The General's Desire: San Diego Social Scene Book 2

by Tess Summers

  Luke brought her back to reality. “Hey, congratulations on your screenplay.”

  “Thanks, it was a long time coming,” she said with a modest smile.

  “What took so long?”

  “I’d lost my inspiration, but luckily, Ron helped me find it. At least I got my happily-ever-after on paper.”

  He gave a quizzical look.

  “It’s semi-autobiographical. Except I got to write the ending with Ron that I wanted, not the ending I actually got.”

  “Well, if it helps, I saw him yesterday at a fundraising planning meeting for the Wounded Warrior Project, and he looked like shit.”

  She remembered the WWP was a charity that was near and dear to Ron’s heart.

  “He looked bad? Why do you say that?”

  “It was as if he’d aged ten years since the last time I saw him. I know he’s stressed about his upcoming promotion and making sure this event is successful, but I think there might be more to it than that.”

  She feigned ignorance to what he was alluding to. “Oh? Like what?”

  He shot her a look. “I think it has to do with a certain writer who lives in a beach house.”

  She didn’t want to ask. It was too high-schoolish.

  But she did anyway.

  “Did he ask about me?”

  Luke grinned. “As a matter of fact, he did. I told him you were going to LA tomorrow to meet about your screenplay. I hope that’s okay?”

  “It’s fine, it’s not a secret. What did he say?”

  “Honestly, he seemed surprised, but at the same time, proud of you. He said to tell you congratulations, he knew you could do it.”

  Brenna remembered how excited he was when she told him she had started writing again. He even took her out to dinner to celebrate. It warmed her heart to hear that he was proud of her.

  “Aw, tell him thanks for me next time you see him.”

  “Or you could tell him yourself,” Luke said quietly. “He went out of his way to make sure I knew he wasn’t dating anyone.

  She shook her head. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  “But what if it is?”

  With a sigh, she conceded, “Too much has happened. Things that can’t be undone.”

  “I don’t believe that. It’s obvious you two care about each other. Don’t give up. You owe it to yourselves to give it a shot.”

  Why did she get the feeling he was talking about more than her and Ron’s relationship?

  Sexy, a badass, and compassionate. Her sister really should pursue him; this guy was the trifecta.

  Kind of like she thought she had with Ron.

  Apples and oranges, Brenna. Apples and oranges.

  “Well, I have learned to never say never, but I’m not optimistic.” But if she was honest with herself, a part of her was. At the very least she was hopeful that maybe someday their paths would cross again. If they did, who knows what could happen?

  ****

  Ron

  The courier at Ron’s front door stood impatiently, practically shoving the clipboard in the general’s face to sign and prove the package had been delivered so he could leave.

  Ron took the small white box with bows and ribbons in the Marine Corps signature colors of gold and scarlet back inside and sat down at the kitchen table to open it. Inside was a sealed envelope with a return address of one of the big Hollywood studios, and on the very top was a postcard sized piece of ivory cardstock with Brenna’s handwriting.

  Dear Ron,

  I wanted you to be the first to know - it looks like my manuscript is going to make it to the big screen.

  Thank you for helping me find my mojo again.

  I am grateful beyond words. (Ironic, huh?)

  With much affection,

  Brenna

  He was so fucking proud of her. He knew what a big deal even starting her screenplay had been for her, but finishing it and selling it just proved how amazingly talented she is. When Luke had told him earlier this week about her meeting in LA, he wanted so desperately to reach out to her, he just didn’t know how he’d be received.

  So he did nothing. Like a chicken shit.

  Inside the sealed envelope was a check from the studio made out to the Wounded Warrior Project with the memo line that read On behalf of Brenna Roberts (advance). It had a lot of zeros.

  He knew she made a lot of money, but he had no idea it was that much. And this was just an advance. Not to mention she had been out of the game for over a decade.

  Her generosity was overwhelming and left him speechless. Why would she do such a thing? Was she trying to tell him something? How did he feel about that?

  After she told him she was with Kyle, he hadn’t allowed himself to think about her anymore. Well, he tried not to allow himself to think about her. When he was wide awake in the middle of the night, he would admit that his heart was broken. That had never happened to him before and frankly, it sucked.

  He wondered if they had just met six months later, when he wasn’t constantly going overseas, would things have gone differently? What they had was special, she could try to deny it all she wanted, but he knew in his heart that she felt it too. How could she have just thrown it all away?

  Because she didn’t trust you.

  Because Kyle was there for her, and you weren’t.

  Part of him just wanted her to be happy, and if that was with Kyle, then so be it. But part of him was pissed that she gave up on them so easily. Well, hurt and pissed.

  And part of him just wanted to hold her tight little body next to his again. He could almost feel her silky skin underneath his fingertips and her soft lips on his. Closing his eyes, he could envision how her nipples obediently responded to his touch or the way her tiny hands looked when she gripped his cock. And her taste.

  Fuck.

  Now he was sad and horny. Not to mention confused about what this package meant.

  Should he call her and thank her? Send her a text? Drop by her house?

  His promotion ceremony had been scheduled for later in the summer and he had been debating if he should invite her. Maybe this was a sign he should ask her?

  He opted for a text. Just received your package. I am so proud of you. I am the one who is grateful beyond words. Your generosity is humbling.

  He was surprised when she responded almost immediately. It was truly my pleasure. I’m honored to be able to contribute to such a wonderful cause.

  He hesitated for only a second before replying. After all, what did he have to lose?

  Can I take you to lunch and thank you in person?

  Lunch seemed harmless enough. It wasn’t like it was a date, and he was moving in on Kyle’s territory. It was just an innocent way to thank her for her kindness.

  Oh, who the fuck am I trying to kid? He was purposefully leaving it open-ended enough that he could pass it off as innocent if she wasn’t interested, but could easily escalate it if she was available. He wanted to look into her beautiful blue eyes and find out if her reaching out to him meant more than just her contributing to a noble cause. Like maybe Kyle was out of the picture, and Ron had another shot.

  It took her a long time to respond. So long, that he thought she wasn’t going to. When his phone dinged indicating he had a text message, he was almost afraid to look.

  Drove to Tucson to bring Dee home for the summer. Maybe when I get back?

  He’d take it.

  Of course. Let me know when you’re in town.

  Should only be a few more days. We’re packing up her apartment and will be caravanning to SD as soon possible. It’s hot here already!

  It took great willpower not to ask who ‘we’ included. Brenna and Danielle? Or did Kyle fit into that equation? Ron knew if he was still with Brenna, he definitely wouldn’t let her drive alone. And what was with the smiley face?

  Christ, he felt like he was sixteen again and analyzing everything Kristine Casmar said to him on the school bus.

  Two nights later his phone rang. He
was still on base so he almost ignored it, but then remembered Brenna might be home and calling him to schedule lunch.

  His heart leapt into his throat when he looked down and saw it really was her calling him. His heart dropped into his stomach when he heard the terror in her voice when he answered.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Brenna

  Brenna helped Danielle move the last piece of furniture into one of the stalls of Brenna’s three-car garage. They were storing Dee’s larger things at her Tucson house until fall when her daughter was back in school. Brenna knew they wouldn’t be spending any time in Tucson this summer; triple digit heat wasn’t really appealing to either of them. Between Brenna’s and Dee’s cars, they managed to fit all of Danielle’s smaller things. Brenna had driven the six hours instead of flying; partly because she knew they’d need both cars for all of her daughter’s belongings and partly because the drive would give her time to think.

  She was about to embark on the crazy LA scene again. It was not her thing, but she knew she’d have to make the rounds to make sure her screenplay was cast properly and the director stayed true to the story. She’d learned some things along the way and maintaining creative control was now part of every contract she signed.

  The little snippet of information that Luke provided about Ron being proud of her and not dating anyone was also occupying a lot of her thoughts. She missed the hell out of him. Maybe Luke was right. Two people shouldn’t give up if they truly cared for each other.

  And therein lied the problem. Did Ron’s definition of ‘truly care for’ match hers? Because last time she checked, seeing other people wasn’t part of her meaning.

  Then again, neither was lying. But she wouldn’t have lied if he hadn’t have cheated.

  Besides, for all she knew, he could be lying about not seeing anyone.

  She hoped he understood the check she sent was because of him. She would be forever grateful to him for giving her that part of her life back; there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he was the one who inspired her to start writing again. Donating her advance to the WWP seemed like an appropriate way to thank him.

  The text he sent thanking her made her heart skip a beat. She knew she should have played it cool, yet she couldn’t help texting back right away. When he asked her to lunch, she paused, but in the end she couldn’t resist the idea of seeing him again. It was just lunch–that was safe, right?

  She wished they could have kept their text conversation going. Their past exchanges used to always make her laugh. He didn’t respond to her last message so that ended that.

  Still, they were going to have lunch!

  That alone spurred her on to push Danielle to finish packing so they could get back to San Diego.

  Finally, they started their journey to California. The middle part of the trip was always the worst. It’s desolate and then mountainous with lots of twists and turns. It was in the desolate part that Brenna watched in horror as the semi veered into Danielle’s lane, sideswiping her daughter’s car and sending the little hatchback spinning before it veered into the desert median and flipped end over end.

  There was no time to panic. She needed to get to her daughter. It was almost like she wasn’t in her body as she pulled over and ran to the destroyed car. Dee was covered in blood and going in and out of consciousness. Brenna leaned in the broken driver’s side window.

  “Danielle, honey, stay with me.”

  There were people getting out of their cars; some offered to help, several were on their phones with 911. Brenna thought God must have been watching out for her daughter, because one of the people who offered to help was a nurse. Her name was Pam but Brenna wanted to call her an angel.

  With the help of good Samaritans, they managed to get Danielle out of the car and onto a blanket someone had offered. Pam immediately began treating her the best she could, relaying to someone on the phone with the 911 operator about Dee’s condition, and that she needed to be airlifted.

  They kept talking to Dee, trying to keep her conscious and calm so she didn’t go into shock. The person on the phone with emergency services broke the news to the group that the Phoenix helivac was unavailable, and neither San Diego or Tucson would send one, stating it was too far.

  A police officer arrived, but no paramedics. After fifteen minutes, they got the news from the officer that the ambulance had broken down. Maybe God wasn’t with them after all. The feeling of helplessness was almost unbearable.

  The cop offered to put Dee in his car. Pam didn’t recommend transporting her like that but it might be their only hope.

  Pam stayed close to Danielle, but was on the phone with the hospital where she worked. Brenna could hear the desperation in the nurse’s voice and knew things were getting dire.

  “She’s losing a lot of blood. We need to get her there, like five minutes ago.”

  There was a pause before Pam snapped. “You don’t have another goddamn helicopter available?”

  Brenna knew someone who might. She was sure it was going to break every rule and she didn’t know if Ron would go for it, but she had to try; her daughter’s life depended on it.

  Please let me have a cell signal.

  He answered on the second ring and somehow she managed to convey what had happened, and that her daughter was losing a lot of blood with no helicopter available to airlift her.

  Ron told her not to use her phone until he got back to her and hung up abruptly.

  She suddenly got a sense that everything was going to be okay. Her Marine was going to make sure of that.

  Brenna returned to Danielle and held her hand. “Hold on, honey, help is coming.”

  The nurse looked at her inquisitively. Brenna offered a comforting smile. “There might be a helicopter coming.”

  “How? Neither Yuma nor Blythe have one, and Phoenix’s is in service elsewhere.”

  Before Brenna could answer, her phone rang. It was Ron’s number, but it wasn’t Ron on the other end. Someone started firing questions about Danielle’s condition, and Brenna handed the phone off to Pam. After an exchange that did nothing to offer Brenna hope, Pam handed her back the phone. This time Ron was talking to her.

  “Bren, don’t use the phone for at least fifteen minutes. They’re going to track its signal to get to you, and if you make or take a call, it will be lost.”

  “Thank –”

  He cut her off. “They’re on their way,” then the line went dead.

  It was the most excruciating forty minutes of her life, but she tried to remain upbeat for her daughter. Brenna heard the chopper before she saw it. Medics jumped out and immediately started working on Dee while two uniformed Marines approached Brenna.

  One introduced them both as being from the base in Phoenix. She caught neither of their names.

  “Ms. Roberts, I’ve been instructed to accompany you and your daughter back to Phoenix,” then gestured to the other man also in tan camouflage. “He will stay on scene to work with law enforcement and get your car back to Phoenix. General Thompson will meet you at the hospital.”

  She knew then that Ron had to have called in major favors. How could she ever thank him enough? The truth was, there was no way.

  They were airborne before Brenna realized she didn’t know Pam’s last name, or any of the other people who had stopped to help. More people than she could never thank enough in this lifetime.

  There was another helicopter at the helipad when they landed on the hospital’s roof. Why couldn’t they have sent that one to help them?

  Hospital personnel had just whisked Danielle away when Brenna noticed Ron in his fatigues standing off to the side. She now understood where the other chopper came from. The Marine who had been with her immediately saluted Ron.

  Ron acknowledged the salute then shook the man’s hand.

  “Thank you for your assistance, Captain. I really appreciate your help.”

  The captain smiled with a wink. “It was a successful training mission, sir.�
��

  Ron took the man’s hand a second time as they made their way toward the door. “Thank you again. I’m in your debt.”

  The younger man nodded and said, “I’m glad we could help,” then saluted before heading toward the door.

  Brenna stopped the captain from leaving and hugged him tight.

  “Thank you for everything,” she whispered against his chest.

  The younger uniformed man went stiff as if the hug made him uncomfortable. “My pleasure, ma’am.”

  She released him, and he quickly exited the rooftop.

  With tears in her eyes, she hugged Ron next. When his arms came around her, she finally released all the fear and anxiety she’d been holding in. Sagging against him, she began to shake as she silently sobbed, muttering “Thank you,” over and over.

  He ran his hands over her back and smoothed her hair before kissing her temple. That was something he often did when they had been together. The familiarity of his smell and touch was soothing, as was just being in his strong arms, knowing he had her family’s back. That knowledge provided tremendous comfort.

  “She’s going to be okay,” he murmured into her hair blonde mane.

  Strangely, she believed him.

  He tugged her toward the door and said softly, “Let’s get downstairs and see how she’s doing.”

  ****

  Ron

  Holy fuck, what a night.

  Ron was glad Brenna called him when she needed help, and that he was able to provide it. In the short time he’d gotten to know Danielle, he’d grown to care about her. He couldn’t imagine how devastated Brenna would be if she lost her, especially in a car accident. He knew that was how Danny had died.

  Luckily, the man in charge of the Phoenix base was someone he went through basic with, and they had risen up the ranks at the same rate. He now owed his friend, and Ron had no doubt that once he got promoted, he’d be paying that debt in the future.

  The paperwork justifying the flight was written as a training operation. He guessed in a way it was, except they were using a real-life scenario. Ron would have to make an appearance in person at the Phoenix base while he was there, since that was the reason he used for taking a helicopter to Arizona. He’d be sure to arrive bearing gifts. There were a lot of men and women who took part in tonight’s rescue.