Moving so fast helped calm her. Her heart had been racing since the first moment she’d heard the cans’ clatter, although she’d expected an incursion from the river rather than from the direction the two hired guns had followed. Perhaps the well-built blond man had tripped that wire. He’d said he’d been fishing…
She’d chosen this spot in the forest because of its seclusion, and for the fact she’d planned on fishing to add to the dried goods she’d brought in her backpack. A week in the woods, long enough she’d miss the wedding, and then Malcolm would have to admit publicly that she’d jilted him.
She shook her head, thinking about how ridiculously stubborn he’d been about refusing to let her break their engagement—as though she didn’t have a choice. When he’d confined her to her apartment, placing guards on the door and stripping out her landline, computer, and taking her cell phone, she’d realized how serious he was. He was unhinged if he thought she’d stand in front of their guests and meekly say “I do.”
Well, no “ifs” about it. Malcolm Cassidy was a narcissist. The world revolved around him. The famous and influential flocked to him. And hadn’t she been flattered and thrilled when he’d begun to show interest in her?
Jessie had met Malcolm when she’d still been on active duty. A major in the Army, she’d been part of a presentation regarding new weapons technology that Malcolm’s company was providing. She’d observed the testing and provided a briefing regarding its success. After the briefing, he’d slipped her a card, telling her that if ever she decided to leave active duty, he’d give her a job for three times what she’d been making.
Although she’d loved her time in the Army, she’d grown tired of the frequent deployments. She’d resigned her commission and submitted a resume with a cover letter telling the HR department of MC Technologies she was responding to an offer from their CEO.
A year after she’d first met him, she’d joined his “team.” In an organization filled with ex-military, she’d felt at home. When Malcolm had asked her to accompany him to an event he was hosting for some congressmen, she’d felt proud to be on his arm. Malcolm was a handsome man in his mid-forties, never married, and soon, rumors swirled that he’d found his future wife. His proposal had been no surprise. Their union made sense.
But the more time she’d spent with him, the more her suspicions were aroused that there was something shady going on inside MCT. After her security clearance had been upgraded to give her access to his office suite, she’d done a little digging in his files. Transactions that appeared to be for minor machine parts were invoiced for far more than they were worth. Soon, she began to suspect he was selling arms to countries no U.S. business should.
She’d been stupid. Not knowing what to do with the knowledge or how to get proof. She’d been sure of only one thing—she wouldn’t marry him.
Telling him she was breaking the engagement had been a huge mistake. She should have just run. Crawling out of a bathroom window she’d managed to take off the security system hadn’t been easy. She’d had only one chance to hit an ATM and get out the maximum cash she could, because she knew he’d be able to track the transaction.
She’d gone off the grid four days ago, and still his people had somehow managed to find her.
Deep in thought, she didn’t realize her rescuer had halted his march until she ran into his back. “Sorry,” she muttered, pushing against him as she stepped backward, and noticing what she’d touched was all hard muscle.
He stepped to the side and angled his chin toward the clearing ahead. A parking lot. A seedy motel. A highway beyond.
His deep blue gaze locked with hers. “Once I step out of the woods, I’m heading straight to a phone. I’m calling the police.”
She swallowed. Someone who walked on the right side of the law would say that. She drew a deep breath. “I wish you wouldn’t.”
His eyebrows lowered. “Then I need to know why.”
Knowing she had to do this, that she couldn’t keep evading Malcolm on her own, she took that frightening leap of faith. “I’ll tell you everything, but it’s a long story, and we don’t have much time. If those two tracked me to my campsite, more will be coming. He has endless resources.”
“Who?”
“Malcolm Cassidy.”
His gaze sharpened. “MC Technologies? The ecto-skeleton armor guy?”
The fact he instantly recognized Malcolm’s name and company rang alarm bells. “Yes, that’s one of his products,” she said, balling her fists and taking deep breaths, preparing herself for yet another escape.
He gave a curt nod. “Good to know who we’re up against. You got a name?”
Confused yet again, she murmured, “Jessie Tamberlin.”
“Spider Longren. Navy SEAL.”
A SEAL—which explained so much—his hand-to-hand skills, his knowledge of MCT. She unballed her fists. “Thanks…for…back there.”
His broad chest expanded around a deep inhalation. “This was supposed to be a stress-free weekend,” he said, a half smile curving his mouth.
She gave him a tentative smile. “All I wanted to do was fish.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m a whole lot better at this than fishing.”
“You know, he might have people watching along the road.”
“Or have eyes on the hotel. I know.” His gaze went to his hands and the blood on his T-shirt. “They won’t be looking for me, but I have to clean up before I get my truck to get us out of here.” He glanced back up at her. “Will you be okay here until I’m back? Ten minutes tops.”
Ten minutes to alert the rest of Malcolm’s crew? She couldn’t help wondering if he really was on her side. He’d killed for her. It either meant he wanted more of the reward for himself or he really was an innocent bystander. A Navy SEAL innocent bystander? Yeah, right. But what choice did she have?
She gave him a short nod. “I’ll stay hidden. Ten minutes tops.”
Chapter Two
Spider didn’t like leaving Jessie in the woods by herself, but he had no choice. He headed toward a spigot at the back of the hotel and washed away the blood on his hands. Then he dragged off his tee and rinsed it the best he could, hoping the dampness would hide the dark bloodstains, and pulled it back over his head.
He needed his cell phone and gear in the room. Needed his truck keys, which he’d left on the bedside table. He made his way around the long strip of building on the side opposite to the office. Once inside his room, he quickly cleaned and bandaged his shoulder, changed into another shirt, then tossed the few things he’d unpacked into his duffel, got his toiletries from the bathroom, grabbed his phone and his keys, and headed back outside.
Seven minutes had passed. He hoped Jessie hadn’t gotten cold feet, decided he was one of the bad guys, and bolted. He drove his truck around to the office, kept the engine running while he ran inside to toss the guy his room key, then hooked a thumb to indicate toward the back of the hotel. “Hope you don’t mind if I toss some trash into your bin out back.” The guy behind the desk didn’t look up from his phone but waved a hand.
With that, Spider drove around back, parking with the passenger side door toward the woods, then leaned across the bench seat and opened the door. “Hey, Jessie,” he called out softly. A few seconds ticked by until brush rustled, and she ran, crouched over, ducked into the cab, and knelt on the floorboard.
At the entrance of the parking lot, he turned back toward home.
After a couple of miles, he reached for the glovebox and pulled out an old ball cap. “Put this on then get back up in the seat. I’d feel better if you were wearing a seat belt.”
She twisted her long dark brown hair into a knot on top of her head then slid on the cap.
When she was belted, he shot her a glance. “Okay, now. I need your story.”
“It’s not a story,” she said, frowning.
“Tell me.”
What he learned had him tightening his hands on the steering wheel. Her fiancé was Malco
lm Cassidy, fucking billionaire with friends in all the highest places. Friends who could kill his career in a heartbeat. How the hell could they hope to fight him? “Your plan was what? Wait until after the wedding to do what? Humiliate him, and then expect him to let you go? Don’t you think he knows you ran for a reason? One better than you changed your mind about being his wife?”
She grimaced and shrugged. “I was spooked after he put guards on me. And I don’t have the proof I need to bring to anyone who’d care about his arms deals.”
“How sure are you that he’s dealing arms to the wrong people?”
“Pretty sure,” she said in a small voice.
He raked a hand through his hair. “So, you don’t know, and now that you’re on the outside, you can’t get your proof. You know he can hire people to wipe away whatever stain you try to put on his reputation.”
“I know.”
“And you don’t have anyone who can prove he kept you locked up.” He glanced her way and saw her nod.
“I know. My word against his, and I’m nobody.”
“The best we can hope for is that he announces the wedding is off and lets you walk away.”
“But we have the bodies—those men in the woods…”
He raised an eyebrow and shot her a glare. “Do you really think he doesn’t have a mop-up crew to take care of that?”
“This won’t ever be over, will it?”
He could think of a couple of ways, but one wasn’t legal and the other was one she wouldn’t like. “When’s the wedding?”
“Next Friday.”
“I don’t have that much time off. I’ll have to contact my commander.”
“What will you say?”
“I’ll have to go in and request leave.”
“Your unit…it’s on a Navy base,” she said, frowning.
“You’ll be safe in my truck in the parking lot.”
“You sure your commander will give you the time off?”
He shrugged. “If I lay it on thick…an old girlfriend in town…trying to patch things up…” He glanced at her. She was beautiful. Anyone would believe he’d be into her.
“I’m okay with being an old girlfriend.” She straightened her shoulders and gave him a fake smile.
Spider grunted. When she wasn’t scared, she was a smart-ass. He kind of liked that.
…
With his copy of his leave form tucked safely in his pocket, he headed back to the truck he’d parked in sight of his team commander’s office window. When he climbed into the cab, he leaned across and put his arm around her shoulder. “Make it look good, sweetheart,” he said and kissed her.
She blinked at him as he drew away, and then nervously smoothed back her hair. Her cheeks were heating, and she hated that. “So he was in? On a Saturday?”
“He’s in whenever he’s not sleeping. Man’s dedicated.”
“So where to now?” She raised her hand to smother a yawn.
Spider glanced out the window at the gathering darkness. “Good question. I don’t know how long we’ll have until someone puts two and two together and figures out you’re with me.”
She nodded. “They’ll find your motel when they canvas the area.”
“And they’ll figure out I left early. They’ll get my plate information from the desk clerk. We need another vehicle.” He reached for his phone on the console and hit Tank’s number on speed dial.
“Yo, how’s the fishing?” Tank drawled.
Spider wrinkled his nose. “About that… I owe you a tackle box and everything inside it. And a new pole, a chair…”
“What the hell, bro? You run into a bear?”
Spider grunted. “Something like that. I need a vehicle. And to park my truck somewhere it won’t be found.”
There was a long silence on the other end, then… “You in some kind of trouble?”
“I need a place to lie low through next weekend. And no one can know about this.”
After a long silence, Tank said, “For all I know, you headed into the woods in North Carolina. I haven’t heard a thing.”
“Except for this phone call.”
“Dude, is someone after you who can get your phone log?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Anybody dead?” From his tone, Tank was kidding, but when Spider didn’t answer right away, he whistled. “That GPS I loaned you. Check the history. There’s a location west of Roanoke. Head there. Key’s under the standing ashtray. My old beater truck is parked outside my place. Key’s on the visor.”
“Thanks, buddy. And thanks for not asking any questions.”
“Plausible deniability, huh?”
“Yeah. We’ll hit the credit union ATM for cash. If they track me, the trail will end here.”
…
Sometime while she’d slept, she’d ended up with her cheek resting on Spider’s thigh. An embarrassing predicament when she woke. She barely knew him, but there she was resting against thick, hard muscle. The sensation must have felt reassuring because she’d slept hard.
Spider smoothed a hand over her hair. “You’re awake.”
She rather liked the way he gently petted her hair. “How’d you guess? I quit snoring?”
“You don’t snore. But your breathing changed. And you went all stiff.”
She pushed up and began fussing with her hair. Anything but look his way, because the word “stiff” had her thinking of things she had no business imagining. It didn’t help matters that he was extremely good-looking with his piercing blue eyes, shaggy blond hair, and scruffy beard. “I’m not used to waking up on some guy.”
“I would have thought—”
“That because I was engaged to Malcolm…?” She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I thought he was just being a gentleman. We barely kissed, and most of the time that was in public.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “The man’s not into women.”
She shook her head. “I think I would have known.”
He snorted. “Look, you’re…hot. If he didn’t at least try to get to second base, he’s not wired for girls.”
He thinks I’m hot? She shook her head. The fact he was a sexy man shouldn’t be any concern of hers. She had more important things to think about—like how to get out of the mess she was in. “You’ve been driving all night. Would you like me to take over?”
“It’s Tank’s truck.”
She barely suppressed a snarky “So?” The truck was barely a moving vehicle. Rusted, the dashboard worn and missing in chunks. The keys had been tucked under the visor—easy access, but since it looked like a wreck, safe. “I can drive, you know.”
Spider shrugged. “I know, but I’d rather do it.”
With her lips twisting, she drawled, “We there yet?” He grunted, and his teeth flashed in the light from the dash. She found she liked his smile. Yeah, Spider Longren was a handsome man.
“Not far,” he said, checking his GPS. His jaws stretched as he yawned.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked. “You don’t know me.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Pretty damsel in distress—it’s what I do. Or would like to do more often.” His glance shot her way. “I went fishing because I needed to unwind. Fishing didn’t cut it. But this…with you…I haven’t wanted to smash something in hours.”
Yeah, a SEAL through and through. “So what’s your story?”
His eyebrows shot up. “My story? Don’t really have one. I was born and raised in northwestern Montana. Never even saw the sea until I joined the Navy.”
“Why Navy?”
“I wanted to be near a beach.”
She laughed. “Really, you decided to be a SEAL so you could see the beach?”
“Yeah, sounds lame now, but you didn’t spend your youth following cattle butts around the countryside. The sea sounded glamorous, and since I didn’t go to college, I figured the Navy would get me there. A recruiter noticed I played football and liked mountain climbing. Thought I’d be challe
nged going through BUD/s training. I never looked back.”
“No family?”
“A brother who sells real estate—ranches, really—to Hollywood types.” He shook his head. “He thinks I’m crazy.”
She nodded. “He doesn’t get it.”
Spider shot her a glance. “But you do…?”
She gave a shrug. “Army. Twelve years.”
“Rank?”
“Major.”
He gave a thin whistle. “So you do get it. Do you miss the Army?”
Jessie sighed. “Some things, but the higher you go up in rank, the more time you spend in staff jobs at headquarters—especially when you’re female. I was ready to do something else. I should have known there’d be a catch.”
Silence stretched between them. “Were you in love with him?”
“No, but I didn’t think that really mattered. I thought we had lots in common. That the work we were doing was important—not the guns, but the armor. Anything to protect and strengthen troops; I figured that was worth it. I felt I was part of a team again. I had family. Thought that, at least, he was an honorable man.”
Spider seemed to digest what she said, then he sat forward, peering through the windshield. “That’s our turn.”
He drove onto a narrow, paved road that wound deeper into forest. Eventually, the pavement gave way to gravel. Spider flipped on his brights, and they both peered through the glass with its long spiderweb crack stretching across the middle. The lights reflected off something looming in the distance to the left of the road.
He slowed, lifted his GPS, then clicked it off. “Home sweet home.”
What she saw was a ramshackle cabin with a porch that leaned precariously, large stones propping up one side.
Spider cussed softly under his breath. “I swear, Tank takes our SEAL buddies out here to hunt. If it can survive a bunch of SEALs…”
She grinned. “I’ve stayed in worse.” Again, he gave a masculine grunt, a sound she was beginning to think was very sexy.
“You were an officer. I doubt it.”
“An un-air-conditioned tent with scorpions for roommates…”
He turned to stare. “Did not.”
“Army, not Navy. You guys are spoiled. But I’ll admit. I wasn’t in the tent for long.”
Men In Uniform Anthology Page 45