“You’re trying to stall. I’m certain there are rescuers on their way, and I need to get this over and disappear.”
“Too late,” Ranger yelled and looked behind Naldo. When Naldo glanced away, Ranger charged. He grabbed Naldo’s arm, shoving the gun up and away, and they rolled out into the hall, fighting for possession.
Ranger glanced up and saw the nurse. He pulled back as she hit Naldo in the head with a metal wastebasket. Naldo instinctively grabbed for his head, and Ranger had the gun. When Naldo saw the gun pointed at him, he lunged at Ranger. The bullet went into his chest. He dropped to the floor.
The nurse ran to her station and called for help while unlocking the elevator. Soon, a pile of people surrounded her. An emergency crew worked on Naldo, but he died.
“One less bad guy to worry about,” Jackson said. He slapped Ranger on the back and Ranger staggered.
“I’m not quite as steady as I’d like to be, but you all are mistaken. My nurse,” he smiled at her, “was the hero. She saved my life with a trashcan.”
With everyone’s attention on her, the nurse’s face went beet red. “I didn’t do much.”
But after Ranger told them the whole story, they all assured her she had saved the day.
“What’s your name?” Shadow asked.
“Riley Meyrick.” She smiled, “Riley because my Dad wanted a boy first.”
“You tell him he got a woman warrior,” Wolf said.
“I will. My Dad will be pleased.”
“Where’s my girl?” Ranger asked.
“Here,” Haley called as she stepped off the elevator. Her face was red with anger. “They pushed me aside and left me downstairs. I see all the excitement is over.”
“Come here,” Ranger said.
“No, I’m going to book a flight back home. I’ll never work with SEALs again. I’m an FBI undercover worker.”
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Shadow and the others walked to her.
“We didn’t mean any disrespect. We’ve seen you can handle yourself in all kinds of situations,” Shadow said. “But we knew if anything happened to you, it would be like one of us letting our wife get into danger. And last, but not least, Ranger would never feel the same about us again.” The others nodded.
“I’m not his wife,” she said and cleared her throat.
Ranger hugged her and looked down into her eyes. “I know it’s too soon, but I’d like you to be my wife. I’ll convince you to say yes, count on it.”
“Maybe I never will. I don’t like controlling men.”
The SEALs laughed. “Our wives told you who’s the boss ninety-five percent of the time. We take over when they’re in danger or about to do something dangerous,” Wolf said. Then he added, “It’s time for us all to head home.”
The Sheriff got off the elevator and thanked the SEALs for their assistance. “I hope we never have this much excitement again.” He nodded to a deputy beside him. “There’s just him and me. I had to wait for him to arrive. I can’t thank you all enough.”
They arrived at the Navy Base in San Diego later that night. An ambulance waited to take Ranger to the hospital.
“Can I ride with him?” Haley asked.
“I’ll take you to the hospital on my way home,” Jackson said.
“Thanks. I’ll get a taxi home later.”
“Okay. Let’s go. My family will be watching the road for me,” Jackson said.
Once in the car, Haley turned in her seat and asked, “Is it difficult for your family when you’re on a mission?”
Jackson glanced her way. “It’s not easy for any of us, but as SEALs we’ve learned we have to leave everything at home, so we get back home still breathing. My wife worries, but she seldom mentions it. We’re so happy to be back together we savor every moment of our time.”
“I guess there must be a lot of divorces?”
“Not too many. But, yes, some couples can’t manage our strange way of life.”
Haley laughed. “I guess every time you get home, the married couples feel like it’s another honeymoon.”
“Pretty much.” He grinned. “Are all these questions because you’re liking Ranger more than you want to admit?”
“Perhaps.”
Suddenly, she remembered Sampson. “Oh, my dog. I’m a terrible person. I forgot to ask you about him.”
Jackson pulled up at the hospital’s front door.
“Sampson is with Kayla and our son. With everything that’s happened, I forgot to tell you he was doing well.” He went around and helped her out of the truck. “I’ll go with you and make sure they let you in. Visiting hours are about over. Then I’ll wait out here and take you to see Sampson.”
“No, just knowing he’s okay makes me feel better. It’s late. Go home and enjoy your family.”
“All right, but come see Sampson and us in the morning.” Jackson waved goodbye.
The clerk at the front desk told Haley Dirk Foster’s room number. She took the elevator up to the third floor.
When she looked in, Ranger had settled into Room 355 and had the television on, but wasn’t watching it. He stared out the window. Haley knocked. “Can I come in?” she asked when he glanced at the door.
“You came. Come in.” He held out his arms and hugged her when she got close enough. “I’m so glad to see you. When I get out of here, we’ll date as I said. I’m hoping I can convince you to become my wife.”
Haley smiled sadly. “I’m not sure it can work. I go on jobs overseas with my work, and we may never see each other.”
“Let’s give ourselves time and see. We haven’t even had a chance to make love,” he said and chuckled when her face turned red.
“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed.”
“I might be. I hadn’t had many relationships last long enough for serious dating.”
“I’m going to change that, but first I have to get out of here and approved to rejoin my team.”
“And I have to see my boss and report all that’s happened. He’ll be happy we got Naldo and his group.”
“How are you getting home?”
“There are taxis out front. I’ll pay one to drive me.”
“Call me when you are in your house, safe and sound.”
“I will. I’m tired, and you are, too.” She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. Then she jumped back and hurried to the door.
“That wasn’t fair. Just wait until I’m in tiptop shape. I’m going to show you how to kiss better.”
She waved. “I can hardly wait.”
Back at home, she called and reassured Ranger she was safe. Then she poured some wine and wandered out onto her little porch.
I’m not sure how I feel. So much has happened. But Dirk’s one of the few men to make me laugh, feel safe, and I’m able to be myself with him. Do I dare open myself to the possibility of loving him? And it may already be too late. I think I might really want him in my life.
Chapter 8
Mike Powers called Haley into his office when she arrived at work. “Sit. I want to hear about everything that happened.”
She kept the report to specifics and mentioned no particular SEAL. “The SEALs did most of the work,” she said at the end.
“Captain Buchanan wouldn’t agree. He was full of praise for your help and your actions.”
“He’s a nice man.”
Powers leaned back in his chair. He put his hands together under his chin. “I’m trying to decide what to do with you. You’ll get a letter of commendation and a choice of whether to head up a team, either monitoring their missions from here or going out in the field with them. I know which your father would want for you.”
“And you know I usually do the opposite of what he wants.”
“Yes, I do, but I don’t understand it.”
“For now, I’d like to stay with my team.”
“All right, but if you change your mind, let me know.” He shook her hand, and she hurried to her own office.
“Not me alone. Mostly it was the SEALs who did all the hard work and fighting.”
“Ranger called me not to long after you left. Everyone was worried, and we didn’t find anyone who knew how to get to your cabin.”
“It was a stupid decision to keep it a secret. If my rescuers hadn’t found my dog and me, I probably wouldn’t be here.
“Oh, so you did get a puppy.”
“Yes, he’s been great. I had time to train him some before all the action happened. He’s so sweet.”
“Who has him now?”
“Jackson’s wife and son have been looking out for him.”
“Is he still there?”
“Yes, at Jackson’s house playing with their son. I’m ashamed to say at one point I forgot about him. I hurried off alone when I shouldn’t have, but thank goodness Jackson sent him home.
“They know I have to work, and then I’ll go see Ranger in this evening, so Sampson’s staying with them for now.”
“Doesn’t his wife work?”
“Part-time from home. They prefer not putting their son in someone else’s care.”
“Smart decision if you can manage it. Guess I’d better get back to work. I’m glad you’re back, safe and sound.”
“Me, too.”
The day seemed to drag. Haley called Ranger twice. He was eager for her to see him. The hands on the clock appeared to move slow as a snail. Finally, at five, she grabbed her jacket and flew out the door.
Her boss passed her in the hall and raised his eyebrows. “It must be important. You’re never the first to leave.”
Haley laughed and waved as she ran down the stairs.
Ranger held out his arms when she entered the hospital room. He hugged her and then kissed her. “I can’t wait to get home and make love to you,” he said softly in her ear.
Haley stepped back. “I never said we’d move quite that fast.”
“Your face is red. Surely you’ve had other close relationships.”
“As I told you, not many. I usually manage to run the men off before we get to the intimate stage.” She tried to remove her hand from his and step back. He wouldn’t let go.
“It’ll be good between us.”
“How do you know? I may be a real disappointment.”
“No way.” Ranger kissed her hand. “But don’t worry about it. I’ll see you enjoy yourself,” he said without a hint of boastfulness.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“What do you mean?”
“This may not work out between us. Let’s not get our expectations too high. We’ll take it easy, see each other, and later discuss how we feel.” Under her voice, she added, “I’m not the type of woman you need.”
Ranger leaned forward. A devilish expression came over his face. “If I can’t make you happy and excited, then I don’t deserve you. Just wait. I’ll dare you to say we’re not compatible.”
She shook her head and stamped her foot. “You don’t know me.”
He kissed her hand and pulled her closer, and then urged her head gently down toward his mouth. “I know you.” He kissed her lips and slid his hands alongside her cheeks. He briefly kissed each eyelid, her cheeks, and nibbled the edge of her jaw.
Then he stopped and looked directly into her eyes. “I don’t care if you deny it, I will change your mind. My heart knows you, and that you will be mine sooner or later.” He let her go, and she straightened and walked to the window.
“Are you scared?” he asked.
She whirled around. “I am not frightened of any man.”
“You should be. This time you were lucky and had help. Next time, help might not be around. No matter how much you want to conquer any man you meet, we are stronger, usually taller, and we know how to play mean and dirty.”
“I held my own in the cabin.” She waved her hand around. “Look, it’s my fault you ended up in the hospital.” Then she walked to the door. “You need to rest. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“I may be discharged by then.”
That made her pause. “Oh, well, shall I get off and pick you up?”
Ranger shook his head, “No, Shadow’s offered to take me home. I’ll be in touch.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Okay. I’ll wait until you call.” Then she shut the door behind her and hurried to the elevator.
“Hello.”
“Did you see her?”
“Yes. What are your plans?”
“She can’t live. Others must know if they mess with the men I hire and keep me from my objective, they won’t live.”
“How do you want it to go down?”
“Use your imagination, but don’t fail me. I hate failure. If Naldo weren’t dead, I would have killed him myself.” He hung up.
A shiver went down the spine of the other person as the cell was closed, crushed, and thrown away.
Shadow drove Ranger home. He opened the windows in the house to let fresh air inside.
“Thanks, Kijika. I could have managed to put them up. I’m sure you need to get back to work.”
“No, the captain wants me to keep you company and see how well you are doing moving around and all.”
“So you’re my spy.”
Kijika laughed. “Hardly. But we all know you can put on a good show. You talked the doctors into releasing you, but you aren’t up to passing the tests to come back to work.”
“I know, but my brain feels fine. I haven’t had any dizzy spells.” He laughed and walked a straight line. “See?”
“Yes, I do. But I’m not the one you have to convince.”
“I’ll be good. I’m going to lay around, gradually start exercising in the pool and go on from there.”
“At least we didn’t have to take on this last mission. Alec’s team took it for us,” Kijika said.
“We all need a rest. It wasn’t easy taking down Naldo and his men.”
“The FBI is pleased with our help. The captain said Haley’s boss sent a glowing letter of thanks to the Commander. Will Haley be coming over later?”
“I don’t know what her plans are. I’ll give Haley a break and tell her not to come tonight. She’s been at the hospital every day.”
“Did you two have a falling out? I thought Haley was the one for you,” Kijika said, tongue in cheek.
“The world might not be able to handle us both together.”
“Seriously, what happened between you two?”
“She came to see me yesterday, and she’s fighting the idea of us together. Her distrust of men, thanks to her Dad, is strong.”
“Are you giving up on her?”
Dirk laughed. “Hell, no. But I want her to see she can miss me, so I’m pulling back for a bit.”
“Hope it works. It might backfire on you.”
“Better we find out now than later. If I have any children, they’re going to have a mother and a father in their home. The original mother and father.”
“I agree. I’ll head out. Call if you need anything or feel sick.”
“You worry too much, my friend,” Dirk said and stood at the door to watch Kijika drive off. Then he sat on the stoop and enjoyed the cool evening air. It wasn’t dark yet, and he waved at several neighbors before going in.
The silent house never bothered him until now. “Damn, I’m already missing her.”
Dirk fixed grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. He started a fire in the family room and drank an after-dinner drink while thinking about Haley. He almost jumped when the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi. I wanted to check and see if you’re doing all right since getting home.”
Her sexy, soft voice wrapped around his heart. He took a second to answer.
“Everything is good. I gather you got the m
essage I left on your phone.”
“I did.” She hesitated. “I’m sorry for the way I acted the last time I visited.”
“No problem. You’re right. I’ve been pushing you too quick. Would you like to see a movie with me Friday night?”
“Do you think you’ll feel better by then?”
“I already feel better. I’m glad to be home.”
“When do you find out about returning to duty?”
“I have a few tests on Friday. I’ll be fine. I’m not worried.”
“Good. A movie on Friday sounds like fun.”
“You choose and let me know what time to pick you up.”
“I can meet you at the theater.”
“No, I like to drive my dates to wherever we’re going.”
Dirk heard her take a deep breath. “Sounds good,” she said and hung up.
He raked his hand through his hair. Damn, that was awkward, and we know each other so much better now. He wanted to strangle Haley’s father. I’m not sure I can get through the strong walls she keeps around herself. He paced and mumbled a few swear words.
Dirk banked the fire in the fireplace and walked out to the pool. The privacy fence around his yard was high. Confident no one could see him, he undressed and swam nude back and forth until he felt tired enough to sleep. In his bathroom, he showered and washed his hair. After drying off, he fell into bed, and still, his last thought was of her.
Kijika came over every day and worked out with Dirk. He had instructions from the doctor on how to gradually up his exercise until he passed his test to return to work. They’d finished for the day and sat by the pool drinking beer.
“You’re fine,” Kijika said. “I think you’ll pass all the tests.”
“Me, too. I’m not worried.”
“Then why are you frowning?”
“I have a date for the movies tomorrow night.”
Kijika leaned forward. “With Haley, I presume.”
“Yeah. Do you think I ought to forget about her?”
Kijika shrugged. “I don’t know. Can you?”
“Not easily.” Dirk looked off into the distance and then turned back to his friend. “This will sound crazy. We got Naldo and his men, and yet, something keeps nagging at me. Like maybe she’s still in danger.”
The SEAL’s Surprise Mate - Rachel McNeely Page 10