“Yeah, it does. I need you to trust me.”
Copper smiled remembering having told him she trusted him before and having it thrown back at her. “Okay.”
“I mean it. I don’t want you hurt.”
Reaching up she touched his cheek. He always seemed to listen better if she touched him. She wondered if he realized that.
“I believe you. Now let’s get ready so we can get you home.”
He held her gaze for a few more seconds, but Copper held firm. If he saw how much she really cared he would push her away. She doubted he had any idea how much he’d just told her about himself in the brief exchange. It wasn’t just Garrett he was worried about hurting her; it was himself.
When Tres came back they were ready. Copper stayed close but Dos insisted on walking with just his cane. By the time they got to the back door he was worn out. Copper tried to hurry him into the car, but he and Tres were talking about Garrett again.
“How’d Garrett figure out you were at church?” Tres asked as Ace joined them just inside the door.
“My guess is he followed one or both of you and waited to see if I would show. I’m just glad he didn’t see us with mom and dad.”
The brothers nodded in agreement.
Copper saw, in that moment, the reality of the Masters men. It was them against the world. Their safety didn’t matter, but heaven help anyone who harmed someone they cared about. She almost smiled. She hadn’t believed men like them existed anywhere but fairy tales.
No wonder you fell in love with one.
Oh God, nonononono, she told herself as she tried to push Dos toward the door. She refused to love a man whose duty came before everything and anyone. That’s what her mother did and Copper was not going to live like her mother.
“You okay?”
Dos’ voice cut into her inner debate. “Me? Yeah. We just need to get you off your feet.”
He smiled down at her. “In a minute.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Ace asked, and Copper lost Dos’ attention.
“First I need to find out where they’re staying,” he said turning to Tres. “Have you had any luck with that?”
Tres shook his head.
“Keep trying. Garrett’s got at least one other guy with him. Other than the fact he’s South American I don’t have any intel on him yet. Garrett could blend in anywhere, but the other guy not so easily.”
“I’ll take care of it. Anything else?” Tres asked.
“For now just be on alert. Don’t discount anything that’s out of the ordinary as unimportant. Garrett’s not brilliant, but he knows how to play cat and mouse. If he can’t get to me he’ll probably try to draw me out with one of you.”
“No worries,” Ace said. “He comes after us, we’ll be ready.”
“Okay, enough let’s go,” Copper said.
They filed out the door to the car where Ace held the back door open. She climbed in and slid to the far side.
“In you go, little brother, meter’s running,” Ace said.
Copper smiled at the teasing brotherly concern and Dos’ answering growl. She leaned forward to say goodbye to Tres. He leaned in the doorway.
“Take care of him, Copper. He won’t listen to us, but I think you have the magic touch.”
“I’ll try, but he’s pretty stubborn.”
“Masters trait, sorry,” he said closing the door.
Copper reached for her seat belt as Ace put the car in gear.
“Okay, here’s the plan. Gina’s keeping an eye out for anyone tailing us. Copper you’re going to slouch down so it looks like a kid in the back seat. And Dos is going to lay down and rest, so it looks like only a little kid in the backseat. Got it?”
Chapter Thirteen
Dos allowed himself the ride to the cabin to recover. He let Copper massage his head and say all the reassuring things nurses said to patients. Well, he told himself that’s all her talk was, nurse to patient. The fact it didn’t sound anything like what the nurses at the base had said to him made little difference.
Opening his eyes he realized it wasn’t as bright as before. He turned his head a little so he could look out the far window. Snow had started to fall.
“You okay?”
Copper’s quiet question drew his gaze to her. Those beautiful green eyes called to him. Images of snow covered windows, roaring fires, and Copper naked flooded his brain.
Whoa. Dos quickly broke eye contact.
“Yeah, fine. I don’t remember snow in the forecast.”
“And when was the last time you believed the weatherman?” Ace asked from the front seat.
Good point, Dos thought. Predicting weather in the Rocky Mountains was a crap shoot at best. He pulled his coat tighter around him, glad he hadn’t taken Tres’ leather coat. His duster was warmer.
Closing his eyes again he concentrated on the warmth of Copper’s hands and his coat trying to keep himself from shivering. The car was plenty warm but he was freezing. The damned virus seemed to be reverting to its original symptoms. He needed to catch Garrett and Cardone before it totally took over again.
The car pulled to a stop and he felt cold air rush in the car. Ace was rolling down the window, so they must be at the cabin. Dos sat up slowly. Moving too fast would bring the headache pounding back full force. He needed his wits about him to get some serious work done.
He wanted to tell Ace to just pull up front, and drop them off. He didn’t waste his breath. Ace leaving before he was certain Dos was in good hands wouldn’t happen. The car moved through the gate and stopped at the garage. Dos reached for the door handle to get out and enter the code manually.
“Don’t move,” Ace said, already getting out.
Fisting his hands Dos did as ordered. Once the car was in and the garage door closed he started to climb out of the car. It wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped.
Every muscle screamed with movement. Every joint ached as if he was an old man with arthritis. The air was frigid and burned his lungs. God, how was he going to convince anyone he had recovered enough to be left alone? The question fueled his determination to do so.
Walking around Copper’s SUV he went to the door and started to enter the code. Before he pushed the last number Kismet slammed into the door.
“The welcoming committee has arrived,” he said.
“Let me go first,” Copper said from behind him. “We don’t need him jumping on you.”
Dos punched in the last number and let Copper go around him. As much as he enjoyed the dog, right now he didn’t think dancing with Kismet would be a good idea. When Copper had hold of the dog’s collar and told him to stay, Dos stepped in followed closely by Ace and Gina.
Kismet’s body vibrated much like the first time Dos had seen him. Leaning over he scratched behind the shivering ears. “Hey, boy. How’s it going?”
A deep woof was Kismet’s response and they all chuckled.
“So this is the infamous cabin,” Gina said.
“Don’t get comfortable, you’re not staying”
“Relax, big guy, I hadn’t planned on it. I just never expected to get a look inside. It’s nice. I see why you like it up here so much.”
“I like it better when I’m alone.”
“That was subtle,” Copper said beside him.
“Subtle isn’t in Dos’ vocabulary,” Ace told her. “Besides, he means us, not you.”
“Don’t count on it,” Copper said.
Dos didn’t bother commenting. No matter what he said he’d be lying to someone, himself or them.
“Really, Ace, you guys should head back down before the weather gets worse. Tres is already going to be worried about his baby being out in bad weather.” Dos was glad he added the last when Ace nodded with rolled eyes. Tres’ restored 66 Nova wasn’t out of the garage except in sunny weather.
“Come on, G. My brother needs to rest and I need to get you back to work.”
“I’m coming. Don’t let him give you any guff, Coppe
r,” Gina said walking back down the hall.
“I’ll try not to,” Copper said.
Dos glared at both of them. “I’m right here, guys. I can hear you.”
Gina patted his face as she walked to the door. “You were meant to, silly. Behave.”
Once they were gone Dos reset the system. After hanging up his coat he headed for the kitchen. Aspirin and water were first on the agenda. Then he needed to see if the Colonel had come up with anything on Dr. Martin.
Copper beat him down the hall. “You go lay down. I’ll bring you some water.”
“I don’t have time to lie down. I need answers.”
She stopped abruptly and he almost ran into her. “Answers can wait an hour or so. Dad will call if anything new comes up and Tres will call when he learns something here. Anything else takes a backseat until your fever comes down and you’ve eaten something.”
“Who said I had a fever?”
“I’m a nurse, remember? I had your head in my hands the whole way up here. Add to that the fact that you’ve been shivering for the last fifteen minutes and it isn’t a big leap.”
Shit, he thought he’d hidden it better than that. At least he didn’t have a thermometer for her to stick in his mouth. “It’s not a big deal. It’ll go away in a little while.”
“Then, in a little while you can work.”
The sarcastic smile she aimed at him didn’t bode well. Copper’s smiles usually made him feel better. This one made him feel like a bug under a microscope. “All I need is some aspirin.”
“Change into something warmer first. I’ll give you a few minutes to get in bed before I bring the aspirin in.”
Tired of arguing Dos glared at her and went to change. Flannels would feel better than cold denim anyway. After pulling a sweatshirt over his head he felt a little better, though exhausted. The bed tempted him. His mind drifted back to waking with Copper in his arms that morning. The warmth of comfort washed over him with how right it had felt. Almost as right as the way her flannel lounge pants looked tossed across the end of his bed. Before he realized he had moved he stood beside the bed with her pants in his hand. He stared down at them then up at the closed door, listening to Copper move around his kitchen.
Dos took two steps to the bedside table and opened the drawer. His gaze zeroed in on the condom packages she’d put there. Would it be so wrong to take the afternoon off? To forget about drug lords, betrayal, and his health? To pretend for one afternoon he was just a normal man in a mountain cabin with a beautiful woman. Before he thought too hard about the answers he put one of the condoms in his pocket and left the room.
Copper was busy making sandwiches when he walked in the kitchen. The thought that she looked like she belonged there tightened his chest. He rubbed at the place telling himself it was probably residual spasms from the earlier attack.
She glanced up. “Well, at least you did part of it.”
“I decided you were right, I could use something to eat.”
“Good, but I can bring it in to you.”
“I don’t eat in bed,” he said getting water from the fridge. “Want anything?”
“No, I’m having tea.”
Dos snagged the aspirin bottle and went to the table. After tossing down three he stared at the snow through the window.
“It’s beautiful up here when it snows,” Copper said.
Dos couldn’t argue that. He looked at the plate she set in front of him. Unlike what his mother had prepared this plate had half a sandwich, and a couple slices of fruit. He just might be able to eat all of it. It was nice not having to pretend with her.
“I figured we could have a small meal now and maybe another later.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said taking a bite. “And a tasty one, at that.”
They sat for several minutes eating in silence, both of them watching the snow fall. The comfort of their silence amazed him. Usually with people around he felt the need to do something. He glanced at her. With Copper he was perfectly comfortable just being there.
“It’s coming down harder,” she said.
“Maybe we’ll get snowed in,” he said looking back out the window.
“Now that’s wishful thinking,” Copper said laughing.
Her laughter washed over him like a spring rain despite the snowy landscape. It was exactly what he was wishing. To be snowed in with his copper-haired angel. He couldn’t think of anything better.
“Well, you must be feeling better. That’s the first time I’ve seen you clean a plate since we met.”
Dos looked down to see only crumbs on his plate. He didn’t even remember eating it all. Taking a moment to digest the fact he also realized he didn’t feel sick. Amazing since for months that was how he felt no matter what he ate.
“Must be your cooking,” he said.
“Yeah, it takes a lot of skill to throw a couple pieces of meat between bread slices.”
“Whatever, it was good. So good, in fact, my buddy here didn’t even get a taste.” He stroked his hand over the furry head next to his thigh.
“Oh, Kismet, you are such a baby. Here,” she tossed him a piece of bread and he gobbled it down. “Now go lie down and leave Dos alone.”
“Go on,” Dos urged. He watched the mammoth dog walk over and lay down in front of the fireplace. It was a good enough excuse for Dos. He stood and crossed to the wood bin and got the hearth ready.
Copper came out of the kitchen to find a good blaze going. She watched Dos sit on the hearth and gaze into the fire. She couldn’t remember a time in the past two days when he’d looked so peaceful. Wouldn’t it be great to make it last a while longer?
Deciding it was worth a shot she grabbed some pillows as she walked into the room. She tossed the pillows on the rug in front of the ottoman then grabbed an afghan.
“Come here,” she said when Dos glanced over. “You can stick your feet under Kiz to keep them warm. You deserve to enjoy your handiwork for a little while.”
She watched the debate play behind his gorgeous eyes. He wanted to, but something held him back.
“No strings, just your nurse telling you to rest a little while longer,” she said, hoping the nurse part would sell it.
When he was sitting next to her she tossed the afghan over them both and snuggled a little closer. Her position must have made keeping his arm beside him uncomfortable because he put it around her shoulders. She didn’t complain.
“So, tell me about this vow you made when you were twelve.”
“You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“Nope.”
For a minute he just stroked his thumb absently up and down her arm. Copper didn’t push knowing it had to be something big to have made such an impression on him so young.
“Our father was a cop. He was shot and killed when we were twelve.”
“Oh God, I’m so sorry, Dos.” She couldn’t stop herself from hugging him. Whatever she’d expected him to say, it wasn’t this. She still didn’t have a clue what this had to do with a vow to avoid relationships.
Copper didn’t say anything more, knowing how hard it is to deal with such a loss. She gave him all the time he needed.
“Yeah, we were devastated. Then we listened to mom cry herself to sleep every night. I’ll never forget that sound.
“Anyway, at the time all three of us planned to be cops just like our father. We didn’t want to cause anyone that kind of pain. We figured if we didn’t let anyone close they couldn’t get hurt.”
“Okay,” Copper said slowly, trying to find a way to not scream at him how stupid it was. “I can see where that would make sense to twelve-year-olds, but now you guys have to see how wrong it is.”
“Not really, it’s worked for us so far. Well, except for when Tres slipped and got married.”
“I didn’t know Tres was married,” she said sensing hope.
“He’s not. That’s the point. He was shot answering a domestic dispute call. I saw his wife at the h
ospital. She was a pretty little thing, but terrified is the only way to describe how she looked that day. She didn’t even wait until he regained consciousness after surgery. She ran home, packed her bags, and filed for divorce. Tres was devastated.”
“Of course. The woman was being ridiculous. You do not run out on someone you love just because things aren’t pretty.” Copper would never understand that mentality.
“No, you don’t get it. He was devastated because he caused her such pain. If he hadn’t married her it wouldn’t have happened.”
Copper leaned forward so she could turn and face him. He really couldn’t be this dense. Meeting his steady gaze she realized he was dead serious. “You have got to be kidding,” she said. He shook his head. His eyes were clear and serious. She had to straighten him out. “So you think because you haven’t said you love me, and I haven’t said I love you, that if you died I wouldn’t be upset?”
Panic burst in his eyes as she spoke.
Damage control fast, girl.
She leaned forward bracketing his body at the same moment he started to stand. “Relax, I’m not saying I do love you, I’m just trying to prove a point.”
Not knowing where she got the strength to stare him down she held her ground. It took what seemed like hours before he finally leaned back.
“Okay, what’s the point?”
“Keeping yourself distanced from people won’t stop them from caring about you. And you and your brothers being in more dangerous jobs has nothing to do with how devastated people would be if any of you died. I’m sure your mother would cry just as much if something happened to Jamie, don’t you?
“Besides, you’re missing out on the best part of life. Touching other people, even for a moment, is what makes life worth living,” she said leaning back against the ottoman again. “Otherwise you’re just walking through life like a tourist, watching but never participating. What fun is that?”
“It’s safer,” he said.
The discussion had gotten much more serious than she’d intended. Of course, she hadn’t expected him to talk about his father being killed. She had the perfect way to lighten the mood.
Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) Page 18