SEAL by Fate

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “I put two and two together. You were out in a snowstorm, wearing a gown and no wedding band, just a diamond. It was either that or you were racing to reach the wedding, but that didn’t seem right considering there’s nothing this direction except secluded cabins. I don’t think you can be called a lunatic when you were following your instincts.”

  Taking a deep breath, she crossed her arms. “I’ve spent the last six months planning that day and when it came down to it, I couldn’t go through with marrying him. I couldn’t think of anything but getting away.”

  “Hell, just my opinion, but it’s best to break some hearts before rather than after you’re hitched.”

  “You don’t think it was cowardly of me to not face him and tell him?”

  “Oh, I’m sure you had your reasons.” His gaze fell to her wrist.

  Instinctively, she touched the marks and sighed. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Yeah? And what am I thinking?” He placed the radio on the counter and plugged it into the outlet.

  “People see bruises and they jump to conclusions.” Her hands were now trembling.

  “I’m the last person you need to explain yourself to.”

  He gave her an out, but she couldn’t hold her tongue. “He wasn’t always…so…well, such an—”

  “Asshole?”

  She met his gaze. “You don’t know him,” she whispered.

  “You’re right, but I know his kind. Any man who’d touch a woman and leave bruises in his anger needs to reevaluate his manhood.” His eyes became steely, blue orbs.

  “This was the one and only time.” Why was she defending Duncan? He didn’t deserve it and it wasn’t her place.

  “Then it’s even better you didn’t put a ring on it.”

  Stormy nodded and pushed her full bowl away. “I turned my world upside down for him.” Her voice cracked with emotion. “I moved from my apartment, stuffed my belongings in a storage unit and now I’m homeless. My sister wants nothing to do with me and I don’t know if she ever will.”

  His features softened and he came to her, patted her hand and the kindness of the gesture sent her over the edge. “Come on now. Siblings argue and they get over it. She’ll come around, and once she realizes you didn’t marry the man, she’ll apologize.”

  Tears fell to her cheeks and she swiped at them, but they kept coming. Before she knew what was happening he had her in his warm, safe embrace. She could stay here because it felt that good, but logic kicked in. Stormy didn’t know him, not really. How could anyone know anyone in a few hours? She believed she knew Duncan and they’d been dating and she didn’t know him at all. Didn’t even know his parents’ names. The only thing she did know was that he had a spotted past.

  Wasn’t that a huge red flag?

  Her flag waver was broken.

  For example, here she was, falling for another man’s charm and she didn’t even know him.

  Squirming against Gray’s steel chest, he didn’t move. “I-I can’t…”

  “Allow someone to comfort you?” he asked in a husky voice.

  “No.” She pushed him and this time he stepped back, giving her space. She stood, crossing her arms over her chest, mainly hoping to keep her heart in her chest because it was beating so rapidly. “I don’t know you.”

  “I’m Gray Carlisle.”

  “Yes, you’ve told me your name. I’m talking about who you are. I’ve never been one to be so open, and in one fell swoop I’ve divulged a lot. I know nothing about you except that you were a Navy SEAL and you have amazing strength. Why are you carrying a gun? Why were you out in the middle of a blizzard?” She swiped away the remnants of moisture from her cheeks. “Isn’t this all a bit strange? You just happening to be where I was at the very right moment?”

  “No stranger than a woman in a wedding gown stranded in a snowstorm.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “You know what I’m asking.”

  “I took a wrong turn.”

  “That’s a lie.” Her voice shook. “You found the address to this place and you found your way here in the middle of a snowstorm without a GPS or a map. So please don’t think I’d believe you’d take a wrong anything ever. And there’s the little detail that you seem to know so much about me.”

  “Stormy, I’ve never been much of a talker. I’m not dangerous.”

  “You almost took my head off this morning in the bedroom.” Her voice shook.”

  “Now that’s a bit exaggerated, don’t you think?” He smiled and took a step toward her but didn’t try and touch her. His warm gaze was enough of an invisible touch to rock her world. “You’re safe with me. I promise. I know you don’t know me, but ask yourself this, why would I carry you all this way when it would have been easier to leave you in your car?”

  Lifting her chin, she saw the sincerity in his beautiful eyes, but she couldn’t give in too easily. She needed to keep her feet solid on the ground and not lose herself in the clouds. “Want me to completely trust you? Then start with the truth. Who are you?”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  Her cheeks burned. “You could be a serial killer for all I know. You did take my dress off, and why do I have an image of you holding me? It wasn’t a dream, was it?”

  One corner of his mouth played with a smile. “I can see you’re worried and I do understand. I’ll tell you as much as I can. Hang on for one second, okay?” He stepped back down the hallway and he came back and stood before her. “Here.” He held up a shiny badge that looked legit even to her layman’s eye.

  “You’re a police officer?”

  “Yeah, but a special agent. I was up here on assignment.”

  “An assignment? For what?”

  “I’m afraid that I’m not at liberty to tell you everything, but that should explain the gun and the fact that I was in the middle of nowhere in a storm.” He hooked his badge on his waistband. “Now, as far as the dress, I did take it off, but only because it was soaking wet and I was afraid it’d be the death of you. Holding you? I did lay with you on the couch to quickly bring up your body temperature and that’s all.”

  “You-you didn’t try and sleep with me?”

  “If you’re talking sleep as in the traditional definition I might have caught a few winks because I was colder than shit and tired myself, but if you’re talking taking advantage of you, no. I like my women warm and willing, and trust me, you were neither.” He took another step, but instead of coming toward her, he pointed at the bowl. “You should eat.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Fine then.” He turned and took her bowl to the sink and washed it, then placed it with the one he’d used. When he turned back to her there was a tangible kindness in his expression. “I understand the last few days have been a chaotic mess for you, but what I suggest is for you to take advantage of that tub. It’s as large as a swimming pool if you haven’t already noticed. You might want to wash your hair because you have dried blood on your scalp.”

  She touched the soft trim of the blanket. The thought of taking a bath was tempting. “I don’t have any clothes to put on.”

  “That blanket seems to do just fine.”

  What choice did she have? She couldn’t suggest that he walk through ten inches of snow to get her things from her car. And she didn’t have the shoes to wear to do it herself. So, she headed to the bathroom and closed the door behind her, leaning against the wood to regain her equilibrium. Her emotions were on a roller coaster. For now, she should concentrate on relaxing and Gray was right. The tub was amazingly large and inviting. To her delight, she found a few bottles of luxurious bath products in the cabinet.

  Locking the door, she dropped the blanket and removed her bra and panties, washing them in the sink with a lavender hand soap and hung them on the towel rack to dry. She looked up and jumped when she saw her haggard reflection. Oh Lord. She looked terrible. Her eyes filled with tears again. Leaning closer to the mirror, she pulled back her red-stained hair and looked
at the jagged cut surrounded by black and blue bruising. Although it looked nasty, she realized how lucky she was because the accident could have been a lot worse. Hell, she could be married now and that would be worse than a concussion.

  She worked her bottom lip. How could she not feel the slightest guilt that she’d walked away from Duncan without a word? Sure, maybe at first, but now she only felt a sense of relief.

  He’d eventually find her and want to talk, and she’d have to face him. It was a bit cowardly, but she was thankful she was stuck here to give her some time.

  Gray had said he was here, on the mountain, on an assignment. What assignment could he possibly be on in the middle of a blizzard? Something top secret. Was it dangerous? Could they both be in danger? Her mind worked overtime.

  Although logic warned her to stay alert, another part of her, a bigger part of her, found that she believed him. Felt safe with him. After all, he did show her his badge. And his gun—and his arms that seconded as guns. Maybe she needed to believe him, in someone, because everything in her life was turned upside down.

  Finding fresh towels on the rack, she took the one from the top and hugged the soft terry cloth against her chest as she sat down on the edge of the large tub. Why had she allowed her life to get into such a mess? Looking back, she’d had doubts about her and Duncan’s relationship from almost the beginning and she’d ignored them foolishly. Why? She’d blamed pre-wedding jitters for her apprehension. Stormy had been too prideful to admit that she’d been wrong about Duncan. The letters and her sister’s disapproval had only been a light shining upon her suspicions that he wasn’t who he said he was.

  Turning the faucet on and once the tub was halfway filled, she climbed in, sinking into the warm abyss. Gray was right. This was exactly what she needed.

  7

  GRAY PACED THE hallway, stopping on occasion to listen for any sounds in the bathroom. Stormy had been inside for a long thirty minutes and his protective side kicked in. What if she’d passed out? Fallen and hit her head? He was an idiot to suggest she take a bath. If she got overheated, combined with the head injury and she was in the water…

  “Shit!”

  He could find the dangers in something as harmless as taking a bath. Drowning. The hard edges of the counter. He wasn’t sure when he’d been elected as her protector, but he was taking it seriously

  Standing in front of the door, he knocked softly. “Are you okay?” He’d risk overstepping all the invisible boundaries to make sure she was safe. “Stormy?”

  No answer.

  No sounds.

  Rubbing his forehead, he calculated all the things that could have happened.

  His stomach dropped to his toes.

  He tried the door and the knob turned. “Stormy? I’m coming in. If you’re okay, now’s the time to holler,” he yelled loud enough so she could hear. She didn’t answer.

  Opening the door slowly, he peered through the crack. He barely had time to register that her head was under water before he sent the door flying and striking the wall in a loud pop. In two strides he was across the floor and he dragged her up by her shoulders. Her eyes came open and shock spread her expression. Water poured down from her hair into her mouth and she sputtered, “What are you doing?”

  “You were under water. Are you okay?” He investigated her eyes, her body.

  “I’m fine. What’s wrong with you? Are you out of your mind?”

  “You were drowning. You must have passed out. You didn’t answer me.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “No. I was rinsing my hair.” Her eyes were blue gems and her cheeks were flushed. Her full bottom lip trembled.

  Realizing he was still holding her, he removed his hands from her shoulders. “Is there a reason why you didn’t respond when I called?”

  She sat up straight, covering her bare breasts. “Is there a reason why you stormed in here? Do you make it a habit to interrupt a woman’s bath?”

  “I thought…” Fuck! He’d wanted to protect her, not come off as a pervert. He’d screwed up royally.

  “How did you get in? The door was locked,” she said.

  “No, it wasn’t. I didn’t hear any sounds.”

  “Were you outside the door listening?” She blinked.

  “No…at least not for very long. I started allowing my thoughts to get to me. Thinking that you could be in danger.”

  “Danger?”

  “Yeah. I’m a lawman. You wouldn’t believe the dangers I can create. From sharp edged countertops. Drowning. I’m digging my hole.” He stood and ran a hand through his hair. “You’re fine though. Very fine. I’m okay too. So, I’ll just let you get back to rubbing…I mean, rinsing.” He walked backwards to the door and closed it behind him as he stepped out, resisting the urge to bang his head against the wall.

  What was happening to him? He was out of control. This woman, who he barely knew, was under his skin, making him do crazy things. He’d always been a cool-headed man, and this wasn’t his usual behavior.

  He was still attempting to prove himself to her, which he usually didn’t find necessary. The people he cared about, and those he met along the way, knew he was an ex-Navy SEAL and a member of the elite force Ghost Hawks. For goodness sake, that made him trustworthy. He was one of the good guys, a man who caught the bad guys and got them off the street so innocent people didn’t have to worry. But he saw the question in her wide-eyed gaze and the apprehension. Yet, he could have sworn he saw something else—less fear and more interest, maybe?

  Why does it matter so much if she has trust in me?

  He scrubbed his jaw. The facts were, although she’d ran way from the groom, that didn’t make her “free”. She still wore the engagement ring, which meant, technically, they were still engaged. So, he needed to keep his thoughts clear. No matter how beautiful or tempting she was to Gray. There was something bigger here…he was on the mountain to catch a terrorist, not a lover. In his line of work, getting caught up made him weaker. He needed to remember he was here to catch Phantom, a terrorist who needed thrown into the slammer.

  The entire plan had gone topsy-turvy when he’d almost hit her on the road. He’d been prepared to catch Phantom—single handedly. He might be stuck here, in a tiny cabin, but beyond the walls was a criminal that preyed upon the innocent.

  Turning on the radio, he fiddled with the tuner until he managed to find a station that had reasonable reception. It was an oldies station and he listened to a favorite and when the song ended, a set a of chimes announced a weather alert.

  “Cuddle up and stay put, listeners. We’re in line for another downfall of three to four inches with icy road conditions. All of Whispering Mountain and the outer perimeter is still a Level 3 which means no vehicles are allowed on the roads unless it’s an emergency vehicle. Stay tuned for updates right here on your favorite station.”

  He blew out a long breath. So, there it was. He and Stormy would be stuck here for who knows how long.

  Stepping into the living room, he stoked the fire. Paced the floor. Stared through the fogged window. Needing to keep busy, he found himself looking through the drawers on the small desk. Stationary. Pens. Stapler. He searched through the kitchen cabinets, all three of them. He even resituated the cans and utensils. Still full of restless energy, he decided they needed more firewood.

  Pulling on his shirt, jacket, and boots, he stepped out onto the porch, lifting his collar to help keep some of the wind off his neck. He could only hope there was a pile of chopped wood somewhere outside, close enough that he didn’t have to tread through snow up to his knees. He normally didn’t mind the snow, or the cold, but after his walk yesterday, much of it on incline, he’d had enough to last for a long time. Luckily, someone was anticipating the bad weather. He found a stack of wood behind the shed and carried an armful back into the cabin, pounding his boots on the rug, then toeing them off.

  He didn’t see her at first. She was sitting on the couch, tucked
in the corner and she looked so tiny. Gray felt a quake all the way into his toes. Her hair hung in damp waves surrounding her flushed cheeks. She had traded in the blanket for a towel. She could have been wearing a potato sack and he’d still think she was most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes upon. “You must think I’m the biggest asshole.” He dropped the wood into the fireside basket.

  “I haven’t made my mind up yet.”

  Gray looked back at her and there wasn’t a sliver of humor in her expression. “You don’t know me and you only have my word, but I truly did think you’d passed out. You can trust me.”

  “I hope that’s so because as of right now you and I are stuck together on this mountain. And I have a little problem.”

  “Problem?”

  “I don’t have my medicine.”

  8

  STORMY STOOD AND made sure the knot of the towel was still tight. “Are you okay?” She wasn’t sure because he stood three feet away, staring.

  “Medicine?”

  Taking a step, she felt a little faint and wobbled. He was beside her in a flash, lifting her into his arms, carrying her back to the couch. Once she was safely sitting, she looked up at him, seeing the lines of concern around his patient eyes. “Don’t worry, Gray. I don’t have diabetes and need insulin. Or a heart condition. I have low blood pressure that is triggered by stressful situations. I usually don’t have much of a problem, but I guess all the chaos has gotten to me.”

  He dropped beside her, looking a little pale for her taste. “Okay. Where is your medicine?”

  “In my car.”

  “Oh.”

  She nodded. “I have a prescription and salt tabs I take when I start feeling a little off. They work right away.”

  “But what if you don’t have your medicine?”

  “I get dizzy and feel nauseated, sometimes I will pass out.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  She had a strong urge to smile at his willingness to do what she needed. “Lots of fluids and adding extra salt to my food can help.”

  He stood. “You didn’t eat. I’ll make you something.” Before she could say a word of resistance, he was in the kitchen.