by Dale Mayer
Her face fell, yet she nodded in understanding. He felt like he’d failed.
“It’s okay. I know he’s in good hands, and everyone is doing what they can for him. For all of us,” she said gently.
He sighed. “That attitude will get you walked all over in this world.”
“And sometimes it brings good things. I know there are a lot of growly bear people out there, scammers, and just really bad nastiness, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for people like me.”
“And what are the people like you.”
She smiled and snuggled close. “People who believe in heroes and unicorns, rainbows and chocolate chip ice cream at midnight.” She yawned at the end, and he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. But when he went to ask what any of those things had in common and to ask if she understood unicorns didn’t exist, he heard deep peaceful breathing and tiny delicate snores.
Damn.
He glanced out at the camp the men were tearing down. He should be helping them. But as he glanced down at the angel in his arms, he didn’t want to leave her. In a voice just barely audible, he said, “I’ve never seen unicorns and haven’t met any heroes, but maybe they are possible because until last night, I’d never met a real live angel, either.”
And he dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Chapter 11
When she woke the next time, the pain had dulled to a deep agonizing throb but was no longer the hot searing rage in her leg. But she was alone. And that she was getting to hate.
She’d spent too much of her lifetime alone. In spite of her upbringing, she’d somehow managed to create that Pollyanna attitude that she’d have a good day if she could just believe in it hard enough. And for the most part she was content with her life. It wasn’t awe shattering or full of excitement, but there was something comforting to it. And now she realized the comforting part was the familiar part. She was alone. Somehow that had become the norm, and one she had become satisfied with. She’d been happy in the few relationships she’d had until the men had wanted to move in. That hadn’t been for her. At the time she’d just figured she hadn’t been ready for the commitment.
And she hadn’t been. In that she hadn’t been ready to give up that comfort of what she knew – had known all her life – a solitary lifestyle.
What would it take for her to give that up?
The right man, of course. Because in that way she’d not be giving up anything, she’d be gaining.
Up until then though it seemed like she’d be losing.
So they weren’t the right men.
Shadow stole into her mind. Was he the right man?
Not possible. Look at the differences in their worlds. He wouldn’t want someone like her. He lived in the shadows. She lived in the sunlight. She could take a walk in the shadows but only a short one. She couldn’t live there. She’d have to take the rays of sunshine from her world to warm up the darkness in his.
In his? What was she thinking? He wasn’t for her.
But he could be.
No. He couldn’t be.
Yes. She wiggled with delight. She knew she was living a fantasy in her mind at the thought, but if there was ever anyone who needed her to bring light into his world, it was Shadow.
When his face appeared in front of her she figured she must be dreaming. She beamed at him. “Good morning.”
His response was slow to come. “Good morning, how are you feeling?”
“If I don’t move, fine. Thank you for asking.”
He rolled his eyes, making her grin and prompting her to ask, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m not the one injured.”
“No,” she said cheerfully, reaching out a hand to cup the side of his face. “But you are the one who’s feeling guilty.”
And damn if a dark stain didn’t wash up his neck.
Oh no. “You shouldn’t feel that way, you know that, right?”
“I left you alone,” he said curtly. “There is no other way to feel.”
“You had more things to do than babysit me. You’re a hot shot sexy SEAL and babysitting is not a required course.”
Again that glance slanted her way.
“Sexy?”
She flushed. She had said that, hadn’t she? Ah well. “It’s the truth,” she admitted. “I’d say all of you are, but then you’ll discount that you aren’t and of course you’re the sexiest man here.”
Surprised and obviously discomforted, he said, “Do you always worry about other people’s feelings like that? It’s got to be wearing.”
“It can be, but I am who I am. Sunshine and roses, remember?”
“Yeah, and what happens when you end up in moonlight instead,” he asked curiously.
And because there was nothing mocking in his tone, she answered, “I usually get depressed until I can cheer myself up.”
“And how’d you do that?”
She realized he was serious. “By listening to music, spending time with friends or Kevin, singing and dancing…” She shrugged. “There are lots of ways.”
He glanced behind them at the work going on.
“What do you do when you get down?” she asked.
Startled, he answered willingly enough. “I tell myself to get over it and get back to work.”
Someone called his name. And he left. Just like that.
She lay back down and realized they needed to get moving. And the sooner the better. She had no idea how long she’d been out, but as she peeked through the back the sun was still rising. Good. They hadn’t been waiting on her. She shifted experimentally, wondering how mobile she was going to be as she desperately needed a bathroom. And of course there was no such thing available. She had no qualms about a walk to a secluded part of the bush except for that walk part.
Crouching down was going to be damn near impossible. And she needed to go. As she shuffled her butt to the edge of the truck, she realized she no longer wore her jeans. In dismay she stared down at the oversized sweatpants. Donated by someone on the team most likely. But on her, yeah they were huge. Thankfully whoever had changed her left her panties on. And the leg did move easier in warm loose sweats. But she must look a fool.
She laughed. Oh well, better a warm fool than a cold one.
She lowered her legs over the edge of the tailgate and sat up. The place was full of activity. There were men sitting in another vehicle all handcuffed together. And dressed in khakis. She studied their blank faces, surprised to see any still alive.
The rest of the men appeared to be leaning over the hood of a truck poring over something. A map most likely. She carefully turned and crept down the back of the truck and hobbled to the front. There out of sight, and using the front grill to hold onto, she managed to lower herself on one leg. She quickly went to the bathroom. As she struggled back to the rear of the truck, Shadow stepped into her path.
“You know you could have asked for help.”
She looked at him wryly. “Yeah, to what, wipe my butt?” She grinned.
He smirked. “If need be then yes.”
She shuddered, and quickly said, “No thanks. I was fine.”
“You were going to make sure of it, even if you weren’t, right?”
A bit convoluted but she did finally get it. “Hey, if I can save myself that bit of humiliation, I’m all for it. You’d do the same.”
“I would,” he said immediately. “But if I couldn’t…”
“Right. If I get that bad, I’ll let you know.” Not, she added mentally. It would be hard to be in that position. She understood that everyone might need such assistance at one point in time but she’d hope that was at least eighty years away.
And she gave thanks to the world around her that she was in as good a shape as she was. With his help, she got back up on the tailgate so she could sit and watch.
*
He’d watched her struggle to get down off the truck, her furtive glances to see if anyone was watching.
He’d soon realized she’d needed a bathroom break. Something that was much easier in the woods for him than her – especially given her injured leg. He’d waited, trying to give her space and independence and had to grin when she’d returned slowly, painfully, but in one piece.
“Go. You’re useless here anyway,” Mason said in a hard tone but his eyes were twinkling.
Shadow gave him a flat look. But when he spun around to check on her the next time, Swede gave him a push in her direction.
“It’s your turn. Go be a hero.”
And he’d left. Now that she was safe again and he’d rejoined the men, it was as if he had an inner sense when she moved or needed something. Like what was with that?
“We’re leaving in twenty minutes. We’ll head to a town and see if we can get her a faster return trip,” Mason said. “Her leg is healing, but I can’t be sure there isn’t muscle damage inside that she’d need a doctor to fix. And the sooner for that the better.”
Shadow nodded. “Which rig? I’ll get her settled in.” He glanced around. “She had a pack at one time too.”
Cooper nodded to the side. “It’s over there.”
Shadow caught sight of the red canvas pack. He waited to hear the end of the conversation then walked over and grabbed the bag. Returning to her side, he watched her face brighten. And inside he sighed. He had it bad. Anything to see her smile. Particularly when it was directed at him.
“Thank you,” she cried. “I wondered if I’d see it again.”
He laid it down beside her.
She opened it immediately and rummaged through. “I have spare jeans in here.”
“Not jeans. Too hard to get on and off for cleaning the leg wound.”
She frowned and plucked at the material on her legs now. “But these belong to someone. I have to give them back.”
“They are mine and I don’t need them right now.”
With a gasp, she threw her arms around him and hugged him. Damn. He couldn’t help wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. For a moment, he glimpsed the sunlight as it broke through the shadows. Then she dropped her arms and the light disappeared.
But it was enough. He stared at her in wonder. Is that what it was like to not be alone? He couldn’t ask her. Knew it wasn’t the time for such a question and she likely wouldn’t know as she lived in the sunlight and had no idea the world was cloaked in shadows like he did.
As he watched she went back to rummaging through her bag. She pulled out a chocolate bar in triumph. Then she stared at its size before shoving it back inside.
“You aren’t hungry?”
“I’m starved,” she confessed. “But everyone is, and I can’t break a bar that small to give everyone a piece.”
What? He studied her again. “You don’t have to share with everyone.”
“Have to, no I don’t. But I want to. So it will have to wait until later when there are less people around so everyone can have a taste.”
Not understanding her logic, he said, “We’re leaving in the other truck.” He watched as Swede started loading the back of their rig. “I need to get you over there now.”
“Is it big enough,” she asked in a low voice, mentally counting the men in the area. “Maybe I should wait here until later.”
“For what later?” he asked. “This is your ride. Now or never.”
She nodded. “Now then. If you have room for me.”
He sighed and swooped down and caught her up in his arms, startling a squeak out of her as he carried her and her backpack to the truck beside them. Swede seeing them coming, opened up the back passenger door. “Your ride, princess.”
She beamed at him. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Well, it’s not a plane but we’ll get you home one way or another.”
Shadow helped her sit on the bench then watched as she scooted back so her leg was resting on the seat. She took up most of the back. That wouldn’t last long. “Rest. We’ll be leaving in just a few minutes.”
She leaned forward. “But there’s not enough room for everyone.”
“There will be,” he whispered back.
That she’d be riding on his lap was something he understood, but she had yet to figure out. He was looking forward to seeing her reaction when she finally did.
Chapter 12
She gave him a flat stare when she finally understood that his picking her up and settling her on his lap wasn’t temporary. As in this was the way she’d be riding to the next town.
He grinned at her. She glared at him.
Swede, sitting in the front, chuckled. She wanted to smack him. Beside Shadow sat Cooper and then Hawk. Mason drove and Dane had been pinched into the middle in the front. Markus and Evan had stayed behind to help the Canadians out.
She turned her head toward Shadow. “I told you I wouldn’t fit.”
“And I told you, you would.”
She sighed. “You’re being difficult,” she announced.
“No, you are.”
“You can’t always tell me I’m wrong.” She gave him a curt nod for punctuation.
“If you are, I can,” he countered.
She gasped. “Are you saying I’m always wrong? That’s mean,” she cried.
Shadow rolled his eyes and stared out the window.
She caught sight of Hawk’s smirk. “He’s being mean, isn’t he?”
Immediately Hawk agreed.
Right. He knew what his role was. “You should tell him,” she said with a nod.
“Shadow, you’re being mean,” Hawk instantly said.
A low rumble of laughter rippled through the truck.
She crossed her arms. “It’s easy to see which of you have partners,” she snapped.
Cooper eyed her curiously. “How’s that?”
“All those men know better than to argue,” she replied, glaring at Shadow. “Then there are those who haven’t learned that lesson yet.”
And this time the men cracked up.
Cooper immediately started whistling a tune she vaguely recognized. “What’s that song?” she asked.
Straight–faced he opened his mouth to answer, but Shadow’s arm straightened and belted him across the chest.
Cooper coughed several times.
Arianna rounded on Shadow. “What was that for?” she cried. “We were just having a nice conversation.”
He glared at her. But never said a word.
“See, you’re just being mean again.”
The men in the truck were all trying to suppress chuckles. Cooper the most of all. She studied him suspiciously. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Just my feelings,” Cooper managed in a deadpan tone of voice.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Shadow is like that,” she explained to the captive audience. “He rarely explains himself. He probably just didn’t want you to give the wrong answer and be embarrassed.” She rounded on Shadow who was staring at her in apparent fascination. “If you’d explain yourself a little more it would be easier on everyone. Use those words I know you have inside,” she said nicely. “It really will get easier over time.”
“You talk too much,” he snapped.
Her lower lip trembled.
An odd silence sounded in the truck.
Cooper nudged Shadow. “Fix it.”
“It’s okay,” she said in a low voice. “It’s not the first time he’s told me that.”
And she was jerked forward and kissed hard.
Eagerly she threw her arms around him and kissed him back only he suddenly pushed her back and jammed her up against his chest.
Happily she snuggled in close. “I’m sorry for calling you mean. You’re really a pussycat inside.”
*
Shadow sighed. What the hell was he going to do with her? Calling him a pussycat. Hell, he was a fucking panther in the dark.
“Isn’t that nice,” Hawk murmured from the other side. “I’m happy we have a pussycat in the truck.”
The group
sniggered.
Mason, who was driving, came to Shadow’s rescue. “But as I recall we’ve all had similar scenarios happen to us.”
“So damn glad that’s over,” Dane said with feeling. “What a confounding stage of life that was.”
Confounding. Yeah, that was the word for it. Shadow stared down at the woman snuggled up against his chest. How could she be such a powder puff right now and yet be the same woman who’d signaled for help in the cabin window and crawled from tree to tree to knock an attacker down because he was hunting her brother? And that was without mentioning the three men she shot to death.
Now she was curled up like a baby as innocent as could be.
Yeah, he was confounded. Not only by her behavior but her thought processes. She seemed to think he was… Hell, he didn’t know what she thought. He’d say wonderful but that was ridiculous. Yet by body language alone, he had to consider it. She didn’t go to any of the other men on her own.
“Next time,” Cooper announced, “there’s a beautiful woman who needs rescuing, I get the job.”
Several of the guys chuckled. But everyone in the truck knew what he meant.
Shadow wondered if fate played a hand in picking the rescuers. Then again, he’d rescued dozens of people and outside of normal gratitude they never seemed to show any interest in him. Yet every time lately they’d been on a mission and a woman had been in trouble, she’d hooked up with one of his teammates. And he might have had a hand in that last time too. He’d known Swede had been sweet on Eva for years. But she was – in his head – forbidden. Shadow had even helped send him to her rescue, hoping it would be enough to change things for his friend. And it had.
More than anyone had expected.
That wasn’t the same thing right now. He’d never met Arianna before.
And there’d been more than just him involved in this rescue, but Arianna had apparently picked him. Shadow just didn’t know to what extent she was favoring him.
But he wanted to.
He leaned back and closed his eyes. It was going to be a long trip. All the more so the way she slumbered. His body was more than aware of the feminine body on his lap. It didn’t need any more incentive to wake up and pay attention.