“Oh, yeah. All the guys were getting ’em,” he explained, “so I figured, why not? I know it’s cliché, but I don’t care. Mom had a nasty bout with cancer when I first joined the Army. I felt bad being so far away while she was going through chemo and radiation and all that crap, so I put her in my heart. As sappy as it sounds, this tat helped us both get through it. Mom knew she was always in my heart, and having her name on my arm seemed like she was with me no matter where I went.”
“So she recovered?”
“Yes, ma’am. She did.” Seth brightened despite the shivers. “Mom’s got more energy now than ever before. You should see her go.”
“What kind of cancer?”
“Melanoma. She loved working in her garden all summer long without a hat. Now she knows better. Sometimes we’ve got to learn the hard way, huh?”
Meredith nodded. Experience had certainly been the only teacher she’d listened to. “Hunter is covered with tats. What’s the one on his back about?” She didn’t mean to talk about him behind his back. Well, maybe she did. Just a little. This wasn’t gossip. This was intelligence gathering among friends.
“You mean that big old boot print? Ahh...” Seth’s eyes clouded. “That’s a tough one. The next time he’s got his shirt off, read what’s written between the tread marks. You’ll see.”
The thought of Hunter’s handsome bare back brought a needy ache to the pit of her stomach. She changed the subject again. “Where are you from, Seth?”
“Chicago. How about you?” His grip hadn’t loosened, but he seemed calmer the more they talked.
“I’m one of those California girls,” she admitted.
“Ah, that explains it then.”
“Explains what?”
“Hunt. He’s from California, too. You two knew each other before, didn’t you?”
“Why would you think that?”
“The way he was staring at you after the paintball game. He had that look in his eye.”
“He had a look?” she asked, secretly delighted. “What look?”
Seth shrugged. “Not sure how to explain it. Kinda like he was glad to see you only he didn’t want you to know he was glad, only he couldn’t take his eyes off of you, neither.”
A wave of wiggling warmth swept up Meredith’s insides. Oh. That look. “You’re right. Hunter and I grew up in the same neighborhood outside of San Diego. We went to the same schools. Even went to college together for a little while.”
“He cares for you, you know.”
That took Meredith by surprise again. She looked away, wishing it were so. “I doubt it. If anything, I’m more of an inconvenience to him. We don’t seem to do anything but fight when we’re together.” And kiss. And push each other’s buttons. And get all worked up only to be rejected.
Seth squeezed her hand. “Nah, I can tell. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever met, but he gets a funny look when you’re around. I seen it just before he left to get the supplies. Trust me. He cares.”
She laughed it off. “Probably because he’s counting the minutes until this operation is over, and I’m out of his life for good. You’re seeing things.” Meredith withdrew her hand from Seth’s. “You need to rest while I check on Teague. He’s been awfully quiet.”
Seth pulled the skimpy shirt up to his chin. “Just give Hunt a chance, will you, ma’am? If he’s as mixed up as I was when I came home, he doesn’t know what he wants yet. And he’s mad.”
“Hunter’s always mad,” she agreed. “Explain that to me.”
“It’s just the way it is,” Seth said quietly. “Not sure ’bout Hunt, but every time I killed someone, it kinda felt like I was losing a piece of my soul. Like the sun wasn’t shining so bright anymore. Like I was never gonna be happy again, you know? Kinda like when I found out there wasn’t a Santa Claus. It sucked.”
That tender image of little-boy Seth helped. “You’re one of the good guys. Get some rest.” She lifted her backside off the ground, thankful for the diversion.
“So’s Hunt,” Seth answered. “Just cut him some slack. He’s been in some awful tight spots.”
Meredith wanted more details about those other tight spots, but saved questioning Seth for another day. Talking about Hunter had reopened the painful past. She should’ve never married Eddy. It was a mistake from the start to sacrifice her heart. That fatal error had sucked the joy out of her life. Eddy never wanted a son. He was a trophy hunter and she’d blown the trophy wife image the day she told him she was keeping her baby.
If she’d been smart, she would’ve told Hunter she was pregnant as soon as she knew. Yes, he would’ve been angry and yes, there would’ve been hurt feelings, but there was no doubt in her heart that he loved her. Hunter wasn’t as mad as he was hurt. He would’ve eventually listened—then.
Hunter was not an indecisive man. He wielded confidence like a deadly weapon, but the look on his face when he’d asked how old Courtney was? That look was a cross somewhere between a goldfish gasping for air and the cat that ate the canary. Priceless.
She could’ve sworn she’d heard the gears in his brain spinning as he did the math, and hopefully, came up with the correct conclusion this time. The dumbass thought she’d loved Eddy? Heavens no! There’d only been that one night between them, and she preferred to forget it. The creep hadn’t even touched her on their wedding night. He’d been too drunk. Every day after was just another exclamation point to her very foolish mistake.
Meredith’s chin stuck out. It was time to clear the air and tell Hunter everything, because—she loved him. She always had, darn it.
Teague’s eyes were opened when she shifted to his side. “You’re awake,” she said, her hand to his brow to check for a fever.
A bemused smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Where are we?”
“Safe for now. Hunter found a hollowed out space behind a waterfall. He’s gone to get the supply crate. He’ll be back soon.”
“You two managed to bring a crate of supplies with you? MI or TEAM?”
“Yes, one of the MI crates and we’ve got a couple first-aids kits, too.”
“Thank God.” Teague arched his back. “Seth is right you know. I saw Hunter after the war games. He was definitely keeping an eye on you.”
“Was that right before he walked out and went back to his camp?” These guys needed to knock it off. Ganging up on her didn’t help keep her mind off Hunter.
The glimmer of a shadow at the waterfall caught her attention. Her first thought was it might have been caused by a cloud passing in front of the sun, or maybe Hunter. Her second thought was there was no way he could’ve made it back that fast. Dread’s icy fingers clutched her throat. Something was out there. Man or monkey or—snake?
“He tends to go off by himself when he’s had enough bullshit,” Seth said. “Hunt’s a loner. Always has been.”
“Why’s that?” she asked to keep the conversation going in case that glimmer was her imagination. Neither Teague nor Seth appeared to have seen anything out of the ordinary. Not wanting to be the hysterical damsel in distress again, she moved to Hunter’s gear bag, still open at the foot of Teague’s litter. Seth had a gun. She wanted one now too.
“Soldiering,” Seth replied. “A guy who’s been in combat tends to spend a lot more time by himself. Just the nature of men, I guess. We’ve all got things to think about. You ever served, Teague?”
There it was again, nothing more than the hint of a shadow. A ripple in the watery curtain. Casually, Meredith selected a revolver like the one Hunter had given Seth, then shifted it behind her back.
“Sure did,” Teague muttered. “Air Force. Ended up in Pakistan.”
She backed up, filled with a need to check the chamber on her piece, but not wanting the men to notice.
“Air Force, huh?” Seth said. “I figured you for a Navy man.”
The air inside the small cave seemed more crowded. Fuller. Another ripple in the waterfall looked as if an invisible hand had parted
the liquid curtain. Where was Hunter when she needed him?
“You wouldn’t happen to have some water around here, would you?” Teague asked.
Her eyes were glued to the entrance instead of her patients, but no slinking reptilian form slithered toward her. None dropped from the ceiling either, but she couldn’t shake the sensation that she and the guys were no longer alone.
Panic whispered, ‘S-s-s-s-s-s-n-a-k-e.’ Mind-numbing shivers confirmed it. Paranoid or not, Meredith raised her weapon.
There it was again!
“Hey, what’s going on?” Teague lifted up onto one elbow, grimacing. “Why the gun?”
She jumped at his question. “Because something is out there and it might be a—”
“Damn, you’re good.” Eric’s mellow voice filled the hide-away as he materialized right before her eyes, panel by blinking ACS panel. Darn him!
”Eric! You scared me! I could’ve shot you!” By then her heart was pounding hard enough to beat the band, and her butt was stuck in the farthest corner of the cave.
“Hey, man,” Seth muttered like it was no big deal. “Where you been?”
Eric was a sight for sore eyes, as dashing as ever. Meredith scrambled to him. “You’re alive?”
He held his hands out for her, and that was all it took. She didn’t hesitate before she was in his arms and hanging on tight.
“There, there,” he murmured as he turned her around. “It’s been a tough couple days, huh?”
Want to or not, tears brimmed her eyes. “I thought you were dead.”
His hand caressed her wet hair before it came to rest on the back of her neck. “You sure know how to throw one helluva beta test, Mrs. Flynn.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Just damned great.
Hunter took one step inside the hide-away only to catch Meredith in the act again. She looked damned cozy in Eric’s arms. Didn’t it figure? He’d turned his back to secure the supplies, and she’d already moved on. Hunter bit his lip, angry enough to knock Eric on his ass even though he was damned glad to see the guy.
Hunter shot him a nod and a curt, “Where the hell have you been?”
“Hey, Hunt,” Seth muttered. “Glad you made it—”
“Hunter!” Meredith dropped Eric like a hot potato and barreled into Hunter, surprising him. “I thought I saw another snake, only it was Eric, and…” She lifted that pretty face, and right there in front of God and all the guys, she planted the biggest, wettest kiss on his lips.
Who the hell was Eric anyway? Seth or Teague for that matter? They faded clear away. All Hunter heard after Meredith got in his face was a couple of guys muttering somewhere in the ozone. Sounded like they were on Mars.
Suffering from a sudden attack of sensory overload, he could barely handle the delightful taste of this woman’s sweet mouth on his, her hands threading through his hair. Damn, she could kiss.
Warm caramel oozed into his veins, soothing all of his ragged edges, filling the cracks in his soul, healing him from the inside out. Fire roared over him, scorching his doubts and negativity away. Grabbing her into his arms, he took charge, lifting her off her feet, and this woman gave as good as she got. She growled for more, groaned for more, and his hands found her backside.
“Ahem.” Big-mouthed Eric’s caution only seemed to make Meredith pushier, but Hunter was happy to comply with her demands instead of Eric’s hint. TEAM business could take a break.
At last, he eased away from her very determined mouth. “Merry. I mean, Ms. Flynn. Oh hell, Meredith.”
Eric chuckled. “Do you two need a time-out?”
“Or a room?” Even injured Teague had to offer up his two cents worth.
When Seth murmured, “Sweet,” Hunter angled past Eric, headed to his gear bag. He didn’t need a damned audience. “Here,” he growled, tossing Meredith the matching holster to that weapon in her hand. “Don’t lose it this time.”
She caught the holster, smiling.
Latching onto her wrist, he dragged her outside where she immediately got wet again. He hoped. As hard as he was, he wanted her wet and ready. They needed time alone and privacy for what he had in mind. If only.
He scanned the riverbanks while she secured her holster and weapon. She was no more than buckled up when he turned her roughly into his arms and kissed her again. But one kiss wasn’t enough, and they were too exposed. He dragged her into the first available curtain of vines.
“What is it with you?” He had to ask. This wasn’t the same woman he’d left a couple hours ago.
“You love me. I know you do,” she said. “Go ahead. Deny it.”
He gulped. Damn. She’s had too much time to think.
“You thought I was still married. You thought I was cheating on Eddy the way you thought I cheated on you, didn’t you? That’s why you’ve been angry with me, isn’t it?”
But you did cheat on me. His gaze hit the bottom of her chin. Now was not the time for true confessions. She’d had her chance, well, maybe not. He had left town after that slap in the face of finding out she was pregnant. What difference would rehashing the past make now? He didn’t want to know how much she’d loved Welch.
She kept going, her chin lift a definite come-on. “Let me tell you something, Mr. Hunter Christian. I didn’t cheat on you. Well, technically I did, but not like you think. I made a stupid mistake, and trust me, I’ve been paying for it ever since. I never should’ve married Eddy. Heck, I never should’ve given him the time of day. I know that now, but you need to understand why I did what I did.”
She took a deep breath. “Remember the big beach party dance after SDSU won state? The one at Eddy’s parents’ beach place? All of us cheerleaders were still underage and drinking. I had too much. I admit it. I was excited, but everyone kept congratulating me and Eddy for being brilliant—” She curled air quotes beside her bobbing head, “—and you know how he was.”
Meredith bit her lip, her thumbs under his chin now. “He was the star quarterback and I was star-struck and naïve and stupid and, oh God, I was an easy target, Hunter. I’m not saying it was just his fault, because it wasn’t. The bottom line is I got pregnant that night, Hunter. I thought I should give him a chance because he was the father. I really thought he loved me. How could I tell you what I’d done?”
Damn, I need a smoke. Hunter took a full step back from her, needing distance. His head reeled at the much-romanticized dichotomy of a good girl with a bad boy. The last thing he wanted to hear about was her good times with a prick like Fast Eddy.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” She took a step forward, her fingers interlocked with the collar on his shirt. “You don’t get to keep running. Not anymore, Hunter. That was why you joined the Marines, wasn’t it? Because of me? Because of what I did to us?”
Well—yeah. He couldn’t bring himself to admit what a fool he’d been back then—yes, for her. What a fool he still was. Knowing she’d divorced Welch soon after she’d married him didn’t help. It only added further verification. Welch was her first time and they had a kid together. And a kid was a forever kind of a deal. Mother’s didn’t divorce them, and that made everything more—complicated. What if Courtney looked like his father?
Not that it really mattered. Hunter dragged a hand over his head. No innocent little kid should be held responsible for his old man’s transgression.
“I cheated on you, Hunter, and I’m sorry.” Tears brimmed her sad blue eyes. “`It was stupid and wrong, but I can’t change what happened. Courtney is Eddy’s son.”
Hunter swallowed past the hard knot in his throat. Felt like a steaming pile of camel shit.
She stuck her chin at him. “You’ve been mad at me since then, and I don’t blame you. I tried to love Eddy, but I never did. I couldn’t. There was only one man for me, only he left before I had a chance to explain what happened. So you’ve got two choices. You can tell me you love me or...” She bit her lip. “You can leave me again.”
Hunter turned his back on her
. He had to. Meredith made this course correction sound easy, but he’d had more than three years of what he’d truly believed was betrayal under his belt. Hell, her deceit was the foundation of the badass he was today. The anger and resentment from what he’d thought happened between Meredith and Welch had fueled his adrenaline before going into combat and firefights. He’d only been able to take those first kill shots because every insurgent he’d lined up in his crosshairs had morphed into Welch. How many times had he imagined killing the guy with his bare hands?
A shudder answered that unspoken question.
But now wasn’t the time for relationship counseling or whatever Meredith thought she was doing. Hunter had wounded men to consider and a blown operation that had gone damned ugly. Armed assassins were hunting him and her. He needed to get Meredith back inside and let bygones be—
Damn. Her warm body melted against his back—the lowest blow, second only to her gentle fingers splayed across his chest. Her head pressed between his shoulder blades as if she needed to feel the words of his heart instead of his mouth. “I never stopped loving you, Hunter, and even if you walk away from me now, which is what I deserve, I still will.”
He closed his eyes and counted to ten. A thousand could-bes rang every cautionary light in his dumb jarhead brain, but what was happening drowned them out. What was it his mother used to say? Sometimes people get what they deserve; sometimes they get what they need? Shit. Meredith had made mistakes, so the hell had he.
She chose that moment to loosen her grip. “Do you hate me so much that—?”
“No!” The truth sprang from his lips. Hunter clamped his hands over hers before she could release him completely. He had a better idea of what went down now. Did she cheat on him? Technically. Did he forgive her? Absolutely. Could she forgive him? “I never hated you.”
Twisting around, he faced her. “I was just so gawddamned mad. You’re right. I joined the Corps after I saw you ride away with him Christmas night. By then, I knew you were pregnant and getting married, and I went crazy. I couldn’t believe you chose him over me.” He closed his eyes and wished he were a smarter man. All of this could have gone differently if he’d only given her the chance to explain back then. “I can’t say I wouldn’t have been mad as hell, but I do wish I hadn’t left without hearing your side of it. I was wrong to leave the way I did.”
Hunter (In the Company of Snipers Book 14) Page 18