“What the hell’s going on, Kayla? Is someone there?” Mace asked, stepping in front of her.
She followed them as they walked toward the bins. Both Mace and Tony’s body language went taut. Stopping at the closest bin, she surveyed it. Cuts—deep ones. Something very sharp had done this.
Tony touched her shoulder. “What are you looking at, Kayla?”
“Nothing.”
Mace joined them and they both looked where she had. Mace’s finger followed the neat line slit through the metal. His next movement reminded her of an eagle, his head pivoting, his eyes looking sharply at their surroundings and then back at her.
“Don’t tell him, Mace. I can handle this myself.” Tony pulled his phone from his pocket. “Tinman, stop. Both of you, just stop.”
Mace gripped her shoulders and nearly put his nose to hers. “I don’t know what’s going on with you. Our Master Chief is talking in riddles. The Commander’s going mental. And you’ve been doing your damndest to push us all away.”
She darted a look at Tony and he wore the same severe expression. “I don’t want you wasting time protecting me. The Commander’s overreacting.”
“This is not an overreaction,” Mace said gruffly, pointing at the bin. “This is the Shark, Kayla. He’s targeted you, and the only reason he hasn’t got you yet is because of the Commander.”
“Then tell him to stop. It’s Christmas Eve. You both need to be somewhere.” She pulled away from Mace. “Don’t you dare tell him about this.”
Mace shook his head sharply. “The Commander is not going to stop protecting you. He can’t.”
She retrieved her bags from the ground, shaking the rain from them. “Why not? It’s simple.”
“I think you know why, Snow White.” He gave her a thoughtful stare. “It’s simple.”
* * * *
If the Mess hall sounded loud, it didn’t hold a candle to Red’s place on Christmas Eve. With six grown children, a squad of in-laws, and a number of grandchildren too high to count, the loud ruckus was deafening.
“Thane!” a woman shouted excitedly when he came through the door, and hooked his coat on the wall rack. Marie flew into his arms before he had a chance to step into the room and gave him a big hug.
“Merry Christmas, Marie.” Red’s youngest daughter was twenty-eight and a real looker. He’d known her since she’d worn pigtails and had a mouthful of braces. Being the youngest, she’d been indulged her whole life, but she’d turned into a determined — some might say pushy—woman. She mastered in political science, and was now making her mark in the state political arena. If they could only see her with the reindeer headband sprouting antlers on top of her deep brown locks like the audacious kid she once was, they’d laugh.
Marie beamed at him. “Thane, you’re going to love your present this year.”
One of her missions in life was to hook him up with one of her friends. Every year he had a couple nights enjoyment with the woman she brought to the Christmas Eve dinner, and Marie knew how to pick ’em.
“I brought a friend,” she said winking at him. “Her name’s Doreen. She’s a veterinarian. She has her own practice and she’s very independent.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and shook his head. Normally he’d be interested to see what Marie offered, but not this year. His mind reeled with only one woman. Marie grabbed his hand and dragged him into the melee.
Handshakes and hugs went around as Red’s family descended on him. Tomorrow he’d spend Christmas with his sister. His parents were coming out this year as well, but it was a lot quieter than this Christmas storm. Marie dragged him through the living room and stopped beside a very beautiful woman. Somewhere in her thirties, the woman radiated a serene beauty. Deep brown waves of hair cascaded around her shoulders and she clasped her hands in front of her demurely.
“Thane Austen, I’d like you to meet Doreen Rochester,” Marie said with a bewitching smile.
He nodded and accepted Doreen’s lithe hand. “Doreen, it’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Marie said, giving him another wink before leaving.
Doreen’s eyes washed across his features and a warm smile touched her lips. She was beautiful, but she wasn’t…
“When’s dinner on, sweetheart?” Red called out to Lydia as she broke from the kitchen with oven mitts clutching a large white serving bowl.
“A few more minutes,” Lydia responded, setting the bowl on the table.
Guiding Doreen to a couch, they seated themselves amongst Red’s family.
“This is quite the show.” Doreen offered an enchanting and interested smile.
“It’s like this every year, but it’s getting noisier,” he said with humor. It had been a helluva long time since he’d had sex. How many times had he stared at the pages of women’s numbers in his phone list who could ease his carnal cravings? He’d sworn to push Kayla from his soul and follow through. He’d tried taking some out, and politely dropped them off at the end of the evening, feeling cold when the heat in their eyes began to flame. Doreen was obviously interested, and she was beautiful.
Doreen pulled his attention back to the now. “I thought the back of my office was noisy, but this tops it by miles,” she joked.
A warm sparkle in her eyes touched him. Nice gal, he thought to himself. “Marie said you have a veterinary practice.”
She nodded. “I do. I take care of the usual, cats, dogs, a pot-bellied pig from time to time, but I also specialize in exotic animals.”
“Really?” Was he interested? He couldn’t get a grip of his own feelings any more. He shouldn’t have left Kayla alone last night. He should have stayed with her, whether she wanted him there or not. Today he’d gone into the office, even though he didn’t have to. Kayla had brought him four briefings throughout the day, but she wouldn’t look him in the eyes. She’d simply waited for his orders and then left his office.
“You’d be surprised at how many people want to have a tiger or a snake, and then when things get out of hand, that’s usually when the animal gets hurt or is tossed aside.” She cocked her head at him. “You’re a Commander at the Amphibious Base, is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“There she is,” Lydia called out, darting a quick glance his way.
A red silk dress slipped around the curves of Kayla’s body, and a pearl necklace lay against her delicate collarbone. Massive, soft curls cascaded to her chest. She was an absolute vision.
“Do you know her?’ Doreen asked, trying to retrieve his attention.
He shot a look at Red, who pursed his lips trying to repress a grin, and a wicked glint in his eyes told Thane he’d known Lydia had persuaded Kayla to come. “Ah, yes, she…she’s one of our newest additions to the Command center.”
“What an amazingly beautiful woman,” Doreen said without discourse, but watching him closely at the same time.
“Okay, okay it’s time,” Marie hollered to the crowd, placing another serving bowl on the table.
Lydia cleared a path, introducing Kayla to everyone, ending at his doorstep.
Kayla nodded briskly and extended her hand to Doreen. “Hi, I’m Kayla.”
“Hi Kayla, I’m Doreen. It’s nice to meet you. I see you’ve been adopted, too.”
Kayla smiled, but not one ounce of warmth sat in her eyes. She looked tormented to him.
“I suppose. Lydia and Captain Redding were kind enough to invite me.” Her gaze swept across the room, and a little warmth seeped into her expression when Red pushed himself from his big old leather chair and walked up to them.
“Kayla I’m glad you came.” Red gave her a warm hug. “You look lovely. Why don’t we find you a seat—”
Marie stepped into the circle with razor-sharp awareness. She panned a mildly annoyed look at Kayla. “Hi, I’m Marie, daughter number six.”
Kayla shook her hand. “Thank you for letting me join your family tonight.”
�
��Where’s yours?” Marie said a little too sharply.
Kayla shook her head once. “I don’t have…they’re not here.”
Marie surveyed her coolly. “Well, I guess you know the Commander, but you haven’t met Doreen.”
She introduced Doreen as if they were a couple, but Kayla’s expression didn’t give a twitch of acknowledgement.
Marie placed her hands on her hips. “Thane, Doreen, I’ve put you two down near dad, and Kayla there should be an empty seat at that end,” she said, motioning carelessly with her finger.
“Thank you,” Kayla murmured.
Kayla was so damn tense he could taste it. To everyone else she probably appeared reserved and relaxed, but he knew different. Doreen’s arm slid through his. He uncoiled her from him and laid a hand on her back to lead the way.
Dinner conversations rolled over each other and mingled with bursts of laughter. Kayla sat at the end of the table circled by grandchildren, and she helped them cut their meat and cleared up their spills. Her eyes didn’t venture to his once. When everyone was full and happy, she jumped up immediately to help Lydia clear the dishes.
“Are you finished, Commander?” Kayla asked before reaching for his plate.
His body tensed as her hip brushed his arm. He swallowed thickly and picked up his plate. “Thanks, Kayla.” As she worked her way around the table, his eyes followed, and when she disappeared behind the door to the kitchen, he simply stared at the door. Sadness bit him hard, Kayla had isolated herself with her sorrow and loneliness. The haunted gaze he’d remembered seeing when he’d first looked into her eyes was all that was left there now.
* * * *
Kayla scraped the leftovers into the garbage and loaded the dishwasher. Captain Redding’s daughters brought the dishes in but returned to the table, seeing galley duty was in hand.
“Kayla, are you feeling all right?” Lydia asked gently, touching her shoulder.
“Yes, Lydia.” Straightening up, she looked into the features of a woman whose face had morphed into a regal warmth with age. As a young woman, she had to have been an absolute beauty. Lydia’s concern for her made Kayla’s chest squeeze tight. “I’m fine.”
“Christmas can be a hard time of year, can’t it?” Lydia said, but didn’t add more.
Tears torqued in her eyes and she bent over to rearrange the plates in the dishwasher.
“You’re welcome to join us tomorrow evening, Kayla. I would love it if you came. I’m sure you’re going to put on ten pounds between tonight and tomorrow, but Christmas is off the radar when counting calories.”
“I’m working Jake and John’s shifts.” Shuffling the plates around to make more room in the dishwasher, she squeezed a few more in. “I appreciate the invitation.”
Lydia’s smile edged with understanding. “I’ve started the coffee, why don’t I wash and you dry?”
“This is family time, Lydia. I’ll wash and dry, my thanks for a wonderful dinner. Go,” she ordered, shooing her out of the kitchen. “I’ll bring the coffee out when it’s ready.”
Surrounded by pans heaped on the kitchen counter, she stopped to stare out the window to a large backyard. A swing set and toys cluttered the yard, reminders that children were always present in this home. Bikes lay on their sides, waiting for little hands to pick them up and leave a zigzag of trails through the grass. Pulled into the past, she saw herself. There was little laughter, only confusion and fear. She stretched her arms and gripped the edge of the counter, bowing her head while the sink filled with water. The door opened behind her. “I’ll bring the coffee when it’s done.”
Warm hands slid around her waist and Thane’s chest fit to her back. He didn’t say anything, but his chin came down to rest on her shoulder. Soothing lips gently ran a line across her skin, but instead of feeling the heat, she felt—nothing.
“You look so beautiful in that dress,” he murmured, sweeping her hair from her shoulders and kissing the back of her neck.
“I’ll bring dessert in soon,” she said, gazing out at the green lawn. Where was the snow? Christmas meant snow even in BC, if they were lucky. She would walk in the neighborhood where she lived, the snow crunching beneath her boots, peering at the families in their front windows. Christmas trees glittered with lights and laughter filtered through the homes, where several cars parked out front brought friends and loved ones.
Every year she walked like a spirit through her neighborhood, unseen, unconnected until after midnight. Tired and numb enough, she’d go home and fall asleep, only to be woken by her nightmares. This year was different. The temperature hadn’t dipped below sixty-eight and palm trees instead of snow-covered bows lined the streets. Although the malls piped jingle bells through the sound systems and magnificent decorations hung from vaulted ceilings, it wasn’t the same.
“Sweetheart, don’t shut me out,” Thane said, drawing his arm around her chest, pressing her against his warmth.
She wiped a stray tear away before he could see it. “I was just thinking about work, actually.”
“No, you weren’t.”
“Thane?” Doreen came through the door and stopped.
Instead of drawing away from her, he kept his arm wrapped protectively around her. “We’ll bring everything out in a second,” he said.
Doreen cleared her throat. “Sure,” and quickly backed out of the kitchen.
She grasped the taps and Thane covered her hands with his, twisting them off. “I didn’t come with her, Kayla. Marie tries to set me up every year.”
“I’m going to wash the dishes. It looks like the coffee is good to go. Why don’t you take it out?” The Commander leaned over and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “The cups are over there.”
* * * *
She’d slipped out after giving Lydia and Red a quick thank you. It was easy to do with all the excitement from the children after the sugar high from desert and the promise of Christmas morning only hours away. A knock on her door interrupted the cadence of the waves against the rocks below her balcony. Blinking slowly up into the night, she considered ignoring it. The second knock was more like a battering ram.
With a big heave, she forced herself up. The light from the hallway blinded her as she opened the door, but she didn’t expect it to smash against the wall. Thane’s face was a portrait of concerned lines. He reached for her and she stepped away, but he followed her inside and closed the door.
“I’m going to keep asking you until you tell me what’s going on. I can’t stand seeing you like this.” He reached out to her, and again she backed up.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Haven’t we had this conversation already? Why can’t you leave me alone? I need some time. What’s the matter with you SEALs anyway?”
“Time for what? Has someone done something, said something?” he asked, his temper gaining with his exasperation. He swept her into his arms. “My beautiful mermaid. Why won’t you talk to me? I’m here. I’ll listen.”
“I’m pretty sure you have somewhere else to be,” she said, putting her concentration on the floor.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
His kiss was so gentle it pierced the cold, and she melted against him. Pressing her closer, he stroked her back.
“Phewww.” He breathed out, backing away, his square jaw taut with determination. “I have a present for you. It’s a little unorthodox, but you’re going to humor me.”
Her heart began to somersault, trying to twist free of its strangled hold. “Yours is at work in your desk drawer.”
A quick smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “You weren’t going to give it to me?”
She’d chickened out at the last minute, even knowing he might assume his admin assistant with her never-ending hots for him might get the credit. “It’s not signed. I left it in your middle drawer.”
He released her, squared his shoulders, and extended his hand out to her. She took it but instead of pull
ing her closer, he shook it gently. “Hello, Kayla.”
Her gaze darted to his, not understanding.
“My name’s Thane Austen. I work for the United States Navy, and you?”
Maybe he’d had too much to drink?
“Where do you work?” he asked again.
“I…” What the hell was he doing? “I work for the Navy, too?” she said, her forehead rippling.
“Well, then, we have something in common. It’s nice to meet you. In fact, I couldn’t resist coming over here and introducing myself. I thought I’d throw fate to the wind and ask if you would like to go on a date. I’m hoping like hell you don’t have a boyfriend.”
Her mouth gaped. Role playing? The Commander was pretending to be a regular guy, why?
“I know it’s crazy to ask, being Christmas Eve, but would you like to take a walk with me? Maybe grab a coffee down on the beach.”
He’d said the other night he’d wished they were someone else, other than the Ghost and Snow White. He needed to be with his family not playing games with her. “Thank you, but I don’t date.”
“Neither do I. The truth is I’m a heartless bastard. I seduce women, pleasure them and then throw them out of my bed because I don’t want anyone getting the idea they’ll have a future with me,” He paused. “That is, until I saw you.”
Holy shit.
“What’s your excuse?”
Well, if they were role playing. “I…”
His hands slipped down her arms with a soft stroke. “You what?”
Okay, he had her. She stared at him, speechless. When a mischievous grin cracked his lips, she pinned hers closed.
“Huh, seems the lady has none, which means she should get changed, and we’ll see what kind of trouble we can get into.”
Despite her weariness, a laugh escaped her, and a smile broke out on him brightening his crystal blue eyes. Walking down the hallway to her bedroom, the Commander was close behind as if worried she’d lock herself in her room, which did cross her mind. She stepped toward the walk-in closet then stopped.
“Something wrong?” he asked sensing her discord.
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