by Natalie Ann
There was no reason to stay or talk, rather he left out the front door.
10
To Be Involved
Jade didn’t know how the hell she got through that workout but somehow she managed to do it without feeling lightheaded and dizzy while she watched Brock first run and then lift weights.
Brock might be on the lean side and had lost some weight and muscle from the first time she’d met him, but holy everlasting hell he had plenty of it left.
And abs? She wished she hadn’t been looking at him when he lifted his shirt to dry his face. He might be more ripped than her cousin Mason and she wasn’t sure that was possible.
Brody was a big brute of a guy. He had six-pack abs, big biceps, thick thighs. But Mason, his workouts weren’t always weights and he had a body strength from years of martial arts that no one could match in the family.
But she wasn’t thinking of her cousins for more than a second other than to realize she was walking out with a man built like them.
Not only that, he was going to be completely naked standing under the hot water in her guest bathroom, running his hands over his whole body.
By the time she was in her own shower she had to turn the temperature down because she needed to cool off from more than the workout.
When she finally finished with her shower, she got dressed and started to dry her long hair. She loved her cut where it didn’t take much work, just dry and walk out the door if she wanted to keep it down with a little bit of wave to it. Or she could straighten it for a sleek look.
Since she was in a hurry, it was natural all the way. Even her makeup...she was a pro at applying it fast with perfection.
When she opened the door to her bedroom with her heels in her hand, she stopped to listen for any noise but heard nothing.
She passed by the open bathroom door, saw it was all tidy and wiped down. He must have brought his own towel because the one she’d left hadn’t been disturbed.
Racing down the stairs, she wondered if he was in the kitchen. Her coffee would have been ready by now—she started it before her shower—maybe he helped himself.
But she should have known better. The house was empty and when she looked out the front window she saw his SUV gone. He didn’t even say goodbye.
Rather than get upset or let it bother her, she grabbed some fruit and a yogurt to eat quickly, then made her coffee to go and left for work. Might as well go in since she didn’t feel like sitting around the house.
“You’re here early,” she heard when she’d been sitting at her desk for about twenty minutes.
She looked at the clock, then her father who was standing in the doorway. “Not much earlier than normal.”
“You never come in before eight thirty,” he said. “You’ve got your morning routine and don’t defer from it often.”
“And I got up and worked out this morning like normal, had my breakfast, and got my coffee to go. I have a lot of work to do and wanted to get a head start.”
It was only a little after eight. Unless her father was keeping tabs on her, she wasn’t that much earlier than normal. Less than thirty minutes.
Her father nodded but walked in and sat down across from her. “How is it going with Brock’s project?”
“I’ve got specs done. I met with him last night and we talked about materials he might be interested in using. Different sizes. Names. He came up with a name so we didn’t keep calling it the box.”
“What name is that?”
“Toh. Spelled T.O.H. Touch of Home. That was actually my idea and he liked it, then shortened it. I thought it was funny he’d want something that sounded like a part of your foot, but his mind went to tow, as in towing a boat, and strength.”
“It would,” her father said.
“I suppose you’re right. Anyway, we talked about using recycled plastic bottles as the material. It’s lightweight and not costly. Durable enough too. There is the cost factor for production. He isn’t sure if he is going the not for profit route which would take a lot of time and effort on his part that he might not have with his job. Or trying to sell the product to other not for profits or businesses. I told him I’d like to help.”
Her father smiled. “You’ve got a good heart. I could see you wanting to be involved.”
“The military never personally touched our lives until Ella met Travis. And then now with Brock. Listening to him talk about how something like this box of goodies from home means so much makes me feel selfish about things in life.”
“There’s no reason to feel selfish, Jade. You’re a hard worker and you’re very giving. Those closest to you know that.”
“I know,” she said. “I told him that maybe the firm wouldn’t mind getting involved when he’s ready to take that step, but if not, I’d do it. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn though.”
“You wouldn’t have if you didn’t think we would and you darn well know we’d support this cause. I imagine you are going to call some people to get costs of production for him?” her father asked lifting his eyebrow.
“It’s the only way to test things. I’m thinking I could get some to do it cheaply or at no cost when they hear what it’s for. Just test items right now. You know that is common.”
“It is. I’m sure Alex would love to get involved with logos and such.”
Her cousin Cade’s wife owned and operated Marshall Printing and the firm and the restaurant, pub, and brewery did all their business through her.
“I’ll be sure to mention it to him when the time comes, but my guess is Travis probably already did. As close as the two of them are, he’s probably aware of every step.”
Her father nodded his head. “So when did you meet with Brock? You said last night, but you left the same time I did.”
“I took him to dinner,” she said. “Business meeting. Which reminds me I need to get the receipt to Kara before she comes in here hounding me like she does Drake.”
“Never,” he said and stood up. “I’ll let you get back to it. Keep up the good work with Brock. I suppose most of your meetings will take place after hours with his new job.”
“Probably,” she said. “We are always accommodating to our clients.”
Her father stared at her grin for a minute and then walked out, so she went back to work.
She paused to pick her phone up and was tempted to text Brock, but then stopped. What was she going to say? Hope you had fun? See you tomorrow? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?
That last one would be stupid. He didn’t owe her anything. She offered to let him work out with her and he did. But maybe he wouldn’t again. And if that was the case she sure the hell wasn’t letting anyone know about it.
Garrett rushed back to his office and shut the door, then called Carolyn before she left for work. Thankfully the elementary school started later.
“Garrett,” his wife said, “What’s wrong? You never call me before work.”
“I just left Jade’s office. She went to dinner with Brock last night.”
“Really?” Carolyn said, her voice almost high pitched. “She told you that?”
“I went in to check on her about the project and she said they met last night. I asked when because she left when I did and she admitted they’d had a dinner meeting.”
Carolyn sighed. “You made it sound like a date.”
“Well, it’s something,” he argued back. “They went out to eat alone together.”
“Talking about work. I want something more.”
“Okay,” he said. “How about she came up with a name and he liked it and is using it?”
“That’s good. Anything else?”
“Just that she said she wanted to work with him on it even when it was done through the firm. She was supporting his cause and said the firm might be interested too. He’s touched her and you know how she is when she gets her teeth in something she believes in.”
“Now that is the news I like to hear. She will work on it tir
elessly for him. She wants everything she touches to succeed so even once he’s done with the firm’s services, she’ll maintain contact with him.”
“Not only that, but she was at work early today. Not a lot. Less than thirty minutes, but I noticed it. I questioned her on it and how she doesn’t deviate from her routine.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she did her normal thing but didn’t feel like sitting around the house because she had a lot of work to do.” He felt his shoulders give a little wiggle like they did when he was excited over something and was glad no one could see it as Grant always busted his ass on that since they were kids. “She brought her coffee to work today. She didn’t even stay home long enough to drink it.”
“Is she busier than normal or are you reading into things?”
“She is, but she had that forced fake smile on her face before I left.”
“Oh, the one where she wants you to think everything is good but she’s really trying to work something out in her head?” she asked. “That’s good. Okay, keep working on her.”
“I will, but I’ll tread carefully. We can’t give this away. You know she is on to us as it is.” He’d been nervous about this one all along, but so far it was working.
“You’re right. Keep me posted, but I need to leave. I doubt you’ll have any more news today.”
“Probably not,” he said. “It’s a good start though.”
He hung up the phone and rubbed his hands together, then left his office to talk with Grant and find out how they could push Jade and Brock together some more.
11
Special Treatment
It’d been two days since he worked out with Jade and then showered at her house. He hadn’t talked to her since. Just a text later that day thanking her again. She’d replied back saying anytime, but he didn’t want to overextend his welcome.
Not only that, he was pretty damn sore the next day from running and then lifting. It’d been the first time he’d pushed himself like that and, though it felt good doing it, working all day afterward was almost too much.
That night he’d gone to bed taking more Motrin than normal. He tried to suffer through the cramping and pain and most times he was fine, but not that night.
And it came as no surprise that he woke up from a nightmare.
That he was sweating and reaching out, trying to move like he had when the bomb exploded and he realized his leg was mangled.
He didn’t have consciousness long, but long enough to remember the pain. The heat. The fire. And the fear that he was going to die there on the dirty ground with the last scent in his nostrils being burned flesh.
When he woke up in a hospital days later and his father was by his bed, he knew he’d make it. He just hadn’t known he wouldn’t feel whole again and wondered if he could get there.
Physically, it was what it was and he was going to lead what many would consider a normal, probably full life.
Mentally, he was working on that too.
Other injuries, those he wasn’t saying, they were yet to be determined in the future.
And he had to remind himself that he had to learn to accept it and move on.
He heard his cell phone ring on his desk and started to pat around the papers looking for the damn thing. When he found it he saw it was Travis and gladly answered. “Hey. Am I happy for your call.”
Travis laughed on the other end. “Desk job getting to you?”
“You don’t know the half of it. I know it will be fine. Paperwork doesn’t bother me that much, but I need to get up and move. So far everyone wants to meet and talk shit or politics with me. I just want to do my damn job and it’s hard to do it in meetings and sitting behind a desk.”
“You’ll figure it out. You knew going in this would be part of it.”
“Yeah. It will be fine. I have to get up every hour at least and walk around or stretch or I can’t move at all let alone sleep.”
“That’s going to take time too. I’m sure there are plenty of things for you to walk around and check out on the grounds.”
“There are. It’s doing it without getting stopped. How the hell does everyone know who I am so far?”
“Your picture is probably on the website.”
He snorted. “It is. I can’t believe the number of people who look at that shit.”
“If you were fifty, fat, and balding, you’d be left alone by most.”
“Tell me about it. That’s half my problem. Just the staff in the building. The women,” he said, his voice lower now. His door was open a crack and he never knew if someone was standing there listening.
“Since when do you think that’s a bad thing?”
He laughed. “Who has time?” Nor was he interested in any of them. The one he was interested in he snuck out on two days ago like a thief at night with sirens in the distance and now couldn’t figure out how to get in touch with her again without sounding like an ass.
“Are you sure you didn’t have a bigger head injury?” Travis asked. “You were always the one scoping the ladies out when we were off.”
“Those were the days,” he said. “And they are long gone. The only thing I look forward to now is one of Mason’s beers or a soak in a hot tub. If I could even get one of them.”
“Have you started looking for houses yet?”
“No. I need to at least sit down this weekend and see what is what around here, figure out what I really need and what I want to spend. I guess that is a push to get moving, that I can get myself a hot tub as my first purchase.”
“Now you’re talking. Anyway, hit me up when you’ve got a free weekend and come down to visit. Maybe I’ll talk Ella into a hot tub too, though she’d rather just sit in the tub in our bathroom and I don’t blame her.”
“I don’t want to know,” he said to his best friend, only imagining the size tub in their master bathroom. “Just get it all in now before the baby comes.”
Travis laughed. “We’ve got plenty of time, but Ella is tired now so I’m on her case to relax more than anything. Long gone are her twelve-hour days. I put a stop to them when we married.”
“And she listened to you?” he asked.
“Mostly. She still goes in on the weekends and puts in more than the average person, but I understand the need when it’s a family business.”
“You’d be the first person I’d point a finger at for working a lot.”
“And Ella points that out to me all the time so I don’t need you to do it when you’re probably pulling as many hours.”
“What can I say? We aren’t like some of our generation,” he said, knowing so many thirty-year-olds still lived at home or didn’t work much. Not him. Never him. Money was never an issue, but his pride was.
He was brought up to pull his own weight and he was going to do it until he took his last breath and he kept company with people who thought and felt the same as him.
Not like some of the security guards that were employed at work, he was finding out. That was another battle he was going to have to be strategic on.
“And speaking of hard working, how is your project coming?”
“Good. Jade gave me some specs the other night. We’ve got ideas on materials. I know you mentioned Cade’s wife does marketing and printing so once I can figure out logos or whatnot I’ll reach out to her, but I’m still at the testing material stage.”
“Keep me posted and let me know when you need money. Why don’t you want anyone to know I’m in on this with you?” Travis asked.
“Because I wonder if you wanted to be because you thought I needed the money. I don’t.”
Travis laughed. “I know you don’t. You should know by now the reason I’m doing it. Not just the fact that you were one of the only ones to get me out of that hole I fell into years ago, but that we lived the same life and saw things many don’t. Those gifts and packages from home, they were the only smiles we had at times.”
“Yeah. I know. I just don’t
want special treatment because you’re related to the Fierces.”
“You’re going to get it anyway. They like me,” Travis said. If he could see his buddy’s face he’d bet there was a massive grin on it.
“They do now, but you were worried there for a while.”
“Not as much as Ella was. I had no problem handling her brothers but she wouldn’t let me.”
“She has them wrapped around her finger. You can see it,” he said and wondered if Jade had the same situation with her brothers. Then he wondered why he was thinking that.
“She does. Anyway, you know how to find me when you need to talk or just go over the project.” There was a second of silence and Brock knew Travis had more to say. “Everything is good?”
“Yeah. I’m getting there. Mentally and physically.”
“I know you are. You aren’t afraid to ask for help if you feel you really need it. I guess I’m asking if you are adapting okay to being a civilian again. Most have a hard time even when they make a long thought out decision to leave. This wasn’t planned for you.”
Leave it to Travis to understand the root of the problem. “No, it wasn’t, but I’m getting there. Maybe if I find my own space it will be easier. People don’t normally bother me, but lately...”
“That’s because the people you were around were always of like mind and that isn’t the case anymore.”
“You hit the nail on the head with that statement. Even more reason to start that house hunt and find myself some sanctuary.”
He hung up after that and made a mental note to start this weekend hoping that if he had a place he could call his own he’d relax some more.
He’d never had that in life before and it’d never been much of a goal for him, but now it seemed that was what he wanted most of all.
At least next to Jade Fierce.
And because that thought was in his head he almost jumped when his phone rang in his hand and he saw it was Jade calling. Not Fierce Engineering, but Jade’s personal cell.