“No,” he answered her question about his injury, and then the rest of what she said registered. “You were in the military?”
“Four years as a Navy nurse,” she said smiling with pride.
That’s right. He’d forgotten about her academy graduation picture. Now, utterly confused he couldn’t keep from frowning. “Then why are you so anti-military?”
“I’m not anti-military,” she said shrugging and looking away.
Dos waited without saying anything more. Sometimes you got more with silence than interrogation. When her gaze finally came back to him, he saw resignation in her eyes.
“Okay, I guess it did sound that way, but I’m not. I have nothing but respect for all the men and women serving. But. . .”
This was going to be good. The pregnant pause said it all.
“I grew up an Army brat, then served four years, lost my brother in the war, and have an overprotective Colonel for a father. There, now you know my entire life history.”
Dos took her verification of his suspicion in stride. He did, however, make a mental note to discuss it with the Colonel. He may have told Tres he didn’t think it too coincidental, but he wasn’t totally convinced. One thing he knew for sure was how hard her brother’s death had been. Dos had watched it devastate the Colonel. He could see the Colonel becoming overprotective of Copper. Cocking his head, Dos considered her earlier question.
“Why did you think your father sent me here? Have you had other problems before this that would have him concerned?”
“No.”
Dos cocked an eyebrow waiting for more, though she couldn’t see it because he hadn’t cut his hair in so long. He wasn’t used to all this free time. His life was routines, schedules, missions. Without them he kept putting things off until tomorrow. Not that it mattered, he doubted the tomorrow he wanted would ever come.
Dropping his pen he scrubbed a hand over his face disgusted with his self-pity. Action, that’s what he needed. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“To check out your office. It’ll give me a better idea of what to recommend for security.” Reaching for his cane he motioned toward the door. As stiff as he was already, he decided to stop and slip on his coat. The long duster style kept some of the chilling October mountain winds from his aching muscles and bones. His hat went on out of habit.
When they stepped onto the opposite sidewalk Mr. Park, from the shop next door, stepped out. Dos nodded in greeting.
“You help her out,” the man said. “She’s a good girl. Take care of her.”
Knowing an order when he heard one, Dos saluted before stepping cautiously into Copper’s shop. The scent of her ruined inventory still hung heavy in the air. He left the door open and added a window. After taking a deep breath of outside air he turned back to the room.
“Sorry, it was getting better, but I closed everything up when I came over to your office,” she said, then grinned. “It’s a hard habit to break.”
“Hm?” he asked, already cataloging the security problems with the place.
“The salute you gave Mr. Park. It took me months to stop saluting my mother, after I was discharged.”
“Well, I’m not out yet, so it’s not a habit I’m ready to break. Besides, I know an order when I hear one,” Dos said walking around the front room. “I was just acknowledging I understood and would take care of it.”
“I don’t need taking care of.”
Dos glanced over his shoulder at her unexpected harsh tone. “I didn’t say you did.”
Finding her undeniably tempting in her frustration he turned away. “Mr. Parks is an old man, it’s a generational thing. Men from his era still think that way. Don’t worry, I know better. I’ve worked with female soldiers. I know most of you aren’t half as delicate as you appear.”
“I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere, but I’m not sure. And the last time I was called delicate I believe I was eight and gave my brother Patrick a black eye for it. I doubt he ever forgot it,” she said with a chuckle.
Her laughter cascaded over his shoulders wrapping him in its simple happiness. “He didn’t,” Dos said grinning at the memory of a late night chat with her brother.
“Excuse me?”
Too late Dos realized his mistake. “I, uh, served with your brother during his first tour in Iraq,” he said turning to face her. She did not look happy. “How do you know you served with my brother?”
“Once I learned your name, and then you mentioned his death, I realized who you were.”
“You swear my father didn’t send you here?”
“No, I came home a month ago in no shape to do much of anything,” he said meeting her gaze head on. The fact that her father had suggested he come home had nothing to do with her. It had everything to do with the fact his brothers wouldn’t leave the base hospital until he agreed to it. That and Intel saying Cardone’s fury over Dos’ rescue hadn’t cooled. The bastard had put a contract on Dos’ head. But she didn’t need to know any of that. He watched her drum her fingers on her sleeve considering what he’d said.
“But you know him, don’t you.”
Knowing he would be found out if he liked, he nodded. “He’s my C.O.”
“Great,” she said, rolling her eyes as she turned away.
Seeing her reaction he again thought there might be some family history he didn’t know about. Obviously, she wasn’t fond of her father. He, on the other hand, respected the man more than anyone he knew. Deciding silence was his best defense right now, he took it.
“Okay, I’ll make this easy on you,” she said turning back. “I already called and left a message for him about the break in. Do not call him. I don’t need a babysitter. I just need advice, okay?”
“Got it,” he said, relieved he wouldn’t have to talk to the Colonel on such a personal level. As insistent as she was about him not talking to the Colonel about her issues, he let go of the thought the Colonel was using Copper to spy on him. He turned back to the task at hand. The place had definitely been trashed.
“The first thing we need is to get the front door replaced. Repairing it won’t stop anyone,” he turned and grinned at her. “Locking it right now might look good, but it isn’t going to keep anyone out. The frame is shot and the bolt doesn’t even engage.”
“I know, it’s a habit.”
“And a good one,” he said, turning toward the back of the shop. That way he didn’t have to look at her sad eyes. It was obvious how much she loved this place. “Let me look around some--"
His cell phone vibrated. “Sorry,” he said, looking over his shoulder as he pulled it from his pocket. “Masters. Yes, sir,” he said, to the Colonel. He didn’t bother trying to hide the conversation from Copper.
“Yes, sir, my office is across the street. I was there when she came in and found it. She came over to call the police, then came back to ask for advice on security after the police left.” He listened a moment more. “Yes, she’s fine, sir. Would you like to talk to her?”
Offering Copper the phone, he grinned.
Copper offered a sarcastic smile in response, as she took the phone. “Dad, why are you calling in the ground forces? It was a simple burglary. I wasn’t even here. I told you, I’m fine.”
She listened, and then signaled to Dos to give her a minute. When he nodded and began walking through the mess she called her business, she stepped outside.
Watching him through the open window Copper appreciated him unnoticed, as her father ranted about her cheeky comments. Dos Masters was tall and well built without a doubt. Six five at least, she figured, and his biceps had strained his shirt sleeves when he’d pushed off the desk to stand in his office. His accident, or whatever happened had given him a limp, but she’d noticed how his jeans, though a tad loose, covered a toned body. Then he put on that long coat hiding all his wonderful manly assets. Allowing her gaze to rove up over his back to his neck, and the dark waves peppered with gr
ay peeking out between his collar and hat, she grinned. Knowing just how military he must be to have her father’s attention, the long hair meant he’d been out of commission for a while.
And he wasn’t happy about it.
Her father’s tone became more concerned and Copper returned her attention to his comments. She listened to the well thought out, but anxious words. Colonel Devlin Kerrigan never accepted excuses. If he cared about this man enough to ask her to try to help with his rehab, the guy had to be very important to him. Her father didn’t invest emotion in people lightly.
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do. In the mean time, don’t use him to spy on me. I can take care of myself. I was smart enough to find someone to help me with security, wasn’t I?” she asked. “I love you, too. Bye.”
The man could be irritating as all get out, but it was always nice to know someone loved you. Turning, she walked back inside. “Dos?”
“Back here,” his deep masculine voice called from her massage room. It brought to mind melted dark chocolate and graham crackers. A very out of place thought, considering the way her morning had gone.
Making her way to the back room she found him standing in the middle of what could have been the devastation of a tornado. Only it wasn’t. It was her massage room and everything in it was broken. The table, stereo, and shelves were all smashed and laying in the water and rocks from her fountain. Why would someone do this?
“Because you have something they want,” Dos said.
Copper jumped at the sound of his voice. She didn’t think she’d really asked why out loud. He turned then, meeting her gaze. The man had the most soulful pair of dark brown eyes she’d ever seen. They matched her appreciation of his voice. Shaking herself out of her reverie, she narrowed her eyes in fake frustration. “How did you do that?”
He grinned. “I heard you come to the entry. It wasn’t hard to figure out what you would be thinking looking at this destruction.”
“Nothing a little elbow grease and lotta money can’t fix. Problem is I have more elbow grease than money. Isn’t that the way it always goes?” She smiled at his perplexed expression. “What?”
“I guess I haven’t been around civilians long enough. I don’t remember most people, let alone women, being so pragmatic about crimes against them.”
Stepping closer she handed him back his phone and shrugged. “Well, sitting down and bawling my eyes out isn’t going to help anything. And, you have to remember who my father is. So, what’s your assessment?”
“Let me think about it. First, I’ll make a call and get someone out here to take care of the door. I’ll get back to you after lunch,” he said flipping his phone open and stepping toward the door.
“Lunch, that’s why I’m so hungry, I didn’t realize it was so late. Come on,” she said, taking hold of his coat sleeve before he could punch a number on the phone. She walked him through the shop. “Maddie, at the Last Bite Diner has a great Friday special. The door can wait, it’s not like there’s anything left to break.”
Refusing to take no for an answer, she didn’t release him, even when they were on the sidewalk. Copper might appear to be taking everything in stride, but she was nervous. His comment about her having something they wanted scared her. Facing bad guys in war was one thing. She had handled that when she did her tour. At home was a different story. Her life in Braedon’s Edge had been quiet and uneventful since moving into the house she inherited from her grandparents. The other reason it scared her was, she hadn’t a clue what she had anyone would want. She wasn’t broke, but she wasn’t rich either, so it couldn’t be money. Her shop wasn’t in a bad part of town, but not in the most desirable spot so she doubted it was her real estate. Not knowing was frightening. Having the big guy around made her feel better.
“Are you in for a treat,” she said, continuing to hold his arm as they walked. Copper ignored the way he glared down at it, but didn’t pull away. “Friday is fried chicken. Maddie makes the best.”
The diner was three doors down. Copper didn’t have to slow her pace, even though Dos had his cane. His stride was still long enough to match hers. He held the door for her and she smiled. God she loved men with old time manners.
He guided her to a booth in the back. She let him, though her preference was to be up front so she could greet everyone. “Don’t want anyone to see you with me?” she teased. The lopsided grin he cast her made her wiggle her eyebrows. “Should I be worried about a jealous lover as well as a burglar?”
“Not likely,” he said shaking his head. “I prefer the back. Less noise, less light, fewer windows, and less activity. I can relax back here.”
“Ah, the old back to the wall thing, gotcha.”
“You are definitely nothing like your father.”
“I’d take that as a compliment, except I have no doubt you’ve got him on a pedestal. But, you’re wrong. I’m a lot like my father. I just fight it every chance I get.”
“Hey, handsome, the usual?” a woman asked coming up to the table with a coffee pot. “Copper, is that you?”
“Hi, Maddie. You know Dos?” Copper asked, as the woman filled their cups.
“When I’m in town, I come here for lunch and coffee. It forces me to move,” he answered for the woman. “You wanted the special, right?”
Copper nodded and smiled at her friend, letting Dos get away with it for the moment. “It’s my treat.”
“Like that’s going to happen,” Maddie said, looking at Dos and laughing as she left to place the orders.
Cocking her head Copper considered the man sitting across from her. He had definitely been on her father’s special team. He had all the qualifications. Intelligence, clear in his observant eyes; strength, obvious in the way his body strained his clothes with different movements; reserve, evident in the way he didn’t allow Maddie to answer a question about him; alert went without saying from his constant scanning of the diner’s occupants; and stealthy. She had noticed the quietness of his footfalls on the hardwood and sidewalk. A man his size, with boots on and a cane, should make a lot more noise. Still, she enjoyed learning about people no matter how difficult they tried to make it. She always rose to a challenge.
“Why won’t this be my treat?” she asked, when he didn’t squirm under her scrutiny.
He shrugged. “Guess she figures I’m an old fashioned kind of guy.”
Shaking her head Copper didn’t accept it. “She doesn’t figure, she knows you well would be my guess.”
“I told you I come here for food and coffee,” he said. He lifted his cup and took a sip as if to prove his point.
Copper rolled her eyes. “Why is it so hard for you to answer simple questions?”
“Why is it so hard for you to stop asking them?”
She gave him points for sticking to his guns. “I like people. I like getting to know them.”
He leaned toward her shaking his head. “You don’t want or need to get to know me. I’ll help you with the security, but then forget me.”
Copper wondered at the decidedly serious change in his tone and attitude. He couldn’t be a trouble maker if he had her father’s respect. Determined not to let his words put her off she shook her head, too, but added a smile. “Can’t do it, you’re a friend of my father’s. It would be rude.”
“Not a friend, a subordinate.”
Copper snorted. “Subordinate, my patootie. Dad didn’t talk about you as if you were anything but an equal. That puts you in the rare friendship category with him. So, we’ll be getting to know each other better.” Leaning forward she widened her smile. “No matter how hard you make it.”
She held his glare until he leaned back and pulled his phone out. Copper prayed it wasn’t her father he was calling. Pissing off one of her father’s favorites didn’t bode well. She listened with interest as he spoke into the phone.
“Hey, brother, I need a favor.”
His conversation turned to the damage to her business. She tuned the words out. She
did not stop watching him. Unsure whether he had used the term brother because the person really was his brother she looked for clues. He didn’t give much. His easy attitude with the person could simply come from knowing him well. When Dos mentioned cost she reached in her bag for her wallet and credit cards. He shook his head and held up his hand.
“Okay, we’ll see you in half an hour,” he said and hung up.
“I’m paying for the door. That is not negotiable.” Their food came and she waited until the waitress left to push the point. “I mean it.”
“Didn’t doubt it for a minute,” he said cutting into his open-faced roast beef sandwich. “When we know how much it’s going to cost we’ll deal with paying.”
Okay, she could let it go for now. He seemed to be enjoying his food and hers smelled heavenly. They could talk later. Her stomach demanded fried chicken now.
Twenty minutes later Copper looked for the waitress. Dos had eaten only half of his food, but pushed the rest away. She turned her gaze back to him planning to dig for more information while they waited.
“You ready?” he asked reaching for his hat hanging on a peg at the end of the booth.
“We have to wait for the bill.”
“I’m sure Maddie put it on my tab.” He stood and lifted her coat from its hook.
Copper stood ready to argue, but he held her coat up. When she turned to slip her arms in his breath brushed her ear. He surprised her by whispering in her ear.
“You were right. Maddie does know me.”
Copper turned her head and found herself caught in his delicious gaze. Who needed dessert with yummy eyes like that close by? She saw the moment he realized how unguarded his gaze was and shuttered it. A shame, Copper thought with regret. She really wanted dessert.
He pulled her coat onto her shoulders and they left the diner. Not wanting to push too hard she didn’t take his arm again as they walked back toward the shop.
“So how long since your accident?” she asked.
“Accident?”
“The leg?” Copper clarified knowing he was just putting her off.
Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) Page 3