Wounded at the Lake

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  Matt put a hand on Coop’s shoulder. He’d used the same gesture hundreds of times. More than ever when they were in Afghanistan—under fire—when Coop had thought they might all die.

  Strange as it seemed, the touch calmed him.

  Coop was impatient. He charged ahead eager for results, versus waiting for the perfect time. He wanted to dive in, with or without a gun, and get the job done.

  Now.

  Matt, on the other hand, was more methodical. Just as intense, he built a case one block at a time until he had enough evidence to get a guilty verdict at trial.

  Dirk was a mix of his brothers: hotheaded at times, but painstakingly thorough. When he finished a case, it was airtight.

  Coop took a deep breath. “You could be right about Harper. He could have found something and been killed for it. If so, we need to find a body.”

  Dirk spoke up. “He’s not dead.”

  Coop and Matt turned to him. “How the hell do you know?”

  Dirk looked at them, his blue eyes troubled. “Gut feeling. Plus, I have the wife’s sense that he’s in danger, but alive. As close as they seem, she would know. You’ve seen it before.”

  They were silent for a moment and Coop knew they remembered the horrible firefight that had taken so many lives—that should have taken theirs. Shorty had known they were in danger. She’d prayed for days for God to keep them safe.

  Coop cleared his throat. “Right. We’ll go on the assumption he’s alive. If so, we need to find him. So far we haven’t done worth crap.”

  “Then let’s figure out what we haven’t done and get with it.”

  After an hour of brainstorming they couldn’t come up with anything new.

  If Harper wasn’t in the hands of the corporation, he was out there somewhere. Though they already assumed since he was a computer guru he’d want to either access or buy one, they would intensify their efforts and circulate his picture at every store within a five-mile radius of his office.

  So far, they hadn’t come up with a hint of where he could be. They vowed to push harder.

  No one, not even the FBI had a missing person report on Lori.

  It stymied everyone. Someone had to know her. Miss her.

  This had to end.

  Though Lori put up a good front and was happy with the dogs, each day she seemed more troubled.

  She wanted her own life. Not one thrust upon her.

  He didn’t blame her. If his memory were gone, he’d be crazy.

  ****

  It was Saturday.

  Lori’s head was full of thoughts of Coop. Knowing her feelings were growing despite her efforts to keep them on a friendly level made her almost forget the chocolate cake in the oven. “Pray I didn’t ruin the cake, Shorty. I wouldn’t want to start over.” She pulled the pans out, sat them to cool, and checked with a toothpick. “I think they’ll be okay.”

  “I’m sure they will. They smell heavenly. The kitchen smells like a chocolate factory.”

  Lori chuckled and whipped up the chocolate mousse filling. With that done, she made the chocolate icing, and the equally sweet chocolate ganache for the topping.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much chocolate on one cake.”

  “Tonight, it will be death by chocolate.”

  “The guests will be delighted. Not to mention the boys.”

  “I owe it to you guys for being so kind and doing so much for me since I’ve been here.”

  She refused to admit it was because she wanted something special for Coop.

  When the ten-inch, four-layer cake was complete, she made a blackberry cobbler in Shorty’s big lasagna pan.

  “The cake looks amazing,” Shorty said when it was finished. “I knew you were talented after last week, but this is way beyond anything we’re used to. You’re going to spoil this bunch for life.”

  Shorty walked around the island to examine the cake from all directions, then the cobbler. “Do you have any idea how wonderful the house smells? I hope the boys don’t get a whiff and come running. You won’t have enough left for tonight if they do.”

  Lori chuckled. “Where are they?” Lessons were over long ago.

  “Here and there. Let me help you clean the kitchen.” She went to get an apron.

  Lori looked around at the mess she’d made and groaned. The urge to hurry, clean up and get things back in order overwhelmed her, as if she was worried about what would happen if she didn’t. Disorder made her nervous. Whenever she had a chance, she put order into Shorty’s pantry. Now the cans were lined up and facing front. The tea-tins the same. Whenever she looked at the shelves, her heart would go into palpitations until she put everything in its proper place. This wasn’t normal, but she had no idea why something so unimportant made her feel so weird.

  She looked at the clock. The sweets had been promised by four. As she and Shorty worked faster to clean the kitchen her heart filled with tears. She liked it here—loved Shorty, the dogs, and felt way too much for Coop. Her weird feelings notwithstanding; she felt at home. From the bits and pieces she’d learned of her past, this kitchen wasn’t nearly as messy as her life once was.

  By four-o’clock Lori had showered and changed. She walked into the sparkling-clean kitchen to see Shorty at the table with a cup of coffee. “Can I borrow your car to deliver the desserts?”

  “Don’t you look nice?”

  “Thanks for loaning me your blouse.”

  “It’s yours. I never wore it. Bought it because I liked the color, but when I got it home, the neckline was too low. I never got around to taking it back.”

  “My good luck. Is the neckline too low for me?” It dipped lower than she was accustomed to. At least that’s what she thought. She put a hand to her throat and felt a strangling sensation. For a moment she could barely breathe.

  What in God’s name had her past life been like? Why did certain things bring on choking feelings? Feelings of inadequacy or fear?

  “You look great.” Shorty went to get her car keys. “I’ll be ready to go by the time you get back.”

  When they walked into Dirk’s house an hour later, guests were pulling up in the drive.

  “Lori,” Carrie walked up to her with a big smile. “How are you?” She took Lori by the arm and led her to a corner. “I saw the desserts. How do you do it? I thought I could bake. Heck, I don’t hold a candle to you.”

  Lori laughed. She really liked this beautiful woman and wondered if she and Coop were a couple. No, she’d never seen any kind of emotional interaction between them. She breathed a sigh of relief. “It comes easy for me. Don’t ask me why.”

  “Have you seen Dirk? He’s apologizing for his appetizers. It’s way too funny.”

  The comment made Lori feel bad. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m teasing. Though he’s apologizing for his store-bought appetizers, he’s secretly gloating over that chocolate cake. I have to admit it looks awesome. I’m thinking of skipping dinner and going straight for the gold.”

  Lori laughed and walked into the kitchen to see Dirk cutting up veggies for a salad one-handed. “Do you want me to do that?”

  “I’ve got it.”

  She walked over and took the knife out of his hand. “Go. Enjoy your guests.”

  He gave her a grateful smile and left.

  His dinner tonight was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a salad. When she’d been here earlier, she’d seen the fast-food cartons and knew he’d cooked nothing. Coop was lucky to have Shorty or he’d probably do the same. She wondered if Matt cooked or ordered in. Would she be here to find out? She wanted to.

  As she chopped veggies, she realized she was glad for the solitude. And just that fast, she was fully conscious of the fact that in her past, solitude meant lonely. Her hands stilled. I must have been miserable.

  Forget it.

  Decorating the top of the huge bowl of lettuce with sliced tomatoes, olives, red onions, grated carrots, and a sprinkle of grated cheese, she called it fin
ished. She looked around for something else to do. Clean the kitchen.

  She had the island cleared of everything except the desserts when Coop walked in. He frowned when he saw her. “What are you doing in here when you should be with the others?”

  “I like being in the kitchen.”

  “Is my brother taking advantage of you? I see he conned you into making the desserts. How did he persuade you to be the kitchen help?”

  Coop was upset, and he looked good enough to kiss. He and Dirk were in their camos and once more she admired his biceps and wide shoulders. Jeez! Couldn’t she keep her mind off him? “I volunteered. Poor guy seemed overwhelmed.”

  Coop rolled his eyes. “My brother uses that gambit whenever he wants to get out of doing something. Women always fall for it.”

  She walked toward the doorway. “Everything’s ready. I’m going to say hello to everyone before we eat.”

  He growled something low behind her as she joined the rest of the gang in the living area. Her gaze swept over them. Everyone from last Saturday was here tonight. Doc was the first to come over.

  “You’re looking good. How do you feel since the stitches came out?”

  “I’m doing well. I’m working with the dogs every day now and enjoy it.”

  “The work must agree with you.” A frown crossed her face. “I don’t know what would have happened if Coop hadn’t been there when you were shot.”

  “That’s why I baked him a sinfully rich chocolate-on-chocolate cake. I hope he realizes how much I appreciate all he’s done and is still doing for me and for the little girl who was kidnapped.”

  They walked over to join the others. Coop and his brothers surrounded one of the men, along with a pretty brunette in a long skirt and sweater. “Who are they?” she asked Doc.

  “A young ex-Navy man and his wife, Stan and Jenny Walker. He’s been doing surveillance for the guys. Let’s see what’s going on.”

  “Congratulations, you two,” Matt told them. “I know how long you’ve waited for this moment. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

  “We don’t. But we’ll be happy with either.”

  “Right. Goodbye freedom—goodbye to the life you know and love, welcome to sleepless nights and mountains of debt. College isn’t cheap now. Just think…” Coop contributed.

  “Hey…that’s enough.” Stan laughed.

  “Really, Coop. This is a happy moment.” Carrie joined the group and expressed her opinion.

  Lori had just witnessed another facet of Coop’s personality. One she hadn’t known until now.

  ****

  Coop’s jaw had dropped when he saw Lori in the kitchen. She never ceased to amaze. Not just with the desserts, but with everything. He’d been more than surprised to realize his first impression had been so off base. Lori wasn’t haughty at all, but down-to-earth, friendly, and a beautiful, sensitive, creative person who loved dogs, didn’t mind getting her hands dirty, and made everyone salivate over her desserts.

  He shook his head. Last week, she’d looked drop-dead gorgeous in her turquoise T-shirt. This week she took his breath away in a low-necked, red blouse that hugged every curve.

  She was the first woman he’d ever met who made his mouth water.

  Back off.

  But one kiss and he couldn’t forget.

  By the time dinner was over, games had been played, and everyone was starting to leave, he was a wreck. Lori, just as last week, had been the center of attention. While Coop watched, men, married and single, had flocked around her. His heart zinged every time she laughed. When she smiled a certain way, he wanted to kiss those delectable lips. And when she drawled an answer to a question, the lilt of her voice made him think of cool sheets and hot bodies.

  Once everyone had left, Coop found her in the kitchen. Dirk was cutting a slab of cake and putting it on a paper plate Lori held. “Is this large enough?”

  Lori laughed. The sound made Coop’s heart hurt.

  They had to learn who she was before he exploded in want.

  She wrapped the cake in foil and turned away, but not before Dirk pulled her in for a hug. A love-em today, leave-em tomorrow ladies’ man before Afghanistan, Dirk had more or less avoided women since. No amount of cajoling or teasing could change Dirk back to the way he’d once been.

  Coop couldn’t say a helluva whole lot. They’d all changed. With Lori, however, Dirk seemed his old self.

  “Thanks for everything. You’re one in a million.”

  Coop cleared his throat. Lori turned. There were tears in her eyes.

  “It’s time to go,” he reminded her.

  “Dirk said I could take a piece of cake home. I think you liked it.”

  “Like it?” Dirk laughed. “He ate three pieces.”

  “Two,” Coop corrected.

  “I was counting,” Dirk argued. “But hey, who cares. I had two of each dessert.”

  “You would.”

  They moved out the door and into Coop’s truck.

  “I can see why your Saturday night get-togethers are well attended.” She smiled, as she settled into the truck’s front seat. “Everyone has a good time and gets along well.”

  “That’s the plan.” Should he mention he’d seen tears? Ask why? He’d wait. Maybe she’d tell him on her own. He reached across the seat and took her hand. “Thanks for all you do. The dogs. The desserts. I didn’t expect you to do any of that.” That first day, he’d thought she would demand to be waited on. Or worse.

  “It’s the least I can do. You saved my life.”

  Her soft voice squeezed his heart.

  He pulled into the driveway. Though the homestead had lights on in the kitchen, he knew Shorty was in bed. But he didn’t want to go in. He wanted to stay here awhile, just the two of them.

  He was still holding Lori’s hand. He picked it up and brought it to his lips.

  She sighed.

  He wanted her with everything in him. She aroused his senses: the way she smelled like flowers and sunshine, the way she looked…her soft skin…the taste of her lips.

  Did she feel what he did? A yearning for more?

  Forget it. But no amount of talk had made this unwanted desire disappear. “The dogs like you.” He wanted to keep her here. Would talk about anything to make it happen.

  She gave a low chuckle and his insides clenched.

  “I love taking care of them.”

  “You spoil them.”

  “Uh-uh. Like children, they know the difference between spoiling and loving.” She paused a moment. “I’ve noticed something about these get-togethers.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Why are there so many wounded warriors? I can see why former servicemen and women would be good for your line of work, but most of your crew has been wounded in one way or another.”

  “How long did it take you to figure that out? They pretty much keep their wounds to themselves.”

  “Observation. Marshall turns his head to the left to see in that direction. It’s obvious Buster has problems with both legs. Are they missing?”

  Coop nodded, amazed she’d figured out so much. “Who else?”

  She named a few of the part-timers then asked, “What about Carrie?”

  “What about her?”

  “Is she one of the wounded?”

  “She was wounded in Iraq.” He didn’t tell Lori that no one knew just what Carrie’s injuries entailed. Something with her left arm, but he didn’t know what. And he wouldn’t ask. Like the others, she kept her injuries to herself.

  “She’s amazing. And beautiful.”

  “That she is.”

  “Dirk lost part of his arm. What happened in Afghanistan?”

  The night wrapped a spell around them, and Coop filled his lungs with air. The light from the house didn’t reach the truck. It was if they were in an oasis, just the two of them. He rolled down the window to let in more air. He was finding it hard to breathe. When he brought Lori’s hand to his mouth and kissed it, sh
e took a sharp breath.

  For reasons he couldn’t fathom, he wanted her to know his story. Maybe, in the telling, this want would go away. “Do you know what every SEAL’s greatest fear is?”

  “No.”

  “Losing a comrade. We do what we do to keep each other safe. Dirk, Matt, and I did just that.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  He didn’t and he did. Confusing. He tried not to think of that time. It was too painful. But suddenly, he was telling Lori what he’d sworn he’d never tell anyone.

  “The three of us were stronger together than alone. It’s been like that since we were kids. In the SEALs that emotional and physical strength grew. We were on a mission when we hit a landmine in Afghanistan. When it exploded, it threw Dirk and me in one direction, Matt in another. Two of our buddies, Ross included, were knocked unconscious with various shrapnel injuries. One of our men was killed. We were sitting ducks for the bombardment of shells flying our way.”

  Lori gasped. “What did you do?” How did you get away?”

  He didn’t want to re-live that firefight, but once he started talking, he couldn’t stop. “At first I didn’t know my leg had been hit by shrapnel, but I could see Dirk’s arm had been blown off right below the elbow and he was bleeding profusely. I grabbed a shoestring out of my boot and made a tourniquet. We were under fire, separated from our buddies, and unable to make it to safety. We couldn’t stay there much longer and live to tell about it. Dirk was losing too much blood. He pointed to my leg and I realized I had been hit. Another shoestring went on. By now we were in real trouble. Bullets were flying all around us. We were trapped.”

  Coop wanted to stop. The memory of that time still haunted him at times.

  “Where was Matt?”

  “We didn’t know where he was or whether he was alive or dead. But all of a sudden, with bullets buzzing like a disturbed hornets’ nest around our heads, he was there. At first I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He was going to be killed right in front of us. He came running, blasting with an AK47 in each hand, screaming his Tarzan yell the entire time. Wait until you hear it. It will stop you in your tracks. It stopped the Afghans—at least for a few precious seconds. When he stopped yelling he told us to get the hell out of there. I wouldn’t leave. Neither would Dirk. He cursed and yelled some more until Dirk, one-handed, got me to my feet. As best we could, the three of us blasted away at those animals until we were safely back to our buddies who were beginning to gain consciousness and tend to their wounds.