by Rebecca Deel
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll protect you with my life, Sasha. You have my word.”
“I never doubted that.” If she had, running straight at Gerard while the trainee had a loaded weapon and an ax to grind would have confirmed it beyond question.
When they parked behind Perk, excitement bubbled in her blood. Sasha was determined to make today a great day despite the questions surrounding the Harts and Black Dog.
Sasha unlocked the shop door and shut off the alarm. When Cade signaled for her to remain in place while he checked out the coffee shop, she didn’t protest. The operative was extra vigilant. Facing danger to himself was normal. Knowing she might be in danger increased his protectiveness. She had to appreciate his desire to protect her from further harm.
A moment later, Cade returned. “It’s clear.”
“Great. Let’s get busy.”
They worked side by side for the next three hours. Cade turned out to be handy in the kitchen. Once the baking was completed and the display cases filled, they shifted to preparing coffee. Soon the shop filled with scents that made her mouth water and her stomach growl.
Across the square, lights were on in That’s A Wrap and customers were filling seats in Delaney’s. Sasha glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes to spare. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I saved two blueberry scones and two raspberry cheesecake muffins for us. When one of the policemen stop in, you can go across the square to Darcy’s place for something more substantial.”
“Sounds great. What kind of coffee do you want with your breakfast?”
“Columbian with three shots of espresso.”
“Coming up.” He eyed her. “Grab a bottle of water for yourself. Dehydration will make the headache worse.”
Sasha laughed. “I thought I hid it well.”
“You did. Most people wouldn’t notice.”
“But you did.”
Cade shrugged one shoulder. “I notice everything about you.” He turned away to refill their travel mugs.
Sasha went to the cooler where she’d set aside the scones and muffins. If she wasn’t already falling in love with the man, Cade’s last statement would have nudged her that direction. How could she resist him when he said things like that? She plated the food and carried the dishes to the front.
He sat at the far end of the counter with his back to the kitchen, the main room and door in plain view, his laptop on the counter. He took a bite of the blueberry scone she placed in front of him and moaned. “Sasha, this is terrific.”
She smiled. “You’d know how they tasted if you had stayed in the shop longer than it took to fill your travel mug. I always hoped you would stay for a few minutes. I had plans to grab your interest with my baking.”
“My mistake, one I won’t be repeating.” He tapped her plate. “You have ten minutes before the shop opens. Eat while you can.”
When they finished the quick meal, Sasha dashed into the kitchen to deposit the plates in the dishwasher. Another glance at the clock. Time to open for business.
The mad rush of morning customers made time pass in a blur. One of her workers had a class that canceled and dropped in to lend a hand. As the hours passed, Cade kept an eye on the customers and people walking past the shop on the sidewalk. When she needed more supplies from the kitchen, he brought in trays of scones and muffins and refilled the cases. A couple times when the line stood six people deep, Cade bagged to-go orders of pastries and helped pour coffee if the order wasn’t a complicated one. Between the three of them, they easily handled the larger than normal traffic through the shop.
Once Perk was in the lull between breakfast and lunch and the shop was empty, Sasha sat on the stool next to Cade. “If you ever decide to hang up your weapons and look for other work, I’ll hire you in an instant.”
He laughed. “Good to know I have job options. I’m glad I could help.”
“You were a lifesaver.” Sasha rolled her shoulders, her muscles aching. “I’ll miss having you here when you’re gone for work.”
“Hurting?” he murmured.
“Shoulders and head.”
“Did you drink the water?”
“Half.”
“Finish the rest while I work on your shoulders.” His hands kneaded her muscles.
She moaned. His hands were magic. Maybe she’d survive the day’s labor now. “You can stop sometime next year.”
“How are you holding up, Sassy?”
“I’m more tired than I thought I would be.” Galled her to admit it.
“Understandable. Another day or two and you will be back on your game.”
Renee, her part-timer, set a bottle of water beside Cade’s computer. “Sasha, Jason is coming in before noon. I can handle things here if you want to go home.”
She wished. Unfortunately, her house was still off limits. According to the fire marshal, her bedroom had been heavily damaged in the fire. That meant she needed to dig into her savings account and buy more clothes. Would Cade be willing to take her to one of the malls in Knoxville? That was the fastest way to replenish her clothing choices. Maybe after he finished with his training this afternoon.
“I’ll stay until Jason arrives.” She didn’t want to leave the college student alone in the shop in case one of the Black Dog crew decided to cause trouble. The mercenary group had no way of knowing if Sasha was in the shop. She couldn’t take that chance with Renee’s safety.
The chimes over the door rang and Ethan Blackhawk walked inside. He had a handbag under his arm.
“Welcome to Perk, Ethan.” Sasha smiled at him. “Would you like the Columbian today? It’s a bold roast that will make your taste buds wake up and sing.”
“Sold. The largest cup you have.” He laid the handbag on the coffee bar. “I found your purse in the living room the night of the fire and grabbed it. Haven’t had a chance to drop it by before now.”
Relief swept through her. Thank goodness she didn’t have to go through the hassle of canceling her cards and securing another driver’s license. “Thank you. You saved me a boatload of time and trouble.” She studied his face a moment. “Rough day?”
“And night. Lucas is teething. I was up half the night walking the floor with him. It’s one thing for him to cry when he’s tired or mad. It’s different when he’s hurting. Hurts me almost as much as it does him.”
“Poor guy.” She started to rise, but Cade laid a hand on her arm.
“I’ll take care of it.” He walked behind the counter and grabbed the extra-large cups Sasha used most of the time for the Fortress operatives and law enforcement personnel who stopped in. The hospital staff generally chose a smaller size.
“Anything new on the fire?” Sasha asked.
“We found a gas can near the tree line in the back. Did you leave one out?”
“I don’t have lawn equipment. I hire someone to take care of that for me.”
“Prints?” Cade asked as he handed the police chief his coffee.
“None.” Ethan nodded his thanks and sipped. “I won’t torture your eardrums by singing, but this is great, Sasha. How are you feeling?”
“Tired with a nagging headache.”
“I’m glad you’re recovering.” His gaze shifted to Renee.
Sasha took the hint. “Renee, check our supplies. I’d like to make chocolate chip muffins and strawberry scones tomorrow. See if I have all the ingredients or if we need to do a supply run.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As soon as the swinging door closed behind the college student, Ethan said, “I heard there was a problem yesterday at PSI. What happened?”
Cade gave him the highlights without going into great detail.
Ethan scowled. “Any idea what Black Dog wants?”
“Not yet. Zane and Maddox are looking into it.”
“I want to know the minute you hear anything. In the meantime, I’ll alert my officers to be watching for strangers in town.”
Sasha hopped off the sto
ol and opened one of the display cases. She bagged two of the raspberry cheesecake muffins and handed them to Ethan. “In case you don’t have time to stop for lunch.”
“That’s the case most days.” He reached for his wallet.
“On the house, Ethan.”
He smiled. “Thanks.” He withdrew money from his wallet and dropped it into the tip jar. “I’ll be expecting word from you soon, Cade. I don’t want my town caught in the crossfire.”
“Understood.”
With that, the chief left.
After a quick glance to make sure Renee was still in the kitchen, Sasha said, “Do you think Black Dog will try something in Otter Creek?”
“I don’t know. We can’t be complacent. Innocent people could be hurt.”
“What will you do?”
His eyes held grim determination. “Prepare for the worst.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Just before noon, Sasha’s other part-time worker, Jason, walked in the shop with another girl close on his heels and headed straight for Sasha.
“Hi, Sasha.” The girl hurried around the counter to embrace Cade’s girlfriend. “I’ve missed you. How is business?”
Sasha returned the hug. “Marley, it’s great to see you again. The shop is busy. You sure you want to work for the motel? I could use more help. Renee and Jason are graduating in a few months and will be seeking full-time work in their fields.”
“The motel job isn’t working out like I thought it would. Turns out I hate working overnight.”
“Don’t you have more time to study?”
“I spend my time trying to stay awake and I’m tired all the time.”
“You have a job at Perk if you want one.” She turned to Jason and Renee. “Remind Marley how things run in case she decides to rejoin us. If you need me, call or text. I’ll be with Cade at PSI until the shop closes.”
The three students stared at Cade. “Is he your boyfriend?” Renee asked.
Sasha nodded.
Satisfaction filled Cade. He’d waited a long time to hear Sasha say those words.
“Wow,” the girl whispered, her eyes wide.
“Double wow,” Marley said.
Cade eyed Jason. “You plan to one-up the ladies?”
He snorted. “Not me. It’s fine as long as you take care of Sasha. If you don’t, you and I will be having a talk.”
Sasha’s eyes widened. “Jason!”
Cade nodded at the college student, understanding the need to protect one you cared about. “If I louse up and hurt her, you get a free punch. Okay?”
“Deal.”
The kid would never have the opportunity to take advantage of his offer. Cade wouldn’t hurt Sasha, ever. He handed Sasha her purse, grabbed his laptop, and escorted her to the SUV. “Hungry?”
“I’ll take anything as long as it’s not too heavy.”
“I’m not sure what Nate planned for lunch today. Burger Heaven has a great grilled chicken sandwich. Does that sound appealing?”
Sasha nodded. “Since my bedroom is toast, including my closet, would you mind going with me to Knoxville? I won’t take long, but I need clothes. I can’t continue borrowing from Grace.”
“No problem. Think about what you might want for dinner. We’ll count this as our first date.” The first of many. He had a lot of time to make up.
Cade glanced at the dashboard clock. To make his training session on time, he’d have to use the drive-through. Minutes later, he escorted Sasha into the dining hall where they sat with his teammates.
“Everything okay at Perk?” Trent asked.
Sasha nodded as she unwrapped her sandwich.
“The shop still open?” Liam asked.
“Two part-time helpers are closing for me.”
“Should we send a trainee in to keep an eye on things?” Simon asked Trent. “I don’t like the idea of the students being there alone.”
“It’s good on-the-job practice,” Cade agreed. He planned to broach the subject with his team leader after lunch. He wasn’t worried about their safety during the lunch rush in town. Too much foot traffic in the square and people dropping in for their afternoon coffee. Around three, though, foot traffic in the shop slowed down.
Trent scanned the trainees at various tables across the large room. He strode to the far corner and talked to a man and woman seated together. After a moment, both nodded, disposed of their trash, and left.
Bravo’s leader returned. “Done. Didn’t take much persuading. Kat and Abe love Perk. I promised them free coffee as long as they were on duty. Hope that was okay, Sasha.”
“Of course.” She pulled out her phone and sent a text. “I let Jason know the trainees would be in the shop for a training exercise. He’ll provide them with coffee and pastries on the house.”
“I’ll cover the cost.”
“Kat and Abe are doing me a favor by protecting my employees and property. I’m happy to provide fuel to keep them awake.”
Matt sighed. “They’ll have to run two more miles tomorrow to work off the extra calorie intake.”
Cade chuckled. “Sounds like you wish you had Perk duty.”
“Absolutely. I love that place.”
The noise level in the dining hall picked up as trainees and staff called greetings to the five men dressed in the standard Fortress uniform who walked in. Durango had returned. “I’m surprised to see them on campus. I thought they would spend time with their wives.” Especially Josh and Alex. Their wives were expecting babies any time. For the next two months, if Maddox needed to send one of the PSI teams on a mission, he’d send Bravo. Cade needed to warn Sasha he might be gone more than normal in the next few weeks.
Trent shook the hand of Durango’s leader. “How did the mission go?” he asked Josh Cahill.
“Like clockwork.” He shrugged. “Can’t explain it.”
Sasha turned to Cade, her expression puzzled.
“Something always goes wrong on missions. We make plans and several contingency plans.”
“And then we operate on the fly,” Matt said.
Liam scowled. “Their intel must have been better than ours.”
“Doubt it. Luck of the draw,” Josh said. “I heard we had a problem with one of the trainees.”
“Two.” Trent pivoted to face Bravo. “Indoor gun range. I’ll update Josh and meet you there.”
When his teammates stood, Cade said, “How is your headache, Sasha?”
“Much better. Is it all right if I go to the gun range with you?”
He looked at Trent, eyebrow raised. When he received permission, Cade stood and held out his hand to Sasha. “Ever fired a weapon before?”
“No, but I’d like to learn.”
Not what he’d expected to hear from her. Emily had been afraid of his weapons and refused to touch one or him if he was wearing one. That had been a problem since he wore weapons everywhere.
“You use them for your work,” she continued. “I want to learn how to handle weapons. I don’t want to be afraid of the tools you use to keep yourself and your teammates safe.”
Unable to stop himself, he leaned down and kissed her. “I’ll be glad to teach you.” Finding a woman like her was a blessing, one he wouldn’t take for granted.
When Cade raised his head, he noticed the members of Durango staring at him and Sasha, wide grins curving their mouths.
“About time,” Rio said. “Marcus and Paige were ready to declare you hopeless.”
Cade scowled. “I didn’t need a matchmaker. I knew what I wanted. I was working up the courage to approach her.”
Alex, Durango’s sniper, clapped Cade on the shoulder. “Good job.” He looked at Sasha. “If he hurts you, tell me.”
Cold chills ran up his spine as he protested. “I’ll never hurt Sasha.” No one wanted to be in Alex Morgan’s sights when he was angry. The sniper would tear into him if Cade screwed up with Sasha. Alex had a soft spot for women and children.
Sasha nestled her hand into
Cade’s and smiled at Alex. “If he does, you can have him after I’m finished with him.”
The trainees and staff remaining in the dining hall erupted into whistles, catcalls, and applause at her words, earning a scowl from him. He gathered their trash and led her toward the door. “I need to find the appropriate weapon for you before we start.”
“Something small and pink?” she teased.
Cade flinched. “I doubt we have anything fitting that description.” At least, he hoped not.
Ten minutes later, they walked into the building housing PSI’s indoor gun range. He selected two sets of ear protectors and safety goggles, then went to the vault and pulled out three weapons he thought might fit her hand.
Cade checked the chamber of each to be sure they were empty, found magazines for each, and shoved them into his pocket. He nudged her toward one of the empty rooms. “A few pointers before we shoot targets.”
He taught Sasha handgun safety and how to hold her weapon in a two-handed grip, correcting her stance until she moved into it naturally. “Excellent. Go into your stance and aim at the wall. Draw in a deep breath, let it out halfway, and squeeze the trigger.”
She followed his instructions.
“Again.” He had her repeat the procedure until she was comfortable. “Perfect. Ready to try it in the range?”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“You won’t. Each shooter is separated by barriers. The weapons will kick each time you fire. Don’t fight it. Relax and absorb it. Even with the ear protectors, the range will be noisy.”
He led her to an empty corral. With the eye and ear protection in place, he motioned for her to shove the magazine into the Sig he’d selected for her. When Sasha was ready, she fired at the target he’d set at twenty feet. He corrected her aim and nodded for her to fire again. After she emptied the magazine, he brought the paper close to see how she fared. Not bad for a first try. Half the shots hit the paper. With a little more practice, Sasha would be a good shot.
When he switched Sasha to a Berretta, her accuracy improved. Nice. After finishing the three magazines he’d brought, Cade reloaded them, sent the target farther away, and completed his own practice with each of the weapons he’d selected for her.