RJ (HC Heroes Series Book 7)

by Donna Michaels

  “Hunter.”

  Dex’s brows shot up as Cooper whistled.

  “Yeah.” Mac chuckled. “I never thought he’d leave active duty either, but he’s finishing up his last mission and will head stateside by one, October.”

  RJ had appreciated the Delta operative’s skills. Hunter was deadly. And aptly named. It’s what the guy was good at…hunting the enemy. In fact, he’d been so good that the CIA had utilized the operator, pulling him from his Delta unit a time or two.

  “He going to be bored here?” Rylee asked, cocking her head. “We don’t have a lot of jobs that require his special skill set.”

  Mac chuckled. “True, but that’s actually why he wants to work for ESI. To get away from ‘hunting,’ although he knows investigating is sometimes part of the job. He’d like to focus on protecting.”

  “Hell, we always have need for that,” RJ said. “It’ll be good to have his help.”

  “Roger that.” Mac turned to Rylee. “I need you to start on his packet.”

  She nodded. “I’ll get it done. What about accommodations? I don’t think there are any cottage vacancies.”

  Since RJ had been kicking around the idea of looking for house, he was taking this as a sign. “Actually, mine might be.”

  “Damn, man. You work fast,” Cooper said, grin spreading across his face. “You moving in with Lori?”

  “What?” He frowned. “No.”

  Although, the thought of waking up every morning the way he’d woken up that morning certainly held a lot of merit.

  “I’ve been thinking about getting a permanent place for a while now. I like it here and don’t plan to leave, and since Hunter may be more comfortable in a small, free-standing dwelling than the extra apartment on the top floor of this building, I’d be happy to offer up my cottage…provided I find something before he arrives.”

  Preferably a home like Gabe’s. Big, fenced in private yard, yet still technically in town.

  “You should contact the realtor Rylee and I used,” Dex said. “He was great.”

  Rylee nodded. “I think I still have his business card on my desk. I’ll get it for you after the meeting.”

  “Thanks.” The more he thought about finding a permanent house, the more it felt right. It was time. Hell, it was past time. He wasn’t going anywhere. His job, his…Lori, they were all right here in Harland County. Yeah, he was definitely ready to find a home.

  And now that Cooper had planted that seed…RJ couldn’t help but feel it take root. He definitely wouldn’t be opposed the idea in the near future.

  Question was…would Lori?

  Chapter Seven

  Friday evening, Lori was at her sister’s place, baking—not a cake, though—something savory for dinner. Lasagna, their favorite. With Dean and RJ in Austin until Sunday, Lori and Loni were enjoying some girl time, with Abby and Lyndsey due to arrive in a few minutes.

  Wine, lasagna, friends, and Netflix. A great combo for their night. Well, water for Abby. Cooper was also in Austin and had asked if they’d keep an eye on his pregnant wife.

  What a sweetheart. It was obvious to everyone how much he adored Abby. Between him and Dean, the two men helped restore a little faith in men where Lori was concerned.

  RJ was getting there, too.

  “Seems like old times.” Smiling, Loni brushed garlic butter over her bread dough, sprinkled grated parmesan on top, then shoved it in her second oven. “It’s been forever since we did this.”

  While her sister popped the cork on the merlot, Lori got to work on the salad. “I know.”

  Back in Connecticut, for more than a year, this was all they used to do.

  “We should make this a monthly thing,” her sister said, filling two glasses halfway before handing her one. “What do you think?”

  “Absolutely,” she replied, clinking her glass off Loni’s before taking a sip. “And maybe next time, Stef, Mel, and Rylee can make it, too.”

  Tonight, was a spur of the moment type thing.

  Loni nodded. “There was this one time, back in April—before you arrived—when we all kind of got together at Rylee’s. It was fun. We’ll have to run it by everyone.”

  “Yeah.” She set her glass on the counter and returned her attention back to the cutting board, where the rest of the peeled cucumbers sat waiting to be sliced. “And I’m pretty sure the promise of your baked goods for dessert will have them crawling out of the woodwork.”

  Her sister laughed. “Or yours.”

  True.

  Smiling, she scraped all the sliced cucumbers from the board into the bowl of mixed greens, then got to work on the tomatoes when the doorbell rang. The sound automatically stiffened her spine. But before alarm had a chance to wash through Lori, her sister opened the door and their dinner guests smiled their greetings.

  Lori swallowed an oath at her stupid response. Letting some juvenile doorbell prankster get to her made her feel like an idiot. Besides, this was a doorbell—not a knock like at her place—and even that hadn’t happened to her in a couple of days.

  “Hi, ladies.” Abby stepped inside and slapped a hand to her throat. “Oh my God it smells so good in here,”

  Lyndsey nodded. “You can smell it outside.”

  “Yeah. My stomach started growling the second I got out of the car.” Abby laughed, moving her hand to her belly. “I think Mindy approves of the aroma, too. She is moving around like crazy right now.”

  Lori chuckled. “Smart girl. Italian food rocks.”

  Always her go-to food. Her comfort food. Her anytime-she-was-hungry food.

  “Do you need any help?” Lyndsey asked, walking with the others into the kitchen.

  “No.” Lori shook her head. “We have it covered.”

  Her sister motioned toward the island snack bar. “Yeah. Have a seat. I’ll get you a drink. Dinner is just about ready.”

  “I heard that.” Abby pulled out chair and slowly hauled herself up. “I’ll be glad when I don’t waddle anymore.”

  Loni laughed, sliding a glass of wine across the island to Lyndsey, and water to the mother-to-be.

  “Thanks.” Abby sighed. “I’ll also be glad to enjoy a drink with a little more flavor.”

  Lyndsey set a hand on Abby’s arm, her diamond ring sparkling under the pendant lighting. “I can imagine, but since you’re the designated driver, I’ll be happy to enjoy your share for you tonight.”

  Abby laughed. “Thanks. That’s so thoughtful of you.”

  Lyndsey sipped her wine and shrugged. “What are friends for?”

  Lori’s laughter mixed with the others as she set the finished salad on the island next to the plates and dressings. Then she removed the lasagna from the oven while her sister grabbed the bread and they placed them on trivets on the island before taking their seats.

  “Mmm…Mama’s about to get her Italian on.” Abby rubbed her palms together and shook her shoulders.

  Her sister grinned. “Go for it.”

  Like their mother, Loni always did like pleasing people’s palates. Lori enjoyed that too, but she enjoyed creating feasts for the eyes even more.

  “Don’t worry, Abs. We won’t tell Cooper you’re lusting over an Italian hunk.” Lyndsey winked, already loading her plate. “Oh, he’s certainly a meaty one, isn’t he?”

  Once again, Lori laughed with the others.

  Yeah, they definitely had to do this more often. It was funny how she’d gone most of the summer without, and then twice in one week, she got to hang out with these women.

  Kind of the same thing with RJ.

  Dry spell all summer, then Labor Day arrived and bam…no more dry spell. A smile tugged at her lips. The first three days—and nights—of this week had been pretty amazing.

  “I know that smile,” her sister said. “You’re thinking of a certain SEAL, aren’t you?”

  Busted. And since she was okay with that, Lori decided not to blame it on the Italian. “Yeah. I’ve no idea what switch had flipped in RJ, but I
hope it stays that way.”

  “You were certainly on his radar at the cookout,” Abby said between bites.

  Lyndsey cut a slice of garlic bread and turned to her. “It was nice to see him smile. And talk. That was the most I’ve heard RJ converse since he moved here…and he’s been over every week with Cooper and Dean.”

  Lori liked being on RJ’s radar. He was smart, sexy and funny, and although the handsome man was more on the quiet side, she enjoyed his company both in and out of bed.

  Abby grinned. “Guess Lori possesses the right motivation.”

  She chewed on that for a few minutes, along with her food. Eventually, she vetoed that nice thought and snorted. “If that’s true, then what do I have now that I didn’t since June?”

  Her weight was the same. Her hair was the same. Her clothes. Her routine. All the same.

  Damn…when had she gotten so boring?

  “Don’t think it was you,” her sister said, using a slice of bread to break a large string of mozzarella connecting her forkful of food to her remaining hunk of lasagna.

  She lifted a brow. “I don’t motivate him?”

  Lyndsey laughed. “Oh, you motivate him, all right. I think she meant you’re not the reason he kept his distance all summer.”

  “Oh.” She blinked. “Well, if any of you have an idea what the hell did, I’d sure love to know.”

  Her friend shrugged. “Me, personally? This is just a guess, but I’m wondering if it’s related to his injury. Men and their pride and egos. Those are two tough nuts to crack.”

  “Exactly my thoughts, too.” Loni reached for her wine and turned to face her. “Dean may have full use of his arm, but the wounds are still there. But it’s the ones you can’t see that are far more damaging.”

  Lori nodded. “Guilt. It’s the worst.” She knew because she lived with it daily, not that she’d ever tell her sister. “But I don’t think that was his hang-up with me. What you said, Lyndsey…that actually makes sense.”

  Why the hell hadn’t she thought of it?

  “Yeah, I think so, too.” Her sister nodded. “He’s a former SEAL. If he thought he couldn’t take care of you, then he’d keep his distance so you could find someone who could.”

  “How magnanimous of him.”

  Idiot. He’d taken great care of her back in June. Lori had no idea why he hadn’t seen that. Especially since she’d told him, and not just with her body.

  “Think it’s part of their training at BUDs,” Abby said, pushing her half-eaten plate of food aside. “You know, just once I’d love to be able to finish a normal helping of food without getting filled up after three bites.”

  Lori cocked her head. “I hope you saved some room because my sister made peanut butter filled chocolate cupcakes for dessert.”

  Abby sucked in a breath. “Loni, you are a goddess among mortals. I thought I smelled them.” She glanced at her belly. “Hear that, Mindy? Aunt Loni made us our favorite cupcakes. Move a little to the left so my food can digest and make some room because Mama’s gonna munch out.”

  Ten minutes later, the dishes were in the dishwasher, leftovers were cooling on the counter, and they were moving into the living room to watch Netflix and eat cupcakes. Dessert was now on the coffee table, along with napkins, plates, and another round of drinks.

  “Yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever be too full for your cupcakes,” Abby said, reaching out to hold on to the back of the couch as she lowered herself onto the cushions.

  Lori nodded. “Me, either.”

  “Ditto.” Lyndsey put two on her plate and sat back. “Come to Mama.”

  Abby stilled and went brows up. “Is there something you aren’t telling us?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She means, are you in the family way?”

  “Ah…and no. I was just borrowing your phrase.” The woman snickered. “I have a lot of four-legged, and one three-legged babies to care for. Plus a large, handsome two-legged babe that consumes me…I mean, my time.”

  “Think you had it right the first time,” Lori said, having recently discovered the real meaning of the word consumes.

  And liked it.

  A lot.

  Her laughter mixed with the others and echoed around the room, until the doorbell rang.

  Loni was still smiling when she got up to answer the door. This time, no one was there. “That’s the second time this week.” Her sister shut the door and sighed.

  Lori frowned. “It’s happened to me several times this week, too, except they knock on my door because I don’t have a doorbell.”

  “They prank me, too.” Lyndsey raised a hand. “It’s that time of the year. Although, the kids usually wait until October to start those tricks.”

  “Guess my house is a little too far out,” Abby said, settling against the couch cushions. “Thank God, because that would freak me out about now.”

  Loni sat back down in the recliner she’d vacated and blew out a breath. “Speaking of October, how do you think Harland County would feel about a TV crew in town? Well, specifically, at the bakery? And it could be long-term…”

  Surprise ricocheted through Lori. Not because the network had made another pitch—they’d been doing it for years—but because her sister was actually considering it this time.

  Abby’s brows went up again. “Oh my God…are you going to have your own weekly show?”

  Her sister lifted a shoulder. “Well, maybe. I wanted to get some opinions first.”

  “Smart.” Lyndsey nodded. “I think most people would be thrilled. However, some won’t like the crowds it might bring, but don’t worry about them. They’re usually the ones who frown at change. They like things to stay the same. But how can you grow that way?”

  Loni nodded, and Lori agreed. Change was inevitable, and usually healthy.

  “It’ll bring more commerce. Help the economy, too,” Abby said, reaching for her second cupcake. “That has to count for something.”

  Again, Loni nodded, then turned to set a hand on her leg. “What about you, Lori? You’re quiet. Come on, tell me your thoughts. It’s going to affect you just as much as me.”

  She blew out a breath. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

  Fans. Crowds. Stalking. They were part of television fame and didn’t bother Lori…much. But bombs, poisonous snakes, and crazy fans…like they’d encountered this past spring? No, thanks. Her heart rocked hard against her ribs. What if some crazed fan went after her sister again and it happened when her vision faltered…?

  A knowing look flickered through Loni’s eyes. “No one is going to bother me. I have Dean.”

  Nothing against the former SEAL, but he’d technically been around during most of that fiasco too. Okay, so he’d been in Virginia but had shown up at the television studio just in time to help her sister. But what if he was away on assignment like he was this week, and someone used that opportunity to attack?

  “There’s also a bunch of macho, ex-military bodyguards in the next building,” Abby said. “And if you need some coverage if Dean is out of town, Rylee is usually minding the fort, and not one to mess with.”

  A smile tugged at Lori’s mouth. Rylee was definitely no pushover.

  “Don’t forget one very, formidable sheriff who won’t put up with that type of disruption in his town,” Lyndsey added.

  Abby nodded. “Plus, Cooper told me that Hunter is coming to town.”

  She frowned. “I heard RJ and Dean talking about that, too. Who is Hunter?”

  A wide smile swept across the mother-to-be’s face. “He’s Delta like my brother. But…more dangerous. No stalker would want him on their trail…and that’s exactly what will happen if you two pick up unwanted attention. Hunter…hunts. And never fails.”

  “Well, damn. Sounds like your security detail is all taken care of, ladies.” Lyndsey grinned.

  Her sister nodded on an inhale then exhaled, her gaze back on Lori.

  “You really want to do this now? Even t
hough your vision will probably get worse?”

  “Especially for that reason.”

  Lori reeled back. “Why?”

  Loni’s hand found hers and squeezed. “Don’t you see? There are so many viewers out there that go through trials and tribulations every day. I want to do it for them. Especially the younger ones. I want to motivate them, show them it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you try.”

  Well, hell.

  When her sister put it that way, how could she not agree?

  “Okay.” She set her free hand on top of their “hand sandwich.” “Count me in.”

  She’d always have her sister’s back.

  “Thanks.” Loni pulled her in for a hug. “Nothing is set in stone yet, so we have time to think about what we want in the contract.”

  She drew back and grinned. “I want my sister to be able to show the world how amazing she is, but not have to worry about your safety.”

  “Hey, you’ve had a few crazed fans over the years.” Loni smiled. “I’m not the only magnet.”

  Lori wanted to point at that the only reason she had those “crazed fans” was because they mistook her for Loni.

  But, she kept her mouth shut and nodded instead.

  “Well, I don’t think she’ll have to worry about those kinds of issues anymore either,” Abby said, licking crumbs from her fingers. “She has an RJ now.”

  Warmth spread through Lori’s chest at that thought. “Not sure I exactly have him. We’ve only seen each other a few times this week.”

  “How many?”

  She shrugged. “Three.”

  “And how many days was he in in town since you started seeing each other?”

  “Three,” her sister replied for her.

  Lyndsey smiled. “Then I rest my case. You are off to a great start that ends in…you have him.”

  As much as she’d like to agree, Lori couldn’t help but think about the whole summer that had gone by without him making a move.

  “Hey, remember what I said about macho pride and ego?” Lyndsey frowned at her. “They are definitely a thing. And stubbornness. I live with Mr. Stubborn, so trust me, I know. Pride and stubbornness equal an unmovable object. Sometimes we women have to just let them get over themselves and come over to our side when they’re ready.”