Uniform Desires (Make Mine Military Romance) (45 page)

She joined the little group. Nick gave her a respectful nod but Marc threw her a wide grin, showing his perfect white teeth.
 

Frowning, Nick consulted his clipboard and went over the To Do list. Most everything that needed doing was outdoors and Devon was glad she’d brought her sunscreen.

“Sophie, can I borrow a hat?” she asked.

Nick was quick to present her with the SEAL Tem 3 cap she wore yesterday.

“No thanks,” she said without looking up at him. “You have something with a wide brim, Sophie?”

“I got lots of them. Hanging on the back side of my closet door,” Sophie said as she pointed to her bedroom with a wet knife.

Devon found a large floppy hat with ridiculous flowers all over the top of it. She would not normally wear such a display of nonsense, but today, she decided to put on her big girl panties and do all sorts of things that were out of character. Perhaps wearing the stupid hat would take her mind off what was going on inside her.

When she walked outside, Nick threw a pair of gloves at her that hit her squarely on the chest. “I got you pink ones,” he said and walked away.

Marc called her over to the greenhouse. “You’re on the water detail, missy. And, for what it’s worth, I think he needs to be hosed down.” He pointed to Nick, who was carting off cinder blocks with a wheelbarrow. She couldn’t help but notice the bulging muscles of his shoulders and arms and the trail of sweat already dampening his T-shirt down the middle of his back.

Sophie yelled from the house. “Hours for the sale should be like ten to three? What do you guys think?”
 

Nick turned to Marc and they shrugged in unison.
 

“I’m thinking all day,” Nick hollered back, “like ten to five. And you’re placing the ad for Sunday too?”

“Nope. I say we sell it all on Saturday. Sunday maybe we can use the guys to haul off what didn’t sell, and get everything cleaned up and cleared out,” Sophie shouted out the door. “Devon, that work for you?”

Devon nodded and picked up the hose to begin her chores.

She welcomed the almost mesmerizing sound of the water as it sprayed out and gave glistening sustenance to the plants underneath. She’d never wanted a yard and had an upscale townhouse in a trendy part of Santa Rosa, close to dozens of boutique shops and gourmet restaurants. But she felt the pulse of living things as she tended Sophie’s garden. In only
 
a few days all of this would be gone. A few weeks and Sophie would be gone as well. Thinking about life’s fragility and the temporary nature of things gave her a hitch in her throat.
 

Nothing lasts forever.

Virgins don’t stay virgins forever. Big hunky guys love you and leave you. Friends die.
 

Devon got a call from her manager an hour later.

“You working today?” he asked.

“Sort of. Helping Sophie get ready for the cleanup and big plant sale this weekend.”

“That’s the nursery property on Bennett Valley?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve gotten a couple of voicemails from a Mr. Silva—“

“He has a lot of nerve. Tried to show the property yesterday, brought his client and everything without calling ahead of time.”

“He says you aren’t returning his calls. He wants to present an offer with me and make sure I get it to the seller, bypassing you. So, Devon, I gotta ask, what’s going on? You two have some history?”

“Sophie has some history with him. It’s a long story, but Sophie doesn’t want him on the property.”

“She can’t exactly do that, if it’s listed. He’s talking discrimination, due to his Hispanic surname. His client is minority as well.”

“He’s bad news, Joe.”

“But we can’t violate the law just because someone’s a creep.”

“I put a notice in MLS about showings starting Monday. If that doesn’t work, I’ll just withdraw it until Monday.”

“I think I’d rather have you do that. Put a note it will be re-listed on Monday. But keep that Agency Disclosure on you at all times. Sounds like he might force the issue.”

“Force the issue, on a dying woman, Joe. There has to be a law protecting Sophie from harassment.”

“Then you call the police, understood? Next time he shows up there, you inform him that’s what you’re going to do. I’m going to call him back right now and tell him the same thing.”

She hung up and removed her gloves. Dashing into the office, she got her laptop out and logged in, pulling up the MLS information on the property. She checked her briefcase for a change order form and found one wrinkled and folded at the bottom. Taking the paper and pen, she bolted to the door to look for Sophie, and ran straight into Nick’s chest.

His familiar smell, the rivulets of sweat coming down the side of his neck, and the damp patches under his arms added to the sheer masculinity of his size compared to hers. He’d grabbed her waist, which was good since she probably would have lost her balance.

The paper was jammed between them and the pen went flying. She got her balance, and scurried after it.

“Excuse me,” she said as she walked around him. “Need to find Sophie.”

“She’s over by the water tank, but Dev—“

She didn’t want to wait or look at him, and walked a determined straight line towards the tank. Not seeing her friend, she walked round the side and caught Sophie in an embrace with Marc.

Before they could see her, she backed up and again came in contact with Nick’s granite torso.

“I tried to tell you,” he whispered.

Devon’s cell phone rang again and she swore.
 

“Joe, I’m getting a change order signed right now. I’ll change the status in two minutes. Be patient with me,” she said to her manger again.

“Not why I called, Devon. Forgot to remind you tonight is the company awards dinner. I’m just making sure you’re coming. You’re getting an award, you know.”

At first the thought of the awards dinner turned her stomach, but suddenly the distraction of being anyplace but here at Sophie’s, in Nick’s company, felt welcome.

“I’ll be there.”

“You bringing anyone.”

“Nope,” she said as she looked at the Nick’s sweat-stained back retreating from her, “I’ll be coming alone tonight.”

Chapter 15

Devon left just as the sun was falling low in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything, even the dilapidated, but remarkably sparse greenhouse site.

With Sophie’s blessing, the listing had been temporarily withdrawn, she explained. Then she sneaked off to leave without saying goodbye. Nick knew he was part of the reason she’d pulled away from all of them, so he caught her just before she left.

“Devon, you still sore?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“I think we should talk about it.”

“Yeah, whatever
it
is,” she said sarcastically.

“I still think we should talk.”

“Well, I’ve got dinner to go to and you have all your buddies arriving at any moment, so we’ll both be busy.”

“Are you coming back here tonight?” he asked. He wished she’d asked him to accompany her.
 

“Does it make a difference?” Her eyes were cold. He’d been hoping keeping his distance would soften her stiffness, but he could see it hadn’t.

“Yes. It makes a difference. I want to talk to you.”

“Fine. I’ll be back here around nine or so. Will that fit into your schedule?”

“Don’t do this, Devon,” he begged.

“I’m slowing things down, just like you wanted.”

“Right.” He stepped back and waved to her. “Have a good time, then. See you later. And please be safe.”

He watched the Lexus as a cloud of dust trailed behind it all the way to Bennett Valley Road, and then disappeared into the early evening. Part of him wanted to go follow her. He hoped she’d be safe.

It hadn’t been more than a few minutes when the boys from Coronado showed up. They’d managed to drive straight through. They were hot and dusty from the long trip, and Nick was glad Devon wasn’t around for the room full of eau de armpit. She’d been so quiet and into herself that no one, not even Sophie, had been able to engage her in conversation. He wondered how she’d handle the crowd when she got back.

The parking lot looked like a Hummer Road Rally. Kyle’s black one was pulled in right next to Nick’s. There were two others, plus Fredo’s beater, which was the only vehicle that looked like it belonged at the nursery.

Sophie eyed the beater with lust. “Now we’re talking. This is a truck you can actually use for work.”

His LPO shook Sophie’s hand and stepped aside, waiting for the rest of the team to do the same. Cooper’s six foot four frame towered over her, but his gentle voice told her he was the fixit man.

“Sophie, Cooper was born under a tractor. He sleeps with parts,” Nick informed her.“But I like my wife’s parts way better,” Coop said. He got some catcalls and punches in the arm for that remark.

Fredo stepped forward, “Yeah, some of those parts is toys too.” He grinned and greeted her. “I’m Fredo.”

“Sophie, this here is Malcolm, we got Rory here, Ty, Armando and Grady.”

“Geez,” Sophie said, “Is San Diego still safe when all you guys are up here?”

“Think the question is, are the ladies of Sonoma County safe with us here?” someone said.

The general mumble and laughter was just what Nick needed to feel around him. Things would finally be okay after all.

Pizza delivery was arranged and the group began to set up sleeping rolls around the living room of the house. Malcolm and Tyler took over the office. Sophie had a fire pit out back and a hot tub off the back deck, so several guys were soaking while others had pulled up black plastic five-gallon plant containers and wine barrel halves to sit on by the fire. Fredo was giving Cooper a hard time about the news his wife, Libby, was pregnant.

“I was wondering why it took you a whole six months to knock her up, man,” he said.

“I was practicing for the kill shot, Fredo. You know I had to practice.”

“Training is everything. Here’s to being perfect,” Malcolm Jones said and raised his long-necked beer to the stars. Those who could clinked glass on glass.

Sophie was resting against Marc’s chest in a lounge chair. Marc was without alcohol, but sipped on mineral water, like Coop, who never drank.

Nick went over plans for the next day, using the list he and Sophie had created. Within ten minutes all the assignments were delegated.

“So Nick, where’s your lady?” Fredo asked.

“She’s not my lady, you dickhead. She’s Sophie’s best friend.”
 

“So, where is she?” Cooper asked.

Marc piped up. “She’s at a company dinner.”

“She’s being given an award,” Sophie added.

“Really? That’s cool.” Fredo answered.

Soon the fire pit in the center of the backyard began to die down to orange embers, illuminating their faces like the pits on the beach in San Diego they frequented with their families on the beach. They’d brought several cases of beer and nearly all of them were gone already. Bottles littered the ground, but Nick knew they’d be stacked and stowed before the Team hit the sack.

“I appreciate all you guys coming to help out.” Nick said.

A series of grumbles and expletives littered the evening air. But there was no objection. A road trip was always something the guys looked forward to.

“Like I told Nick several times, I was willing to pay for a motel. You don’t have to hang out here.”

“Shit, Nick never told us that,” Kyle blurted out. There was multiple agreement. Sophie cast a panicked look to Nick who waved it off as a joke.
 

“No, Fredo here was the only one who wanted the motel, but he was outvoted,” he said.
 

Emma demanded Sophie go to bed, and came out with the wheelchair. Marc picked her up and carried her to the back bedroom. Emma followed behind huffily, pushing the empty, squeaking wheel chair and scraping it on the woodwork as she rounded the corner.

Several low whistles traveled through the crowd.
 

“Marc’s being a real hero. He know what he’s doing?” Kyle asked Nick with concern.

“I’m cool with it under the circumstances,” Nick answered. “Distraction can be a good thing for pain.”

That had a sobering effect on the group.
 

“So, Kyle, I was surprised Timmons let you all come up here together.”

“You complaining?”

“Not at all.”

“I have to check in with him tomorrow night. He doesn’t know Tyler and Malcolm came. I’ll let him know then.”

Marc returned and grabbed a beer, taking up a seat by the fire.

“Guess who else wanted to come?” Fredo said.

Nick stared back at him.
 

“Gunny and Sanouk,” Fredo answered. Former Gunnery Sergeant, “Gunny,” ran a no-frills rusty old gym the Team guys frequented in Coronado. He had recently been reunited with a son he had fathered in Thailand, the first he had ever met of any of his offspring littering the globe he had ever met. Gunny was known for doing the right thing and marrying the woman first before he’d have sex with them, and while he believed in marriage, he didn’t believe in divorce.