Code Name: Forever & Ever (A Warrior's Challenge series Book 5)

by Natasza Waters

  Her jaw went slack. Oh shit. “Tell you? About—”

  Patrick’s strength, the way he held himself like a man born of noble birth defied where he’d been raised. When he turned, his demeanor left no room for lies. “That my best friend knows you better than I do.” Silver eyes came to rest on her.

  Marg’s eyes slammed shut. “Patrick, is that why you never wanted us to be close?”

  Her heart rolled with fear. She could clearly see there was no way to avoid this conversation. Part of her was relieved, the other part terrified. She nodded.

  “Think I’ve always known and was hoping you’d tell me.”

  “There was no good time to sit down and say, ‘Hey, I slept with Thane on a whim before I met you. I regret it, but I can’t erase it.’” She removed the space between them. “I wanted to forget it the second I met you. Thane and I both have. We’re friends. That’s all.”

  Patrick’s expression hardened. “I don’t think he sees it that way.”

  “He does,” she said sharply.

  “The truth is, there’s been a few girls we’ve both enjoyed, but you…” His eyes narrowed. “It’s different. Thought I could ignore it.” He shrugged with a lift of one shoulder as if it he’d already given up. Made a decision. “The two people I trust the most, didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.”

  She took a purposeful step to stand in front of him. “The two people who love you the most, didn’t want to hurt you, Patrick. It was a mistake.”

  “How is fucking my best friend a mistake?”

  “Because,” she yelled, “He wasn’t your best friend when I fucked him!”

  Imaging Patrick with another woman made her see red. Flaming, kill whoever she is, red, but he didn’t give her the chance to spit fire and brimstone because he left her standing in the room alone.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Marg followed Patrick out the front door. He was a man on a mission. A mission to leave. The drama queen inside her screeched to throw a fit. None of the guests stood in the driveway. If she spazzed out, no one would see. No. Nope. Not a chance.

  Patrick kept walking until he reached the end of the drive, Marg on his heels. “Patrick, where are you going?”

  “Back to San Diego.” He slowed his step and finally stopped near the front gate.

  As angry with him and at herself for not telling him before now about Thane, she couldn’t help but feel her resolve and her knees weaken. “One stupid mistake. A mistake that happened before we met, and that’s it?”

  Patrick closed the distance between them. “It isn’t just Thane, Marg, SEALs don’t make a lot of money. I’ll be gone most of the year.”

  “And? You’re doing this because you want the best for me, right?” she said, her voice rising, her anger galloping beside it with a leather whip lashing her temper.

  “I only have control over so much in my life. Tomorrow, it’s wheels up. When I return, if I return….” He paused, and gently took her hands in his. “You’re too much for me, Marg. You don’t see it, but I do.”

  She searched his face, not understanding.

  “I get that you were with him before we met, but I’m also sure you came to St. George’s the night of the fire looking for him.”

  “I went to the bar to have a break. I wasn’t pining over Thane.” Patrick’s gaze was unforgiving. He wanted the truth. She owed him the truth.

  “And how many times were you together?”

  Marg’s mouth opened and closed before she answered. “Once.” Patrick’s hands squeezed hers for an instant and then released. She bowed her head. “Patrick, I knew I had to tell you, but I didn’t want to ruin your friendship with Thane or see you walk away from me because of one stupid mistake.”

  “I don’t think it was a mistake. He might tell everyone around him he doesn’t want forever with any woman, but he looks at you differently.”

  “I don’t care what he does, but I care what you think.”

  “I think you should go back into the house. Accept Bruce’s offer for dinner.”

  Marg backed away from him. As hard as it was to do, she straightened her shoulders and told herself not to cry. “I have a say in my future. I left this house because I wanted to make my own decisions and not be bartered off to someone’s wealthy son who wants arm candy instead of a partner.” Although her heart shriveled with hurt, she wouldn’t show it. Patrick was giving up on their relationship before he got in too deep. He didn’t want her, but he was trying to extract himself without a scene. “You need to concentrate on not being killed. I have my career.” She took another step back and her throat tightened with impending tears. Another step put a healthy four feet between them. “You can use him as an excuse, or my family if you want, but you don’t need to. Just tell me you don’t have the same feelings for me as I do for you. I’m a big girl.”

  Patrick swayed his head. “You’re going to be famous, Marg. I know it.”

  She started walking backwards to hide from the floodlights shining down on the gate and the tears rushing into her eyes. “So will you, Patrick Cobbs. You can’t see it, but I can.”

  “I’m enlisted, Marg. I’ll always be that way.”

  She choked out a laugh. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? You can’t see the future. You can’t see where you’ll be in ten years. You can’t see us. You can’t see your success. It’s written on the wall, but you’ve got your back to it and refuse to turn your head and face it.” She shook with anger and frustration. “You’re gutless.”

  “I’m not gut—”

  Her hand flew into the air. “I don’t want to fight with you. I’m still your friend. If I bump into you on the streets of San Diego, and you have some girl who you think is good enough for you on your arm, I’ll still be your friend.”

  “Marg, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Too late, Patrick.” She would not beg. All her mother’s words of advice flipped on in her head. “Always be gracious, Marg. Don’t rant or lose your temper in front of others. You are a lady. In the face of adversity, keep your head held high.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Hidden by the dark night, her tears got the “go” signal to open the flood gates. Patrick had been a gentlemen from the moment she’d met him. He’d kept a firm hand on their relationship, never losing control. That’s what she wanted. She wanted him to lose control all over her. She wanted to see his passion. “Keep our country safe, Patrick.”

  “Marg.” His voice hitched and his head jerked as if fighting some inner demon.

  “Always be a superior hostess,” her mother’s voice rang in her head. “Wait here for a minute, would you?”

  She ran up to the house and around to the side entrance where the staff usually gathered in the evenings. Derrick, the family driver, sat at the kitchen table. “Derrick, would you do me a favor?”

  He stood. “Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a wink.

  “A friend of mine is at the bottom of the driveway. Would you give him a ride back to San Diego? I’ll tell Mother you’ll be gone for a while, but I don’t think that’s a problem with her engaged in the party.”

  Derrick nodded and picked his chauffer’s cap from the table. Marg quickly wrote a note to her Grams and asked one of the maids to give it to her. Within two minutes, she stood beside her car. At the bottom of the drive she saw Derrick stop the Mercedes next to Patrick. They spoke for a moment and then Patrick got in. At least he’d accept this from her.

  “Marg,” Bruce called out to her from the front steps. “Where’re you going?”

  “Home.”

  “San Diego?”

  “Yes,” she drawled. “That’s where I live.”

  Bruce ran down the steps and leaned against her car door to stop her from making a quick getaway. “He broke up with you, didn’t he?”

  She reached for the door handle. “Eavesdropping. That’s low. Could you move, please?”

  “No. Follow me.”

  “I don’
t want to follow you. I don’t want to follow anybody.”

  Bruce’s hand squeezed her arm. “Please.”

  Patrick was gone. She’d probably never see him again. In San Diego, she’d regroup. Lick her wounds. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go.”

  “Give me one hour. Dinner.”

  Marg pushed his hand from her door. “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t want to live in this world of bullshit.” Bruce blinked with surprise and stepped back. “Going out for dinner, then another, and then what? Marriage. Hollywood parties. Coming home late. Screwing around on me. That’s where marriage in this town always ends up. They stop talking to each other. They don’t love each other and then divorce. That’s where you’re going to end up. Whether it’s one marriage or five, you—”

  “Marg!” He raised his voice.” My parents have been happily married for twenty-five years. My father has never cheated on my mom, nor would he. Stop painting everyone with the same brush. If that’s what you saw growing up, I’m sorry for you, but that’s not what I plan on having.”

  She bit her lip and stilled her tongue.

  Bruce backed away. “All I wanted was dinner. Know you better. I told you that before. Your dad might have other ideas, but as much as I want to succeed in his studio, I don’t want a trophy wife.”

  Marg looked toward the empty drive. She could still see Patrick, stalwart in walking away from her and toward his future in the Navy. She may not have pined over Thane, but forgetting Patrick would be hard to do.

  “I’m sorry. I have a shoot on Monday, and I need to go home and get ready.”

  He nodded. “I understand.”

  “You don’t. I don’t even think I understand.”

  “Patrick will realize his mistake eventually, but it’ll be too late.”

  Marg slid into her car. Would it? Or was Patrick the one man who would be able to push and pull her to distraction if he changed his mind.

  Driving back to San Diego she had lots of time to cry, get angry, then become thoroughly depressed. She flung her purse on the counter of her kitchen and reached for the phone. Thane answered.

  “Marg, hey, how was the party with the folks?”

  “I told him the truth about you and me. No more secrets. He dumped me.” The line was quiet for a long time. Enough time for her to say, “Watch over him. I know you’ll do that for each other.”

  “I’ll talk to him. Give it some time.”

  “Don’t need any. Good luck. Be safe. Don’t quit. Don’t let him quit. Goodbye, Thane.”

  She hung up before the crescendo of tears racked her body. Stunned and absolutely devastated, she clutched her pillow, but nothing would stop the mountain of pain in her chest.

  Ten minutes later the phone rang. Whomever was on the other end could take a hike. The ringing stopped, then a minute later it started again. She ignored it. A minute later, it rang again.

  “Hello,” she spit out.

  “Marg,” Grams said calmly. “I just wanted to make sure you made it home safely.”

  “Thanks, Grams. I’m back in San Diego.”

  “By the sound of your voice, tonight didn’t end well with Patrick.”

  She hiccupped and shook her head, but couldn’t talk.

  There was a knock on the door. Now what?

  “Open the door, dear.”

  Marg pulled herself up and wrenched the door open. When she saw Grams standing there, she fell into her arms and cried like a little girl.

  An hour later, two pots of tea, numerous cookies, and an entire roll of toilet paper, Marg told Grams everything.

  Sitting on the couch, Grams rocked Marg in her arms. “Darling, if Patrick can’t see what he’s walking away from, then he’s not a very smart SEAL. Your heart might hurt right now, but you’ll fall in love again. Maybe a few times before the right man sweeps you off your feet.”

  She sat up and covered her Grams aging hand. One day, she wouldn’t have her hand to hold and that made her even sadder. “No, Grams. Patrick is the one guy I’ll never forget. When he comes home and I see him with someone else, I feel like I won’t be able to hide behind some bullshit mask.”

  “I know that, too, my beautiful girl. Bruce seems very interested, and although you’re probably not ready to jump into another relationship, I want you to know that I like his parents. They are decent people. I think he really likes you and it has nothing to do with your father. I also think he’ll wait until you’re ready to date again.”

  “He’s not Patrick. He doesn’t have his strength by just standing in a room.” Or make her shiver with one look, but she kept that to herself.

  “I brought a bag. I’m staying the night.”

  “I’m not suicidal, Grams.”

  “I know that, but we haven’t had a pajama party in a long time.”

  She smiled through her wet eyes. When she and her sisters were younger and her parents were out at a function, Grams would come over and announce they were having a pajama party. They’d eat junk food and watch movies cuddled together on the couch. Marg missed that. “I’ll get the junk food.”

  Grams smiled at her and then called someone on her cell phone. A few minutes later, her driver stood at the door with a bag. Grams wished him goodnight and told him to come back to get her in the morning.

  They watched two comedies, but it didn’t do much to lighten her heart. Grams sat on the edge of the bed and tucked the sheets around Marg when she slid between the covers.

  Her grandmother’s calming hand ran across her hair. “Patrick has a lot to focus on right now. You never know what the future holds. But for now, you have a future to focus on as well. You’re my granddaughter, which means you have no other choice but to be the best.”

  “Night, Grams.”

  She placed a kiss on her forehead. “Sweet dreams, my special girl.”

  * * * *

  Sally opened the patio door and stepped onto the patio. The spring night and salty sea air brought memories. After all these years without Braden, the bad ones took second place to the good ones she cherished. Over twenty years ago, under a full moon and perfect sky like tonight, Braden had told her goodbye for the last time.

  They’d taken their shoes off and walked along the tideline. The San Diego air, cool and refreshing.

  “I know you don’t want me to go,” Braden had said. “But I can’t refuse this mission.”

  “I know, sweetheart,” she’d said, looking into his blue eyes.

  He had smiled down at her, and all her worries seemed to melt with his expression. Braden’s confidence had chased her fears away for many years.

  “I called the Pop-Tart Kid earlier this afternoon and told him I was heading back overseas. Don’t think he’s happy with me, but I said I’d be back before Margaret is born. I’d be there to laugh at him when he had to change his first diaper.”

  Sally had chuckled. “You better be.” She wrapped her arms around Braden’s waist. “I can’t wait to babysit our first granddaughter.”

  Braden broke into a handsome smile. “Can you imagine? We’re gonna be grandparents. Seems like only yesterday, I asked you to join me for a walk on the beach, just like tonight, and scared out of mind you might say no, I asked you to marry me.”

  Sally’s heart bloomed. “I remember that night like it was yesterday, too.”

  Braden’s smile softened. “Why did you say yes?”

  She gave him a coy look, ready to tease him and saw that he wanted an honest answer, so she gave it from her heart. “Because I knew there was no one else who would love you as much as I do.”

  “Do you regret any of it? My being gone so much.”

  “Sometimes, yes, but when you’re home, and you always come home, I know I made the right choice.”

  Braden’s head dipped closer. “So did I, Sally Stines.” And he kissed her like he did the night he proposed.

  Sally shook her head and brushed away the tears sliding down her aging cheeks. Tipping her head back, she gazed at the
stars. “Our granddaughter is in love, Braden, and even though she thinks Patrick’s walked away from her, I’m not convinced that he won’t be our grandson-in-law. If you have any pull up there, please watch over him. I want our granddaughter to experience the same love we had.” She sniffed. “It was worth it, sweetheart. Every minute.”

  Sally wrapped her arms around herself, but turned when a tingle ran up her spine, as if a warm hand reassured her, but no one was there. At least no one she could see.

  “Are you watching over me?” She smiled at the memory of her husband.

  Like an echo in her mind, she heard Braden’s voice. “One day, Sally, we’ll have forever.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The weeks passed quicker than Marg thought they would. She refused to look at the calendar hanging in her kitchen above the counter. The dreadful little squares tempting her to mark every day with a big ‘X’. She was all too aware of Patrick’s absence from her life. After he’d left the night of her parent’s party, she hadn’t seen or heard from him. Every few days, she called or visited Karen Cobbs. Marg didn’t mention Patrick had broken up with her before he’d left.

  Slowly—painfully slowly, Marg found a routine that filled almost all the hours of her day, whether it was working at the mission, spending time with Lydia or Karen, and making a little name for herself in modeling.

  She’d become more and more involved with modeling. The schedule tightened, and she had jobs lined up. Opening the door to the America Sweetheart Modeling Agency on a hot June morning, her agent, Gladys, waited for her in reception.

  “Good morning, Margaret. Come in.”

  Marg followed her down the hall, the walls covered in colorful paintings and the smell of leather permeating the air. Gladys swung into her office and sat behind her desk. “Sit, I have amazing news, young lady.”

  “What’s going on?” Marg dropped her purse to the floor beside her chair.