Chapter 22 #2
“She’s in the wind, I’m afraid. She’s not using credit cards, and I’m guessing she’s changed her looks. But I’m not giving up. I’m gonna find her, Buck. I give you my word.”
“I know you will.”
“Thank you, Tex. I appreciate you helping me so much.”
“Don’t thank me,” the man on the other end of the phone said. “I haven’t done a damn thing yet. But this bitch isn’t going to win. She’s pissed me off now. Hang tight, Mandy. Her time’s a comin’. I’ll be in touch with more info soon.”
The phone connection ended, and Buck took a deep breath. It was either that or swear like a sailor, using all the words he’d learned from the Navy SEAL and Delta Force comrades he transported on a regular basis.
“We’re going out.”
“What?” Mandy asked, sounding confused.
“We’re going out,” Buck repeated. “We need a break. Both of us. You’re going stir crazy, and I can’t blame you. We need to stop thinking about that bitch for a few hours.”
Mandy turned in his arms. “Is it safe?”
“I’ll make sure of it,” Buck promised. “Nowhere fancy, just to Anchor Point. We can play some darts, have a beer and some kick-ass food, then come home. How’s that sound?”
“Awesome, actually. Nash…do you think I did something to make her hate me so much?”
“Absolutely not.” This right here was why she needed a break.
He hated that Mandy continued to think for one second she was somehow at fault for anything that happened.
“You went to South America with every good intention. I’m sure you worked your ass off at that orphanage to make sure every child felt loved and cared for.
Becoming attached to Bibi wasn’t some malicious act on your part; sometimes people just click. ”
“Like we did.”
“Like we did,” Buck confirmed.
“I can’t believe she paid those rebels to get rid of me,” Mandy said softly. “And it would’ve worked if you hadn’t been there.”
She was breaking his heart. Buck lifted her chin so he could look her in the eyes. “But I was there. And you’re here. Safe. And I’m gonna keep you that way.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She nodded. “You’ve done more for me than anyone in my entire life, other than my parents. And it’s not out of obligation, because if it was, you would’ve said goodbye the second we touched down in Virginia.”
“Damn straight.”
She opened her mouth, and Buck braced himself to hear the words he’d dreamed of her saying. It was the perfect time, and he was more than ready to reciprocate.
But she swallowed hard and smiled up at him instead.
Damn. He’d so hoped she’d admit her feelings.
But that time would come. He was sure of it.
Because she did love him; he already knew that.
But it was scary to say the words for the first time.
He was living proof. He could man up and say them first, but again, he didn’t want to pressure her in any way, or decide they were moving too fast.
He could wait. He was a patient man.
“You want to change before we go?” he asked.
“We’re going right now?”
“No time like the present.”
“Okay. And do I look all right as I am?” she asked, looking down at herself.
Buck took his time running his gaze down her body. She had on a pair of jeans and a purple v-neck shirt. She looked amazing…but then again, she always looked that way, no matter what she was or wasn’t wearing. “You look perfect.”
She gave him a small smile. “Thanks, Nash. I know you’re a liar, but you’re a sweet one.”
“I’m not lying,” he insisted. “Besides, this is Anchor Point. You could wear your pajamas and no one would look twice.”
She chuckled. “I think not. It’s a bar, Nash. People are trying to hook up. No one is wearing PJs…unless they’re the lingerie kind.”
She wasn’t exactly wrong.
“What about Rain?” she asked.
Buck looked over at the dog, who was lying on his bed in the corner of the room. For once he was sound asleep. He figured it was because he’d stayed awake when they were at the base, watching over Mandy. He didn’t let down his guard until they arrived back home. He was obviously exhausted.
“Rain? You want to come with us, boy?” Buck called out, as if the dog could understand what he was saying. Hell, he probably could.
The dog opened his eyes and stared at them. Buck picked up his keys and held them up. “You want to come with us? Or stay here and sleep?”
In response, Rain sighed and closed his eyes again.
“Right, guess that decision is made,” Mandy said with a small giggle. “We won’t be long. A couple hours. Be good,” she told the dog.
Rain didn’t even twitch.
“He’s tired,” she said, as Buck put his hand on the small of her back to lead her toward the door. “I feel bad.”
“He’s an amazing dog. I have to admit, I never would’ve thought after seeing how bedraggled and thin he was in the jungle that he’d turn out to be so handsome when he filled out and was cleaned up.”
“Right? Just goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Kind of like Blair.”
Shit. He didn’t want her to think about that bitch for at least a few hours. The woman had the ability to suck all the joy out of Mandy’s life.
“Come on. You need a glass of wine.”
“Screw wine. I need a margarita. Or a shot. Or both.”
Buck had never seen Mandy drunk. He bet she was hilarious. “Well, I’m driving, so you can have whatever you want.”
“Goody,” Mandy said, as she smiled up at him. “You don’t mind?”
“I haven’t had drunk sex with my girlfriend yet. I bet it’ll be awesome. So no, I don’t mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course it’ll be awesome, because you’ll be there.”
“Keep talking like that and you’ll definitely get some tonight.”
Mandy laughed. Seeing her frown lines disappear and the smile on her face was worth more than all the riches in the world. Buck vowed to do whatever he could to keep this woman happy and content.
Two and a half hours later, Buck couldn’t stop smiling. Mandy was beautiful and kind all the time, but drunk? She was fucking amazing. Laughing, happy, and extremely eager to make sure everyone around her was feeling the exact same way.
She complimented all the waitresses every time they walked by.
Telling them she loved their shoes, their hair, the way they effortlessly carried their trays.
She thanked men in the bar who were wearing uniforms for their service.
She insisted on tipping the bartender very well, every time Buck went to get her another drink.
In short, she was the kind of drunk everyone wanted to be around.
Fun and carefree. Seeing her smile and having the time of her life was awesome, especially after the tough few weeks she’d had.
Buck wasn’t a fan of using alcohol to numb pain or to escape bad experiences, because that shit didn’t work for long—those memories always came back tenfold—but seeing Mandy completely relaxed and not thinking about Blair, or the loss of the little girl she’d hoped to adopt, was worth the headache she’d likely have in the morning.
“You know what would’ve made tonight better?” she asked, leaning against Buck and smiling up at him.
“What, Rebel?”
“Having everyone else here too. Your friends.”
“Our friends,” Buck corrected.
Mandy beamed at that. “Yeah, our friends. They’re awesome. And not just because they keep you safe when you’re flying. Laryn included. Because they’re nice. And they make you happy.”
“You make me happy,” Buck corrected.
“I’m glad. Because you make me feel like a completely different woman than I used to be. I feel as if I can do anything.”
“You can.”
“See? That right there. You’re so good to me. Why are you so good to me? I’m a mess, Nash. My life is a mess.”
“Because you’re you,” Buck told her. “Because in your eyes, I see my future. A future I had no idea I wanted until you burst into my life.”
“You hated me at first. Were irritated that you had to come after me.”
She wasn’t completely wrong. “I didn’t hate you,” he corrected.
She grinned. “But you were irritated.”
Buck shrugged. “Maybe a little.”
Mandy giggled again. “Understatement,” she muttered, taking a sip of her margarita.
It was her third, and while Buck loved tipsy Mandy, he didn’t want her incoherent when they got home.
He had plans for her. He wanted to see her ride him.
Hard and fast. And after she came, he was going to carry her out to the kitchen table and lay her down and feast.
He’d fantasized about that the other morning, while they were eating breakfast. It had popped into his brain out of the blue, and now he couldn’t think about anything else.
After she’d orgasmed again, he was going to fuck her right there on the table.
From behind. It was the perfect height to bend her over and take her.
And she’d love every second, take what he had to give her, just like she always did.
“Do I want to know what you’re thinking?” she asked with a grin. “You’re thinking about sex, aren’t you?”
“I’m always thinking about sex when I’m with you,” Buck said honestly.
“Not when we were in the jungle. That’s gross.”
He shrugged.
“You were?” she practically screeched. “Nash! We were disgusting! Dirty and sweaty and tired…”
“You’re fucking beautiful, Mandy. How could I not think about it?”
“You’re so weird,” she said with a shake of her head.
It was Buck’s turn to laugh. He pulled on her arm and she fell against him, laughing.
“Don’t spill my drink!”
He took it out of her hand and placed it on a nearby table. They’d been watching two sailors battle over a billiards table, but all interest in the game had waned.
“I think about you all the time,” he admitted. “When I’m flying, when I’m in meetings, when I’m in the car, when I’m in the shower. Especially when I’m in the shower. I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch and I know it, and I can’t get you off my mind.”
“Nash,” she said on a sigh, giving him more of her weight.