Split Screen Scream - Debra Parmley

by Special Forces - Operation Alpha

  They’d been thrown together, might never have met otherwise, and maybe there was a little bit of good luck and a little bit of fate in that. Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to examine it too closely. He’d just enjoy her company, keep getting to know her, and see where it went. Now, it was time to plunge in and ask her out again. This time, there’d be romance.

  “My best friend is getting married, and I’m in the wedding party. I don’t have a date yet. It’s in two weeks. Would you like to go?”

  Christie watched his face, stunned.

  Reed held his breath. Was this date too much for her? Am I too much for her? Maybe she can’t handle dating a SEAL. Will she say no?

  Chapter 8

  Christie sat stunned.

  Two weeks, and he doesn’t have a date yet? Does that mean he isn’t dating anyone else, right now?

  “Yes, I’d love to go.” She tried to answer quickly to make up for the time lapse after being stunned. This was moving fast, she and Reed.

  “Excellent.” Reed smiled.

  “What’s the dress code? Are you wearing a tux?”

  “Dress uniform.”

  “Ooh.” Her eyes widened.

  He’ll look so handsome in a dress uniform. I can’t wait to see him in it.

  “The reception is formal.”

  “Oh, I have just the dress.” Excitement filed her as she thought of the one hanging in the closet. Silver, with a low halter-style V and an open back. Like something a movie star would wear. The special dress she’d never had a place to wear, because her ex would never take her anywhere fancy. She loved dresses and dressing up and weddings. All the fancy things.

  This date is going to be perfect.

  Two weeks went by fast. Christie shopped for shoes and had her hair and nails done. The week of the wedding, Tanya came over to help her do a dress rehearsal the day before the big date.

  Her hair was swept into an up do with curling tendrils down her back that tickled just a bit. Tanya put the last finishing touches on the hairdo, and then said, “If he doesn’t want to undo this up do, he’s not the healthy red-blooded male I think he is. Girl, this tempting hairdo looks like it might tumble down at any moment, though we know it won’t. Maybe he’ll want to tumble you before the evening ends.”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready to be tumbled,” Christie said.

  “Reed isn’t Mitch,” Tanya said. “He isn’t even close to being like Mitch.” She moved in front of Christie and placed her hands on her shoulders. “Reed and you meeting was meant to be. Reed is your fresh start. Don’t get cold feet now.”

  “Cold feet? This is just a date, not a marriage. Not a moving in together. Not even a ‘we’re not seeing anyone else’. This is just a date.”

  “Just a date?” Tanya pulled back her head and made a face. “This is more than just a date. This is him introducing you to all his SEAL buddies; it’s his best friend’s wedding. This is where he sees if they approve of you, and if you approve of them. And you know how you get at weddings. Guys know how emotional we get at these events. Girl, this is far more than just a date.”

  She grinned sheepishly. “Okay, so maybe it’s more than just a date. But we’re still just getting to know each other. This is only our second date.”

  “Yes, but it’s a wedding. You’ll be meeting all his friends, and that means he’s letting you closer into his life. He may make a move after the wedding. Lots of guys want to get laid after weddings. And they know we’re feeling all emotional and wanting the romance. Just know what you want and, if you want him, go for it.”

  “Okay, okay.” Christie put her earrings on. The long dangling earrings she chose swung when she moved her head.

  “Now, those are some sexy earrings,” Tanya said. “They’re perfect. Go look in the long mirror.”

  Christie opened the closet door and looked into the full-length mirror. “Wow.”

  “Yeah, wow. And that’s just what we want him to think when you open the door to greet him.”

  “I think this will do it.”

  “Yeah, I think it will, too.” Tanya nodded. “Okay. I’ll be here an hour before, to get your hair and makeup ready, and then I’ll skedaddle before it’s even close to time for him to arrive.”

  “Thanks, Tanya.”

  “You got it, girl. Now, go shed your glamour, and then let’s get a pizza.”

  “I think I’d better skip pizza this week. The dress is already very form-fitting, and if I gain more weight…”

  “There will just be more of you to love, and you’ll fill out the dress a bit more. It stretches, you know.”

  “I know, but it fits perfectly right now.”

  “Okay, then we’ll order a veggie pizza and drink water with it. Because we need to leave room for the brownies I made.”

  “Brownies!”

  Tanya grinned. “Yeah, I’ve been craving chocolate. Wait ’til I tell you about Mrs. Vendt.”

  “Oh Lord, what’s she done now?” Christie turned and grabbed Tanya’s forearm. “Wait. Are Miss Priss and Brutus all right? She hasn’t poisoned them again, I hope.”

  “No, they’re fine. But she’s bought herself a huge water gun to rinse off her porch. When she sees either of them outside, and doesn’t see me, she blasts them with the water gun. Miss Priss has come in soaked three times this week! And Brutus twice.”

  “I hate the way she picks on them as much as you do. I know you worry about them.”

  Tanya shook her head. “I’m going to have to do something about it. This can’t continue.”

  “Yes and you can even charge her if she breaks the law. If you could catch her on video being mean to them, then you’d have proof and she couldn’t play innocent. I could talk to Reed about a security system for you. SEAL’s probably know about things like that.”

  “Thanks, Christie. I’d appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome. Thanks for helping me get ready for this big date. Hey, go ahead and order that pizza, and I’ll get changed. I bet your brownies are delicious.”

  In Christie’s eyes, the wedding was spectacular. All the SEALs in full dress uniforms, the bride in a stunning beaded gown and veil, and her two bridesmaids in pale pink and cream, with cream and green bouquets, made for a beautiful sight. The photographs were likely to be amazing.

  With so much pageantry to take in, Christie enjoyed the visual feast. But then, there were the names. Pippa’s family chose unusual names for their daughters. First there was Pippa, the bride, whose full name was Joyce Pippalousa Smith. Then there were the bridesmaids—Jeanie Magic Smith, who was Pippa’s sister, and Pippa’s cousin, Louise Lala Smith.

  Pippa’s mother, Jean Joy Smith, and her sailing boyfriend, Chuck had been sailing around the world, and this weekend was the first time Pippa’s mother had seen her three-year-old grandson, Benjamin Marcus Taylor.

  The groom, Tanner “Diesel” Taylor, was Reed’s best friend, and Christie was confused whether to call him Tanner or Diesel as she heard him respond to both names, depending on whether the person was family or enlisted. Then there were the two groomsmen and the ushers, all SEALs. Diesel being a SEAL, many of the guests who weren’t in the wedding party were SEALs.

  Christie was really having trouble with remembering everyone’s names. First the SEALs all seemed to have nicknames, as if it wasn’t hard enough remembering one person’s name, when they had two. And a whole lot of them had two. Add in Pippa’s family, and Christie just wished everyone would wear nametags.

  Nametags make everything so much easier for everyone.

  She was even having trouble keeping up with her date, Reed “Railroad” Tindal. She’d learned to think of him as Reed, and now, he had all these other names to remember, too.

  So far, Reed had been called “Railroad” and “R.T.” by his buddies, which made Christie curious. “How many nicknames do you have?” she asked.

  “Just two,” Reed said. “But you can call me Reed or R.T.”

  “You know why we ca
ll him ‘Railroad’?” Diesel asked.

  Christie shook her head.

  “Because he’s like a railroad train. When he decides to move through, nothing stops him.” Diesel said. “I started calling him R.T., instead,” Diesel said. “Short for railroad train. Though he’ll tell you it means Reed Tindal. I quit arguing with him about it.”

  Reed changed the subject.

  Soon it was time for the dancing to begin. Diesel and Pippa started off the dancing, while everyone watched the newlywed couple. Christie watched them gazing into each other’s eyes and sighed. Then she caught herself and turned to glance at Reed, who sat watching her.

  “I love weddings,” she said. “So much romance and love. When two people find each other and marry, it’s like magic.”

  Reed smiled. “You’re a romantic.”

  “Yes,” she said. “I am.” She tilted her head and asked, “Are you?”

  “A romantic?” He smiled. “Maybe a little bit.”

  But she’d seen the way he’d watched them. He was more than a little bit. And who didn’t love weddings? Especially when it was your best buddy, and he was finally marrying the girl of his dreams. And their sweet little son officially had a daddy now, just as it should be. She smiled and continued watching the couple dance.

  Soon, it was time for the bride’s “dollar dance”, which was a tradition in Pippa’s family. The money raised went to the bride, sort of like a dowry to start her new life. Each man that danced with her had to put a five-dollar bill, or more, into a glass bowl that stood on the wedding party’s dining table.

  Diesel slid into the seat next to Christie to keep her company, while her date, Reed, took a turn dancing with the bride.

  “How are you enjoying the reception?” Diesel asked.

  “It’s lovely,” she said.

  “Reed’s enjoying himself. It’s good to see him having such a good time. He speaks highly of you.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “He does?”

  Diesel nodded.

  Christie smiled, blushing. “I enjoy his company. He’s been teaching me how to shoot.”

  “That’s Reed,” Diesel said. “If you’re his girl, you got to learn how to shoot. He’s a Texas boy, you know.”

  “He said he moved from there when he was nine.”

  “Born a Texan, always a Texan. He had a pony by the time he was five. By nine, he was roping and riding.”

  “Wow.”

  “You know that costume party we were talking about, where Pippa and I met?”

  “Yes.”

  “Guess what R.T. went as.”

  “Um, a cowboy?”

  “Right as rain,” Diesel said with a nod. “Didn’t even need to go to the costume shop with me. He had everything he needed, down to the boots and his Stetson.”

  “I’ve never seen him wear a Stetson.”

  “Lives in his closet, just like his early years still live in the back of his mind. There, when he needs it.”

  “I see.” Christie thought for a moment, and then spoke what was on her mind. “What did he do at the costume party while you were off with Pippa?”

  “R.T. is a chick magnet,” Diesel laughed. “He never has problems attracting women. He did all right. And that night he needed to.”

  “Why?”

  “That damn Dear John letter he got the week before…” He grimaced. “He was having trouble getting over it.”

  “What happened?” Christie asked.

  “Man, if he hasn’t told you…” He glanced at the Reed, still dancing on the floor, then leaned closer. “Becky called it off, with no warning and no explanation. Just ‘I’m done’ then poof, she was gone. Wouldn’t even answer his phone calls or emails. He was real shook up.”

  “That’s awful. What do you think happened?”

  “No idea. Later he heard she’d taken up with an executive from South America and left the country. Eventually, she married the guy.”

  “Well, she should’ve told him and ended it nicely.”

  “Yeah, she should’ve. But she wasn’t the nice kind of girl, who ends things nicely. She’s more the ‘all about me and too bad for you’ type. But he’s done all right. Dated lots of girls. He just had to get over the initial shock. He was really serious about Becky.”

  Christie felt a little sick, hearing all this. “Has he been serious about anyone else?”

  “Nope. Just Becky.”

  They watched Reed dance with Diesel’s bride. Christie glanced at Diesel’s face and saw not one trace of jealousy, just pride and trust. That said a lot about the kind of man Reed was. Even if he was a chick magnet. It also said a lot about their friendship.

  Reed came back over to them. Diesel stood to give him his seat back.

  “Telling all my secrets?” Reed asked with a laugh.

  Diesel said, “No, way man. I’m saving the juicy ones for later.”

  “Heh,” Reed said, and then he sat and turned his full attention to Christie. “Would you like to dance once they open the floor for everyone?”

  “I’d love to. Dancing is one of my favorite things.” She smiled. “You looked quite handsome out there.”

  “He cleans up well,” Hank joked.

  “Well, I’ve seen him with blood on his hands,” Christie said. “And I’ve seen him being patted down by the police, and he looked pretty good both times. Just not as fancy.”

  “Fancy?” Reed asked, the tone in his voice saying he didn’t care to be described as fancy.

  “Yes. Like you are now.” She ran her hand down his lapel. “You look good dressed fancy. Very handsome.”

  By the looks on his buddies’ faces, he wasn’t going to live this “fancy” term down.

  Now the floor was open for dancing, and they headed out.

  The moment Reed took her hand in his and slid his arm around Christie’s waist, she began to fall farther and harder than she’d already fallen. For this was romance and desire, that double whammy, which was nearly impossible for her to resist. But even if she could have resisted, she didn’t want to. She fell into the moment and relished every second as they began to dance to the tune, “Fly Me to the Moon.” Reed was an excellent dancer. She hardly felt the floor beneath her. It was as if they were flying to that moon, weightless, with eyes only on each other.

  This was the most romantic evening of her life.

  When Reed took her home, he walked her to the door, waited until she opened it, and then when she turned to him, he kissed her, long and sweet.

  When he stepped away, he gave her a smile and simply said, “Good night.”

  As if still in a dream, she answered him. “Good night.” Then she stepped inside and closed the door.

  Halfway to his car, he turned back to see her watching him through the glass. Making a turning motion with his hand, he said, “Lock it.”

  She laughed and nodded, locking the door.

  He was always making sure she was safe and secure. Making sure she didn’t forget.

  Tonight was a night when she might have. Her lips still tingled from the feel and the taste of his lips. His scent lingered, and she breathed in, knowing it would be fleeting and soon gone, until she was near him again for another kiss. All her senses were alive, and she wondered how she’d ever be able to sleep.

  She drifted down the hallway into her bedroom and slipped into her nightgown. The silk one. The one she would wear, feeling it caressing her body, as she dreamed of him.

  Maybe she’d sleep tonight. The sooner she slept, the sooner she’d dream of him.

  She slipped under the covers and pulled them up, letting the moon’s glow come through her window into the room. Tonight, she wouldn’t close them.

  She sighed, remembering each moment of their evening together. Savoring. Soon, she drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning, the sun blared through the window blinds into the room, waking her with the sunrise.

  Too bright. It’s too bright.

  She squinted and tried to make t
he headache, likely from the champagne she’d had at the wedding, go away. Champagne almost always left her with a headache. What she needed right now was a dark room, not all this sunlight. She’d settle for a shower to take off her makeup and relax her neck and shoulders. She’d slept on her pillow in an odd way and was feeling it.

  The shower was just the thing. It released any lingering stress, and it washed away the colors of last night from her face, while bringing her energy she’d thought she didn’t have this morning.

  Padding into the kitchen on bare feet, she started her coffee, and then got out eggs to cook and bread to toast. She’d just finished scrambling the eggs and her toast had popped, when her phone rang.

  It was Tanya.

  She answered. “Hello?”

  “Hey girl, are you alone?”

  “Yes,” she answered slowly, wondering why Tanya was asking.

  She knew Christie wasn’t ready to sleep with Reed. It had only been their second date, and she wanted to make sure he wasn’t a heavy drinker.

  After last night, she was fairly sure he wasn’t. He’d stopped at two drinks at the reception and had said that, since he was driving, he wanted to make sure the pretty girl on his arm made it home safe that night. By the time they’d left, any buzz he’d had would have long worn off.

  Reed was a responsible man. Always looking out for her. He seemed the last type of guy to go on alcoholic binges. If he had flaws, drinking too much and being irresponsible were not on that list.

  “I’ve got an errand to run out your way and thought I’d stop by after, but I wanted to be sure you weren’t still entertaining.”

  “Nope, not entertaining. Just home relaxing. I’d love it if you stopped by. Have you had breakfast?”

  “Heck yeah. Had my usual bagel, and then walked the dogs. So, I’ll be around in about an hour.”

  “Sounds good. See you then.”

  “Great! I want to hear all about your date! See you soon.”

  Christie hung up and her thoughts returned to Reed.

  Does he want to be a long-term boyfriend? He doesn’t seem to be dating anyone else.