Explosive Reunion

by Karen Kirst

  He motioned over his shoulder. “I’m going to show this photo to the guys on duty.”

  “I’ll be with my mom.”

  Tori was glad for the break in the case. However, frustration needled her. Why would a random stranger target her?

  After her mom introduced her to some friends she hadn’t yet met, she pulled her behind the gift table. “How are you, darling?”

  “My mind is clear, and I feel energized.” The effects of the drug had worn off quickly.

  “I didn’t mean your physical state. How are you coping? On top of what happened at the apartment, it can’t be easy spending every waking moment with Cade.”

  Without prompting, her gaze sought him out. His constant state of alertness showed in the way he carried himself, his body bristling with suppressed energy. He kept his right hand free, periodically brushing against his sidearm as if to reassure himself it was still there. Tori could almost picture him in enemy territory, a warrior decked in camo, willing and able to do whatever necessary to secure victory.

  His body was honed into a human weapon. He was mentally tough, too. Any man who survived the rigorous boot camp at Parris Island had to be. Add to that years of training in harsh conditions—designed to prepare Marines for the realities of war—and she couldn’t have asked for a better protector.

  “Be honest, Mom. You’d like nothing more than to see us back together.”

  “I happen to think you’re perfect for each other. You simply weren’t ready at eighteen.” At Tori’s instant protest, she held up a finger. “However, I haven’t been praying selfish prayers. I’ve asked the Lord to bring His chosen man into your life.”

  “You mean a civilian who doesn’t embezzle money from his company?”

  “You’ve always believed the best of people. Don’t let your experience with Patrick make you cynical.” Barbara patted her hand. “And I know your father’s and my struggles tarnished your view of military life. There are things you don’t know, Tori. Things I should’ve told you a long time ago.”

  “What things?”

  The shriek of an alarm drowned out the musicians. The high-pitched pulse vibrated through the room, assaulting Tori’s ears. Around them, some people froze, while others started calmly moving toward the exits.

  “I don’t smell smoke. Do you?” Barbara looked toward the kitchens.

  “Not at all.”

  Tori searched the spacious room for Cade. When she didn’t see him, her blood turned cold.

  Was there a true emergency inside the inn or was her attacker here, waiting to pounce?

  EIGHT

  The alarm startled Cade. Outside in the hall, he spun toward the meeting room. “Tori.”

  Julian pulled his weapon from the shoulder holster hidden beneath his suit jacket. “Scattering everyone and luring them out into the open? Perfect opportunity to snatch her.”

  Together, they rushed inside. The space was rapidly emptying through a pair of exits no longer manned by his guys.

  His stomach roiled. “I don’t see her.”

  A few employees loitered near the buffet tables, unfazed by the continuing pulse of sound. “Is there a fire somewhere in the building?”

  “The manager isn’t sure what triggered the alarm. He’s investigating now.”

  Cade and Julian threaded their way through the throng and exited into the muggy evening. He craned his neck for a better view.

  “There.”

  Julian pointed to the corner of the building, where Jason, Heath Polanski and their dates formed a tight circle around Tori. Barbara and his mom stood close by, deep in conversation. His buddies, Fleming and Powers, flanked the group, alert and ready to defend.

  “Anything strike you as unusual?” He scanned the utility buildings and employee parking lot. Sand dunes blocked the view of the beach.

  “No, but this guy’s proven his marksmanship skills. Let’s get her back inside ASAP.”

  At their approach, Tori snagged his gaze and wouldn’t let go. If this was an ordinary celebration, if her life wasn’t in danger, he’d have trouble keeping his admiration in check. She’d surprised him by foregoing her usual demure skirts for a pair of slim, ankle-length black pants, chunky black sandals and a swingy, white sequined tank top that showcased her smooth shoulders and toned arms. She was stunning.

  Hardly appropriate, McMann. Focus.

  Heath turned to him. “Any clue what’s going on, Staff Sergeant?”

  “Not yet.”

  “You’re off duty, dude.” Jason nudged his friend. “No need to be formal.”

  “It’s a sign of respect.” Heath smirked and shook his head. “You’ll understand one of these days. When are you taking the ASVAB?”

  “Next week. I’m studying every chance I get. Cade’s been giving me pointers, too.”

  Tori quickly squelched her look of surprise. Cade had agreed to help Jason study for the military entrance exams long before she’d returned. He didn’t like going against her wishes, but he truly believed her brother would succeed in the Corps.

  His date shot him an encouraging smile. “You’re gonna ace it, Jason. Before you know it, you’ll be wearing the uniform.”

  “Thanks, Jill.”

  Cade made his way to Tori’s side, his fingers skimming her wrist. “Okay?”

  “Fine.” The breeze teased her hair, pushing it into her eyes. Without thinking, Cade moved to dislodge it, threading the pearlescent strands behind her ear. Shimmery lip gloss emphasized the shape of her lips.

  He banished that thought. Kissing her was out of the question.

  “Did you know my sister is against me enlisting?”

  Tori’s breath caught. Her cheeks pinked. “Jason, we should discuss this later.”

  His eyes challenged her. “I simply find it ironic that you’re eager to accept the protection of these Marines.” He gestured to Julian and the others. “But you don’t want me to serve, and you don’t want anything to do with anyone who does.”

  “Tori’s right,” Cade intervened. “This is hardly the time.”

  While he understood Jason’s frustration, this wasn’t the time or place for this discussion.

  Jill, along with Heath’s date, slipped away, affording the siblings privacy. Heath lingered. Annoyed, Cade flashed a look at the lance corporal that he correctly interpreted and went to join the women.

  “I respect and admire our military men and women and their families,” Tori said. “I appreciate their sacrifices.”

  The image of her father’s flag-draped casket pulsed through his mind, the sharp, body-jolting reports of the guns’ salute an echo of loss and grief. Thomas died twelve years ago. Tori had been sixteen and Jason only six. Her experiences involving her father were vastly different from Jason’s.

  The quick flare of anger was snuffed out in Jason’s face, but resentment smoldered. Cade didn’t think Tori was aware just how much her choice to live elsewhere had hurt the boy.

  “You can’t keep me in a cocoon. There are risks to any job. I could get hurt at the factory. One year ago, a guy died because a forklift fell on him. There are accidents on Cade’s dad’s fishing boats.” He tugged on the knot in his tie. “At least I’ll have proper training in the Corps.”

  A fire truck lumbered down the side road and rounded the building, out of sight. Julian and the others stood stoically a few yards away, watching the crowd.

  “You’re too young to remember the bad times.” Sadness tinged her tone. “The demands of the military destroyed our parents’ marriage.”

  “Who said I was going into Special Forces? Who’s to say I’m anything like Dad?”

  “What happens when you meet someone and fall in love?” She gestured to Jill. “Guaranteed you’ll get relocated to Japan or California. She may not be willing to move with you and leave her family and career behi
nd.”

  “I may be a kid in your eyes, sis, but from what I’ve seen, love involves sacrifice. If two people truly love each other, they’ll do anything to be together.”

  He flicked a significant glance at Cade, his meaning abundantly clear—she hadn’t loved Cade enough to make it work.

  “Jason, cut your sister some slack. She cares about you—”

  “How can you defend her?” he burst out, his eyes stormy. “She abandoned you just like she abandoned me.”

  Tori reeled back, flinching as if he’d plunged a knife deep into her chest and twisted.

  “She didn’t cut you out of her life. She visited you. Sent letters. Birthday presents.”

  Rolling his eyes, he muttered, “Forget it.”

  Jason rejoined his friends and the group meandered closer to the dunes.

  Tori sagged against the brick facade, defeat a cloak around her.

  “Give him time.”

  “We won’t have a lot of that if he enlists.” She twisted her silver ring. “He’ll be in boot camp for three months, then infantry school. Who knows where he’ll be stationed. One of the benefits of coming home was to make up for lost time.”

  “I understand. And deep down, he does, too. But you can’t expect him to change his plans now that you’ve suddenly decided to return home. He has the right to carve his own path, the same as you did.”

  “I feel like the tentative thread holding us together is unraveling,” she murmured. “You could encourage him to go to college.”

  Cade shook his head. “He doesn’t want that. At least not now. He’s more like me than you in the academic realm.”

  “You’ve experienced the reality of war. Have you prepared him for that? Or did you gloss over the gritty details and paint the hero-in-dress-blues poster, the same spiel every recruiter doles out?” Her lips trembled. “He’s my only sibling, Cade. Would you have me lose him, too?”

  “No one knows what I went through over there besides my brothers,” he said, using the term for other Marines. “So no, I didn’t give him a play-by-play. Nor did I pull the wool over his eyes. Like you, he’s acquainted with the price that serving our country sometimes demands.”

  “You refuse to dissuade him, then?”

  “I couldn’t even if I tried.”

  “I see.”

  He exhaled. “Tori—”

  “False alarm, folks.” The inn manager waved everyone inside. “You’re free to return to the festivities.”

  Julian discreetly re-holstered his weapon. “What’s the plan, McMann? Stay or leave?”

  Cade scrutinized their surroundings. “This could’ve been our guy creating a diversion. Have Deputy Clark do a thorough check of my vehicle while I take Tori inside. We’ll leave when I’m satisfied he’s not in the area.”

  * * *

  “Done.”

  Inside the meeting space, Cade remained by her side, as promised. Tori didn’t say much, but her eyes told of her turmoil. He wished Jason had waited to vent his frustration, but the kid was eighteen and impulsive. He had maturing to do. The drill instructors at boot camp would take care of that.

  Still, Tori didn’t need the added pressure. She had enough to deal with.

  “You hungry?”

  “Not really. I guess I should sample the food your mom and I ordered, though.”

  At the buffet tables, Cade was handing her a plate when his parents descended.

  “Don’t you look lovely tonight.” Dee enfolded Tori in a maternal embrace. Always a fan of his best-friend-turned-sweetheart, she had been outspoken about her hopes they’d reconcile someday. “What do you think of the decorations?”

  Tori glanced around the space with an appreciative eye. “Your suggestion of a silver-and-white theme was a good one. The bouquets are gorgeous.”

  Each silver-draped table was graced with a different assortment of white blossoms—peonies, hydrangeas and roses—in simple glass vases. Gardenias perfumed the air with a light, pleasant scent.

  “Do you think your mom is pleased?”

  “Most definitely. She’s fortunate to have you as her best friend.” Tori’s shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help with last-minute preparations.”

  Dee gestured to Cade’s dad, who, as usual, let his wife carry the conversation. Paul McMann was at home on the open water. Parties weren’t high on his list of what counted as entertainment. He was only here out of respect for their longtime friend.

  “Paul and I are praying they catch this guy soon,” Dee said. “I’m glad Cade is able to be with you.”

  Tori’s gaze roved over his suit, lingering on the arm that got clipped. “I wish he hadn’t gotten injured on account of me. I did try to talk him out of volunteering to be my bodyguard. You can guess how that went.”

  Dee’s eyes shined with pride and she gave him a side hug. “He’s a tough cookie. And he knows how to handle himself in dangerous situations, thanks to his training. Isn’t that right, Paul?”

  His dad’s lips pursed. “My son has a mind of his own. If he’d determined to protect you, Tori, you wouldn’t be able to dissuade him.”

  With that, he marched to the drink station and ordered a root beer.

  A pained expression marred his mother’s youthful face. She was the only one in his family who hadn’t condemned his decision to walk away from the family business. Being a Marine wasn’t the problem. His dad, uncle and cousins would’ve been just as upset if he’d chosen to be a pastor or a police officer. He’d bucked tradition, turned his back on the family legacy, and they’d never fully forgiven him for it.

  Paul had taken it the hardest. Since Cade’s birth, he’d planned to hand McMann Family Fishing over to his only son. Cade hadn’t minded the work. He liked being on the water, liked seeing the fruits of hard labor and teamwork. But fishing wasn’t in his blood. Wasn’t his passion. Defending his country, working alongside men whom he considered his brothers, was his calling. As with Tori, he’d bundled things. He should’ve prepared his father instead of showing up with the signed enlistment papers in hand. What a spectacular lack of judgment. Paul had been furious. Hurt, too, but he’d buried that. To this day, he refused to discuss the subject. He hadn’t once told Cade he was proud of him. It was an old hurt that flared up occasionally, one that Cade had prayed over many times.

  “Never mind him,” Dee tried to gloss over the awkward moment. “He’s grumpy because I forced him to wear a suit and tie.”

  “No need to make excuses for him, Mom,” Cade told her, keeping his voice even. “Let’s eat. I have to get Cinderella home long before midnight.”

  After filling their plates, they ate at a table situated close to the musicians. Cade couldn’t relax and enjoy the meal. His attention bounced among the various exits, as well as the kitchen area where the employees came and went. They wore matching uniforms, which consisted of black pants, white shirts and black vests. It would be easy for Aaron Waters to blend in. As a member of Special Forces, he would’ve been taught the art of subterfuge.

  Tori leaned close, her shoulder pressing into his. “You don’t think he’d plant another bomb, do you? Is that what you sent Clark to look for?”

  Hearing the tremor in her voice, the disquiet she tried valiantly to mask, he found her hand beneath the table and squeezed it. “I was thinking more of a tracking device. Don’t worry. If I know Julian, he’ll do an inspection of his own.”

  The words had no sooner left his mouth when Julian entered the room and gave him a thumbs-up.

  “We’re good to leave.” Anxious to get her home, he glanced at her half-empty plate. “We should probably head out soon.”

  After placing her napkin over the uneaten portion, she gathered her clutch purse and scooted her chair back. “I’m ready. Let’s tell our mothers goodbye.”

  As he and Tori took turns huggin
g Dee and Barbara and expressing their regrets, Cade caught them exchanging significant looks. He sensed their renewed hope. Foolhardy hope. Tori’s reasons for refusing to marry him hadn’t changed. He was and always would be a Marine. His career was an insurmountable obstacle between them.

  Wishing she’d accept his choice, support his dreams and aspirations, like he would do for her, was a waste of time. He’d accepted that a long time ago.

  It was a relief to head home. Only when they were tucked in his house, the alarm activated, would he be able to relax.

  * * *

  Tori took her spot in the passenger seat, her fingers not immediately releasing the door handle. “Do you think he’s out there, watching us?”

  “My guys did a thorough sweep of the inn and the neighboring businesses. There’s no reason to think Aaron was involved.” When her brow remained knitted with worry, he tacked on, “A kid could’ve pulled the alarm.”

  A sigh whistling through her pursed lips, she let her head sink against the headrest. “I’m glad Mom didn’t cancel her party, but that was intense. And an inconvenience for your friends. I have to make Angela understand why my presence at her party isn’t worth it.” She paused. “I’ll make it up to her somehow. She has a weakness for expensive perfume.”

  “Your life will go back to normal, Tori. Don’t lose sight of that.”

  “I’m trying.” She attempted a smile, but it was a weak imitation of the real thing. “I’m sorry about earlier. I was wrong to take my frustration about Jason out on you.”

  Dusk had descended, painting the ocean and distant sky in a pinkish-yellow haze. The parking lot lights had flickered on. Lowering his gaze, he saw the faint outline of blue veins on the inside of her wrist. She had the prettiest skin...like moonlight bathing a frozen winter lake in pearlescent light. He was tempted to hold her hand. Bring it to his lips and brush a kiss there.

  He loosened his tie and, pulling it over his head, laid it on the back seat, atop his discarded suit jacket. He eased his top shirt button free and rolled his sleeves up. Starting the Jeep’s engine, he forced his mind on practical matters and started for the lot exit. Julian was behind them in his sleek black Corvette and would follow them home.