by Christi Snow
Felicia snorted out a laugh. “No, but horndog might fit.” Briggs hit on every one who walked into the clinic, but it wasn’t because he was attracted to all of them. He just had that kind of friendly, outgoing personality. For him, flirting was his main method of communication.
For a moment, Briggs continued to look like she’d said the worst thing about him ever, but then he smiled and nodded. “Maybe a little, tiny bit, but have you seen the men in that family? I know I’m not alone in thinking they are fi-ne.”
No, Briggs definitely wasn’t alone in that thought, and that was a huge part of the problem. She had to stay away from Gage despite the draw she felt to him. And she sure as hell couldn’t let him get close enough so a kiss was even possible.
Chapter Thirteen
It was almost a week later before Felicia got to see Steven again. He’d been out of town for a few days for Air Force training, and she’d stayed extremely busy at the vet clinic. Someone had brought in a stray cat that had been hit by a car. So, not only did the cat not have an owner, but she had a broken back leg and was pregnant. She had the kittens prematurely, so their entire staff had been nursing the five kittens round the clock. So far, one had died, but Felicia hoped now that they were over the seventy-two hour mark, they wouldn’t lose any more.
When Steven had called, sounding almost as tired as she felt, she had been ready to cancel their date. But then he’d offered to bring a DVD and pizza, and she caved, opening up a bottle of Shiraz in anticipation of his arrival.
She’d already drunk half a glass when she heard his car on the gravel parking lot. She opened her door and smiled as he got out of his car with a smile and holding a pizza box. Suddenly, guilt assailed her. He’d been travelling all week and still made the time for her, and she’d almost cancelled. She had to do better by him.
She walked out to meet him by his car. Greeting him with a smile, she relieved him of the pizza. “Hey, you.” She leaned up and brushed a light kiss across his cheek. “I’ve missed this face this week.”
She started to turn to go inside, but he tugged her back. “I’ve missed you, too.” He pulled her to him and gave her a real kiss, filled with a passion that surprised her.
As his tongue explored her mouth, she had to make an effort to participate and not to pull away, which was her first instinct. But as soon as she could, she leaned back, breaking the kiss.
“Well, that was a surprise,” she tried to sound teasing but wondered about his out-of-character behavior. They didn’t do PDA. “Come in before our pizza gets cold.”
A frown furrowed between his eyebrows, and he searched her gaze for a split second before he cleared his expression. An uncertain lead weight dropped low in her stomach.
She led him into the kitchen where she’d already set out two plates and a wine glass for him. “How was your trip?” She handed him a plate and then went to fill his glass.
“Good.” He opened the box and placed two pieces of pizza on both their plates, giving her the small container of ranch dressing for her to dip her pizza into.
She smiled at him. Just another one of those little things that showed how much he cared for her. He always took note of her little preferences. It made her feel cherished, loved.
He fiddled with the string of cheese hanging off his piece of pizza. “The timing wasn’t the best with everything going on in the squadron, but it was good to get away for a few days and clear my head of the chaos the last few weeks have created.”
“That’s good.” Although she wouldn’t have guessed he felt better. Maybe his exhaustion had him strung so tight tonight. His shoulders were virtually around his ears, he was holding himself so stiffly. “Want to eat in the living room and we can start the movie?”
He shook his head and seemed to hesitate for a moment.
She tilted her head in question. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I just...” He firmed his mouth and gestured to the door. “Can we sit out on your patio while we eat? I want to catch up.”
“Um, sure.”
Her little adobe house had a hidden, quaint courtyard with desert landscaping, but a softly gurgling fountain made it a peaceful, Zen location. The courtyard had been in the shade for a few hours, so it would be cool, too. In one corner sat a small bistro table, in the other corner were two loungers. It was all covered by an open trellis lined with twinkle lights that were on a timer to turn on at sunset. They headed toward the bistro table. They sat. Felicia started to eat, but Steven continued to just pick at his pizza.
She set her piece down and wiped her hands on her napkin. “Is everything okay?”
He blew out a breath and gave her a sad smile. “You get me, you know? Even now, you can tell when something is bothering me.”
Her stomach tightened. So, something was wrong.
“I don’t think I’ve been very subtle that our relationship means everything to me. I love you, Felicia. I see spending the rest of my life with you by my side, but the last few weeks, it has felt like that reality is slipping further and further away. I don’t know what to do beside lay it all out so that you know where I’m at in this. And just in case you haven’t gotten it yet, I’m all in. Everything. Every part of me wants to be with you. Always.”
Oh, god. Her chest tightened as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She wasn’t ready for this. She felt frozen.
But Steven continued. “I know you have your vet practice here. I’m not going to stand in the way of that. I have no idea what I’ll do for a job, but I have some money saved, and I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry, you won’t be taking on a slacker.”
Felicia couldn’t help but laugh. Steven didn’t appear to notice that it was slightly hysterical. But, seriously, despite the panic zinging through her system, he was the furthest thing from a slacker ever.
He smiled and grabbed hold of her hand. “I’m not doing it right now, because the timing isn’t right. I know we’re both so exhausted that we can hardly see straight, but I need you to know...” He took another deep breath. “I had a diamond ring in my pocket the first night your ex showed up at the clinic.”
She suddenly couldn’t breathe.
“Everything since then has been a little off between us. I fully plan to fix that and get us back to where we were, and then I’m going to propose to you like you’ve never been proposed to before.”
A nervous giggle escaped her throat. “I think I might be a little scared.” Despite the fact that she’d never received a proposal before.
Steven laughed. “I’m not trying to do that. I just want us thinking along the same line. This is going to happen...soon.”
Her stomach knotted. “Wow, Steven, I don’t even know what to say.”
“Like I said, this isn’t happening yet, so you’re lucky that you don’t have to say anything. Not yet.” He winked at her, as his shoulders relaxed, looking more like the Steven she knew. He just wanted her to know where he stood.
She just nodded and swallowed the bundle of nerves that had settled low in her stomach. Steven was an amazing man. He was such a good guy. She’d be stupid to turn him down.
So, why did her heart tell her to do exactly that?
THE NEXT MORNING, FELICIA was more exhausted than she’d been the night before. She didn’t think she’d slept more than fifteen minutes at a time the entire night. Steven had stayed, but they’d both agreed that they needed sleep, not sex. So she’d lain in bed beside him and fretted about what the hell she was going to do.
But he’d left for the base an hour ago, so now she was free to worry in peace...well, as peaceful as her brain could get while headed to a vet clinic filled with barking and whining animals. She donned her vet’s coat and opened the front door of her house, and almost stumbled over a box on her porch.
Frowning, she bent and picked it up, instantly aware that an animal moved inside of it. The box was about two feet square and a foot deep. A note taped to the top had a simple-typed note...Please take car
e of our baby. There was no telling what was inside of it. She couldn’t hear whining, but the animal was probably terrified.
Unfortunately, this was way too common an occurrence here. Families got pets then discovered they were too much work. Although she was always thankful when someone abandoned them here rather than taking them out into the countryside to get eaten by bigger, scarier predators.
She carried the box to the clinic where she would have all her tools available for an examination.
Briggs had the early kennel shift today, and she passed his car in the parking lot to the unlocked back door. She propped the box on her hip, thankful it wasn’t that heavy, to pull the door open.
She set the box inside exam room four. “Briggs?” she called.
“Back here,” he called from the kennel area.
“When you get a chance, can you come assist me? We have another gifted stray.”
He called that he’d be there in just a few minutes. While she waited for him, she grabbed a new patient folder and gently pried up the tape on the flaps of the box. “Let’s see what we have,” she murmured and gently lifted one flap.
A split-second hiss was the only warning she got before a snake struck at her. She yelped and slammed the flaps back down. “Briggs! Bring me tape. Right the fuck now.”
Her heart raced, and she double-checked her hands for fang puncture wounds. Clear. Thank god.
Oh, hell. That had been a king cobra. One of the deadliest snakes in the world.
And someone had left it on her porch.
THREE HOURS LATER, Felicia found herself once again at the Terravista police station, visiting with Detective Vincent.
He visibly shuddered again as he finished taking her statement for the third time. He’d already listened to it twice through while at the vet clinic.
Popping his pen top against the table, he glanced up at her. “Okay, I think we have everything. Forensics will go over the box and the note to see if they can find any evidence.”
“Is that very likely?”
He nodded. “Possibly. There was packing tape on the box. The adhesive could hold fingerprints or DNA. They’re good at their jobs, but it will take a few days. In the meantime, I’ll be by your place tonight to get the security feeds off your new cameras.”
The systems were so new she didn’t know how to access the digital files. She’d have to call Geoff and get him to explain the process to her.
“We know the approximate time of delivery since your boyfriend left the house only an hour before, and the package wasn’t on the porch then.”
She bit her lip, feeling a bit guilty that she hadn’t told Steven the full truth when she had called to ask him about the box. She’d just said she’d gotten a delivery and was wondering if he saw it this morning when he left. He’d sounded distracted when he told her no, so that was probably the only reason how she got away with the lie.
“There might be street cameras that can help, too,” the detective continued. “I’m sure we’ll find something.”
“I hope so.” A shiver of fear ran down her spine. “Do you think this is related to the break-in and whoever flattened my tires?”
He shook his head. “It’s hard to know. On the surface, I’d say there’s nothing tying the crimes together, but unless you just have crap for luck, my instincts say that they almost have to be. I plan to investigate the crimes like they are, so that I won’t overlook clues that otherwise may not seem credible for the case. Someone seems to have it out for you, so you need to be extra vigilant. Maybe call your boyfriend to stay over more often, although that didn’t help with this morning’s attack.”
She chewed on the inside of her mouth to keep from screaming in frustration. Who was screwing with her and why? She was generally considered to be a nice person, but someone had taken a serious dislike to her. She could have died this morning if that snake had bit her. Cobras were highly venomous, and a bite could kill within thirty minutes.
She could feel the shivers starting deep in her bones as the adrenaline faded. She had to get out of there before she lost it. “So, are we good for now?” she asked.
The detective nodded, but studied her for a moment. “You’ve had a trying morning. Do you have a ride home? If not, I can get one of the patrol cars to give you a lift.”
“No, I’m fine.” She clenched her teeth as they began to chatter. “The clinic is only a couple of miles away. I’m fine to drive.”
He squinted at her like he didn’t believe her, so she gave him the widest smile she could muster. “I’ll call you as soon as my security guy explains how to get the video. Thank you, Detective Vincent.”
She rushed out of the building as fast as she could without drawing attention to herself.
In her truck, the tears began to flow followed quickly by sobs, and her entire body shook. Someone was trying to kill her, and she had absolutely no idea why.
Chapter Fourteen
“Colonel,” Gina, his secretary, said through his office intercom. “Your two o’clock is here.”
Gage glanced at the printed version of his agenda for today. Major Steven Hardesty.
He grimaced. Things were still extremely tense between him and the entire maintenance group, but he doubted that was why Major Hardesty had made his appointment this morning since his notes said, “career counseling.” Could he send Major Hardesty to serve a tour in Antarctica?
It was a nice thought, but the major would probably put in a complaint to the IG if Gage tried it. “Send him in,” he told Gina.
He stared at the document he was supposed to be filling out on his computer, but he was very aware as his competition for Felicia’s affections strode into the room. “Have a seat,” Gage said and continued to work on the document until he finished.
When he finally looked up, Major Hardesty looked distinctly annoyed. “Sorry, I had to get that done.”
“Sure,” Steven bit out. “I understand you’re busy...just like I am.” Those last four words cut like ice.
Gage clenched his teeth. “What can I do for you today, Major?”
“I want to put in my separation paperwork.”
Gage had been fussing with the piles of paper on his desk, but now he looked up in alarm, frowning at Steven. “Why?”
“My reasons shouldn’t matter.”
“They matter because despite our differences, even I can see that you’re a talented officer that the Air Force doesn’t need to lose. You have sixteen years in. Why would you want to quit now?”
“Because I know there are things that are more important than my career. I’m choosing the more important thing...person.”
Felicia.
Steven hadn’t said it, but he was doing this so he could stay here with Felicia. If he stayed in the Air Force, he’d be moving next year if not sooner. He was choosing the girl over the Air Force, something that Gage hadn’t been smart enough to do when he had the chance.
Gage shook his head. “You know my job is to promote the Air Force and our need to keep quality officers. As such, I’m not happy with this. Have you talked to her about this? Told her what you plan to do?”
Steven’s nostrils flared in anger, and Gage didn’t think he’d answer, which was well within his rights. If he were in Steven’s position, he sure as hell wouldn’t tell Steven a thing about his relationship with Felicia.
“Not in so many words, no,” Steven said. “But I have let her know what I’m thinking. I have the ring and am just waiting for the right moment.”
It got hard for Gage to breathe, but he tried not to let it show. “And she’s okay with you giving up your career like this? You’re just a few years away from retirement. Why not finish it out and retire at a higher pay grade? You could manage a long-distance relationship for a couple of years, couldn’t you?”
Steven glared at him. “And how’d that work for you?”
Sucker punch to the gut. Gage sucked in air. The silence of the room reverberated with unspoken tension.
Finally, Gage managed, “Point taken, but I still want you to consider this for a couple more weeks.”
Steven started to argue, but Gage lifted his hand to stop him. “This is advice I’d give to anyone who came into my office with these plans. Take until the Fourth of July. Then if this is still the path you want to take, I won’t stand in your way.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Is there anything else?” Gage asked.
Steven shook his head. “No. I appreciate the advice, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn earlier. That was uncalled for.”
Gage just nodded his acceptance of the apology. “Dismissed.”
After Steven left, Gage stood, went over to his office door, shut it, and then sank to a crouch on the floor.
Felicia and Steven married, together forever.
His heart pounded in his chest. He’d tried not to let himself think through all the possibilities of their relationship. Just the idea Felicia had moved on had been devastating. But the real-life knowledge that she’d gone on without him, found love without him, might live out her dreams of a family and happily ever after...without him... He needed to run, something to get away from this pain engulfing his chest, his heart, his soul.
Oh, hell. How could he continue to live in this town where the woman he loved now loved someone else? How could he watch them plan their future together?
ONE OF GAGE’S DUTIES as the base wing commander was to attend functions in town as the representative from the base. It helped to promote cooperation between the town and the local communities. Two days after his meeting with Steven, Gage found himself at one of these events...a formal evening party at the local zoo to celebrate the opening of the penguin habitat.
In a surprising turn of events, London had wanted to come along. He escorted her through the reception taking place under the huge, cottonwood trees that ringed the zoo. Twinkle lights and candle-lit lanterns hung from the centuries-old branches, creating a surprisingly romantic and intimate feel to the gathering of at least a couple hundred people.