Casey’s Hero (Brotherhood Protectors Hawaii #4)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“I thought you were retiring from the hard stuff of being a Navy SEAL.” Jacob “Rooster” Fowler clapped a hand on his friend’s back.

“I thought so, too.” Jace “Hawk” Hawkins snorted. “Not so sure I’m completely out of that business. It seems like there are a lot of homegrown terrorists to deal with, and we have to play by a different set of rules when we’re conducting ops in the States.”

Jacob nodded. “Guess I’ll find out soon enough.”

“When are you planning to separate from the military?” Hawk asked.

“Not until I have my twenty.” Jacob glanced around the bar at the men who made up his family. “Besides, I like being a SEAL. Where else can I play with guns, get paid to stay in shape and shoot bad guys?”

Hawk’s lips twisted. “It’s a great life, but someday you’ll want to marry and settle down.”

Jacob frowned. “Why would I want to do that? You know this life…it’s not made for marriage.”

Hawk grinned. “True. And speaking of marriage…I can’t believe I’m getting married on Saturday.”

“You still have time to change your mind,” Jacob said. “I can have you out of here in a nanosecond.”

“No way.” Jacob’s friend stared at the entrance to the Big Wave Dive Bar, the place Hawk’s team of Brotherhood Protectors frequented while in Honolulu. A smile spread across his face. “You see that woman?” He nodded toward the exotic woman with long, wavy black hair coming through the door.

Jacob nodded. “She’s a woman. There are lots of women out there. You could have a new one every night of the week.”

“That’s exhausting. No, Kalea’s the one for me.” Hawk smiled and lifted his chin toward her. She returned his smile and held up a finger. “I never thought I’d fall for someone as hard as I fell for Kalea. Sounds corny, but she completes me.”

Jacob didn’t get it. He never had. “How can one woman have that effect on a man?”

“She’s amazing,” Hawk said, his smile widening. “I’ve never known a woman as determined, courageous and stubborn as she is. I can’t wait to marry her and make her a permanent part of my life.”

Kalea Parkman turned to speak to someone coming into the bar behind her.

A smaller woman with dark, straight brown hair pulled back in a ponytail secured at the nape of her neck entered, carrying a clipboard, her cellphone attached to the board. Pretty, petite and fierce were the three adjectives that came to Jacob’s mind. “Who’s the other woman?”

“That’s Casey Wesson, Kalea’s wedding planner and best friend. They met in a self-defense class while attending college.” Hawk’s lips twisted. “They bonded over tossing each other on the mats. Casey dropped everything when Kalea asked her to plan the wedding in one week.”

“She only has one week to pull it off?” Jacob shifted his gaze from the wedding planner to Hawk. “Are you two expecting?”

Hawk laughed. “Not yet. We’ve been engaged for several months while I set up shop for the new team. Once I had that under control, I asked her to set a date.” Hawk snorted. “She said one week. Thus, the emergency call to you. Had to have my best man at my side.”

“You’re lucky I wasn’t on a mission. But is a wedding doable in such a short time?”

Hawk raised his hands. “Kalea assures me that if anyone can make it happen, it’s Casey. She’s a dynamo, and she doesn’t put up with much. The woman demands perfection the first time and gets it. I have to admit, I don’t know how we could have pulled off a wedding in a week without her.”

Jacob’s gaze took in the diminutive brunette, impressed with Hawk’s assessment of Casey’s abilities. “Just one week? I thought most women took months to prepare for a wedding.”

“Not Kalea,” Hawk said, shaking his head. “The only reason it’s taking a week is that she wanted Casey to be there. Those two are like sisters. Kalea wouldn’t consider getting married without her as her maid of honor—and Casey’s a wedding planner. This wedding is giving her the opportunity to display her talents to a high-dollar client who’s considering Casey for her wedding planner.”

“You’re telling me this wedding is a showcase for Casey’s business?”

“Yes, and no. Even if she didn’t have a client watching, she’d be doing all of this for Kalea. She wants our wedding to be perfect.” Hawk sighed. “It’ll be perfect once Kalea says I do, and I get that ring on her finger.”

Jacob cocked an eyebrow. “Seems like a lot of hassle for a single day.”

“Maybe, but if it makes Kalea happy…” Hawk shrugged. “I’m okay with it. I’m just glad it’s only taking a week. I want to get it done and go on to our honeymoon. I was surprised her father didn’t insist on having the wedding at his home. He’ll be here late Friday night. He has a meeting in Los Angeles tomorrow he couldn’t miss.”

“Isn’t her father John Parkman, the owner of the Parkman Ranch on the Big Island?”

Hawk nodded. “He is.”

Jacob’s eyes widened. “I am surprised he let you two have the wedding here in Honolulu. Isn’t the Parkman Ranch set up for big shindigs like weddings?”

“Kalea wanted it to be small. She knew if she had it back on the Big Island, she’d have to invite the entire island. So, we’re doing it here and fast.” Hawk grinned. “I’m okay with whatever she wants. Big or small.”

Another woman followed Casey into the Big Wave. Dark hair, olive-toned skin and brown-black eyes, she wore a tailored white dress that fell to mid-calf. She towered over Casey and walked with her head held high, a sneer pulling her lip back on one side as she surveyed the bar's interior.

“That must be Casey’s potential hoity-toity client from Mexico. I hear she’s a real bridezilla,” Hawk said.

Jacob chuckled. “She acts like she smells something bad.”

Hawk’s lips twisted. “Well, the place is full of SEALs…and we tend to sweat.”

“Surely, Kalea’s Casey warned her about what she was getting into, coming here.”

“I don’t know why Kalea’s here anyway,” Hawk said, his brow furrowing. “This is supposed to be the bachelor party.”

“No females allowed,” Jacob agreed, nodding.

Kalea started toward them, Casey and her client in tow. When she reached Hawk, she leaned up on her toes and brushed his lips with hers.

“What’s that all about?” Hawk pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. When he set her back at arm’s length, he grinned down at her. “That’s more like it.”

“You might want to save some of that for after the wedding,” Jacob teased.

Kalea turned toward him. “You must be Rooster. Hawk’s told me all about you.” She held out her hand and gave him a direct look.

Jacob took it and received a firm handshake. “I hope he didn’t tell you all my secrets.”

Her lips tipped upward. “He told me enough. He told me you’re not keen on weddings or marriage. I get that. But…” her eyes narrowed, “as his best man, you have two jobs. I’m counting on you to keep him out of trouble at this bachelor party and get him to the church on time. I’m only doing this once. I want it done right the first time. There will not be a second time.”

“We’ll get it done,” Casey said, checking her list. Then she looked up at Jacob and held out her hand. “Casey Wesson, wedding planner.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Casey Wesson, wedding planner,” Jacob said with a tight grin. He wasn’t entirely sure he liked this woman. Regardless, he took her small hand in his larger one, a ripple of electricity jolting him to awareness. He cleared his throat. “Who’s your friend?”

Casey shot a glance over her shoulder at the woman. She turned and gave her a brief nod. “Sylvia Rodriguez. One of my clients.”

Jacob continued to stare at the other woman, waiting for an introduction. When one wasn’t forthcoming, he held out his hand to her. “Hi, I’m Jacob.”

The tall, thin woman gave a brief nod and took his hand.

“So, what’s the plan?” Jacob said when Sylvia released his hand after the barest of contact.

Casey gave a brief nod. “The bachelor party begins when we leave,” she said, “and you will be responsible for Hawk during that time. I have the entertainment scheduled, your room booked in the hotel nearby and a courtesy call scheduled to wake you up in time to get Hawk to the church for the rehearsal. Your tuxedoes, shirts and shoes are staged in your room for Saturday. The boutonnieres are in the mini-refrigerators. All you have to do is get to the church for rehearsal and the following day for the wedding.”

“Who needs a best man when you’re running the show?” Jacob shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll have him there if that’s what he wants.”

Kalea’s eyes narrowed.

Hawk raised his hands. “It’s what I want. I love this woman.” He pulled Kalea up against his side. “I’ll be there come hell or high water.”

“I know what the entertainment is,” Kalea said. “Save the lap dances for the guests.” She pointed a finger at Hawk. “The only lap dances this guy gets are from me.” She winked at her fiancé and turned a stern glance toward Jacob. “I’m counting on you to keep my man safe from strippers and anyone who would interfere with him showing up for our special day.”

Casey’s eyes narrowed in Jacob’s direction. “Including you. As best man, you’re in charge of the bachelor party and getting the groom to the church.” She poked a finger into his chest. “That’s only two things. Don’t screw it up.”

“I think I’ve got it.” Jacob grabbed her finger. “Are you always this bossy?”

When she tried to pull her hand free, he held tight.

“Only when it means a lot to me.” The woman was small but didn’t appear to suffer fools kindly. And the way she was looking at him, she probably considered him a fool.

That didn’t bother him. Well, not the way she intended. If anything, it turned him on. He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the tip of her finger. “I like a feisty woman.”

Her eyes rounded.

Kalea chuckled. “Casey is feisty enough for two people. I’d take her into any fight with me.”

“Hello,” Casey said. “I’m standing right here in front of you. You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here.” This time, when she tugged to free her hand, he let go. She rubbed it down the side of her trousers. With her hand safely behind her back, she lifted her chin. “Just do what I said. Two things. That’s all, and we’ll get along just fine.”

Jacob crossed his arms over his chest. “I think I can get my friend to his wedding on time. Especially since you’ve got everything pre-arranged.”

Casey snorted and glanced down at her clipboard. “You would be surprised by how many grooms don’t make it to their wedding on time, even when everything is laid out for them. They either get too drunk to haul themselves out of bed, or they forget how to get to the church.”

“I’ll be there,” Hawk said. “I’m not letting this amazing woman get away. I love her.” He bent and kissed Kalea again.

Kalea cupped his chin and returned the gesture. “I just know things are never boring around us. Something always happens.”

“Rest assured, your groom will be there—and not a minute late,” Jacob said, giving Casey a challenging glance.

“Okay then,” she said and checked off a box on her list. “Then we’ll leave you men to have fun with the bachelor party. I’ve got it all planned.”

“Just not too much fun.” Kalea gave her fiancé another kiss. “I’d like you there tomorrow in one piece.”

“I’ll be there.” Hawk kissed her again and finally let go.

Jacob was happy for his friend, even if marriage and weddings weren’t his own thing. He’d do his part and make sure Hawk made it down the aisle to the woman he loved.

The ladies headed for the exit, pausing at the door for a mini conference.

Casey spoke to the tall potential client, pointed back toward the bar full of former military guys, now working for Hawk as Brotherhood Protectors, and waved toward the rear exit.

Jacob turned toward that exit but didn’t see anything to look at but a door. He shrugged and clapped a hand on Hawk’s shoulder. “Can I buy you a beer?”

“Make it a pitcher,” Hawk said. “I think I’ll need more than one mug to get me through the evening.”

“Let’s join the others. They look like they can’t wait to razz you about getting married. I don’t want you to miss out on any of that.” Jacob steered him toward the Big Wave’s back patio, where the rest of Hawk’s team was already partaking of the beer.

As they approached, beer mugs rose, and the men shouted in unison, “Hip, hip, hooray!”

Hawk sank into the seat at the end of the table.

Reid Bennett, the former Navy SEAL Jacob had worked with on active duty, passed Hawk a mug full of beer. “Drink up, buddy. It’s your last night of freedom.”

“You mean, the last night on the meat market,” Hawk corrected him. “I don’t envy you single guys. It’s hard to find just the right woman who’ll make you happy.” He chuckled. “I went through a few doozies before I found Kalea.”

Jacob glanced around the bar. “Hopefully, none of your doozies show up here tonight.”

“Yeah, whatever happened to your stalker?” Teller Osgood, former Delta Force and the self-proclaimed best-looking guy on the team, asked. “Never understood why your stalker went for you when she could’ve had me.” He spread his arms wide. “She was hot. I’m hot. It could’ve been a match made in heaven.”

“She was hot and crazy,” Hawk said. “Trust me, you don’t want that kind of attention.” Hawk glanced around the bar. “She used to hang out at McP’s in San Diego, waiting for me to show up.”

“I remember,” Jacob said. “Didn’t she hide out in your Jeep one night?”

Hawk nodded. “I didn’t know she was there until I got to my apartment, and she jumped me from behind.” He shook his head.

Jacob grimaced. “How did you get rid of her?”

Hawk grinned. “I separated from the military and went to Hawaii on my first assignment for Hank Patterson.” Again, he glanced around the bar.

“Expecting her to show up?” Jacob laughed.

“Seriously,” Hawk said with a worried frown. “Even though that was back in San Diego a while back, I wouldn’t put it past her level of crazy. She was like a leech. I dated her twice, which was my mistake. She thought that made our relationship permanent.”

“If you see her, point her out. I’ll have Ray escort her off the premises,” Jacob said. The grizzled old, retired Navy bartender was good at keeping the peace at the Big Wave Dive Bar.

“I’m counting on you,” Hawk said. “She’s trouble. She might even be connected to a drug cartel. I didn’t stick around long enough to verify.”

“We’ve got your six,” Jacob assured him. With Casey’s warning in mind, he kept an eye out for the female stalker and started counting the number of beers Hawk drank. He’d be damned if Casey came back to him with an I told you so . And Kalea looked like she could take him down if anything happened to her groom.

The night appeared to be more of a chore than he’d expected.

Casey walked with Kalea and Sylvia Rodriguez to where they’d parked their cars, speaking in Spanish to Ms. Rodriguez about the options she offered for planning a wedding. She switched to English to include Kalea. “I knew they were on a tight schedule, so I planned the bachelor party for them, knowing this was their favorite hangout. I worked with Ray, the bartender, to make sure it would be okay to bring in a stripper to pop out of a cake. It’s just cheesy enough to make the boys happy.” She held up a hand to stop Kalea’s protest. “I’ve spoken with the stripper and made her promise not to lap dance with Hawk. She can collect all the tips she wants from the rest of the men.”

“Good,” Kalea said. “I don’t want sloppy seconds on my honeymoon,” she said with a wink.

“I did not realize you also planned the bachelor party,” Sylvia said with a heavy Spanish accent. “Is this necessary?”

“If you want to ensure your man stays out of trouble, I suggest you let me do this. I hire the venue and the support personnel and give them strict instructions. If you leave it up to the men, they might end up in a sleazy dive bar, in a fight, mugged or…murdered.”

Sylvia’s eyes widened. “I do not want that. My fiancé is a very important man. He could easily be targeted.”

Casey shrugged. “That’s why you let me handle it. I can hire security for the event as well.”

Sylvia nodded. “I like this.”

Kalea frowned. “Should we have hired security for the Big Wave?”

Casey smiled. “I did. There will be a couple of off-duty police officers standing guard at the front and rear entrances. They’re looking out for trouble, although I don’t anticipate any. Most people don’t mess with former Navy SEALs, Delta Force or Marines. They’re lethal weapons in and of themselves.”

Kalea nodded. “True. But drunk, they might not be as effective at taking care of themselves.”

“A point I’m aware of,” Casey said, checking off a box on her clipboard. “The off-duty policemen will also drive the guys to their hotel if they’re too drunk to call for a cab.”

Kalea crossed her arms over her chest. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

“I do my best,” Casey said.

“You’d do well to hire my friend,” Kalea told Sylvia. “She’s got this wedding planning down to a science. I didn’t have to do anything but get fitted for the dress. Casey handled the flowers, photographer, music, venue and everything else.”

Sylvia nodded. “ Muy bien .”

“But don’t make up your mind until after the wedding,” Casey said. “By then, you’ll have the whole picture of what I do.”

Again, Sylvia nodded toward Kalea. “Thank you for allowing me to attend.”

“The more the merrier, just not all of the people on the Big Island,” Kalea said with a smile. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I could stand a glass of wine and to kick up my feet.”

“I have some loose ends to attend to here and at the wedding venue,” Casey said. “I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.”

Kalea hugged Casey. “You get some rest. You’ve been working hard to make this happen.”

Casey hugged her back. “I can rest after the wedding. Now, go. You have to get some beauty sleep. Tomorrow’s spa day and rehearsal. Saturday’s the big day. I have everything set up. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Thank you, Casey,” Kalea said. “I couldn’t have done this without you. We would’ve gone before a JP and called it done.”

Casey shook her head. “Oh, sweetie, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. It should be magical—a day you’ll never forget.”

“All in a good way, I hope,” Kalea said with a grin.

“Only the best,” Casey assured her.

Her friend slid into her rented car. “Tomorrow.”

Sylvia held out her hand. “I will see you tomorrow as well, and I look forward to being at the wedding.”

“And I look forward to making your special day perfect.” Casey shook Sylvia’s hand, walked her to her Lamborghini and held the door for her. “Thank you for coming this evening.”

As Sylvia drove away, a delivery truck arrived. She smiled. The cake had arrived. She glanced down at her watch. “Right on time.” A frown puckered her forehead. Where was the dancer?

At that exact moment, her cell phone vibrated on her clipboard. She answered the call and put it on speaker. “Casey, here.”

“Ms. Wesson,” a female voice said, and then a cough came across, blasting Casey’s eardrums. “This is Bambi. I can’t make it tonight. I’m sick.”

Casey drew a deep breath. Relax. It’s just a hiccup . “What happened to your stand-in? I asked you to provide a backup in case you couldn’t make it.”

“Candy’s sick, too. Same crud.” Bambi coughed again. “I’d come, but I don’t want to get the guys sick.”

“No, of course, you can’t come. But is there anyone else you can send?”

“I’m sorry, but everyone else is working other jobs. I could get someone tomorrow night, but not tonight.”

“Tomorrow’s too late,” Casey said, her mind already spinning with alternatives, none of which were viable at this late hour. “I need someone tonight.”

“I’m really sorry, Miss Wesson.” Bambi coughed a wet, awful sound. “I hate to disappoint you.”

“Get some rest. I’ll figure out something.” Casey ended the call and watched as two men unloaded the cake Bambi was supposed to jump out of. She started toward the truck. “Don’t unload it,” she called out. “The cake needs to go back to the rental company.”

“Sorry, lady, we were only paid to deliver it. Someone else is scheduled to pick it up in the morning,” the biggest guy said.

“But I can’t use it. I don’t have a stripper to go inside.”

“Can’t help you there,” the other guy said. “You’ll have to take it up with the party rental company in the morning.”

The big guy paused long enough to look at her, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe. “Or you can jump out of the cake yourself. You’ve got the goods, if you don’t mind my saying.”

“I do mind you saying,” she grumbled. “Fine, leave it at the back door.”

As the men unloaded the cake, the big guy said, “The cake’s in and out door gets stuck a little. You have to give it a good shove to open it from the inside—or so the party store owner said.”

Casey stared at the monstrous papier-maché cake. What the hell was she going to do with it? Without the stripper, it was useless. The men would be disappointed. She’d made the mistake of letting it slip that they would get a stripper. The perfect bachelor party would be ruined. Her client would know that her planning was fallible and lose confidence in her. Snagging Sylvia Rodriguez as a client was a huge chance to make it big as a wedding planner in the wealthiest Hawaiian circles. And it all hinged on this party and this wedding.

Casey had brought the flash drive with the song selection, the costume of little white go-go boots, white strip-away shorts, white thong, white shirt and a white bra with a long blond wig to be topped with a white Navy hat. The stripper was supposed to jump out of the cake, dance around the men and collect all the tips they wanted to give. She’d be done after three songs. Three songs, nine minutes, tops. Nine minutes that could ruin the entire event if they didn’t happen.

Casey stood in the parking lot, staring at her SUV, scrambling for a plan—any plan to pull her out of this disaster.

A purple car pulled up with mag wheels and a pair of hot pink fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror. A dark-haired woman climbed out, wearing a dress that was too short and tight, high heels tall enough to risk her life and makeup enough to cover her original identity.

For a brief moment, Casey considered asking the woman if she would consider donning the outfit and dancing for the men. One glance at the woman’s bosom made her rethink the request. The costume wouldn’t cover all that, and the woman would think she’d gone batshit crazy.

Not that anyone would recognize her in the blond wig and heavy makeup…

Who said it had to be someone else? She didn’t know that woman or what she’d do in the costume. Who was the only person she could trust to play nice and not get the guys into trouble? Whenever someone working for her didn’t show, who filled in the gaps?

Casey’s heartbeat fluttered against her ribs. Could she do it? Could she put on the wig, layer on enough makeup to hide her true self and jump out of a cake?

The plan hatched and formed, tumbling through her mind with the logistics of what it would take to fill the spot of a missing stripper. How hard could it be? All she had to do was jump out of a cake, dance for nine minutes and get the hell out of the Big Wave before anyone recognized her beneath the wig and warpaint.

Before she could let logic remind her that she was a terrible dancer and the costume was minuscule when she had to tear away the shorts to expose the G-string thong, she dove into the back of her SUV, grabbed the bag with the costume, her expansive makeup kit and followed the moving men and the papier-maché cake to the rear entrance of the Big Wave Dive Bar.

They had the cake; she might as well give the guys what they’d come for. Why not?

All she needed was a good stripper name.