t exactly small, either. Water, probably fed from the melting snowcaps at the top of the peaks in the distance, rushed over ragged rocks to drop into a churning pool in the stream they’d been following for the last fifteen minutes.
The power of it was awe-inspiring. “So amazing to see what Mother Nature can do. Impressive.”
Ty didn’t comment, just squeezed her hand and then led her around the curve of the pool to the far side, where he dropped the pack, zipped it open and pulled out one of those silver survival blankets. Spreading it on the ground, he dropped several containers she hadn’t seen him pack.
“What’s all this?”
Sending her a lopsided grin, he said, “I figured we’d need some fuel for the trek back.”
First, he pulled out a bowl and filled it with water from a bottle. Setting it alongside another with dog food at the edge of the blanket, Ty raised his voice and issued a command for Kaia to come.
Seconds later, she bounded out of the woods.
Van could have sworn a smile stretched her doggy face as she skidded to a halt beside them. Dropping onto her haunches, tongue lolling out of her mouth, she regarded both of them before turning her attention to the bowls Ty had set out.
Kaia taken care of, Ty started preparing their own meal. It wasn’t fancy—crackers, cheese, grapes, strawberries, beef jerky and some trail mix. Digging deep into the pack, he tossed Van a water bottle, keeping another for himself. For the next little while, they talked and laughed and ate. At some point Ty grabbed her by the waist and spun her around so that she was leaning against him, her head pillowed against his thigh.
His fingers ran through her hair in a soothing rhythm. With a loud sigh, Kaia plopped down onto her belly beside them. Sunshine splashed across her body, warming her and leaving her drowsy.
Drowsy, with a full belly and her body pleasantly fatigued from the hike, that was the last thing Van remembered.
14
TY STARED DOWN at Van. She looked so different while sleeping. Her features were less taut and focused. She looked more like the girl he remembered than the woman she’d become. Not that he didn’t appreciate the woman she’d grown into.
But he knew Van and understood just how much pressure and expectation she placed on her own shoulders.
It was nice to see some of that tension disappear.
Especially when she was cuddled up in his lap.
Back pressed against the trunk of a tree, Ty let his own body relax.
They were alone out here, at least for the moment. His fingers were tangled in her hair, the silky strands caressing the back of his hand. His other rested on her hip.
Her head was turned, her face nearly even with the dull throb of his half erection.
It would be easy to wake her up and take advantage of the moment. To turn it hot and passion filled. And maybe he’d do that later.
But for right now, this moment was more than sex. It was more than their shared history. It was comfort and an easiness he’d never found with anyone else. Sitting here, watching her sleep was more fulfilling than any sexual encounter he’d had with another woman.
That serenity pulled at him, tempting him to join her for a little nap. The last few days had taken a toll on him, more than he’d expected. He’d been injured before and hadn’t taken the time to let those wounds stop him.
But the accident and this concussion seemed to affect him more than anticipated.
Or maybe he was just getting old.
Either way, Ty gave in to the urge.
And woke up to a nightmare.
A loud, frantic bark from Kaia followed by an ungodly roar jolted Ty awake. He’d been in enough war zones that he could be sound asleep one second and standing on his feet with a gun in his hand sighting onto an enemy in the next.
Today, it took him longer to come to, mostly because he couldn’t simply vault to his feet. Not with Van stretched out and cuddled up in his lap.
But his brain was immediately awake and taking in the scene in front of him.
“Oh, shit,” he breathed, picking Van up with him and setting her onto her feet.
“What?” she muttered sleepily.
“Wake up. Now,” Ty growled, urgency making his words rough.
Another loud roar ripped through their little clearing followed by a rolling warning from Kaia.
That jolted Van. He felt it, the moment she came awake and realized what was happening.
On the edge of the clearing, just on the other side of the stream, a black bear stood on its hind legs, mouth open. Its razor-sharp teeth gleamed in the sunshine as spit flew from its mouth in a god-awful bellow of warning.
One that Kaia was ignoring.
Back bristling, hair standing on end, the dog stood with her legs spread wide and her own teeth bared. Her body quivered, every muscle ready to spring and strike.
She’d been trained for attack, to bring down foes on command. But not even a three-hundred-pound man could match the damage a black bear could do.
“Kaia, no,” Ty yelled.
The black bear’s head swiveled, its beady eyes wide with outrage. Cold fear washed over Ty’s body. His palms itched for a weapon that wasn’t there. Stupid.
Beside him, Van shifted. The bear took a lumbering step forward, setting a single paw into the cool, lapping water.
“Don’t move.”
Shit. He wasn’t going to be able to protect her. Either of them. Not if that bear decided to charge across the stream.
Frustration, helplessness and grief welled up inside him. This was Ryan all over again. He’d stood by and watched as his friend had been killed, unable to do anything. The only difference in that situation and this one was that now he could see the disaster coming.
But still, he couldn’t do anything to stop it.
His heart thudded erratically in his chest. Adrenaline flooded his system, useless since he couldn’t do a damn thing with it.
Kaia, countering the movement of the bear, charged a foot into the stream herself. The bear’s attention swung back to her, but that was cold comfort.
Neither he nor Van would sit by and watch the bear attack Kaia. He wouldn’t be able to do nothing, and he knew Van well enough to realize her savior complex wouldn’t allow her to, either.
“Kaia, stop
.” Ty issued the command with a strong, stern tone, hoping her training would trump the survival instincts pushing her right now.
The dog swung her head so that she could see Ty from the corner of her eye. He issued the command again. “Kaia, stop.”
She whimpered, her body language changing. That was a good sign. He wanted her away from the edge of the stream, but the bear was close enough that if she moved suddenly it might trigger an attack.
“Slowly, girl. Come.”
The bear swung its head back and forth and let out another loud growl. Kaia’s body quivered, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she backed out of the stream onto the bank.
“Van, slowly, reach down and grab the bag. Leave everything else.”
None of the things he’d taken out of the pack were important enough to risk their lives over. Nothing mattered except getting Van and Kaia out of there in one piece.
Hope spun inside his chest, fragile and warm.
Grasping her hand, Ty slowly edged them both sideways, away from the bear and toward Kaia. The forest might offer them some cover and distance.
Crouched low, Kaia crawled backward toward them. The bear shifted on its massive legs, its entire body shaking as it issued one more roar in their direction. But it was no longer standing or poised to attack.
Kaia paused, her gaze swinging between the bear and Ty, as if struggling over whether to face the threat or listen to her handler.
“It’s fine, girl. We’re gonna leave her alone and she’ll leave us alone. Don’t do anything rash.”
Her ears pricked, and after several tense seconds, she began to ease backward again. The three met up at the edge of the woods. Ty reached down and grasped the harness strapped across Kaia’s chest.
It wasn’t often he felt the need to hold onto her; she was so good at following commands. But right now, he needed the reassurance of that strap against his palm.
Van walked behind him. He could feel the tension rolling off her. The harsh in and out of her breath as she fought the same panic trying to rush through his system.
“Don’t turn around until you can’t see it anymore,” he cautioned.
Handle Me Page 15