Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
RAFE
The phone call I just had played out in my head over and over as I packed up the last of the boxes. West had called and relayed an offer from a man named Archer King and asked me if I’d ever heard of him. Who the hell hadn’t heard of the multiple Super Bowl-winning quarterback?
It seemed he was operating a ranch in Cedar Ridge of all places, which at first glance was a center offering retraining opportunities for veterans and first responders. But also offered something more. Something not always available to the average person.
And he was looking for someone to provide security training with an emphasis on current tech hardware. His end goal was to offer investigative and protection services and to create employment opportunities for those trained on the ranch.
West had given him my name when Archer asked my cousin if he could recommend anyone since he’d been made aware of West’s background in the Army. Plus, having had contact with numerous vets who’d come through the Triple R Lodge over the last year.
Archer and his partners wanted to add a security component to their outfit as soon as possible.
Someone who had my skill set and could oversee the initial tech equipment set-up plus design a training program.
And bonus, I would have space on his ranch to bring in retired K-9s to live and work with veterans needing service and therapy dogs.
It was a lot to think about, and it kept my mind off the one thing that had been ruling my every waking moment.
Jaci. But since my conversation with Caleb, although positive and encouraging, I allowed doubts to seep in.
She deserved a man who’d be all in with her and Simon.
What did I have to offer them besides ongoing nightmares, an unwillingness to change and maybe my military pension?
Would our swift and intense connection be enough to build a life on?
And then, of course, there was Duchess. Simon was totally attached to my dog.
And vice versa. I’d never been around kids, but Simon had swiftly become her favorite person.
Jealousy wasn’t in my emotional toolkit, but if it were — oh, hell, maybe I was jealous.
But only slightly, and it leaned more toward regret that I’d be the one separating the two.
And then there was the night Jaci and I had spent together. It hadn’t turned out the way I’d planned. Watching her sneaking out of my bed had stirred up emotions I honestly never thought I was capable of. And whenever I pictured myself in Cedar Ridge, I’d also see her and Simon there with me.
I couldn’t shake the way I’d left things with her. She said she was good with what we’d shared, knew it was short term. What if she’d only been protecting her heart from my selfishness and told me what I wanted to hear?
I’d been anti-relationship for as long as I could remember. Losing too many close friends overseas had hardened me to the point I feared I’d never be good at letting someone close enough.
Yet my gut twisted at the thought of never seeing her again. She may be too damn independent, but that was one thing I admired about her. And the rest of what I shared with Caleb about her, was that love?
Duchess padded over to me in the now nearly empty living room as I sat in the recliner, seeking ear scratches.
On autopilot, I complied. In the morning, one of the specialists was coming by to pick the chair up for his new place off base.
Then that would be it besides my bed and a few clothes and Duchess’s things.
I planned on adding them to the moving truck in the morning, setting off at zero eight hundred sharp.
Or I could delay that plan. It would be a first for me, but it would be for a good reason.
The best. “What do you think, Duchess?” With a soft whine, she placed her head on my lap.
“Do I have the balls to tell Jaci how I really felt about her?” Would Jaci let me keep her, cherish and love her?
And could I find the right words without screwing this up?