by Regan Black
One eyebrow arched slightly, but her expression didn’t otherwise change. His confidence faltered; perhaps Emiliano had been right, after all? But he’d come too far to stop now, and he was aware of his brother’s eyes on his back. If he veered away at this point, he’d never hear the end of it.
So Dario took a deep breath and pressed forward. One conversation—they could both get through something as simple as that. Maybe he could even coax a smile out of her. The thought stiffened his spine and filled him with determination. He had yet to meet a woman who was immune to his charms.
And he loved a good challenge.
* * *
He’s coming this way!
Felicity’s stomach twisted as the handsome cowboy drew near. She’d spied him the minute she’d walked into the party, and not just because of his shiny boots and bolo tie. He was a difficult man to ignore. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his dark hair had a mussed look that made her want to run her hands through the strands. She couldn’t tell the color of his eyes from this distance, but it didn’t matter. His gaze was intense, landing on her like a touch.
The smile he aimed at her was full of sensual promise, and she knew without a doubt he could deliver on his offer. Heat suffused her limbs at the thought of those full lips on her body, and she shivered as she imagined the rasp of his beard stubble scraping across her skin. For a brief, thrilling second, she allowed herself to indulge in a vivid fantasy involving an empty bathroom, the sexy cowboy and a locked door. It would be so easy to slip away and discover if he felt as hot as he looked.
She shook herself free of the enticing thought. The idea was appealing, but she wasn’t interested in a fling. She’d come back to Shadow Creek to start a second career after leaving the Marines. Whoever he was, the man approaching her was a distraction she simply didn’t need.
“Hello.” His voice was deep and soft, the tone better suited to whispering sweet nothings rather than making polite conversation.
“Hi.” She nodded once in acknowledgment, hoping he wouldn’t take the gesture as an invitation.
He did.
“I don’t believe we’ve met before.” He stuck out his right hand. “I’m Dario Ortega. Emiliano is my brother.”
Felicity considered not touching him, but she didn’t want to appear rude. “Felicity Grant,” she replied, slipping her hand into his.
Instead of shaking her hand, he smoothly turned it over and brought it to his lips. His kiss was featherlight, the barest whisper of a touch, and the warmth of his breath on her skin sent sparks of sensation arcing up her arm.
She gritted her teeth, determined to ignore her body’s response. But if a casual touch had this much of an effect on her, how would she respond if he really kissed her?
Doesn’t matter, she told herself sternly. I’m not going to find out.
“Nice to meet you, Felicity,” he said, releasing her hand. His eyes were a warm hazel, a swirl of blue and green and gold that was mesmerizing. If she wasn’t careful, Felicity could get lost in his gaze.
“I heard through the grapevine you’ve come back to Shadow Creek. Why haven’t I met you before?”
She shrugged and his eyes traced the curve of her shoulder before landing back on her face. His blatant appreciation of her body was a little unsettling; it had been years since a man had so openly stared at her. When she’d first joined the Marines, she’d dealt with her fair share of catcalling and crude remarks. But once she’d proved to the men she was just as good as the rest of them, they’d stopped treating her like a woman and had embraced her as one of the guys. Their acceptance had made her feel proud, but she was no longer used to a man’s romantic attention.
“I’m, uh, not sure why we would have known each other.” She definitely would have remembered him—he was just the type her young heart would have pined over during high school.
“You didn’t go to school here.” It wasn’t a question. “I would have seen you.”
“I think I was a few years ahead of you.”
He winked at her.
She lifted a brow. “Well, that explains it.”
“I’ve always liked older women,” he said. “Especially when they’re as pretty as you.”
It was an obvious attempt at flattery, but Felicity’s stomach fluttered nonetheless. Ignoring her body’s response, she rolled her eyes. “Does that line usually work for you?”
He grinned and twin dimples appeared on his cheeks, giving him a boyish appeal. “Yes.”
His honesty was unexpected and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry to break your record.”
“That’s okay. I have other lines.” He lifted a brow suggestively and Felicity shook her head.
“I’m immune.” Better to stop this now, before he wore down her resistance and she forgot her resolve to stay focused on her new job.
“So you say.” Dario studied her thoughtfully as he took a sip of his beer. “But I bet I could find one that works on you. I’m very talented.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
He took a step closer and Felicity’s breath caught. His cologne was subtle and smelled expensive. “Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
She straightened her spine. “No.”
Surprise flared in the depths of his eyes. “No?”
“You heard me.”
“Are you sure? We should really get to know each other before I take you to my brother’s wedding.”
Felicity shook her head at his audacious assumption. “I don’t remember agreeing to accompany you.”
“Not yet.” Dario tilted his head to the side. “But you will.”
A loud voice broke into their conversation, saving her from needing to reply to his arrogant statement. “Felicity Grant? Is that you?”
She turned to find a middle-aged man staring at her, a look of surprise on his face. “Mr. Perkins. What a nice surprise.”
Her high school history teacher smiled and took a step closer. Dario shifted to include the man, and the tension in Felicity’s muscles eased as she got some of her personal space back.
“I thought that was you!” Mr. Perkins said. He ignored Dario, focusing intently on her face. “Are you back in town on holiday leave?”
Felicity felt Dario’s interest sharpen at the question and she mentally sighed. She hadn’t really wanted to talk about her past with him, but it seemed there was no help for it.
“No, sir,” she replied. “I retired from the Marines a few months ago.”
“The Marines?” Dario interjected. He sounded a little astonished, and Felicity could tell that was the last thing he’d expected to hear.
“That’s right, son,” Mr. Perkins said proudly. “Felicity here joined the Corps after she graduated high school. She was the only one in her class to enlist.” He turned back to Felicity. “Every time I ran into your father around town, I asked about you. He told me about your promotion to corporal, and when you shipped out to Afghanistan with the Third Battalion.” His eyes shone with respect. “I was in the Third Battalion, too, you know. K Company.”
A lump formed in Felicity’s throat, and she blinked hard to clear her eyes. “I didn’t know that, sir. I was in L Company, myself.”
Mr. Perkins nodded. “Desert Storm. We were there for months but never lost a man—can you believe it?”
Felicity smiled sadly. “I wish we could say the same.” Afghanistan had been unlike anything she’d experienced before, and she’d seen her fair share of intense fighting. While her unit hadn’t suffered many casualties, she’d personally known each marine who’d been wounded. And when one of their own had died—in a freak drowning accident, of all things—they’d grieved for months.
A faraway look entered Mr. Perkins’s eyes, and Felicity knew he was recalling his days in the desert. “It was a different
war for us,” he said softly. “We didn’t have to deal with insurgents and terrorists hunting us down.”
“War is never easy, sir,” she said. As far as Felicity was concerned, anyone who put on the uniform and served their country was deserving of respect. Some people liked to argue about which branch of the service had it worst, or which assignment had been the toughest, but she considered that to be counterproductive. Friendly banter between units was one thing, but she would never demean the experiences of another service member simply because they didn’t match her own.
“Ooh-rah,” he said softly. He shook his head, visibly casting off his memories. “It’s good to have you back. Will you be staying long?”
“I hope so, sir,” she replied. “I just took a job as a private investigator.”
“That’s wonderful.” He smiled, appearing genuinely happy to hear it. “You let me know if you need any help settling in. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sir,” Felicity said. She was touched by his offer, especially since she hadn’t seen him in a dozen years. But that was the magic of the Corps—young or old, active duty or retired, the title of “Marine” lasted a lifetime.
Mr. Perkins stuck out his hand, and Felicity was happy to shake it. “Semper Fi,” he said.
“Semper Fi,” she repeated.
He melted back into the crowd, leaving Felicity alone with Dario once again. She turned to face him and could tell by the look on his face he was brimming with questions. Felicity braced herself to rebuff him. It was one thing to talk about her combat experiences with a fellow veteran, but she didn’t want to share those memories with a man she’d only just met.
“The Marines, huh?” he said simply. “That’s pretty hard-core.” He looked her up and down as if evaluating her in a new light. Then he stuck out his hand. “Thank you for your service.”
“You’re welcome.” She slipped her hand into his again, and this time he didn’t flirt with her.
“Dario!”
They both glanced over to see Emiliano beckoning his brother with a wave. Dario nodded and waved in acknowledgment. Then he turned back to her, one hand dipping into his jacket and reappearing with a business card.
He juggled his drink as he hastily scrawled something on the back of the card before offering it to her. Felicity took it, frowning slightly. “What’s this for?”
“That’s so you can reach me once you’ve decided where you’d like to have dinner.” He grinned impishly. “Call me anytime.”
Before she could explain she had no intention of contacting him, he winked at her and strode away, heading for Emiliano and Marie. Felicity watched him go, a mixture of relief and disappointment swirling in her chest.
Dario Ortega was a charming man, and she had to admit that knowing he found her attractive was a boost to her self-esteem. If circumstances were different, maybe they could have gotten to know each other better.
But now was not the time. Felicity had worked hard in the Corps and had earned her share of accolades and awards. But she was a civilian again, trying to start a new career. That didn’t leave much time for romance, especially not with a charmer like Dario, who probably had a different woman in every city. She needed to focus on her cases and show Adeline that hiring her had not been a mistake. She didn’t want to let her friend down, but more than that, Felicity’s pride demanded she do her very best.
She had no other choice.
Chapter 2
The next morning was cold and clear, with a sharp chill in the air that made Felicity’s lungs burn a little. She clutched her travel mug of coffee in one hand, holding it close to her face so the thin column of steam that escaped through the lid could warm her nose. Thanks to the Christmas shopping crowds, she’d had to park several blocks away and had spent the last few minutes working her way back to the office. Only a few more steps before she was inside and could thaw out by the space heater near her desk.
She had just stepped onto the sidewalk when a loud bang broke the stillness of the morning. In the next instant, Felicity found herself on the ground, kneeling in a puddle of rapidly cooling coffee, groping for a weapon she no longer carried.
Her heart thundered in her ears and she gasped for breath, her eyes scanning the area as she instinctively searched for threats. After a few seconds her rational mind caught up with things and she realized Shadow Creek was not, in fact, under a mortar attack.
She stood, surveying the sidewalk with a frown. Her travel mug was ruined, the pieces scattered across the cement. The coffee had soaked into her pants, and the fabric clung to her knees in a chilly embrace that made her shiver. She glanced at her watch—there wasn’t enough time to dash home to change them. At least they’re dark gray, she thought wryly. Once everything dried, the stains wouldn’t be too obvious. And there were worse things in life than going through the day smelling like coffee...
“Felicity?”
She turned to find Mr. Perkins approaching. He carried a bag in one hand, and it was clear he was getting an early start on shopping.
“Good morning,” she said, trying to sound normal.
His gaze took in the coffee stain on the sidewalk, the remnants of her mug and the damp spots on her pants. His features softened. “It was a dropped crate.”
“I’m sorry?”
He jerked his head toward the small market at the end of the block. “They were unloading some crates from a truck, and one of them fell off the tailgate. That’s where the noise came from.”
“Oh.” She felt her face heat, a little embarrassed to learn she’d overreacted in such a dramatic fashion to such a simple event.
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. It took me a few months before I stopped jumping at every little noise.”
“I don’t even know how it happened,” she confessed. “One minute I was walking along, minding my own business. The next thing I know, I’m on the ground.”
He nodded, as if this made perfect sense. “Gotta love those battlefield reflexes.”
She shrugged, acutely aware of the mess she’d made. She knelt and began picking up the pieces of her mug, and Mr. Perkins joined her.
“For what it’s worth, it gets better,” he said kindly. “When I first got back, I freaked out every time a door so much as slammed shut. But I’m living proof that doesn’t last forever.”
“That’s good to know,” she said. While she realized on an intellectual level she would eventually adjust to the normal rhythms of civilian life again, it was hard not to feel like a failure for spooking so easily. She’d been evaluated for PTSD as part of her retirement health screen. Fortunately, she had shown no signs of the illness, which made her reaction all the more puzzling. But hearing Mr. Perkins talk about his experiences made her feel less alone, less self-conscious. She’d spent the last twelve years living a very different lifestyle from the people around her, and she felt like a bit of an outsider. It was nice to hear from a fellow marine that wouldn’t always be the case.
They tossed the broken shards of pottery into a nearby trash can. “Thanks for your help, Mr. Perkins.”
“Anytime.” He smiled at her. “And I think under the circumstances, you should call me Henry. I’m not your teacher anymore.”
It was a nice offer, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. “Yes, sir.”
He laughed. “All right, Corporal. Fair enough. Have a good day.”
“Thanks. You, too.”
Felicity took a moment to smooth her hair back and run a hand down the front of her blouse. Feeling marginally more put together, she walked the rest of the way to the office and stepped inside the warm lobby.
“Felicity? Is that you?” Adeline’s voice floated out of her office, and Felicity winced. She was late, and apparently her friend—No, my boss, she reminded herself—had been expecting her.
She headed down the hall, unwinding her scarf as she walked. “Sorry I wasn’t here earlier,” she said. “I had a bit of an accid—” The words died in her throat as she poked her head into Adeline’s office and saw that she had a visitor.
But not just any visitor.
Dario Ortega sat across from Adeline’s desk, sipping a cup of coffee. He winked at her, plainly enjoying her reaction.
“Oh,” she said, unable to hide her displeasure. “It’s you.”
It wasn’t the most gracious remark, but Felicity still felt frazzled from her earlier mishap. The last thing she needed right now was a visit from a smooth-talking, good-looking distraction.
If her reaction bothered him, he didn’t show it. He smiled broadly. “In the flesh. Nice to see you again, Felicity.”
“You two know each other?” Adeline looked from Dario to Felicity, curiosity in her eyes.
“No,” Felicity said, just as Dario replied, “Yes.”
Adeline raised one eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I see.”
“We met last night, at Emiliano’s engagement party,” Felicity explained. “That’s all.” She didn’t want Adeline to get the wrong idea, and if the look on Dario’s face was anything to go by, he wasn’t about to correct any misunderstandings as to the nature of their relationship.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask you—how do you know my brother?”
“I, uh, don’t. Not really.” She had read some of Emiliano’s reports on the Colton, Incorporated, hacking case, but she hadn’t had a chance to meet him in person until last night. Dario frowned slightly, and Felicity felt her face heat.
Adeline came to her rescue. “She went in my stead. Jeremy’s company holiday party was last night, and the boss couldn’t very well skip the event. I asked Felicity to go and represent the agency. I thought it might be a good opportunity for her to meet some new people and get reacquainted with a few familiar faces.” She looked at Felicity, her head tilted to the side. “I take it my plan was a success?”