Protecting Terra (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

by Desiree Holt

  Margie’s unique pastries and the special coffees she brewed were enough to make anyone come back time and again. At this rate she’d have to walk the mountains instead of skiing them to take off the extra weight she was sure to put on. Her mouth was already watering at the thought of the goodies she’d be able to score today.

  She could use the break from Inn on the Hills for a lot of reasons. She and Griffin had been here a little more than two weeks, and she took note of the fact Jennings seemed to be casually running into her a lot. At the coffee bar. At breakfast. Watching her work with clients. As if he made it a point to seek her out, sometimes even spending a few minutes at the base of the ski lift watching her work. Always asking how she was, how the job was, did she need anything.

  Maybe a few too many questions, about her background, if she’d been to Maine before, how she’d liked Colorado and Montana, two places on her resume. She couldn’t figure out if he was genuinely interested or trying to trip her up.

  Did he suspect something? He had the kind of eyes that made people feel he could see inside them. Making sure she didn’t give him any reason to be suspicious was draining, although she knew she was good at this.

  She was always on the alert. Always watchful. And always ready. She had a special pocket in her ski jacket where her small Kahr P380 handgun fit very nicely. She was armed at all times. She knew Griffin was, too, although with the bulkier clothes he wore he was able to carry the heavier Glock 21 he liked. At least they were prepared and had been since the day they’d arrived.

  And then, of course, there was Griffin Dunne.

  She still hadn’t figured out why he’d run from her bed like his ass was on fire. The sex, unexpected as it was, had been explosive, creative, and outstanding. Beyond anything her vivid imagination could come up with. She certainly hadn’t been looking for any kind of commitment from him, but she was shocked at the sudden way he’d shut her out.

  It irritated her that whenever she saw him unwanted heat pooled low in her belly, her nipples ached, and every pulse point throbbed with hunger. She was a disciplined person, and she used that restraint to control her unwanted urges. After all, she reasoned, how often would she have to see him? Why the hell did Hal have to pair her with someone who pushed buttons she was determined to keep in the Off position.

  She certainly wasn’t about to put herself in another regrettable situation. She learned the hard way what she’d thought was real was fake in so many ways. It hadn’t been love. It turned out to be nothing but obsession. That was it. She was done. And she didn’t need any damn protection, either.

  But Hal Winters was serious about Griffin filling that role. She got the idea these were far more dangerous than most of the people she hunted. Although he basically worked with the equipment, especially the snowmobiles, he always managed to be around wherever she was. Well, good for him. They had a job to do. Hal had given her both a signal and a code word if she was in trouble, plus they each had burner phones. Otherwise, they were like strangers in the frozen North. She wasn’t sure if she was glad about that or not. She’d never had a reaction like this to a partner before.

  It irritated the hell out of her he wasn’t someone she could fuck her brains out with and walk away from tomorrow. Her opinion of the male sex wasn’t all that high to begin with. Half the men she met either wanted to notch their bedposts because they fucked a hot DHS agent or were interested in proving to her they were better suited for the work than she was.

  None of her relationships ever lasted past three or four days, but that was her choice. She’d already made up her mind she wasn’t looking for the settling-down situation. Certainly not with the guys she met. A friend once suggested the possibility she was meeting the wrong kind of man, but she had no intention of going there.

  Besides, her mantra was that’s all she had room for in her life, anyway.

  Her job, occasional hot sex, and time to herself, and her life was complete. One slip had been enough.

  Right? Right?

  She and Griffin hadn’t been together since that one night, but her traitorous body kept shouting for more. Nope, she told it, not happening. She needed all her senses to focus on Jennings without giving herself away.

  So for the love of all that’s holy, keep Griffin Dunne out of your bed.

  Then, why hadn’t she been able to put it out of her mind?

  Concentrate on seeing Margie, she told herself now. She and Margie had connected instantly, although it was hard not to be friendly with someone so warm and generous and genuine. Because Terra spent so much of her life pretending to be someone she wasn’t, there were few people she could feel at ease with. It turned out, however, Margie Hager was one of them. In a short time, the woman had become a great friend, someone she could almost be herself with.

  Hal Winter always said she had good instincts about people, and they were working now. She was careful about the people she met on an assignment, but those instincts told her Margie Hager was a woman who could become a good friend if circumstances were different. At least it gave her someone to be with where she could relax a little.

  She pulled her burner phone out of her purse and sat holding it for a moment. Nothing was happening at the inn. Surely, she could treat herself to one hour not tethered to the case. Decision made, she turned the engine off and climbed out of the car. Tugged the zipper of her ski jacket all the way to her chin and made sure her watch cap was pulled securely down over her ears. She inhaled then wondered why she’d done it when the frosty air hit her lungs. When she let out a puff of breath, it turned instantly into an icy cloud, drifting up to an incredibly blue sky.

  Getting the job turned out to be the easiest part of the assignment. Blending in with the staff and the community almost as easy. Listening for any gossip. Watching the traffic of guests in and out of the resort. She’d been hypervigilant from the moment she arrived at Inn on the Hills, knowing there was a deadline, but not once since had she gotten even a sniff of anything.

  There hadn’t been any unusual absences by Jennings, only his snowmobile runs. He was very much in evidence at the inn, looking relaxed and being pleasant to the guests and the staff. Maybe too pleasant. And never absent long enough to get to the northern border and back. No strange people among the guests, as far as she could observe. No one more than the usual weird people. She hadn’t even seen anyone she was suspicious of. At least, not relating to this case.

  She hoped she found the proof to take this operation down before she froze her ass off. Sometimes you could be in place in a situation like this for weeks or even months, waiting for the suspect to do something to trip up. Great. Just great. She certainly hoped not. Anyway, if Jennings kept to his schedule, there should be some action before too long.

  Meanwhile, neither she nor Griffin had learned anything, and time was running short.

  Very short.

  She sighed, and, head bent against the slap of the cold, she hurried across the street. A gust of wind swept her the moment she opened the door to Rolling in Dough, nearly pushing it out of her hand. She gave it a firm tug to pull it closed.

  “Whew!” She yanked off her watch cap. “Maybe I should start wearing lead weights in my boots.”

  Margie turned from the table where she was talking to a couple of customers and grinned at her. “That’s nothing. Wait until winter really gets here.”

  “Right.” She shuddered. “Why didn’t I take a job in the Caribbean?”

  “And miss out on all my special treats?”

  Terra chuckled. “Yes, there is that. You’d think a ski instructor would be used to the cold.”

  “But when you’re skiing, you’re moving and keeping warm, right?” Margie hugged her then looked at the couple seated at the table. “How about a mocha latte to heat you up?”

  “Yum! That sounds wonderful.” Terra unzipped her jacket, scanning the pastry showcases. “How about a treat to go with it. What’s the special today?”

  “Chocolate mint m
acaroons.”

  “Oh, my god, Margie.” Terra rolled her eyes and licked her lips. “I think I added ten pounds just listening to you. Bring them on. Let me get a table.”

  “Come sit down here. You can meet a couple of my friends.” She nodded at the people she’d been chatting with. “Terra Oenning, meet Sam Alvarez and Cassie Malone, soon to be Alvarez.” She winked. “I take full credit because they met right here.”

  Cassie laughed. “No argument there.”

  “Congratulations. Nice to meet you.”

  Terra studied the couple. They both seemed to be about her age. The man had dark-chocolate-colored hair and a scruff beard like Griff’s. God. She needed to get Griff out of her head for anything but their work connection.

  They certainly looked like they belonged together—the blue-eyed blonde and her muscular fiancé with dark-brown eyes and hair. There was something harsh about him, although in a good way. Sam smiled at her, but he had a look in his chocolate-brown eyes as if he’d seen hell. In a way he reminded her of Griffin Dunne. On the other hand, Cassie’s blue eyes danced with good humor, and a smile teased her lips. But she, too, had a look that said she’d faced some unpleasantness. What was their story?

  Still, they looked so comfortable with each other, and happy, as if they kept a secret from the rest of the world. Terra wondered if she’d ever find that with someone, or if she’d be spending the rest of her life on covert missions for DHS. For a moment she was pierced with the sharp sword of jealousy, knowing how unlikely it was with her job she’d find anything like that in the near future.

  Again the image of Griffin Dunne popped into her brain. Damn it! She had to stop this. She deliberately pushed it to the back of her mind.

  That’s right, Terra. You’re here for a job, and you’d better remember it. Assignment first, private life some other time. If ever.

  She realized suddenly Cassie and Sam were watching her, waiting for an answer, expectant looks on their faces, although suspicion flashed briefly in Sam’s eyes. She had a feeling if she spent much time with them, he would see right through her. Then she jolted herself to awareness. If this couple were friends of Margie’s, they also had to be safe. Right? No worries about them.

  “Sorry. I think the aroma of the bakery turns my brain to mush.” She cleared her throat. “You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.” Cassie, blue eyes sparkling with humor, grinned at her. “I think the scent of Margie’s pastries does that to all of us. Have a seat. Please. We’d love to have you join us. You can help us celebrate.”

  “Thanks.”

  She shrugged off her jacket and slid into an empty seat.

  “So.” Cassie studied her. “What brought you to Castile? The skiing?”

  “In a manner of speaking. I’m the new instructor at Inn on the Hill, so I’ll be here at least through the season.”

  “Yes?” Cassie cocked an eyebrow. “That must keep you pretty busy. I hear that place is always full.”

  “I have four assistants, young kids, mostly, who work afternoons. They absorb all the easy stuff.” She looked up as Margie placed a steaming latte in front of her along with a little plate with the tasty macaroons.

  “Here you go.” She winked at Terra. ”I saved some mini cheesecakes, too, in case you wandered in today.”

  “Woman, you are the best. Thank you.” She looked at the couple sitting with her. “Of course, I’m going to need a rigorous exercise program by the time winter is over.”

  Cassie patted her flat stomach. “I know the feeling.”

  Terra took a sip of the latte and moaned in pleasure as the hot liquid stroked her taste buds. “Oh, god, I’m embarrassing myself.”

  Cassie laughed. “I feel that way myself when I drink it.”

  “So tell me…” Terra bit off a tiny piece of a miniature macaroon and chewed slowly. “You guys live here? In all this cold? I thought Massachusetts was the frozen north, but this makes it feel like Florida.”

  Sam shook his head. “Not anymore. Cassie and I lived here for a few months, which was how we met each other. Also Margie and Bruce.”

  “Lucky for us,” Cassie added. “In more ways than one.”

  They shared another look. Terra bet whatever their story it was a doozy. Sam continued, “We were only here for a few months, but long enough to meet. We moved to Coronado more than a year ago. I teach at the SEAL training school, and Cassie works there as a physical therapist.”

  ”So, what brings you back here?”

  They looked at each other and then at Margie.

  “We wanted to be able to celebrate our engagement with the Hagers,” Cassie told her. “They played a key role in our lives when we lived here.”

  “That’s, um, very nice of you.”

  “And we really appreciated it,” Margie told them, setting another plate of pastries on the table. “You guys are very special people to us.”

  “We’ll probably get married in Coronado,” Cassie said. “Most of our friends are there now.” She looked at Margie. “But we really, really want you and Bruce to be there, so you have to promise.”

  “No problem. You couldn’t keep us away.”

  “So, Terra.” Curiosity danced in Cassie’s eyes. “Tell me what brings you to Castile? I mean, I love this place, but it’s not exactly the center of the universe.”

  “True.” Terra hoped her tone held the right combination of enthusiasm and satisfaction. Good thing she could think fast on her feet. “But the job was a godsend. I had one all lined up at another resort, but the owner’s daughter decided she wanted the job.”

  She and Hal had decided this was the best cover story to explain her availability.

  “Well, that sucks.”

  “It could have, but then I saw the ad for Inn on the Hills and here I am. Did you guys ever go there before you moved?”

  “No.” Cassie shook her head. “It opened after we left. I’ve always admired people who ski. I wish I knew how, but I have two left legs and no sense of balance.”

  Sam cracked a smile. “That’s the damn truth. The one time we tried to teach you, it turned into a disaster.”

  Cassie poked him. “You weren’t much better.”

  “If you’d would like to give it another try,” Terra told them, “I bet I could help you score a successful run on the bunny hill.”

  “Thanks. But no thanks.” Cassie shook her head. “We’re heading back to sunny…and warm…California.”

  “Well, if you change your minds, give me a call. Dalton Jennings likes to embrace the community.”

  “I know. We see stuff for the inn everywhere.”

  As Margie moved away from the table to greet a newcomer, the door to the bakery opened again. The blast of cold air made Terra turn, and she tensed as Griffin Dunne walked in.

  His eyes swept the room and, when he spotted Terra, he gave a brief wave. She’d never seen him in here before but that didn’t mean this was his first time. Had he followed her here today? Did he have something to tell her? And would her damn nerve endings shut the hell down, please?

  “Who’s that?” Cassie asked. “I don’t remember seeing him in here before.”

  “He works at the inn. Helps maintain the outdoor equipment.”

  “Man.” Cassie chuckled. “You should take him for a test drive. He is hawt!” She looked over at Sam. “But lukewarm compared to you, so don’t get your shorts in a twist.”

  Sam laughed, a rough sound.

  “It’s okay. I don’t worry.”

  Griff was still standing at the counter, but he glanced around the bakery then paused for a fraction of a second on her before studying the display case again. They were only supposed to have met at the inn and ostensibly had nothing in common. In Castile, however, it was almost a sin to ignore anyone you’d met even briefly.

  “Do you know that guy, Terra?” Margie had walked back to their table with another plate of miniature treats and a second latte for Terra. “He’s been here a couple of time
s to pick up muffins. He seems addicted to them.”

  “Everyone’s addicted to your muffins,” Cassie teased.

  “So, do you know him, Terra?” Margie persisted. “I got the idea he works at the inn. Anyway, he sure is sexy.

  Terra groaned. “Thanks, Margie. Yes, he works at the inn with the outdoor equipment. But don’t get excited. Anyway, I’m on a man diet.”

  Cassie burst out laughing. “I was on one of those for a while.”

  “Thank god she got her appetite back,” Sam teased.

  Terra was suddenly envious of the look they exchanged, wondering if there would ever come a time in her life when she had that kind of relationship. On the heels of that she realized Griff was still standing at the counter, and Sam was studying her with an intent look on his face.

  “Is there some reason you don’t want to ask that guy to join us?” he asked.

  “Not really.” Terra shrugged. “He never seemed the real friendly type.”

  “Maybe you need to reach out to him.”

  She gave up. “Fine. Fine, fine, fine. I’ll go ask him.”

  Griff looked at her as she walked up beside him.

  “Um, the people around here are very friendly. We were wondering if you’d like to join us.”

  He stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.

  “No, thanks. I have some stuff to do. I only stopped in to get one of Margie’s muffins.”

  “I guess this is the first place in town everyone hears about,” she joked.

  “Yeah. Probably.”

  He accepted the bag with his muffin and walked out the door.

  “Sorry. Guess he’s just antisocial.” She went to pick up her coffee, but Margie reached for it first.

  “That must be ice cold by now.” Margie grabbed the cup from her. “Let me get you a fresh one.”

  ‘Oh. Okay, thanks.”

  Cassie lifted an eyebrow. “Your friend didn’t want to join us??”