Love Lies Beneath

by Jen Talty

  “I have the utmost respect for all branches.”

  “Then why the rule?” he asked, leaning in, keeping his gaze intently on her every move.

  “My dad is a career military man, and it’s a hard life. I don’t want a repeat in my future.”

  He turned back to the bar just as his food arrived. “That, I can certainly understand. What branch?”

  “Army. My dad is a Green Beret.”

  “Nice,” he said. “I’ve worked with a few A-Teams on various missions. I seem to remember a Riggs. Can’t remember his first name. The op was so long ago, maybe six years ago.” Mitch shoved half a steak sandwich in his mouth. Holding his hand over his lips, he said, “Joshua. That was his name. Nice guy.”

  “That’s my dad’s name, but there could be a dozen people with that name. Not totally uncommon.”

  Mitch coughed uncontrollably.

  “You okay?” She leapt from her seat, centering her hand on the center of his back, ready to strike.

  “Fine,” he managed, waving his hand. “Took too big of a bite.”

  “Ya think?” She relaxed, easing back onto the stool, taking her last sip of wine.

  “Does your dad have a scar over his right eye that curves down his temple to his ear and then one across his cheekbone?”

  Her heart hammered in her chest. Her father had been the sole reason she’d gone into physical therapy. “That would be him.”

  “I feel sorry for your boyfriend.”

  “Why do you say that? You mentioned he was a good man.”

  “One of the best, but on that op, not much happened. A lot of sitting around waiting, and I distinctly remember him mentioning what he wanted to do to a young man who’d broken his little girl’s heart.”

  “Christ,” she muttered. That was another reason she didn’t date military men.

  “I seem to remember your boyfriend was on that op.”

  “Ex-boyfriend and yeah that was hell. The current man in my life is a civilian.” Ha. Not that big of a lie since her German Shepherd was a male, and a civilian.

  “On that note.” He pointed to her empty glass. “You did join me, and I promised to leave it at that. So, Ashley Riggs, it’s been a pleasure knowing you.”

  “Thanks for the drink.” It was best she walk away now, even if his dismissal hurt her feelings. She wanted a chance to defend her father’s actions when it came to her ex, but she decided it wasn’t worth it. “I sincerely hope you do well with your physical.”

  Chapter 1

  Three months later…

  “GOD DAMN IT,” Mitch said under his breath as he took the fifth step down the stairs at the Casa Blanca Spa and Resort, heading from his second story room to the lobby. He mentally cursed his last physical therapist, which hadn’t been Ashley. Not that any amount of surgeries or exercise was going to fix his leg this time.

  The doctor told him that when he opened him up for the second time, it was essentially ending his career as an active SEAL.

  Part of him had wished he hadn’t been such an idiot and gone back to Ashley’s office, but he didn’t want to face her and hear the words, I told you so. She warned him his leg was weaker. Even he knew it when he struggled with the second physical, having to grin and bear it, literally.

  But it wasn’t until he’d jumped from a helicopter in a high altitude, low open parachute jump and landed in the water funky that he realized how bad it was. He stuck with the mission, biting through the pain, but the second the evac team pulled him from hostile territory, he collapsed in the chopper with a knee five times its normal size. The doctor said it was about as bad as they came, and nothing was going to make it right again.

  Well, now he was just being dramatic. He’d probably walk without a limp again, but he’d never be on a mission again.

  Fucking desk duty.

  Maybe training.

  Pushing the negative thoughts from his brain, he stepped into the massive marble lobby of the hotel, heading for the pool area and a small gathering of the bridal party. Talk about a fancy place to have a wedding. Barefoot Bay and Mimosa Key might be typical southern Florida, but it had a unique small-town appeal. He’d enjoy the weekend before heading back to Jacksonville, where he’d have to make a decision.

  Desk.

  Or a training position, only not for SEALs, but Rescue Swimmers.

  An equally tough job in a different way but SEALs always chided with the brotherly unit that they had a Coast Guard job.

  Now he might be training them.

  He pushed open the door leading out to the eating area, the humid air smothering his skin. Puffing out his chest, he did his best to mask the limp.

  “Mitch,” his buddy Stephan called from the other side of the patio. “Man, are you a sight for sore eyes.” He pulled Mitch in for a manly hug, slapping each other on the back. “This wedding stuff is starting to get to me.”

  Mitch took a step back, looking Stephan up and down. The smile plastered on the poor bastard’s face spoke volumes.

  Happiness.

  Mitch had been told the love of a good woman would do that to a man. Even a SEAL. He had his reservations. He’d never had a relationship last more than a couple of months. He just never had the time, the inclination, or the trust, no thanks to his mother.

  “It will be over this time tomorrow, and you’ll be heading off on your honeymoon.”

  “Now that part I’m looking forward to,” Stephan said, pointing to the bar. “Let’s get you a drink.”

  “I’m down with that.” Mitch shook hands with a couple of brothers in arms he’d met when he’d gone through boot camp. It had been a struggle up the ranks, considering his questionable past, but the Navy hadn’t held his mother’s sins against him, and he’d been an honorable soldier since the moment he’d signed on the dotted line.

  “You have no idea what it means to me to have you as my best man,” Stephan said, handing Mitch a solo cup.

  He looked around for the bride, Suzie something or other. He’d met her once about a year ago when he’d blown through Pensacola, where Stephen had been stationed. She seemed like a nice enough girl with her sweet southern charm. He truly hoped they’d make it. Being an active SEAL didn’t mesh well with married life.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” A total bullshit lie, and by the way Stephan cocked his head and laughed, he knew damn well that if Mitch could have been on an op, he’d forgo the best man duties.

  “How’s the leg holding up?” Stephen leaned back against the bar.

  “It’s holding me up, but I won’t be heading back to my unit,” he admitted for the first time out loud to anyone.

  “Man. That sucks. I’m sorry. What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know yet. I have two options in the military, or I could walk away in six months and find a civilian job.”

  “I don’t see the latter happening,” Stephen said before he chugged his beer. “Here comes the bride and her best friend from college, and your date. Beautiful woman, her name is—”

  “Ashley Riggs,” Mitch said, blinking his eyes before giving them a good rub, making sure he wasn’t seeing things.

  Her raven hair curled over her shoulders, flowing down over her round breasts, which heaved upward in a sexy, strapless, red dress. His gaze rolled over her decadent body, landing on her toes popping out of a pair of heels, something he’d never seen her wear before and damn, she had sexy feet.

  Sexy everything.

  “You know her?”

  “Not well, but yeah.”

  Suzie, the bride, while beautiful with her brown hair, cut in a short bob above her shoulders, soft-blue eyes, and trim body, didn’t hold a candle to the intoxicating Ashley.

  Ashley paused mid-step when their eyes locked from across the patio. For the last six weeks, he’d constantly thought of the sexy physical therapist while Mr. No Personality tried to tell him to man up and how the pain was weakness leaving the body.

  Fucktard.

 
; But Mitch chose to go to a place off base, just to avoid Ashley. She had a boyfriend, and he’d crashed and burned.

  Not to mention her father. That was an entirely different story. Joshua Riggs hadn’t taken too kindly to his demo man taking his daughter to bed and bragging about it on a mission.

  “There’s my handsome future husband,” Suzie said, slipping into Stephan’s arms.

  “It seems Ashley and Mitch already know each other,” Stephan said.

  “Really, how so?” Suzie asked.

  “I was his physical therapist after his first surgery.” Ashley arched a brow.

  Mitch swallowed. How the hell did she know there had been a second?

  “She’s the best,” Suzie said.

  “I would have to agree.” Mitch shifted his weight to his good knee. “So, how’s the boyfriend?”

  “Boyfriend?” Suzie’s voice screeched. “She hasn’t even had a date in probably a year. Or more.”

  Mitch’s turn to arch a brow.

  Ashley furrowed her forehead and pursed her lips.

  Mitch stifled a laugh.

  Suzie glanced up at her husband and smiled. “My parents are here, and I think you should go talk with them.”

  “Yes, dear,” Stephan said, rolling his eyes, but laughing playfully. “We’ll leave you two to catch up.”

  “No boyfriend, eh?” he teased, knowing he shouldn’t.

  “What are you, Canadian?” she shot back, putting one hand on her hip, shifting it to the side, making it more pronounced.

  He swallowed a groan.

  “Sorry, but I knew you were lying when we shared our drink,” he admitted, pulling out a barstool, reminding him of the last time he’d seen her. “But since we’re on the subject, why did you lie?”

  “Thought it would soften the blow of saying no to you.”

  “So, why stop and meet me?” He shoved a hand in his trouser pocket before he smoothed her long hair over her shoulder just so he could feel the thick strands in his fingers while her warm, silky skin heated his.

  Danger. That’s what this woman represented. Clear. Present. Danger.

  “Momentary lapse in judgement. Why’d you go see a new therapist?”

  “Before I answer that, how the hell did you know I needed one?” he asked with a defensive tone.

  “The same doctor did the surgery, and when you went off base, they requested your medical records, which I had to sign out and send to them. Now answer my question.” Her voice had a dark edge, one that he wouldn’t have expected, though he’d been the one who set the tone.

  “Two reasons. First being anger.”

  “At me? For what? Not going out—”

  He pressed his finger over her plump lips. “Anger with myself for pushing too hard. I volunteered for that mission before I was ready.” He dropped his hand. “Secondly, even though you showed up for a drink, you kept up the lie about your love life, and you made it clear when you didn’t stay longer.”

  “You essentially dismissed me after finding out who my father was.”

  He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Less about him, and more about Derek.”

  She gasped. “You know him?”

  “Watched your father punch him, though well deserved.”

  “Great, so you know about the pictures,” she said, more as a statement than a question.

  Not that he’d forgotten what Derek had done, or said, but he hadn’t thought about them, partly because he never saw them. What asshole brought naked pictures of his girlfriend and showed them to his buddies while under the command of his girlfriend’s father.

  Mitch might not have ever had a lasting relationship, but even he knew better.

  “I never saw them.”

  “Doesn’t make me feel better,” she muttered.

  “What can I get you to drink?” he asked, needing to change the subject.

  “A shot of anything,” she said, leaning against the bar.

  “Chaser?”

  “Beer’s fine.” She let out a long breath. “Can I trust you?”

  “Excuse me?” he asked, pushing a shot of Fireball in front of her along with a beer.

  “I’m going to get shit-faced, and I’m trusting you’ll be a gentleman, watch out for me, and make sure I get to bed okay. Alone.”

  “You can trust me, but why?”

  “Derek is here.”

  Chapter 2

  THE FIRST SHOT still burned in Ashley’s throat when she swallowed the second, in one gulp.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Mitch asked.

  Damn sexy Mitch Harrison, Navy SEAL, and therapist cheater.

  Sounded stupid but she honestly felt like he’d cheated on her in a really weird way. She wasn’t sure what was worse, her ex being invited to the wedding, her father arriving in the morning, or sitting next to the man that had invaded her dreams for the last three months.

  “Hell yes, I’m sure.”

  Mitch slid a Cosmo across the bar. Thus far, two shots, one beer, now on to the good stuff. Yeah, this was a night that would lead to an epic hangover.

  “Do me a favor and drink a glass of water before you start on that.” Mitch’s voice took on a fatherly tone, but he was right.

  “Good idea.” She took the tall glass of clear liquid he offered, chugging it. “And would you indulge me in a second kindness?”

  “This will be the third one, actually.”

  She lowered her chin, narrowing her eyes, glaring.

  “But who’s counting,” he said with a smile.

  “Christ, he has really nice lips.”

  “Who does?” He cocked his head, shoving another glass of water in her hand.

  Okay, hydration was good. “Did I really say that out loud?”

  Mr. Sexy-kissable lips nodded.

  She shrugged. “If Derek comes over here, make sure I don’t toss my drink in his face, or punch him.”

  “I guess I can’t blame you for holding a grudge that long. But remind me never to piss you off.”

  “Too late,” she mumbled, sipping her Cosmo, the pinkish liquid swirling in her gut, warning her that food was a necessity.

  Even if she’d probably throw it up in the middle of night. She did not hold her liquor well.

  “You cheated on me,” she stammered.

  He laughed. “I did what? How is that possible if I never dated you.”

  “It’s no different than trying out a new hairdresser or dentist, or if you had someone else slice open that knee of yours.” The words tumbled out of her mouth, and she could barely understand them, figuring she slurred them like a squirrel scrambling across the road in extra slow motion.

  “I see your point,” he said, with a voice that made her insides burn hot.

  Or maybe that was the alcohol.

  “Why is Derek here? Most everyone else is Navy, not Army.”

  “Believe it or not, he’s engaged to Suzie’s cousin, Valerie.” Ashley lifted her hand, seeing ten fingers, as she pointed across the room. “The three of us lived together when I was dating Derek. He went from me, to her, and she has no problem posing naked for photos, if you like that sort of thing.” She lifted her heel off the stool, and slid down, her ankle twisting over.

  “Whoa.” Mitch grabbed her by the waist, holding her steady.

  “I never wear heels. Besides making me six feet tall…” she tapped her temple, trying to remember the other reason. Whatever the reason, it sat on the tip of her tongue, mocking her. “I need food.”

  “Sit down.” He helped her back onto the seat, waving the bartender over. “Mind helping me out and getting someone to fix us a tray of food. A little of everything.”

  “Not a problem.”

  Wow. Snaps his fingers and people wait on him. She’ll have to try that. Only, she wouldn’t remember in the morning. “Oh shit,” she muttered, making blurry eye contact with Derek. He might have smiled, though it could have been a frown. No way to tell since a fuzzy montage of five of him slithered in her d
irection.

  Mitch took the drink from her hand.

  “Hey.”

  “Just doing the favor you asked.” He slipped his fingers between hers, holding a little too tight. “Do I need to tie your other hand behind your back?”

  “No.” She swallowed the tiny burp tickling the back of her throat. “I’ll behave. I promise.” She stiffened her spine, crossing her ankles, and took a huge breath, letting it out slowly.

  “Mitch, it’s been a while,” Derek said. His outstretched hand trembled.

  Or maybe it was her blurred vision.

  “It has.” Mitch sipped his beer.

  “Ashley, you look lovely as ever.” He dared to lean in, expecting to kiss her cheek.

  She poked him in the chest, leaning back. “Don’t think those lips are coming anywhere near me.”

  Derek frowned. “You’ve been drinking.”

  “Buzz off,” she said, reaching for her drink, half expecting Mitch to cut her off at the pass, but he didn’t. Instead he rested his hand on her thigh, just where her skin met her skirt, sending goosebumps to places drunk girls shouldn’t think about.

  “You’ve really hurt Valerie. She wouldn’t even come over here and say hello,” Derek said, planting his hands on his hips. “This isn’t about us.”

  “I’m not going to be a bridesmaid at your wedding. I’ve already explained why. If she wants to be mad at me, that’s on her.”

  Mitch squeezed her thigh gently.

  “Being drunk and bitter isn’t very becoming of you.” Derek shook his head like a disappointed father or something. “All over something that happened almost five years ago.”

  Jerk.

  Of course, the movement made her head spin. She took a large gulp of her drink. “That’s where you’re wrong.” She nailed her index finger right in the center of his chest. “I’m not upset over that anymore. But I am pissed you cheated on her and more so that she doesn’t see you’ll do it again.”

  “Shhhhh. Keep your voice down,” Derek said, glancing over his shoulder. “Valerie has forgiven me for that, but her parents don’t know, and there is no reason to upset them for something that happened two years ago.”

  “She might not be so forgiving if she knew who you fucked.” Swearing wasn’t something she did often. She heard enough colorful language at her job; she didn’t need to hear it coming out of her own mouth.