Dax: Military Heroes (The One I Want Series Book 4)

by Ellie Masters

  That girl saw the man beneath the scar and he needed to know what that meant.

  His parents fell in love at first sight, and he always thought he would follow in their footsteps. But the love bug never hit him.

  Except from the moment he’d laid eyes on the girl with the Jeep, something fundamental shifted within his chest.

  Chapter 6

  Dani

  Dani couldn’t tell if the flutter in her belly was that of righteous anger or something else. When she saw the truck parked beside the road, and the fierce stare of its occupant as she drove by, several choice curse words escaped her mouth.

  If that bastard had enough time to sit by the road, why had he left her to change the flat by herself?

  Not that she’d been particularly nice to him, but still.

  What happened to chivalry?

  Was it true that all the good men had gone?

  They certainly weren’t around here, and they most certainly weren’t back in Pullman with dickwad Scott.

  Perhaps it was a good thing her stranger hadn’t stuck around. Although, he’d been drool worthy and worth a second look. She literally spent the last hour trying to get him out of her thoughts. It proved impossible.

  She had half a mind to stop and tell him exactly what she thought, but by the time she’d worked up her courage, she had already passed him by.

  Sitting by the side of the road?

  Like he had nothing better to do than waste his time?

  She broke two nails and had a gash on her knuckle. Tires were heavy!

  Bastard.

  The muscles in her hands ached from gripping the steering wheel as she cranked through the twists and turns down the winding road. The highway descended gradually, weaving relentlessly toward Bear Creek. The shadows cast by the peaks and ridge lines lengthened as the sun slipped behind their craggy peaks.

  When she finally drove into Bear Creek, she pulled opposite Marge’s diner. No one came to town without stopping in to see Marge first. When she hopped out of the vehicle, a huge grin split her face when she saw who was inside.

  The bell over the door gave a little jingle as she pushed it open.

  “Caitlyn!” Her squeal had her best friend lifting her head, and her massive dog, Bear, looking up with a slow, lazy blink. It was the only acknowledgment the Newfoundland gave that someone had entered. He may look like a lazy thing, but an incredible powerhouse was hidden within the massive animal.

  “Dani?” Caitlyn’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home early? We weren’t expecting you until Saturday?”

  “Welcome home.” Marge beamed her signature smile and wrapped Dani in a hug. Dani and Caitlyn always joked how Marge reminded them of the blue fairy godmother from Sleeping Beauty.

  “My midterms were over and there wasn’t a reason to stay.” Dani shrugged and tried to keep the heartache from her voice, not wanting to ruin what should be a happy reunion with the disaster that her love life had become.

  “What about Scott?” Caitlyn’s eyebrows lifted.

  Caitlyn was arguably her best friend in the whole world. They went to the same high school, and with a class of less than fifty kids, they formed a tight, indelible bond.

  Dani pressed her lips together. It wasn’t necessary to say anything. With one look, Caitlyn knew. They had a spooky connection like that. Always had.

  “What happened?” Caitlyn pulled Dani to the table she’d been sitting at and waved at Marge. “Coffee and apple pie, STAT! And an extra scoop of ice cream.”

  Marge wiped her hands on her apron and gave Dani a motherly look which said two things. First, she was sorry, and second, things would get better.

  “I thought everything was going well? You said he proposed.” Caitlyn glanced at Dani’s hand. “What happened?”

  Dani let a deep sigh slip out. While her arrival got no reaction out of Bear, he lifted his muzzle and licked her hand sensing her emotional distress. She absently reached down and threaded her fingers through his thick fur.

  “He cheated on me.”

  “Oh, you poor dear.” Marge brought over a cup of coffee and filled Caitlyn’s half empty cup. Placing the pot on the table, she pulled Dani into another hug.

  “With his first cousin.” It hurt to say it out loud. She felt so foolish and ashamed. That made her mad, because she had done nothing wrong. There was nothing for her to be ashamed about.

  “Holy crap balls! That sucks.” Caitlyn reached out and threaded her fingers through Dani’s hand. “I’m so sorry. Want me to get my shotgun?”

  Dani laughed. She could always count on Caitlyn to lighten the mood. She wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  “If it wasn’t against the law, I’d say give me the gun.”

  “I’m a better shot than you. We each get one, and we make him suffer.”

  A smile slipped past her lips and Dani found herself laughing with her best friend as they went through a hundred different ways to make Scott pay.

  Marge brought over the pie, along with three scoops of ice cream. “He slept with his first cousin?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s a whole other level of wrong. You dodged a bullet, girl.” Marge sat with them while they dug in. “Don’t worry about Scott.” Marge shoveled a bite of pie into her mouth and waved the spoon in the air. “He did you a favor. At least you know what kind of man he was before you tied yourself to him.”

  “I know.” She sat back and crossed her ankles. “Dad is going to be upset. He really liked Scott.”

  “I’m sure he did.” Caitlyn scooped up some of the vanilla ice cream. “But when he finds out what Scott did to his little girl, we’ll be the ones holding him back from the gun case.”

  “You’re probably right about that.” Her father had been known to be overprotective of his little girl. “Do you remember what he did to Brent?”

  Brent went to high school with them, and they ran in the same small circle.

  On Prom night, her father waited on the front porch with a shot gun balanced across his lap.

  “Oh, yes!” Caitlyn squealed. “Brent talked about that for weeks!”

  Fortunately, Brent brought her home with ten minutes to spare. She didn’t have cool stories about Prom, or any other night because she didn’t date in high school. Her father didn’t allow it.

  She and Brent had been nothing more than good friends. They both wanted to go to Prom, and neither of them were seeing anyone. Her father reluctantly agreed to allow her to go with Brent, but it came with a threat of bodily harm and buckshot to Brent’s ass if he brought her home a minute past curfew. She and Brent had the best time that night.

  “Speaking of Brent…” Caitlyn leaned in close and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ve got news.”

  They moved past the ugliness of Scott’s betrayal as Caitlyn told her about Brent and the girl he intended to marry. At least he’d found his happily ever after. Caitlyn had too. It seemed her friends were all on their way to finding their happily ever after’s.

  The three of them caught up on all the local town gossip, which meant Marge talked while she and Caitlyn listened. Bear fell back asleep, content to lean against their legs.

  “I forgot to ask about Bear,” Dani blurted out. “How’s he doing?”

  Bear had been injured in a cougar attack not too long ago. Caitlyn had been involved in a mountain rescue of a couple college kids. Bear saved her life when a cougar attacked.

  It was around the time Caleb finally got his head out of his ass and came back to Bear Creek. Caitlyn and Caleb had been high school sweethearts and everyone thought they’d get married, but that didn’t happen. Caleb left to join the Marines, leaving Caitlyn behind, at least until he came home. It took over seven years, but Caitlyn and Caleb finally found each other.

  Caitlyn and now Brent?

  Would Dani be the only one from their high school class who never found her soulmate?

  Another deep sigh escaped her lips.

>   “Bear is doing just fine,” Caitlyn said. “You can’t even tell he was hurt.”

  “I’m really glad he’s doing so well.” Dani reached down and rubbed Bear’s shoulder.

  “Speaking of…” Caitlyn said, “have you given any thought as to what kind of vet you’re going to be? Large animal or small? And do you have your clerkships picked out for next year?”

  “I haven’t really decided, and no. We don’t pick our clerkships for the final year until after midterms. Based on ranking, we’ll have to see what I get.”

  “You’re top of your class. I’m sure you’ll have first pick. Draven is looking for a partner down in Peace Springs. You should ask to see if he would let you work with him. Wouldn’t that be great?”

  “It would, but I don’t know if he’s approved as a clerkship site. And I don’t know about having my pick. Scott kind of messed all that up.” Her voice cracked. “I couldn’t think and basically cried my way through my exams. I’ll be surprised if I passed. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I have to go back and see him again.”

  Caitlyn took Dani’s hand in hers again. “Girl, you don’t have to do anything, and Scott doesn’t deserve one more second of your time, your thoughts, or your tears.”

  “I thought he was the one.” She couldn’t help the flood of tears, and wiped at her cheeks. Scott was supposed to have been her forever.

  “Hun,” Marge said, “he was the one you needed before you could find the one you want. Don’t give up on love. It’s out there, just waiting to bite you when you least expect it.”

  She wished she had Marge’s faith, but the truth was she remained unlucky in love. She’d given Scott the last seven years of her life. While she didn’t need a man, it had always been part of her life’s plan.

  College.

  Vet school.

  Marriage.

  Kids.

  Now, she only saw the first two of those happening. Bear Creek was small. Peace Springs wasn’t much bigger. If a girl didn’t find her man right out of high school around here, her chances of landing one plummeted.

  “All that time wasted…” Anger heated her cheeks and she blew out her breath.

  “You’re being overly melodramatic, Dani.” Caitlyn kicked her in the shin.

  “Ow! That hurt.”

  “It wasn’t supposed to tickle. I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Dani’s life plan…” Caitlyn lifted her hand and began ticking off each finger. “College. Vet school. Marriage…”

  “It’s not a stupid list.”

  “Never said it was stupid, but you’re acting like your life is over because some asshat cheated on you. You’re an incredibly successful woman and your entire life is ahead of you. Just because Scott was a douche doesn’t mean Mr. Right isn’t out there waiting for you.” She pointed over Dani’s shoulder toward the window. “Like, hello gorgeous. Who the hell is that?”

  Marge turned to look where Caitlyn pointed and her cheeks rounded with a smile and her eyes twinkled. “That is a very handsome stranger who’s new in town. You should go talk to him, Dani. Give him the Bear Creek welcome.”

  She huffed and refused to look. “I’m not interested in a rebound man.”

  Caitlyn pointed again. “Seriously, Dani, turn around. A man who can wear a pair of jeans like that deserves to be appreciated.”

  “Won’t Caleb be pissed you’re oggling another man?”

  “Caleb knows my heart is his, but I’m not blind. Now, seriously, turn around and take a look.”

  Dani gave another huff. They weren’t letting her get out of this, and what would it matter if she admired an attractive man? Slowly, she shifted, making sure she didn’t accidentally disturb the snoozing Bear as she moved her feet. When she finally managed to twist around, her jaw dropped.

  “Yeah,” Caitlyn said. “That is one sexy man.”

  No denying that. She had fantasized about him the entire drive down into Bear Creek.

  A man didn’t sculpt a body like that overnight. He’d spent a lifetime picking up heavy objects, putting them down, and repeating the action a million times. Her breath caught when her stranger opened the passenger door of his beat up pick up. A blue speckled dog jumped out and hopped around his legs.

  “That man is a tool.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Total tool.”

  “What?” Caitlyn’s head whipped toward Dani, then swiveled back to take in the man who appeared to be walking toward Marge’s diner. “Why would you say that?”

  She briefly relayed her encounter by the side of the road. Caitlyn’s eyes rounded but Marge merely smiled as she stood and pressed out the wrinkles of her apron. Her eyes shifted between Dani and the stranger and she laughed under her breath.

  The man strolled into Marge’s diner looking like he owned the place. There was a presence about him, a confidence which oozed from his pores and forced everyone in attendance to take notice.

  Dani despised him because she did exactly that. She couldn’t stop looking at him.

  He glanced around the small diner, sweeping the room with his astute gaze, and their eyes met for a split second. While she blushed beneath the intensity of his tight focus, his lips curled into a smile. Then the most infuriating thing happened. Instead of acknowledging her, he let the sweep of his gaze move on.

  She wasn’t sure if he mocked her, ignored her, or was just being a dick.

  The dog trotted beside him and sat when he came to a stop behind Marge’s counter.

  “Dynamo claims he’s starving.” The deep rumble of his voice made the air vibrate and sent a shiver racing down Dani’s spine. “Do you have one of your treats for him?”

  “Of course.” Marge turned to her stash of dog treats and opened the tin can. Bear’s nostrils flared and he lifted his head. “I’m getting one for you too, Bear. I swear these dogs are spoiled.”

  “By the most amazing woman on the planet.” The man took the dog biscuit and tossed it in the air. Dynamo snapped it up before it hit the ground and went to town chomping on the treat.

  “Can I get you something? Pie? Coffee? Beer?” Marge kept glancing between Dani and her stranger, a mischievous light flickering in her eyes. “You haven’t been around the last couple days.”

  Her stranger glanced over and Dani felt every lick of his heated gaze.

  “I was busy today. Missed out on a run with Dynamo.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I had to stop and help a girl change her tire, not that she thanked me. At least, I have some time left to stop in and see you. You make the most amazing food on the planet. I need more of your mouthwatering pie, but we can’t stay.”

  “No problem. Let me pack you up a pie to take with you.”

  “That sounds perfect.” He glanced over at Dani and his eyes narrowed as he checked her out.

  “Well, it’s my pleasure, and Dynamo is welcome anytime.”

  He put a hand over his heart. “What about me?”

  Marge giggled. “You too.”

  It was weird seeing Marge blush, but Dani understood. The man was an irresistible force of nature.

  The expression on Marge’s face sobered. “Are you settling in okay?”

  “For now, yes. And thank you.” He took a bill out of his front pocket and placed it in Marge’s tip jar. “Your diner is the highlight of my day.” His steely gaze took another passing sweep of the diner, lingering on Dani with no more interest than he gave the empty tables and chairs.

  She sat up straighter with rising indignation. How dare he ignore her. Was he doing it on purpose?

  She wasn’t about to say anything, because he was looking for a reaction, and there would be no way she would give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d gotten under her skin.

  It didn’t matter whether he acknowledged her or not.

  Except heat rose in her cheeks and her heart hammered in her chest. Her fingers tingled with an odd electricity zooming along h
er nerves. She resisted the urge to run her fingers through her hair, combing out the tangles. If she did that, it would look like she was trying to grab his attention.

  Her lips were dry and she licked them before she could stop herself. That drew his eye for a split second, but that was all. He didn’t show any outward sign of interest.

  No man deserved to be that good looking, or act that confident. He was the stranger, not her. Yet he acted as if he owned everything in that room. She really should look away. The scar running across his face said he was dangerous, but damn if that didn’t make her want to know him more.

  His attention shifted from her lips back to her eyes, then he flinched and turned away.

  “Come on, ‘Mo. We have places to be.” He walked out of the diner, powerful muscles bunching beneath the worn denim of his jeans. “Thanks for the dog treat, Marge. Until next time.”

  Chapter 7

  Dax

  In Dax's line of work, emotions were liabilities. Part of his training in special ops was learning how to control himself in every situation and override the emotions which weakened a man and destroyed a team.

  With the girl, he failed in that task miserably.

  There'd been no reason to wait for her by the side of the road. He told himself he was simply being protective, making sure she didn't need his help.

  But that had been a lie.

  There'd been no reason to follow her into Bear Creek. He told himself he'd given up on his trail run and would simply head to Crowbar ranch, calling it a day.

  That had been a lie as well.

  When she pulled into a parking space across from the diner, he should've driven past and left her behind. He didn't. He parked and debated his next move.

  Marge and her love of dogs gave him the perfect pretense to cross paths with the girl again. He took the opportunity and promptly blew it the moment he walked inside.