Breaking Protocol (Firehouse Fourteen Book 3) (11 page)

According to CC, they had less than an hour to go. Dave certainly hoped so, because he needed to get out and stretch.

He smothered a yawn and glanced around, dividing his attention between the road and the passing scenery. Pine trees. Sandy soil. And lumber trucks. He hadn't expected to see so many down here.

Hell, he hadn't expected to see any down here.

They had made pretty good time heading down I95, even if you counted the traffic around DC and into Virginia. But there was always traffic around there, no matter what time of day it was, so he had been expecting it.

What he hadn't been expecting was the heat and humidity. Not in October. He reached down and adjusted the air conditioning vent so the cold air hit him in the face. But the moist blanket of warm air permeated the inside of the truck, no matter what he did.

He glanced over at CC and shook his head, helpless to stop his grin. The truck would be a lot cooler if she'd stop lowering the window. She looked over at him, saw him watching her, then shrugged.

"What can I say? I like the smell. Pine trees, fresh air, the water. Not like back in Maryland." She stabbed the control button on the door and the window climbed up, sealing them comfortably in the truck.

And finally letting the cab cool off.

"Is it always this hot down here?"

"It's worse in the summer. But no, it's not usually this bad this time of year. Mom said they were having a heat wave, though, so get used to it." She leaned over and grabbed his phone from the dash, unlocking the screen with a tap and pulling up his text messages. Her brow furrowed as she studied the message he received yesterday, and she mumbled under her breath.

"I still don't like this." She tossed the phone back into the console, staring at it like it might jump up and attack her.

"Yeah, I'm not real crazy about it myself. But what am I supposed to do about it? They can't trace it, have no idea where it's originating from, other than somewhere in Baltimore."

"I just wish there was something else I could do."

"CC, it's not your problem."

"Um, hello? This guy was at my house, remember? That makes it my problem. Besides, I'm not going to let you handle this all on your own."

Dave glanced over at her, saw determination and anger flash in her hazel eyes, and bit back his smile. He shouldn't be smiling. The situation was escalating out of control, if what the police had said was true. He was inclined to agree with them, given the added line to the message.

Time is drawing near.

No, he shouldn't be smiling. But it was nice knowing he had CC on his side.

He reached over and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For just being you."

She squeezed his hand back, but he could see her thinking again. Her eyes narrowed just the tiniest bit as she stared out the window, her lips pursed in deep thought.

"And there's nothing that you can think of that may have started this? You don't remember anyone in particular? No one soldier who stands out?"

Dave breathed in deeply, then exhaled on a sigh. They were treading near dangerous territory, dredging up memories he'd prefer to keep sleeping, bringing up topics he'd prefer not to share.

"CC, there were a lot of soldiers, a lot of patients." He clenched his jaw, exhaled again. "A lot of guys who didn't make it. No, nobody stands out."

And that bothered him more than it should. How many had he patched up? How many times had he tried his best, knowing his best wasn't good enough? Too many times. Too many nameless faces.

Too much death.

She squeezed his hand, hard, then turned in the seat and faced him. "I'm sorry."

"Nothing you can do about it."

"I know. I just wish...well, I just wish you didn't have to worry about this, didn't have to remember."

"It's no different than what I do now." He uttered the lie without thinking, heard her short laugh of disbelief in response. But neither of them said anything else about it, and he knew the subject was closed. For now.

Yet he couldn't help but wonder. Could he have done something more? Was there just one time where, if he had done something differently, there would have been one less Flag-draped coffin? One less grieving family? The life-blood of one less soldier staining the sands in that God forsaken hell hole?

His hand clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. God, he had to stop thinking that way. Couldn't keep thinking that way, not if he wanted to keep his sanity intact.

My Brother's Keeper.

He had that emblazoned on his chest for a reason. As a reminder. His motto. The motto of so many. A reminder of the responsibility to care for and watch over his brothers-in-arms. And he had to believe he had done his best, had saved as many as he could. It was futile, heartbreaking, unfathomable to think otherwise.

"Make a right coming up here, on 17." CC motioned with her free hand, indicating the road ahead of them. Dave slowed to a stop, checked for traffic, then made the turn. The landscape changed even more, not so many pine trees, the road a little more densely populated.

"You nervous?"

"What?"

"I said, are you nervous? Meeting my family."

Dave glanced over at CC, then turned his attention back to the traffic. He readjusted his grip on the steering wheel, then shrugged. "I wasn't until you just brought it up. Should I be?"

Her clear laughter filled the cab of the truck, lightening the weight that had been bearing down on his shoulders. Weight and tension he hadn't even realized had been there. He stopped at a traffic light leading into a large shopping center, then turned to look at her.

"Now I'm really worried. Why are you finding this so funny?"

"Sorry. It was just that look on your face, all serious and grumpy again."

"I'm not grumpy."

"I didn't say you were. It was just that expression on your face."

Dave pulled forward with the traffic, his eyes more focused on the road now that traffic was a little heavier. He glanced down at the clock, noticed it was almost four-thirty in the afternoon, and figured they must be in rush hour traffic.

"Don't worry, Mom and Dad will like you. Bubby and Tippy will probably act all Alpha with you but it's just a show, they're harmless."

"Bubby and Tippy? Are they the dogs?"

CC looked over at him, her eyes wide, then started laughing, hard enough that she bent over, holding her stomach. Long minutes went by before she stopped, gasping for air. Dave spared her another glance when they stopped at an intersection, wondering what he said that was so funny.

"Oh, I can't wait to tell them that. That's funny. No, go straight through here." She pointed, indicating the road ahead of them, then wiped her eyes. "Bubby and Tippy, the dogs."

"So. I take it they're not dogs?"

"No, they're my brothers."

Dave turned his head to look at her so quickly, he actually felt a twinge in his neck. "Your brothers are named Bubby and Tippy?"

"No, silly, those are their nicknames. Bubby is my older brother, Robert. Or Rob, depending on what mood he's in. And Tippy is my younger brother, Tim."

Dave closed his eyes briefly and shook his head, an image of coveralls and banjos coming to mind. "And they got these nicknames how, exactly?"

"Did Angie ever have a nickname for you?"

"Other than pain in the ass? No, why?"

"Well, when I was younger, I had a hard time saying Bobby and Timmy, so I always called them Bubby and Tippy. And the names stuck." 

"Remind me to thank Angie when I see her. Pain in the ass is a hell of a lot better than Bubby or Tippy. And thank you, because now, when you introduce them to me, I'm not going to be able to keep a straight face."

CC laughed again then leaned over and jabbed the button for the window, lowering it halfway. Humidity immediately filled the truck, along with a sour odor so pungent, Dave's nose immediately wrinkled in distaste. He glanced left and right, looking for a dead animal or something. CC must have noticed, because she laughed again and pointed to the smoke stacks ahead on their left, just before another bridge.

"That's the paper mill."

"Oh, God. That's what a paper mill smells like? That's, uh. Yeah, that's pretty strong. Holy shit."

"It's usually not quite this strong. Don't worry, you won't notice it as much once we get on the other side of the bridge. And you might want to tone down the language a bit, too. Mom gets upset with too much swearing."

"What swearing?"

"Yeah, you're going to be in trouble. You don't even notice when you do it." She released his hand then reached over and patted his leg, a grin of delight on her face. "Which is good, because maybe she'll leave me alone and get on your case instead. And you don't need to worry about my brothers, at least not tonight." She shifted again in her seat, the third time in less than a minute. Dave glanced over at her and suddenly realized that she was nervous.

And okay, maybe he was, too. He would soon be meeting her parents, her entire family. Wasn't that something usually reserved for serious relationships? And he didn't know what this was they had going on. Friends. More than friends. But a serious relationship?

He hadn't given it much thought and realized now probably wasn't the time for that, anyway.

And yes, he was at least able to admit to himself that he wasn't ready to even think about it.

CC shifted again then pointed. "Second left here. Do me a favor, pull into that gas station real quick after you make the turn."

Dave nodded then hit the gas, the truck shooting forward through a break in traffic. He cut the wheel to make the turn, then pulled into the parking lot and put the truck in park. CC unhooked her seatbelt but instead of getting out of the truck, she leaned across the console, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him toward her. Her mouth closed over his, her tongue teasing his lips before dipping inside his mouth. She tasted like tea and mint and pure desire, and his body reacted instantly.

He dipped his head, leaning closer, and ran his hand through the silken strands of her hair. His palm cupped the back of her head, holding, guiding.

And then she pulled away, her breathing heavy, his body on fire. She leaned in for another quick kiss before he could catch his own breath, then smiled.

"Sorry. I needed my fix just in case we don't get a chance to do that again soon."

Dave cleared his throat, the ramifications of her words finally becoming clear in his muddle brain. Then he groaned.

Of course they wouldn't have a chance to do that again. Or anything else, for that matter. They were going to be at CC's parent's. In their house. Under the same roof. And why was he just now realizing that?

Dave put the truck in gear, then turned back onto the road. Sitting was suddenly uncomfortable, and he tried to shift to ease the slight pain. "About how much longer?"

"Maybe five miles."

Great. Wonderful.

He leaned forward and cranked the air conditioner to high, then aimed the vents down toward his lap.

It was going to be a long week.

CC grabbed her bag from the back of the truck and tossed it over her shoulder then looked around the yard, not bothering to hide her smile. Pine needles and large brown magnolia leaves covered the centipede grass, winning the never-ending battle her father waged to keep the lawn clear. Mom's crepe myrtles framed the front of the house, their gray bark peeling, the branches spreading out like welcoming arms to greet any guests. CC loved crepe myrtles, had even tried planting some at her own place.

There was a chance one might even survive.

She craned her neck to look around the side of the house, past the trunk of the old live oak, to the pier out back. A grin teased her mouth when she saw the small boat tied up there. If she was lucky, maybe they'd get a chance to take it out, just her and Dave.

Because while she may have secretly grinned at Dave's reaction to that kiss, she hadn't exactly been unaffected by it herself. And she had no illusions that they'd be sharing the same bed.

"Nice house. I didn't realize it was on the water."

"Yeah. That's why I love my place so much. It reminds of home a little. It's a shame it's not summer, though. You should see it when everything's in bloom. All set?" Dave nodded, and CC led the way up the stairs to the front porch, which might as well be the second floor. Dad hadn't taken any chances and built high, just in case of hurricanes. This close to the coast, it made sense to be prepared, just in case. CC knew they had evacuated twice in the last seven years, but there'd only been minimal damage both times. She just hoped it stayed that way.

She pushed through the front door, cool air washing over her, and dropped her bag in the entranceway. "Mom? Dad? We're here!" She glanced over her shoulder at Dave and gave him a reassuring smile, then closed the door and moved down the hallway.

"In here, Carolann."

CC grimaced then shot Dave a dirty look when he chuckled before heading back to the kitchen. Her mom was at the large island, chopping cucumbers and tossing them in a bowl. She put the knife down, wiped her hands on a towel, then looked up.

Her brown eyes immediately widened and she hesitated, her gaze steady on CC. She knew what was coming and shook her head, trying to tell her mom not to say anything, but her mom either didn't notice. Or didn't care.

"Carolann, you're wearing shorts! I don't think I've seen you in shorts in years."

"Mom, it's not a big deal." CC knew she was blushing, could feel the heat spread across her cheeks, and hoped Dave didn't notice. She was afraid to look at him, wondered if he'd think her mom's comment was unusual.

Wondered if he'd realize the meaning behind it.

But she didn't have the chance to do or say anything else, because her mom was suddenly in front of her, hugging her. CC hesitated, then wrapped her own arms around her mother's slender frame and hugged her back. A brief twinge of guilt filled her, because it had been too long between visits. And while her parents weren't old—Dad had just turned sixty-two and Mom was fifty-nine—she knew better than anyone how quickly things could change.

So she relaxed in her mom's embrace, hugging her back, the gentle scent of her favorite floral fragrance tickling her nose and taking her back to her childhood. Then she had to blink, because moisture suddenly filled her eyes and she didn't want anyone to notice.

Her mom pulled away, her hands on CC's shoulders as she gave her a thorough looking over. She must have approved of whatever she saw because she nodded, then turned to Dave.

"And you must be Dave. It's so nice to meet you. I'm Joyce, Carolann's mother." And before Dave could say anything, her mom wrapped him in a hug, too.

CC bit back her grin as Dave looked over at her, his surprise and discomfort clear. He reached out with one big hand and awkwardly patted her mom on the back, then gave her a look that clearly asked for help.

CC laughed just as her mom stepped away, and didn't miss the quick look of relief on Dave's face.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am."

"I'm impressed, Carolann. Not only is he nice to look at, he has manners, too."

"Mom. Really?" Dave shifted behind her, and she didn't have to turn around to know that his face was probably as red as hers. But her mom just laughed, then waved her hands in a shooing motion at both of them.

"Your dad's out back, getting the grill ready. Why don't you head out there, introduce Dave, and relax before dinner?"

CC didn't waste time, just grabbed Big Guy's hand and dragged him through the kitchen and out the door, to the screened-in porch and out to the lower deck. The door slammed behind them, catching the attention of the man standing over the charcoal grill.

Her dad turned, a smile creasing his weathered face as he stepped forward and wrapped her in a big hug powerful enough to lift her off the floor.

"There's my baby girl!" He finally set her on her feet and gave her a minute to let her catch her breath. His brows went up in brief surprise when he noticed her outfit, but, unlike her mom, at least he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned to Dave with speculation in his dark eyes, one corner of his mouth turned up in a grin.

"You must be Dave. Nice to meet you."

CC paused for the briefest second, wondering how Dave would react at meeting her dad, wondering if she should have given him some warning. To be honest, she hadn't thought about it until just now and she realized she was holding her breath, waiting.

But there was no trace of reaction on Dave's face, not even the barest flinch as he reached out and shook her father's left hand, his grip strong and sure as he ignored the prosthetic arm hanging at her father's right side.

"Mr. Covey, nice meeting you, sir."

"Just call me Ed." He turned back around and placed the lid on the charcoal grill, then looked over his shoulder. "Why don't you two go get your things settled? Your mother's already set up the front guest room for Dave. Then come on back and we'll have a drink and visit before dinner."

CC rolled her eyes, interpreting her father's words to mean an interrogation. Which she should have expected, since she had never brought anyone home with her before. She just hoped they didn't read too much into it.

No, she corrected, she hoped
she
didn't read too much into it. Yes, Dave had agreed to come down here with her. No, that didn't mean this was a serious relationship, or that it was even headed in that direction. In fact, it meant nothing. Absolutely nothing. She'd do well not to get ahead of herself, to keep her emotions steady, safe. One day at a time.

She led Dave back through the house and up the stairs, pointing out the guest room before moving past him. His hand snaked out and closed around her wrist, pulling her into the room with him. And then his mouth was on hers, hot, greedy. CC leaned into him, her hands fisted in his shirt, liquid desire flowing through her as his tongue plunged into the recesses of her mouth.

A groan escaped her as his hands cupped her ass, squeezing. Then he stepped away, a grin on his face as she tried to catch her breath.

"That's payback for earlier."

"That's cruel. Real cruel, Big Guy." CC backed out of the room, straight into the doorframe before she caught herself. Dave chuckled then winked at her before she hurried down the hall into her own room.

And realized that her emotions had already gotten way ahead of her.