Breaking Out (Military Romantic Suspense) (SEAL Team Heartbreakers Book 6)

by Teresa Reasor

  The nurse held the door open for them.

  Gracie spied the master chief first. Her high-pitched whine drew his attention.

  “Gracie! You look great baby.”

  Her whole body bowed almost in half with each wag of her tail. Zach held her back with difficulty so he could unhook the leash from her harness. She bolted to her owner, her whine almost a whistle, her body doing a serpentine wiggle as she rubbed back and forth against Master Chief’s legs.

  Flynn rubbed her with his one good hand and attempted to reach for her with the other, though the movement was clumsy.

  “Sweet girl,” Flynn patted her wherever he could reach. The dog tried to climb into his lap, and he scooted over to make room for her next to him in the chair.

  Watching the two, Zach blinked against a rush of emotion. He was getting to be a real wuss where this dog was concerned. He glanced over to see Michelle unashamedly crying and smiling at the same time.

  “You couldn’t have done anything any better for him.” She squeezed his arm and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

  Gracie wedged herself into Flynn’s lap and rested her chin on his shoulder. The two clung together for several moments.

  Zach moved forward. “Let me know when she gets to be too much for you to hold. She’s a little big to be a lap dog.”

  “I carried one just like her in a harness, jumping out of planes, shooting during fire fights, and in much worse places than this.” Flynn’s voice came out gruff, and he brushed at his eyes with the back of his wrist.

  Zach filled in the moment with info to give the man time to recover his composure. “She’s been great at my apartment, and Piper’s house with Trouble, her Golden retriever. She’s teaching him some manners and he’s teaching her how to be a dog, though she still thinks she’s more human than canine.”

  Flynn laughed. “Yeah, she does.” He rubbed the back of Gracie’s neck and earned a lick to the ear. “Thanks for bringing her to see me.” Zach looked away and pretended not to see the tearful, glazed look in the man’s eyes.

  “Piper filled out the paperwork to have her designated as a therapy dog.”

  “She’s a smart lady.”

  “Yeah, she is.”

  “I can see you’re treating my girl good. How ’bout Piper?”

  “I’m doing my best.”

  “She cs and checks on me most every day.”

  Zach’s brows rose. He wasn’t actually surprised. Piper had such empathy for injured animals and people. “Have they said when you’re going to be able to go home?”

  “They want me to stick around for a couple more weeks to do physical therapy and get this arm and hand working better. Well, actually, the whole right side. It’s strange. I can think how I want it to move, but it’s like having a limb you’ve slept on that won’t wake up. They think with therapy I’ll be able to regain some movement.”

  Zach limped forward to sit in the only other chair in the room. “Good. While you’re busy doing physical therapy, I’m doing massage therapy with Gracie. The hip is mending well, but she still avoids putting much weight on the leg. Which is normal at this point.”

  Zach rose to help the dog get down. She continued to lean against Flynn’s legs. Master Chief Flynn scratched her behind the ears.

  “Later she’ll do some water therapy at Piper’s office.”

  “She’s doing well with you, I can tell.”

  “She’s a lot of company for me. My hip is healing, but it’s slower going than I thought it would be.”

  “Any word about deployment?”

  Zach shook his head. “I’ll have to go wheels up with the team even if I have to recover after I get wherever we’re going. But Piper’s great with Gracie. She’ll be in good hands.”

  “And what about Dr. Bertinelli?”

  He had to go. He didn’t have a choice. The thought of leaving her turned him inside out. “She understands I have a duty.”

  “I’ve had a couple of years of retirement to look back on the choices I made in the past. And I’ve had some time in the last two weeks to mull things over in detail. I’ve come to the realization I was a fool. I had a girl who was crazy about me when I was your age. But I shipped out and let everything I was going through come between us. I didn’t attempt to keep in touch like I should have. Didn’t tell her how I felt about her nearly as often as I should have.”

  Zach’s thoughts leapt to Patricia. There had been no promises made there, but what about Piper? He couldn’t leave and ask her to wait for him. Jesus, they’d been dating two weeks. Well, not exactly dating. What would you call what they’d been doing? Living together?

  Flynn went on. “Dotty stuck with me through three deployments, wrote me letters, sent me care packages, met me for R and R on her own dime. She wanted marriage, kids, and I wasn’t ready to take on that responsibility. I felt what I was doing was more important.” His attention dropped to the dog lying at his feet. “It wasn’t, Zach. I could have had a wife and kids coming to see me right now. Maybe some grandchildren.”

  “They won’t send me home and let me do therapy as an outpatient because I don’t have anyone to stay with me. I won’t be able to drive for a long time, so I can’t get to the grocery store or even the barbershop for a haircut. My parents are both gone now. My brother lives across the country in Tennessee. He has his own family to think about. Plus he has two kids in college and not enough money to come even if he wanted to.”

  “I’m not saying get involved or get married just to have someone to take care of you when something like this happens. I’m saying don’t let the teams be the only thing in your life, because it leaves you barren.”

  This was the second person telling him the same thing in the past three weeks.

  “Gracie’s my kid, but she can’t talk back when the walls get close.” The dog sat up and stuck her nose beneath Flynn’s semi-paralyzed hand, begging for a rub. He guided his one hand with the other to give her what she wanted. “In five or six years Gracie may be gone and I’ll be alone.”

  The man’s gray eyes focused on him. “If you think Dr. Bertinelli might stick with you for the long haul, and you have feelings for her, at least give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, you may come away with a few bruises, but you’ll still have time to try again before you end up like me.”

  “You’re not that old, Master Chief. You still have time to meet someone.”

  “Maybe.” There was no conviction in his tone. “I may not regain full use of my arm and leg, so my mobility issues may make it difficult.”

  “My sister’s boyfriend is missing a leg, but she didn’t let it interfere with getting to know him. You’re telling me not to miss out on my opportunities. You don’t have them unless you make them. The nurse who showed us in here might be a start…if she’s not married. You don’t want to get into a one-legged ass-kicking contest with a husband.”

  Flynn laughed. “No, I don’t. Michelle’s a little young for me.”

  “She’s, what? Mid-forties? Sounds about right to me.”

  Flynn’s cheeks flushed. “I’ll have to give it some thought.”

  “Look. Women in the nursing profession are nurturers. So what if you have some mobility issues? Hell, I was hobbling around on crutches and could barely move, and Piper was all about taking care of me and making sure I took care of myself. You have to show the ladies you have some qualities that outweigh all the baggage you drag around with you. And remember they have baggage, too. And you have one thing I don’t have right now.”

  “What’s that?” Flynn asked.

  “You’re going to be on CONUS. And you won’t be shipping out. You’ll be here in person if you’re needed.”

  “Yeah, I will be.” The master chief shot him a look of compassion.

  One of Flynn’s teammates showed perfect timing by joining them at that moment. The rest of the visit was listening to the two reminisce about past exploits.

  Aware of Bowie waiting in
his vehicle, Zach rose. He hooked the leash to Gracie’s harness and waited while Flynn said his good-byes. “I’ll bring her back in a couple of days, Master Chief.”

  “Thanks, Zach.”

  He exited the room and lifted Gracie to carry her. She appeared a little fatigued from the excitement and the walk from the front entrance.

  Michelle, the nurse, was waiting at the desk. “I thought Gracie might need a ride downstairs,” she said, pushing a wheel chair forward.

  “What a truly excellent idea. Thanks.” He set the dog on the wheelchair and smiled when she settled in.

  “It’s a shame she can’t stay with Master Chief Flynn while he recuperates,” the nurse said. “He lights up when he talks about her.”

  “She’s the only family he has here. Is there any kind outpatient program that would transport him from home to the hospital for his therapy?”

  “Not unless he could afford to pay for someone to stay with him. He’s not quite mobile enough yet to be alone.”

  Zach’s cell phone vibrated and he reached in his pocket to retrieve it. Seeing it was Bowie he said, “Sorry, I have to take this.” He touched the screen and stepped away. “Yeah.”

  “You’d better meet me at my car. Some fucker just showed up and fucked with Piper’s car. He opened the driver’s door with a lockout tool and put something inside. Looked like he shoved something under the seat. I got video with my cell phone.”

  Zach’s face flushed with heat as his anger raged. “Did you get his face?”

  “Yeah. It wasn’t your guy, but how much you want to bet me it was somebody he paid?”

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’ll call when I’m at the lot so you can bring me in.”

  “Roger that.”

  He ended the call, his mind racing while he thought of and discarded a number of ideas for how to handle the situation.

  Though the nurse offered to accompany Gracie downstairs, Zach said he thought he could handle it and wheeled the dog onto the elevator alone. He turned in his badge at reception and carried Gracie onto the tram.

  His hip was aching and he was winded by the time he’d carried the seventy-pound dog off the tram and across the parking lot. He eased her to the ground and called Bowie.

  “I’m to your right two rows back.”

  Zach got Gracie secured in Bowie’s back seat, then climbed into the passenger seat.

  Bowie’s features were grave with anger. “This fucker sure has it in for you and your girl. He’s bound to know Piper’s at the office. And he has to have some kind of tracker on her vehicle to know where it is. He’s probably waiting for the car to move to call it in so you’ll be stopped on your way home.”

  “I’m calling Sherman. I don’t have any other options. I have the video of Lester in the parking lot at the marina watching us leave the dock, then pulling out just before the two cops showed up to search the boat. And you have this. The moment I leave the parking lot, they’re going to stop me and search the car. If Sherman’s following and watches it go down, he’ll know what Piper’s told him is true.”

  “If he’ll show,” Bowie said.

  “If he doesn’t, we’ll search the car and remove whatever the guy planted. We’ll document everything and I’ll send the videos to Tess and go public with it.”

  Bowie nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Zach scrolled for Sherman’s number and put the call through.

  Chapter 35

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  Cal slid Kathleen’s hand through the bend of his arm while they walked along the river. The smell of greenery and the water bathed his senses while they walked across one of the arched footbridges over the river to their hotel.

  They paused to watch one of the boats float down the channel. It darted under the next footbridge and disappeared with its passengers around a curve in the water’s route. Hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops lined the sidewalks running parallel to the water’s course. Large trees set at equal distances shaded areas of the walkways, a welcome respite from the afternoon heat. They had done a tour of the Alamo earlier, a boat tour of the river walk, and eaten ice cream at one of the shops.

  “Your mom and dad won’t mind us spending the night away?”

  “No.” He cupped his hand over hers where it rested over his arm. “They know I want to spend some time alone with you before you go back to San Diego.” He brushed his lips against her temple. “You’ve spent more time with Mom and Dad this week than you’ve been able to spend with me.”

  “Have you given any thought to how your family is going to continue with the business if you don’t stay?”

  “I’ve thought about it. They can hire a project foreman in my place when I go back to San Diego. Or take on a partner.”

  Her green eyes settled on his face. “Your father wants that partner to be you, Cal.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without you, Kathleen.”

  He read relief in her expression. She rested her head against his shoulder.

  “Did you really think I’d leave you behind?”

  “My heart was telling me no, but a girl likes to hear the words, Callahan.”

  “The first week I was here, Doug took me out for a beer. We ran into two ladies he knew, and they bought us a beer. I couldn’t wait to finish mine and get out of there. It felt wrong to even have a drink with another woman.”

  Kathleen ran her hand down his arm and laced her fingers with his. “I can’t say I’m not glad you felt that way. I’d have felt the same.”

  A large group walked by behind them, then they were once again alone. Would Kathleen think this place romantic enough for a proposal? The water glistened below them, its sound like a soft sigh as it rushed past, and the light softened as evening approached. Kathleen’s skin looked satin-smooth against her dark hair.

  Mother Nature had brushed her cheeks with a natural color and given her lips a coral tint. He knew she looked just as beautiful climbing out of bed mussed and well-loved as she did spruced up to go out. She’d be beautiful when she was eighty. He hoped he was still around to tell her so when he was old.

  “What time is our reservation for dinner?” Kathleen asked.

  “Seven.”

  “We have a little more than an hour to get cleaned up.”

  He’d bring her back to this spot after dinner and pop the question. Their hands linked, they walked south to their hotel, the Valencia. They passed through the lobby of the hotel, past a sitting area where a large sectional couch was arranged before a wall of lighted sconces. On their way to the elevators, the vaulted ceiling’s architectural design drew Kathleen’s interest, just as Cal had known it would.

  Their sixth floor room had a streamlined, masculine feel due to the geometric shapes of things used to decorate the space. Square lamps with cream-colored shades cast a soft glow on either side of the king-sized bed. The leather headboard and a roomy leather armchair added a west Texas flavor, and a wide floating shelf created a desk space. Everything was spotlessly clean and neat.

  “I’m so sticky from the heat, think I’ll take a quick shower,” Kathleen said. “Unless you want to join me and we could make it a bath?”

  “Think we can both fit in there?” he asked.

  “I think we could give it a try.”

  If he slipped and fell and injured his stump, he’d never get to pop the question. “I think if we start out in the tub, we’ll never make it to the restaurant.”

  Kathleen laughed. “You’re probably right. I’ll only be about ten minutes.”

  “Take your time, hon. I’m not going anywhere.”

  A little antsy, he wandered onto the balcony outside their room and leaned on the railing to watch the river traffic while he waited. The heat of the day had passed, and a nice breeze brushed against him to dry the tacky sweat from his skin.

  She loved him. She was going to say yes. Then why was he so nervous?

  Because he was trying to create a special memory for her, for them both, and it
was damn hard. He should have planned more. He should have popped the question on the footbridge. He should have popped the question before they ever came to San Antonio.

  Hearing the bathroom door open, he turned to lean back against the balcony railing and smiled when Kathleen, clad only in a towel, came out of the bathroom. Unable to resist, he sauntered back into the room and closed the balcony door.

  He shed his shirt, T-shirt and belt along the way. At the sound of the belt hitting the carpet, Kathleen looked up. Cal scooped her up and headed for the bed. “I have to have you right now, Kathleen,” he murmured and knelt on the bed to place her in the center of it. He peeled away the damp towel and bent his head to press his open lips against the sensitive area between shoulder and breast. “You smell so good.” He loved her scent, like citrus body wash and her. Her skin was cooled from the air conditioning and still dewy with moisture from her shower, and her hands were warm as she stroked his shoulders and back.

  He slid down to press open-mouthed kisses to her breasts. Her stomach. Her thighs. Her legs trembled when he slipped between them, parting her nether lips with his thumbs, revealing her, flushed and wet, open to him. He feathered her clit with his tongue. Kathleen caught her breath and wiggled, getting closer to the caress. When he plunged his tongue inside her, she murmured, “Oh, God.” The sweet-salty taste of her drove his own need higher. He deepened the intimate kiss and at the same time put pressure the sensitive nub, and Kathleen cried out and climaxed.

  He unzipped his pants and slid upward, guiding himself inside her and groaning as her wet heat gripped him. He couldn’t get close enough, deep enough. Her breathing was ragged in his ear, her hands caressing him while she rose to meet his thrusts and counter them with her own, creating a drag against his flesh that tossed him up and over into a climax so strong his lungs seized and his hips jerked again and again. He collapsed atop her murmuring her name.

  She stroked his back, her caresses moving from passionate to soothing.

  Several moments passed before he could lift his head, and when he withdrew from her, his muscles shook.