Hot Pursuit: Hot Zone, Book 5 (8 page)

Mitch reached for a peanut-butter cookie on a platter. He took a bite and chewed. “Never liked the guy.”

“You met him once,” Neena said. “For about two seconds.”

Mitch shrugged. “With some guys, that’s all it takes.”

Neena sighed. “Well, in any case, it isn’t any of our business.”

Lucy sighed. “It’s okay.” She laughed softly. “Besides, I have to have someone to complain to.” She gave Mitch the short version of the tale.

Mitch finished munching the cookie, a big frown forming on his handsome face. “Damn.”

Lucy then gave Mitch a brief and sanitized version of how she met Vic. Mitch nodded. “I have a call to make. Be right back.”

Mitch disappeared into a back room, and Lucy winced. “What’s he going to do?”

“Nosy business.” Neena poured another cup of decaf coffee for herself and offered a refill to Lucy. “He’s concerned, so he’s contacting Jake about Vic.”

If she hadn’t found Mitch’s protective friendship valuable, she would have been annoyed at him. Still… “What if Vic finds out Mitch checked on him?”

Neena came around the counter and patted Lucy on the arm. “Vic will probably understand. If he didn’t, you may not want to be with a guy like that.” She winked. “But you’re acting guilty about your time with him. Why is that?”

“Well, I was supposed to have feelings for Danny.” Lucy pushed aside her coffee cup and snatched a cookie to munch. “When I met Vic, all those feelings, other than complete annoyance and disappointment seemed to disappear. Vic and I have a…something I didn’t expect.”

Neena sank onto the barstool next to her. One eyebrow lifted. “A connection?”

“Yeah. A connection. It took me off-guard.”

Neena grinned as if she had a secret. “You know how I met Mitch.”

Lucy frowned as she remembered that Mitch and Neena had survived a café robbery. “Yes. You were both very lucky you weren’t killed.”

“We were. He was wearing that ghastly Hawaiian shirt so he could paint, and I’d judged him before I even met him. When he held me in his arms and I felt all those muscles, and when I realized what a fantastic man he is—well, all bets were off. Isn’t that what you did with Vic?”

Lucy smiled. “Yes, but we weren’t thrown together by violence. Our time together just happened.”

“I can understand you being cautious, especially after hearing that he was accused of sexual harassment.”

Lucy sighed. “But don’t discount him because he’s in the military?”

“Well, with your track record…”

Lucy groaned. “I know. Jake is always going on those special spook-type deployments and so is Keith. They’re gone a lot. Would you be able to stand it if Mitch was still in the military and gone all the time?”

Neena pushed back her hair and leaned one elbow on the counter. “I guess I wouldn’t know until I had the experience. But I love Mitch with everything inside me. I’d face down a herd of wild animals for him. So, yeah. I’d have married him if he’d still been in the military.”

Mitch strode back into the room and slipped his hands onto her shoulders. He kissed the side of her neck. “I love you too, darlin’. No chance of wild animals attacking me in Clarksville.”

Neena patted his hand. “I know, honey. What did you find out about Vic?”

“I called Jake and he vouches for Vic. Says that even though they don’t know each other well, Vic has a solid reputation in the military. Seems Vic is highly decorated and considered an upstanding soldier. The sexual harassment thing stained things a bit, but it’s cleared up now. ”

Lucy felt her cheeks turning red. “Thanks, Mitch. I know I can trust him…” She trailed off, unsure of herself in a big way. “That’s not the problem.”

Mitch smiled. “This sounds like girl talk. Ladies, I’m back to work.” He left the kitchen.

Neena grinned at Lucy, her eyes sparkling. “You okay? You’re as red as a beet.”

Lucy rubbed her arms. “I’m embarrassed. Now everyone in Clarksville knows that I’ve got a squiggy for Vic Moore.”

“Everybody? Just me and Mitch and a few friends. That isn’t everybody.”

“Feels like it.” She closed her eyes and shook her head before opening them and giving her friend a lopsided smile. “I’m a little confused. One minute I want to pick up the phone and pursue a relationship with him, and the next minute I think it was a great one-night stand, and I should just leave things as they are.”

Neena smoothed one hand over the granite countertop, her gaze thoughtful. “Every relationship is confusing and has its ups and downs.”

“Even yours?”

“Even mine. Welcome to being in love.”

Love?
“Uh, no. I am not in love with Vic. I just met him.”

“In severe lust then.”

That she could admit to. “Major lust.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

Now that
was
the question, wasn’t it?

When Vic strode into his room at the inn Sunday night, it felt damned cold. He turned up the heat and stood for a moment soaking in a restless feeling he didn’t understand how to banish. He’d spent a couple of hours with Jake and Marisa, happy to see his fellow soldier and his pretty wife. They’d introduced him to Sean O’Callahan, an Army reservist, and his wife Eve. The men had talked computers and war while Eve and Marisa had taken their conversation to the kitchen and fixed dinner.

Vic found Sean and Eve very nice people, and his time with Jake was like being with a close friend, he felt like they understood each other well and they could build a stronger friendship. They’d tasted bad water and even nastier food when they worked in the desert together. They’d bonded the way only soldiers could when confronted with tough times. Jake had revealed that their Special Forces unit was returning to Fort Carson, so he and Marisa would be moving there. They expected fellow Special Forces officer Keith Wallace and his wife Freddie to get orders soon. So there would probably be more opportunities in the future to get to know all of them better.

Not surprisingly, word had already gotten around that Army Major Daniel Mendoza had tried and failed to rearrange a fellow officer’s face. Luckily for Danny, Vic was in a good enough mood New Year’s Eve to give Danny a break. The fact Lucy didn’t plan to go back with Danny made Vic damned happy. On the other hand, he didn’t know that for certain, did he? What if Lucy had changed her mind about the rat bastard? Jesus, he hoped not. Worry crept in. Vic wanted to growl, wanted to pick up the phone right now and assure himself she hadn’t decided to take back the scum. Jealousy surged upward when it shouldn’t, but an even stronger emotion followed. Worry. If the guy was that possessive, that violent when drunk—

Stop. Just stop. Take a deep breath.
It was her business and not his, but damn, he wanted to make it his business.

He sucked in one breath and released it slowly. This wasn’t combat.

A tiny twinge of worry remained inside him. What if…what if Lucy didn’t want anything to do with him because of the sexual harassment bull crap?
Then maybe she isn’t for you.
He’d have to live with it and move on. But damn it, his feelings for Lucy went far beyond what he’d felt for Shelly. Way beyond.

Vic tossed his coat, socks, hat and gloves onto the bed. The room was decorated for female sensibilities—nothing male at all. Frills, gingham, ruffles. The gas fireplace was cold, and he fired it up by hitting the switch near the mantle. He rubbed his hands together and stood by the fire, contemplating. A while longer and it was back to Fort Carson. His thigh no longer ached, and sex with Lucy had proved he’d returned to one hundred percent. On the other hand, his mind hadn’t. He didn’t want to return to the Middle East right away, and he probably had six months before anyone considered sending him back, but he did want to fight for his fellow soldiers to make sure they came home safely. He’d do what he had to. If going back sooner meant he could help, he would. Two tours in the Middle East should be enough for any sane man, but maybe sanity had departed him long ago.

He rubbed his forehead and sighed. He’d almost called Lucy a half dozen times even though he’d told her to call him. He’d almost asked Marisa to give him Lucy’s cell-phone number.

Maybe he’d pushed Lucy too far when he’d left her after they’d had sex. A hollow had grown inside Vic. The last time a woman had affected him like this had been when he was the ripe young age of twenty-five. He was too old to obsess now. At least he’d thought he was until Lucy Creed walked back into his life.

His cell phone rang, and he grabbed it out of the phone holster on his belt. “Yeah.”

“Yeah? Did your mother teach you to answer a phone that way?” Jake asked.

Vic snorted. “Yeah. What’s up? You guys miss me already?”

“Sorry to bother you, but Marisa had a wild idea right after you left. She called her friends and wants to have a small going away party for you before you leave.”

Surprised, Vic almost didn’t know what to say. “Uh…that’s really nice, but she doesn’t have to do that.”

“I know, but once Marisa gets an idea in her head, it’s not easy to stop her.”

Vic chuckled. “I believe it.”

“Come on. Humor me. I’ll be there and probably Sean, Keith and Mitch.”

Damn
. “Wait a minute. Lucy Creed is friends with Marisa, right?”

“Good friends. Why? Are you afraid to be in the same room with her?”

“I might be.”

Jake laughed. “Man up. You’ve been to war. You can handle one woman.”

Vic fell back on the frou-frou bed and stared up at the canopy. “You sure about that?”

“Hell, no. Women can be a hell of a lot more dangerous than a firefight.”

“Tell me about it.”

“We’ll have the party with or without you.”

Vic made an impulsive decision. “I’ll be there. Drop me a note and let me know the time and what to bring.”

“Nothing to bring. You’ll be the guest of honor.”

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been a guest of honor at anything, and he felt humbled beyond words. “Thanks, Jake.”

They signed off and Vic stared at the phone. Then, like a sign from heaven, it rang again.

He answered the phone and discovered it was Lucy.

“Vic.” She sounded breathless. “Are you still in town?”

“Absolutely.”

She sighed, and the sound was weary. Concern touched him and he sat up. “You okay?”

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

“You don’t sound all right.”

She laughed softly, but he heard the uncertainty behind it. Where had the bravado gone? She’d flashed confidence when he’d met her in the bar.

“I need to apologize,” she said.

He stood and paced the room. “About what?”

“For not giving you a clear answer the other day. I’m sorry I was wishy-washy. I know at first we said everything was a one-night stand. Then things were so intense and I started to confuse you with the other guys I’ve known. I shouldn’t have judged you when you said women threw themselves at you.”

Warmth filled him. “I’m sorry too. We jumped into bed so fast. I wanted you too much to think straight.”

“You regret going to bed with me?”

“Are you kidding? No way. Any regrets on your part?”

“None.”

“Want to go to a party Friday night?” he asked on impulse.

He explained Marisa’s idea for a party, all the while hoping Lucy would say yes. He almost held his damned breath waiting for it.

“Marisa already invited me. I’m going.”

He let out his breath. “Awesome.”

Her soft laugh sent a coil of heat through his groin. Jesus, he wanted to see her again. Now. Right now.

“Vic, would you like to come over to my place tomorrow night? For dinner? We could talk over things.”

Hell yeah. He’d talk over anything she wanted if he could see her again. His body reacted as if she’d said he could come over and fuck her. He glanced out the window and saw snow floating down slowly. Damn it, he wanted to see her, but he didn’t want to crowd her either.

“Want some company now?” he asked, unable to silence himself. He glanced at his watch. “I know it’s getting late, but…” He left the idea, or the hint of an idea hanging out there for her to interpret. “If I wait much longer the storm will keep me away.”

“I doubt wild rhinos could keep you away from something you wanted.” She sounded self-assured.

“You got that right.”

“It’s snowing. Supposed to be a blizzard by morning.”

“I can handle it. Unless you don’t want me to come over.”

“I’d love for you to come over.”

Pure enthusiasm in her voice made him smile. “Great. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Vic, be careful.”

“Always.”

After he hung up and grabbed his coat again, he wondered,
What the hell am I doing?
Letting my Johnson tell my story?
“Maybe you are, old man.”

He didn’t care.

Chapter Seven

Mrs. Frances Maryweather, who owned the bed and breakfast, corralled him at the front of the Victorian house. She was what his grandmother would call blowsy. He didn’t know what her blonde wig hid, but it wasn’t a very good wig if he could tell she wore one. It wasn’t that she wasn’t pretty. She looked about forty, and yet her face had few lines. Her grey eyes were silvery and as predatory as a wolf. She appeared perpetually surprised, her mouth an O of amazement no matter what he said. She’d flirted with him every time she saw him. Rather than being repulsed, he treated her with amused respect.

She put her hand on her generous hip, the jumper she wore dotted by paint stains. She’d been working on painting the downstairs washroom apparently. “Mr. Moore. How are you this evening?”

“I’m fine.” He smiled and nodded. “And yourself?”

Her grin turned from flirtatious to curious. “You’re going out in this weather? I heard there’s a big snowstorm coming tonight. A blizzard. You don’t want to get caught in it.”

“I’m not going far. But thanks for worrying.”

She cleared her throat. “Listen, normally I’m not nosy, but I heard about that fight you got into.”

Amazed she hadn’t mentioned it before, he nodded. “Wasn’t much of a fight. He tried to put my lights out. I just blocked him from doing it.”