Liam's Anchor

by Donna Michaels

  Stacy.

  The tall brunette in skin hugging jeans, dark green sweater, and curves in all the right places, caused his heart to do what it had always done in her presence…a slow roll in his chest.

  He stood watching for a moment, his mind digging for an explanation to what he was seeing. Why the hell was the woman dragging suitcases and boxes into one of the cabins?

  And why the cabin next to his?

  Chapter Two

  An unwelcome thought occurred and rocked Liam’s unstable heart.

  Dammit, he hoped this wasn’t some kind of ploy, although Stacy wasn’t the type. She was too genuine and forthright, two of the things he’d found so endearing about her in the first place.

  And yet, there she was…moving into a guest cabin—next door to his—when he knew through his sister that Stacy had a perfectly good apartment in town.

  His sister, Trisha, was engaged to Brett Brennan and often helped out at the ranch while going back to college to get a teaching degree. It was just his luck that she’d struck up a friendship with his bad luck beauty.

  Whatever reason Stacy had for moving into the cabin didn’t change a damn thing. He was keeping his distance. She was still off-limits.

  With that uppermost in mind, Liam strode straight to his temporary digs. All that mattered was feeding his dog, treating his wounds, and passing out.

  Hopefully, in that order.

  Upon reaching his porch, Liam focused on his door, determined to go inside until he heard a loud bang next door, followed by a muffled oath.

  Dammit.

  Concern trumped avoidance. Unable to stop, he glanced at his new neighbor…and promptly swallowed his tongue.

  Stacy was on all fours on her porch, and the light spilling out of her open door helped to spotlight her perfect ass.

  It was a perfect ass, too. Perfect with a capital P. Some of his fondest memories were of…

  A wet nose brushed his palm, and for the second time that day, it brought him back to the present, clearing the fog from his brain in the process.

  Liam gave himself a mental shake and unlocked his cabin door, willing his damn legs to move forward. He would’ve given his left nut to walk inside, but he couldn’t. It just wasn’t in him to ignore someone in need. Even if it was the one person in the entire world he should ignore.

  Muttering under his breath, he reached in to flick on the lights, then motioned with his hand for Trident to enter their cabin and stay. “I’ll be right back.”

  Pushing back his fatigue, Liam marched the ten yards separating their cabins, relieved to find the woman back on her feet. She was tugging a large suitcase around the big box still sitting in front of the door where it had fallen.

  Her gaze widened at his approach. Doing his best not to get sucked into the gorgeous brown depths, he bent down, grabbed the heavy box and carried it inside, right past the silent woman. The movement caused the gashes on his chest and shoulder to split open, reminding him it’d been a shit day.

  Her flowery scent followed him inside, dredging memories to the surface of lazy afternoons spent wrapped in her soft curves, her heady, flowery scent surrounding their satiated bodies while they worked to catch their breaths.

  Damn.

  He set his load down with a thud near a neat pile of boxes and suitcases already stacked in a corner, and a meow sounded from one of the cases to his left.

  “Slater?” Liam blinked at the gray cat he’d befriended four years ago in Stacy’s California apartment. The tabby stared out at him through a mesh pet carrier. “Hey, buddy,” he said, placing his hand near the mesh then smiling when the cat rubbed him with his face.

  He’d never considered himself a cat person, but Slater had proved to be a cool cat. And was…also part of his past.

  Straightening, Liam clenched his teeth against the fresh wave of pain shooting through his wounds, but he didn’t slow his movements.

  It was time to go.

  “Thanks,” Stacy said, and before anything else came out of her lush, open mouth, he nodded and strode right out of the one-room cabin.

  Whatever she wanted to say didn’t matter, and whatever was left to unload would have to happen without him. Being near her, especially in such a confined space with a damn bed sitting out in the open was bad. FUBAR bad.

  Nope. Not going there.

  By the time Liam made it back to his cabin and shut the door, his pulse leveled out and the act of breathing was no longer a chore.

  Trident got up from his bed near the unlit fireplace, sniffed Liam’s hand, then appeared to frown up at him as if to say, A cat? Traitor. How could you? With a grunt, the dog turned around and settled back down in his bed, averting his head.

  Liam chuckled. “You’ll change your tune in a minute.”

  He strode into the kitchen area, dumped food and water into Trident’s bowls, then headed to the fireplace to light a fire. If he didn’t do it now, it wouldn’t get done. Afterward, he walked into the bathroom and stripped, wincing as he peeled off the clothes sticking to dried blood on his skin. He glanced at the gashes in the mirror. Damn. He was going to need stitches.

  Maybe later.

  Swallowing a few aspirin he’d grabbed from the medicine cabinet, Liam turned on the shower and waited for the water to heat up.

  It was supposed to be an uneventful hike. One he’d looked forward to all damn month.

  Since when did things ever go as planned?

  With a halfhearted snort, he stepped under the spray and promptly hissed out a breath. The water hitting his battered body hurt so good. Closing his eyes, Liam willed the water to wash away some of the stink from his miserable day.

  As if that were actually possible.

  Washing up, he discovered more cuts and bruises, but considering he could’ve broken his neck—thanks to Dick’s damn flailing—Liam deemed himself lucky. Once the water cooled, he turned off the shower and heard someone knocking on the cabin door.

  Stacy…

  Since he wasn’t expecting anyone it had to be her.

  Damn, he knew her moving in next door hadn’t been a coincidence.

  Muttering under his breath, he wrapped a towel around his hips and marched out of the bathroom and across the cabin. Trident was once again curled in his bed. He cracked open one eye but other than that, made no other acknowledgement that he’d heard Liam moving about or the knocking newcomer.

  “Still sulking?” He snorted.

  Another knock sounded. Trident didn’t move or growl, but Liam grumbled.

  Last thing he needed was Stacy bothering him, especially in his cabin.

  “Look, whatever it is—” He wrenched the door open as he spoke, “I’m not interested.”

  Not Stacy.

  “Good, because you’re not my type.” Finn Brennan smirked as he pushed past him and entered the cabin.

  Saved him a phone call.

  A decade ago, for a brief time, Finnvincible had once been on Liam’s SEAL team. The guy was a damn good operator. Quick, lethal, razor sharp senses, didn’t know the meaning of the word can’t. It was no surprise Finn had been given command of his own team. Thank God, because if he’d still been on Liam’s team four years ago, he’d be—

  “Besides, Cammie doesn’t share. You were at our wedding a few months back, remember?” Finn asked, snapping Liam’s mind out of the past.

  Liam had known Cammie through his sister, Trisha, for years. The two women had served in the Marines together. Strong-willed and beautiful, she had to be in order to wrap his formidable former SEAL buddy around her pinky. It was obvious to everyone the couple adored one another.

  Good to see a Bonefrog find some happy.

  Blinking, he shut the door and turned around to find Trident trotting toward Finn, tail wagging the whole way.

  “Hey, Dentman,” Finn said, using an old nickname for the dog. “How are you, dude?” Smiling, he crouched down to give the dog a full body rub that had the happy K9 falling as if boneless to the floor.<
br />
  If the guy shaved his beard, and his twin Brett grew his hair longer, the brothers could definitely pass for identical. Both tall and broad, with dark hair and blue eyes, there was no mistaking they were related.

  The biggest difference was one was Navy and the other a Marine.

  At least one had taste…

  Not true, his mind countered. The other was engaged to Liam’s sister, Trisha.

  After a few more rubs, Finn patted Trident’s side before he rose to his feet and regarded Liam with a curious gaze. “So, who did you think was at your door?”

  He blew out a breath, debating his answer. Finn wasn’t a typical guy. No fooling a former SEAL. Besides, after growing up exposed to a bunch of boasters and bullshitters, Liam valued honestly.

  “Stacy,” he finally replied, then narrowed his gaze. “Did you have anything to do with her moving in next door? And why did she move in, anyway?”

  Christ…the last thing he needed was a matchmaker.

  Finn went brows up. “She’s in cabin eleven?”

  “Yep.”

  Amusement and a hint of pity flashed through his buddy’s eyes. “Sorry. Think you’ve got me mixed up with my twin. Brett’s the practical joker, not me. Had to be his doing.”

  Shit.

  This wasn’t a joke. His future brother-in-law needed to get a damn clue. Putting him near Stacy was a bad idea. Dangerous. She was too tempting and crossing that line again could invite bad luck. Not an option. This project was too important to too many people.

  “And she’s staying here because fire tore through her apartment building this morning,” Finn said, knocking the wind out of him. “The girls helped pack up her apartment and Brett and I moved her furniture and most of her things into storage. We told her she could stay in one of the cabins for as long as she wants, but I had no idea which she’d chosen.”

  Fire?

  Jesus.

  Liam inhaled and it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if she’d been hurt when brain function kicked in. He’d just seen her. She was fine. A little aggravated, a lot tired, but unharmed.

  Pretty much like him…except for the lacerations.

  Trident moved close and leaned against him. Liam reached down and stroked his head to reassure the dog he was fine.

  “So, how was your hike?” Finn asked casually, but the twinkle in his eyes made Liam uneasy. “Save any people lately?”

  Damn.

  How the hell had he found out?

  A grin spread across Finn’s face. “Sheriff called me,” his buddy answered, as if reading Liam’s mind. “Said you retrieved a trespassing idiot from a gully and that you were bleeding but refused help.”

  “Trident found him.” Liam shrugged, then clenched his teeth against the pain slicing through him. “I’m fine.”

  Finn nodded. “Of course, you are. That’s why there’s blood running down your chest, shoulder, and arm.”

  Blood? He thought it’d stopped.

  He glanced down then muttered a curse. Blood indeed was dripping from his damn gashes again.

  “First aid kit in your bathroom?” Finn asked, already on his way there.

  “Yeah.” He exhaled, reminding his legs he hadn’t given the order to buckle. “Under the sink.”

  As operators, they’d carried an extensive kit and had often sewn each other up. Even post-military, Liam stocked a similar kit, and from his buddy’s question, he had to assume the former frog did the same.

  Once a SEAL, always a SEAL.

  A moment later, Finn reappeared and set a towel, washcloth, and medical kit on the kitchen island, then kicked out a stool and nodded toward it. “Sit down before you fall down.”

  Liam would’ve grumbled but it was taking all his energy just to walk to the open-concept kitchen. If the guy wanted to fix him up, so be it. Saved him from having to do it himself.

  As he moved, Trident followed, pressing against his leg in support. Liam halted and patted the dog’s head again. “Thanks, buddy, but I’m okay.” He pointed to the dog bed. “Go relax.”

  Dipping his head as if to nod, Trident hesitated a beat, then retreated to his bed—circling it twice—before plopping down with a sigh.

  “Here.” Finn swiped a banana from the counter and shoved it into Liam’s hand. “Chew on this while I work.”

  He snorted. “Some Bonefrog you are,” he said, sitting on the offered stool, fruit in hand. “Think I’m supposed to bite down on something hard.”

  Finn chuckled, threading the curved needle. “Yeah, well…you’re a little hangry right now.”

  Among other things.

  His temples throbbed and body ached, and Liam couldn’t wait to sprawl out on the bed in the corner and pass the hell out. Soon…very soon. He stifled a yawn, then sucked in a sharp breath at the burning pinch of the needle breaching his flesh.

  Son-of-a…

  Liam muttered a few choice words before yanking off the peel and shoving the damn banana into his mouth. It was either that or bite the hand that was helping him.

  Since exhaustion was setting in, he went with the former.

  By the time Liam finished eating two bananas—because it was a two banana kind of procedure—the lacerations on his chest and upper arm were stitched. The only wound left was the cut on his shoulder. According to Dr. Finn, that one wasn’t as deep and didn’t need stitching.

  It needed something worse.

  Liquid bandage, which stung like a bitch.

  Before he could brace for the impending pain, Finn applied it to the wound and the hammering in Liam’s temples increased tenfold, spreading to pound behind his eyes and rattle his skull.

  Christ…the pounding was so loud, it seemed to echo through the damn cabin.

  “You gonna get that?” Finn asked.

  It took Liam a second to realize the noise wasn’t just in his head.

  Someone was at the door.

  “Come in!” Finn called out before Liam could find his voice.

  And in walked trouble.

  Shit. His heart did its obligatory roll.

  Stacy.

  “Liam, I want you—” Her voice trailed off, but her words resounded in his head, resurrecting old wants and needs he didn’t deserve.

  This was the second time in twenty-seven minutes he had been treated to her presence. Her sweet, sexy, unwanted presence.

  The beauty made it two steps into the cabin and instead of blocking her access, his damn dog was on his back in front of her, accepting belly rubs.

  “I didn’t know Trident had met Stacy before,” Finn remarked, packing up the kit.

  Liam blew out a breath. “He hadn’t.”

  Normally, the dog had great instincts, but this time, he messed up big time. Stacy was definitely dangerous. She posed a threat to the project. To Liam’s sanity. His defenses…to his heart.

  The last thing he needed was to be anywhere near the woman, because she was the very damn thing he wanted.

  Chapter Three

  Stacy Bradshaw focused on the adorable dog waiting on his back for belly rubs instead of the rock-hard, naked torso of her ex perched on a stool several feet away.

  Wearing nothing but a towel.

  And a frown.

  He did that a lot. The frowning, not the towel thing.

  Thank God, because she’d never maintain her resolve to keep her distance and her dignity if Liam Jennings waltzed around the ranch in a damn towel.

  The guy was six feet two of ripped, chiseled, built-to-perfection, sex on a stick.

  And boy, did she want to lick. And nip and kiss like she once had, many years ago.

  Four to be exact. Her heart still carried the scars.

  A wet nose nudged Stacy’s palm, bringing her attention back to the dog on the floor in front of her knees.

  “Well, aren’t you just absolutely gorgeous.” She smiled and rubbed him some more, noticing a few healed over slash marks on his side. Stacy stilled. I wonder… “Trident?”

  The dog pick
ed his head up and appeared to smile at her.

  Holy crow.

  This was the dog Liam used to talk about from his team. The poor thing was battle-scarred, like his owner. Her heart rolled in her chest and she had to blink her watery vision clear. She didn’t know how the two had ended up together on the civilian side, but she was glad they had each other.

  “I thought you said she never met Trident,” Finn said, kind of repeating his earlier remark.

  Finn Brennan was one of her bosses, along with Brett, his equally handsome twin. The brothers and their significant others had helped her move today. She was blessed to call all four of them friends. They’d had her back in her time of need, something she’d grown up without, so she considered herself blessed to have them in her life.

  Stacy wasn’t surprised to find Finn here. After all, he was a former SEAL like her ex, and she’d heard the two had served together at some point.

  “She didn’t,” Liam grumbled, nearly repeating his earlier response, too.

  Stacy sighed and gave the dog one last rub before rising to her feet. “He’s right. I didn’t. Liam had just mentioned him a few times and—” She sucked in a breath when her gaze fell on Liam again and she noticed dried blood and stitches on his chest and arm—Finn’s handywork, no doubt. “What happened?”

  How in the world had she not seen them when she’d first walked in?

  Because you were too distracted by the towel.

  True. Dammit.

  “He saved a man from a gully then refused help,” Finn replied without missing a beat.

  She shook her head. “Still brave and stupid.”

  Damn. The words were out before she could stop them.

  “Still beautiful and dangerous,” Liam muttered, his green gaze boring deep.

  Her heart did another roll in her chest at the compliment. She wasn’t surprised by her body’s stupid reaction to the man, but she was a little miffed at the warmth spreading through her chest and up into her face.

  So, he thought she was beautiful. So what? It obviously hadn’t been enough to keep him at her side. But the dangerous remark…that intrigued her. What had he meant by that?

  “And I’m still going,” Finn said, moving past her. “You two play nice.”