“You look really pretty. Are you and your friend going to watch movies with us tonight?”
Lacie smiled. “Not tonight, sweetie.”
Shelly frowned. “Whatcha gonna do?”
“Go out to dinner.”
“Will you come over later?”
“No, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good. Daddy’s making pancakes. You love Daddy’s pancakes.”
Shane didn’t like the way Davidson’s chest puffed out at the little girl’s statement; there was something far too possessive in it for his taste, and it was clearly making Lacie uncomfortable. He put his hand to Lacie’s lower back, pleased with the way she unconsciously shifted her weight slightly into it. Davidson’s eyes followed the movement, his eyes filled with fire. Lacie wished them a good night and walked out with Shane, her body language suggesting a tension that hadn’t been there only a few minutes earlier.
Shane half-expected Lacie to say something about Davidson and his little girl, but she didn’t. Normally he would have left it be, but her sudden uneasiness worried him. “You okay?”
She looked at him and smiled. “Yes. I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. The little girl really seems to like you.”
“She’s a good kid,” Lacie said, her expression softening. “Her mom was a friend of mine.”
“Was?”
“She died in a car accident two years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It was difficult. Craig had only just been sent home from Afghanistan, not sure if he’d ever walk again, and blaming himself for Brian’s disappearance. Shelly was just three, too young to realize what was going on, but maybe that’s a blessing.”
“Davidson was with your brother?”
“Yes,” she said on an exhale. “They enlisted together. They did everything together. I feel as if Craig’s almost as much my brother as Brian.”
Shane had seen the look in the man’s eyes, and it only reinforced his earlier impression that Davidson’s feelings for Lacie went beyond brotherly affection. He’d have to step very carefully until he learned a little more about what was between them. If he shared his gut feelings with Lacie at this point, she might not take it kindly. Until he had a chance to explore this compelling attraction he seemed to have for her, he didn’t want to do anything that might push her away.
“He seems rather protective of you,” he said, keeping his tone conversational and only mildly curious.
“He is,” Lacie admitted, frowning.
“It bothers you?”
“Sometimes,” she exhaled. “I don’t know. He’s different ever since he came back, you know? Something happened over there, something that changed him.”
“War can have that effect on people.” He spoke the words with the heaviness of someone who understood all too well how combat could change a man, how the need to commit unspeakable acts in the name of God and country and freedom could damage his soul.
“Were you in the service?” Lacie’s attention was on him now.
“Yes,” he said.
“Not the Army?”
“SEALs.”
“Do you ever talk about it?” she asked quietly. “What you’ve seen? Where you’ve been? What you’ve done?”
Shane cast her a sideways glance. She was looking at him with those big blue eyes, not with morbid curiosity, not with sympathy or pity, but because she was trying to understand something that was beyond her comprehension, past any frame of reference she might employ. Whether it had been her intent or not, she was reaching into a part of him that he kept tightly locked away.
“No.”
“Why not?”
Shane slowed the vehicle, then stopped as the traffic light turned red. Turning his blue eyes on her he said, “Because there are some things in this world that should never be spoken of.”
He wasn’t sure exactly how she would take it; the conversation had definitely taken an unexpected turn. She seemed to give his answer some serious thought. Finally she nodded, placing her small hand over his where it rested on the gear shift. She got it, and she accepted. He felt one of his internal tumblers moving slowly into place, the first in a series that would unlock his heart completely.
“It’s a bit different for me, though,” he continued. “I have six brothers and a father who have all been SEALs as well. I grew up with it, and I was constantly surrounded by men who understood exactly what I was going through, because they’d gone through it themselves. We’ve always been there for one another, even if we don’t talk about it much.”
Lacie smiled, a gentle, caring smile that warmed him. “I’ve heard you are all very close.”
“We are,” he confirmed. The light changed and he moved forward, turning off onto the road that would take them out of Pine Ridge proper and up the mountain.
“Brian and I are close, too,” she told him. Shane shifted and curled his fingers around hers. It felt natural to do so. “That’s how I know he’s still alive, waiting for someone to find him.” She paused, taking a breath. “Corinne and I are pretty tight, too, but as you’ve already seen, she’s insane.”
Shane smiled. “I like her.”
“Oh, God, don’t tell her that. She’ll camp out on your doorstep and you’ll never get rid of her.”
“You’ll have to protect me, then.”
She squeezed his hand and winked. “I’ve got your six.”
Chapter Five
Much to Lacie’s delight and surprise, Shane had reservations at the Celtic Goddess, an exclusive five-star restaurant built into the mountainside just outside of Pine Ridge. From the moment they pulled up in front of the signature Greek-columned entrance, her eyes went as wide and stayed that way. She stared in wonder at the opulent décor as they entered the lobby. More columns. Gleaming marble flooring. Elegant, sculpted statues and a proliferation of lush greenery.
Shane gave his name to the tuxedoed man behind the ornately-carved podium and they were led to a very private, secluded table for two in a balconied alcove overlooking the valley.
“This is for us?” she whispered quietly, sure that the maitre d’ had made a mistake.
“Yes,” he grinned, accepting the bottle of champagne.
The tablecloths were ivory linens trimmed in gold. The place setting was the most elegant china she had ever seen; she was sure that the utensils were real silver.
As if all that wasn’t enough, the meal was an event in itself. Seven individual courses of the most delicious food she had ever tasted. By the time dessert arrived – twelve paper-thin layers of a hazelnut chocolate torte – she was quite sure every one of her sensory systems was in a state of blissful shock.
“Dance with me,” Shane said, rising from the table and holding out his hand. Lovely music flowed softly from hidden speakers all around them. The dishes had all been cleared away, nothing between them but soft candlelight and the fresh flowers that comprised the small, tastefully done centerpiece.
She blinked. “Here? Now?” It was only the two of them in their own romantic little world, set apart from everyone and everything. In truth, though, it wouldn’t have mattered if they had been placed dead center in a room amidst thousands of others. Tonight there was no one in her universe but Shane.
“Yes,” he grinned, and she was sure her heart skipped a few beats. Not even the grandeur of the Celtic Goddess or the breathtaking view could take away from his presence. He was, quite simply, the most beautiful man she had ever met. His features were as stunning as the hand-carved Greek statues around them – strong and masculine, yet tempered with intelligence and depth. In his black suit, his eyes blazed a luminous blue, and throughout the evening, they had been pinned solely on her.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll trip and send us both through the window?”
He tugged lightly on her hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lacie.”
How could she resist when he said things like that? The past few hours had been spen
t in the perfect place, with the perfect man. To be held in his arms while they danced alone beneath the stars, with the entire valley spread out below? She’d never forgive herself if she didn’t.
Stepping into his arms was like coming home. Her body molded itself to his, every curve, every dip, every line fitting together as if crafted by a master artisan. They moved together as if they had been doing so all their lives. Shane was smooth and graceful, and for the first time in her life, Lacie felt that way, too. At least until Shane gave her injured hand a slight squeeze. She uttered a little cry before she could stop herself.
Shane stepped back immediately and examined her hand. “What happened?”
“It was nothing,” she said. “I caught my hand in the car door. It was an accident.”
He cast a look from beneath dark, thick lashes that were practically sinful on a man. “I would certainly hope you didn’t do it on purpose.” His fingers brushed lightly over the back, skimming along the knuckles, tapping her fingers. “When did this happen?”
* * *
Shane sensed her hesitation; she didn’t want to tell him. “Tuesday night,” she finally mumbled. Shane took a discreet, calming breath. That was days ago - the night he guest-lectured at the University. “Tuesday?”
“Yes,” she bit her lip, glancing down at where his hand now gently held hers as if it would break. “When I was getting out of my car.”
Shane prayed for patience. The thought that she was injured did not sit well with him. The fact that she had suffered all week was even less appealing. “You didn’t mention it.”
“No, I didn’t.” There was no mistaking the hint of defiance in her tone, telling him quite clearly that she did not feel the need to share everything. It bothered him, and he was somewhat taken aback by the fierce protective urges that seemed to be taking root. At the same time, he sensed that pushing her too hard too soon would be less than beneficial to his interests. After spending the evening with her, that compelling interest had only strengthened.
When he spoke again, it was with less demand and more concern. “Did you get this x-rayed?”
The defiance faded quickly, followed by something almost apologetic. It made those protective urges surge again. “Not yet. I didn’t think it was that bad, really.”
Shane flicked a finger lightly beneath hers, receiving a slight wince in response. He hadn’t meant to hurt her – it was barely a brush – which meant it really was a lot worse than she was letting on.
“Really,” he said, his disbelief apparent. “At the very least you should have this taped.”
“I did. That’s probably why it didn’t bother me much.”
He arched a brow. “It’s not taped now.’
Her lashes lowered, and she averted her eyes. “It didn’t look good with my dress,” she said softly.
He gently lifted her chin and pinned her with his eyes. He hadn’t figured her to be one who would forego common sense for something so esoteric. The answer came a moment later, a softly spoken confession from beneath shuttered eyes. “I wanted to look pretty for you.”
Another click snicked deep within. That she would go to such lengths for him had his heart swelling until it used every available space in his chest. “I’ve never seen a woman look more beautiful than you do tonight. But don’t ever do anything like this for my benefit again,” he chastised gently. “Now will you promise me you will have this taken care of tomorrow, or should we stop at the ER on our way back tonight?”
She blinked away a sheen of moisture. “I’ll go tomorrow,” she promised.
After a few more dances, Shane reluctantly took her home. Lacie allowed him to temporarily bind her hand from the first aid kit he kept in the trunk. He would have preferred to have his brother Michael check it over, but he trusted Lacie to keep her word, and he didn’t want her to have any unpleasant memories of this night. If she had managed to make it through the week with a full schedule, one more night wasn’t unreasonable.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked, opening the door for her.
She didn’t answer him at first. When she did finally speak, she did so as if choosing each word carefully. “If I took every dream I ever had of the perfect romantic date and put them all together, it couldn’t compare to what you’ve given me tonight.”
Shane wondered at the pure pleasure her words gave him. “That’s a yes, then?”
“That’s most definitely a yes. But...”
Shane’s brows drew together. There was a ‘but’? He had planned everything down to the minutest detail, and it had gone off without a hitch. Granted, getting a private balcony table at the Celtic Goddess on such short notice was made easier by the fact that his sister-in-law was the head chef and co-owner, but he thought he’d done pretty well. “But?”
She looked at him shyly from beneath thick lashes. “As wonderful as it was, I just want you to know that it wasn’t because of the restaurant or the food or the music. That was nice and all, but it was wonderful because I was with you.”
Shane felt a fist curl around his heart and squeeze. There went another tumbler as his heart clicked one step closer to completely opening for her.
“So if our next date is hot dogs and beer at a baseball game, you’d be okay with that?” he teased.
“Actually, I would love that,” she laughed. “But just so you know, I’m more of a soft-pretzel kind of girl.”
“I’ll remember that.”
* * *
Shane walked her to her door. His hand rested lightly on her lower back, a simple gentlemanly gesture. He probably didn’t realize the thrill it gave her, or the desire it incited, now curling around deep in her center.
She hesitated, wondering if she should ask him in. She wanted to, there was no doubt about that, but she couldn’t quite form the words. It was only their first real date after all (second if she counted the coffee), and even though no man had ever made her feel quite so ... needy ... she didn’t want him to think she was easy. If she asked him in, and he accepted, there was no doubt in her mind where they would end up, no matter how good her intentions.
As it turned out, Shane made the decision for her. “I had a wonderful time tonight,” he said, lifting her uninjured hand to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss to the back of it, then stepped back. “May I call you again?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “Please do.”
He waited while she unlocked the door, making sure she was safely inside. “Goodnight, Lacie.”
“Goodnight, Shane.”
And then he was gone.
Resisting the urge to lean against the door and sigh, she hurried to her window, peering out to see Shane get into his black car and pull away. Only then did she allow the full-body sigh.
“So. How was it?”
Corinne’s unexpected voice nearly gave her a stroke. “Corinne!” Lacie exclaimed, clutching her chest and willing her heart to stop pounding like a jackhammer.
“Come on, sister,” Corinne grinned unrepentantly. “Dish. I made popcorn. I want to hear every last detail.”
Lacie obliged, painting a highly accurate and very detailed account of their evening as she changed out of her clothes and slipped into soft flannel PJ’s. Corinne hung on every word, her mouth opening and closing several times as she made Lacie repeat the best parts.
Two hours later, they lay side by side in Lacie’s queen-sized bed, just as they had when they were teenagers. “I’m glad you’re here,” Lacie confided in the dark. “I think if I had to wait until tomorrow to tell you I would have exploded.”
Corinne laughed. “I’m still not sure I believe that really happened. It’s just too good to be true.”
“Believe it. Now that you know everything, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”
Corinne had been listening with rapt attention, but Lacie always knew when something was on her younger sister’s mind. Even if she hadn’t picked up on it, the telltale twisting of the hair tie in her hands would have
clued her in.
Corinne exhaled heavily, not bothering to deny it. “Tomorrow, okay? Let’s just bask in the afterglow of your perfect date tonight. You can keep replaying it in your head, and I’ll do the same, pretending it was me instead of you.”
“Okay,” Lacie chuckled, setting her worries aside for a little while longer.
Chapter Six
In the morning, Corinne seemed even more preoccupied. She brooded over two cups of coffee and munched down some granola at Lacie’s insistence before finally raising the white flag.
“Alright!” she said. “I’ll tell you. But promise me you’ll listen and not jump down my throat and say I’m just being paranoid, okay?”
The somber look on Corinne’s face was worrisome. For as much as Lacie teased her younger sister about overreacting, she knew that when she got that look it was serious. She slid into the chair next to her and gave Corinne her full and undivided attention. “Okay. I promise.”
“I caught Craig sneaking into your apartment last night,” Corinne blurted out.
“What?!?”
“He had a key. Did you give him a key?” Corinne looked at her sister accusingly.
“Well, yes, but it’s only for emergencies,” Lacie said, slightly shaken. “I have one to his place, too, but I’ve never used it. What did he want?”
“He said he was looking for some chamomile tea or something, that Shelly had an upset stomach from eating too much pizza.”
The tone of Corinne’s voice revealed her thoughts on the matter more clearly than her words. Lacie caught the reflexive defense on the tip of her tongue, remembering her promise. “You don’t believe him.”
“No,” Corinne confirmed. “Before he realized I was here I saw him going through your desk. You don’t keep chamomile in your desk, do you?”
Lacie shook her head. Her hands gripped harder around her oversized “Teaching is Heart Work” mug, disturbed by Corinne’s reveal.
“Whatever he was looking for, I don’t think he found it. I made some noise to make it sound like I was coming out of your bathroom, and when I came back out, he was in the kitchen, getting the tea.”
Beyond Affection: Callaghan Brothers, Book 6 Page 4