“I really was going to tell you. We just haven’t been alone that much and . . .”
“I know.” Tristan kissed her forehead. “I think you’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known.”
“I’m not.” Riley tilted her head to look at him. “But I am ready to think about something else for a while.”
“Why don’t we watch a movie? You put it on, and I’ll go reheat the pizza.”
She nodded in agreement. “Thanks.”
The movie was only halfway over when Riley’s eyes drooped closed as she relaxed against Tristan. He had barely been able to pay attention to the movie anyway. He kept replaying her words over and over. She had closed her eyes to the horror when it was happening, yet she hadn’t repressed the memories or tried to run away. He still wasn’t sure what had driven her to face her fears by working with the memories every day, except that she was truly determined to conquer any lingering nightmares before leaving Bainbridge for good.
He felt her tense, heard the whimper that came from deep in her throat. Guessing that another nightmare was forming, Tristan shook her gently. “Shhh. It’s okay. It’s just a dream.”
“Tristan?” Her eyes fluttered open, but she struggled to focus. “Please don’t leave.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll stay here until Taylor gets home.” He stroked her hair as she snuggled next to him once more. He watched her sleeping and wondered if he had ever seen anything so beautiful before. She had found peace for the moment, her breathing soft and easy. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, wishing he could always be there to help her chase the bad dreams away.
14
Amy was waiting by the parking lot when Riley arrived at work on Friday morning. Her face was serious, and Riley had little doubt that someone had told her what she had seen—or at least what they thought she had seen. She took a deep breath and forced herself to continue forward. Over the past few weeks, Amy had become a friend she knew she could trust. Surely she would understand that Riley couldn’t keep reliving that nightmare on command.
“I thought you might want to talk,” Amy started.
Riley shook her head. “I already went through the emotional wringer last night. I don’t think I’m ready for a repeat performance.”
“Actually, I didn’t mean about what you saw. I thought you might want someone to talk to about Tristan.” Amy steered her away from Sedgely Hall, heading for a grove of trees on the edge of campus. “It’s not easy being involved with a Navy SEAL. You caught a glimpse of how hard it can be when we were on the lake last weekend.”
Riley let out a little sigh as she let those memories invade her mind. “I still don’t know how you stayed so calm, especially when Brent was on the boat that we knew was about to explode.”
“Believe me, I didn’t feel calm.”
“You hid it well.”
“I just knew I didn’t have any choice,” Amy told her. A few students were walking toward them, and Amy waited for them to pass out of earshot before she continued. “It was just about two years ago that I was working for the State Department in Abolstan. I hadn’t been there two weeks when I was taken hostage with six other people.”
Amy shook her head as though fighting against her own memories. “I had never been so scared in my life.”
“Tristan said that’s how you met Brent. That the SEALs were the ones who rescued you.”
“They saved me,” Amy corrected. They had reached the trees, and she stopped to look over at Riley. “We had been held captive for about twenty-four hours. I was so scared I couldn’t sleep. Most of the other hostages had been shot or beaten, and I knew that some of them weren’t going to live much longer if we didn’t get help soon.
“Suddenly, one of the guards came toward me. I knew he was going to kill me.” She shuddered at the memory. “Then there was a gunshot. But it wasn’t me who was dead, it was him. Brent had climbed up the building—a twelve-story building—and shot the guy through the window.”
Riley could picture it. She could imagine too clearly what death looked like. “Amy, the only similarity between what you went through and what I saw was that we both had a gun pointed at us.”
“And we’ve both learned to live with what happened,” Amy added. “I didn’t tell you this to get you to talk about what you saw. I just want you to understand what these men do when they’re out in the real world. This training exercise is a great opportunity for them, because they get to stay in one place for eight weeks straight. That doesn’t happen often.”
Riley nodded slowly. “What’s it usually like?”
“In the year I’ve been married to Brent, we’ve been together roughly half of that.” Amy gave a shrug. “We were originally going to get married the Christmas after we got engaged. One thing after another kept getting in the way. We set our date four times before we finally made it to the temple.” Amy waved a hand as though dismissing the inconvenience. “Don’t get me wrong. When we’re together, it more than makes up for the time apart, but that time apart isn’t easy.”
Riley forced a smile. “You sound like you’re trying to scare me away. But I already know that when this project is over, I probably won’t see him again.”
“I think you’re wrong about that.” Amy’s voice was both confident and sympathetic. She nodded her head toward the main part of campus and started walking back. “I just hope you understand that when he disappears without a word, it probably has nothing to do with you. When the SEALs get orders, they usually don’t have enough time to do more than grab their gear and catch their ride.”
Riley thought about those long minutes Tristan had been underwater, about the absolute terror she had felt when the speedboat had exploded and she had waited to see if he was still alive. What would it be like to have to wait days or even weeks to know if he had survived his latest mission?
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Riley muttered to herself.
Amy nodded in understanding. “It’s not easy to love a SEAL.”
* * *
She wasn’t in love with him, she attempted to convince herself later as she tried to make some last-minute adjustments to her lockdown procedures. She hadn’t denied it to Amy, but that was just because she had been so shocked by the words. Besides, she had only known Tristan for three weeks. Never mind that they had been together constantly for those three weeks.
Drawing several arrows on her latest list, she glanced over at Tristan’s desk. He had hardly been in the office today, only dropping in for morning prayer. Still, he seemed to know what she needed, taking her hand as the prayer was said and giving it an encouraging squeeze before he headed over to the dorms with Kel to work out his own last-minute kinks.
She knew everyone was busy today, their last workday before the first course would begin, but she couldn’t help noticing the extra buzz in their office. It wasn’t unusual for her and Amy to work alone, sometimes for hours at a time. Yet today at least one of the SEALs always seemed to be nearby. Currently Seth was drawing up some kind of schematic on the most efficient ways to enter a locked building.
Riley heard movement in the doorway and turned, hoping to see Tristan. Her eyes widened when she saw the roses, tender pink blooms just beginning to open, accented by a sprig of baby’s breath. A delivery man stood in the doorway, glancing at the room number before stepping farther inside.
He shifted the flower-filled glass vase to the crook of his arm and moved his clipboard so he could read it. “I’m looking for Riley Palmetta.”
“I’m Riley.” She stood, her heart fluttering as a smile lit her face. Tristan was the only person she could think of who might send her flowers, but she couldn’t think of a reason why.
“Sign here please.” The man pointed at the highlighted spot on his clipboard and held it for her while she signed. He then handed her the vase and gave her a quick nod. “Have a nice day.”
Amy was staring at the flowers as well, a grin on her face. She pointed at the door the delivery man had ju
st disappeared through. “That guy has the best job.”
“Why’s that?” Seth asked before Riley thought to ask the question.
“Everywhere he goes, he’s bound to make someone’s day.”
Seth’s brows knit together. “I thought girls went for the strong, heroic types.”
“Oh, we do,” Amy said with a laugh. “But we’re suckers for flowers.”
Riley wasn’t paying attention to their conversation. She set the flowers on her desk and retrieved the card from the little holder sticking out from among the flowers. She opened the miniature envelope and read the short message scrawled in Tristan’s handwriting.
Just a little something to chase away the bad dreams.
Love, Tristan
“You girls really are suckers for flowers, aren’t you?” Seth muttered half to himself as Riley indulged herself by leaning down and smelling the blooms.
Riley smiled over at him. “Just remember that when you find someone you want to impress.”
“Yeah, right.” Seth chuckled. “But if Tristan asks if the flowers were a hit, I guess I should say yes.”
Riley nodded. “Definitely.” She looked down at the card once more, her heartbeat picking up speed as she zoned in on the signature. She couldn’t be sure whether he’d signed it that way deliberately or if it was how he always signed when dealing with family and friends. Either way, she was afraid that when it came to Tristan, the “L-word” was firmly engraved on her heart.
* * *
Philip parked his car in front of his office as dawn was breaking. His first appointment wasn’t for two more hours, but he needed some time to himself. He had to find a new supply of cash, and he needed a quiet place to consider his options. Specifically, he needed someplace where he wouldn’t have to worry about any unexpected visitors—or the broken bones those visitors might try to inflict upon him.
He had already mortgaged his house to the limit, he owed more on his car than it was worth, and his savings were long gone. The cash he had used to buy himself another chance at the backroom casino had come from borrowing against his retirement funds. Now he was running out of options. If only he had been able to come up with some winnings that night. But instead he had lost the ten thousand he had been spotted and then some.
“Up early, are you Philip?”
Philip already had the door unlocked and struggled not to jump at the unexpected presence.
“I have early appointments today.”
“You were supposed to come see me last night.” The voice was cold, unfeeling.
“Look, I’ll get the money for you. I just need a couple of days.”
“I’ve heard that before.” The man motioned inside Philip’s office. “Perhaps I can help you out.”
Terror filled Philip. He knew what happened when these men didn’t get paid. If he went inside, out of sight, he might not come back out alive. Frozen in place, Philip tried to keep his voice steady. “Please. I know I can work this out.”
“Relax, Phil. I’m here to help.” The words should have been comforting, but the tone invoked only fear.
Swallowing hard, Philip moved into the dark office one step ahead of the man he feared most. His trembling hand reached out to turn on the light, and then he slowly turned around. The man reached into the pocket of his jacket, an amused smile crossing his face as perspiration beaded on Philip’s forehead.
“You’re nervous, Phil.” He slid an envelope out of his pocket and tapped it against his free hand. “I think I’ve found the solution to all of your problems. I’ve decided to forgive your debt if you do this little favor for me.”
“What kind of favor?”
“My partner is becoming a weight I can’t carry anymore. I need him eliminated.”
“You want me to kill someone?” Philip’s voice squeaked.
“No, you’re going to convince someone else to do it.” His smile broadened. “It’s a win-win situation. You’ll be out of debt, my partner will be gone, and someone else will take the fall.”
* * *
Tristan looked around the dorm room one last time. He was as ready as he was going to get, but he double-checked his list just to be sure. Unlike the other SEALs, he wouldn’t be able to make any last-minute adjustments to his intended crime scenario. He also knew that he had the one activity that was sure to bring the point of this course home.
“Okay, I think I’m ready,” he said to Quinn as he headed for the stairs. They both jogged down the three flights of stairs and then walked outside into the warm, humid air. The sun was high in the sky, and students were bustling between the dorms, classrooms, and cafeterias.
“What are you and Riley doing tonight?” Quinn asked casually as they started across campus.
“I don’t know. Last night was pretty rough on her. I was thinking about checking out that new seafood restaurant, but I need to see if she’s already made plans with Taylor.”
“She hasn’t,” Quinn stated simply.
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m taking Taylor out tonight. She mentioned a dance club nearby that she likes, and I offered to be her dance partner.”
“You like her.”
“She’s definitely not someone I would mind kissing good night, if that’s what you mean.” Quinn laughed. “Don’t get any ideas, though. She’s leaving for Europe at the end of the summer, and I’m sure not looking to get serious. It’s the perfect situation for a fun summer without any strings.”
That had been Tristan’s plan too when he had arrived in Bainbridge. He just hadn’t planned on meeting Riley.
His cell phone chimed, indicating he had received a text message. When Quinn’s phone went off too, Tristan’s pulse jumped in anticipation. The Navy had committed to letting them finish this course, but the possibility of being called away on an urgent assignment always existed. He pulled out his cell and read the words on the lighted display.
“Did you get the royal summons too?” Quinn asked, holding his phone up to reveal an identical message. It wasn’t the Navy calling them in. It was Quinn’s mother. Quinn’s father was about to retire from the Defense Intelligence Agency after over thirty years of service, and Quinn’s mom was throwing a huge party to celebrate the event. The message was a reminder that the party was the next day. Unfortunately, this was the first either of them had heard about it.
“Did you know your dad was retiring?” Tristan asked.
Quinn shook his head. “He’s been talking about it for years, but I didn’t realize it was happening now. It would have been nice if Mom had given us a little more notice. Knowing her, she probably sent the original invitations to us in Virginia Beach.”
“Yeah,” Tristan agreed. He hadn’t realized how much he had been looking forward to spending the weekend with Riley until he was faced with the thought of spending it without her.
As though sensing his internal struggles, Quinn said, “You know, you don’t have to go.”
“That’s like saying you don’t have to go,” Tristan countered. “Your parents have always treated me like part of the family. It’s only fair that I treat them the same way.”
“Why don’t you bring Riley along?” Quinn suggested. “Mom and Dad won’t care. In fact, I’m sure they’d love to meet her.”
Tristan stopped midstride, considering the possibilities. “You don’t think they’d mind?”
“Are you kidding? You came to stay for a few days and ended up staying for three years,” Quinn quipped. He nodded toward Sedgely Hall. “Come on. Let’s go find out if she wants to come. We can leave first thing in the morning.”
15
It was entirely too much like being taken home to meet the parents. Riley sat rigid in the middle of the bench seat of Tristan’s truck while Quinn and Tristan bantered back and forth over her about which of Quinn’s siblings were going to show up in time to help set up. The two men looked so completely different—Tristan, with his barely tamed blond hair and deep blue eyes, looke
d nothing like his “adopted” brother, who had dark brown eyes and whose dark hair was cut high and tight.
As the conversation continued around her, she wondered how Tristan had managed to meet her family with such ease. Granted they hadn’t really been dating at the time, or at least not seriously enough for either of them to be nervous about the prospect of Tristan meeting Riley’s parents. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the luxury of thinking of Tristan as just a friend. And even though Tristan wasn’t technically related to the Lamberts, Riley understood Tristan well enough to know that in his heart the Lamberts were his family.
Riley had barely been paying attention to the conversation until Quinn asked, “Do you think the admiral will show up?”
Tristan tensed beside her, and then he shrugged. “I doubt it. I’m not even sure she’s still at the Pentagon.”
“I didn’t realize your mother was still friends with Quinn’s folks,” Riley commented. She knew that they had been neighbors, but she had just assumed that they would have lost contact over the years.
“I’m not sure you would call them friends,” Tristan replied.
“A few years ago, Tristan’s mom and my dad were working on some project together,” Quinn explained. “I guess they forged some kind of a friendship, because when we graduated from BUD/S training together, my parents showed up with the admiral.”
Riley turned to look at Tristan. “You never told me she was there when you graduated from SEAL training.”
Tristan gave a careless shrug. “I’m still not sure why she bothered. Besides, I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
Riley wanted to ask more. She wanted to understand how Tristan felt about the woman who had given birth to him and then basically abandoned him.
“Looks like we’re the first ones here,” Tristan said as he pulled into the short driveway of a three-level townhouse. The bottom floor was composed of a two-car garage and what looked to be a small basement level. A set of stairs at the front of the townhouse led to the main entrance on the middle floor.
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