Searching for Pandora (Fallport Rescue Operations #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Blaze Wright rolled to a stop in front of Old Town Auto on Main Street in Fallport, Virginia. He put his shiny new pickup in park and let out a long breath. He’d been in the great state of Virginia before, but never Fallport, yet he felt as though he knew the place thanks to his old buddy, Brock Maybrey.

It had been four years since he’d seen Brock and a lot had happened.

Good things for Brock.

Not so good things for Blaze.

Blaze’s life was shit. The majority of his problems were his own damn fault.

But some were not.

Either way, Blaze’s life was going nowhere fast. His career in the Marines was over at forty. He’d given the military twenty-two years of his life and he honestly didn’t regret a single day of it.

Except one.

And that day had been the reason he hadn’t re-enlisted. Otherwise, he might have signed up for another four years. He wasn’t that old. His body was in good shape. He could have done more time.

But he didn’t have it in him. He had nothing left. His heart and soul were void. He’d spent the last four months figuring out if he could go on. The only answer he’d found was he didn’t have the balls to put himself out of his misery. The only option left was to go west. He’d find a way to bury himself out there.

He had no one left and everything he owned was in the back of his new damn truck.

Pathetic when he thought about it, so he tried not to.

He shut off the engine and slipped from the vehicle. He’d made a promise to Brock and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to keep it. Although, part of him wanted to keep driving. Maybe to Colorado. Or Utah. He always loved hiking out there and there were many thrill-seeking opportunities that could get his adrenaline pumping and put his life in harm’s way.

A memory of him and Brock hiking in Utah filled his brain. It had been one of the most exhilarating trips he’d ever been on. The best part about hiking with Brock was the man pushed Blaze, hard. And Brock didn’t need to talk. Nope. He was one with nature.

It was refreshing to spend time with him and not have to discuss all of life’s problems.

Only, this time, Blaze figured he wouldn’t get away with keeping his shitty-ass life to himself because Brock had already hammered him once on the phone.

This would be a short trip. A day or two. Blaze couldn’t stand to be where people knew him. Knew his past. Knew his pain.

Sucking in a deep breath, and mentally preparing himself for being a human, which was difficult these days, Blaze opened the door to his buddy’s auto shop. A gentleman stood behind the counter.

“May I help you?” the man asked.

“Yeah. I’m here to see Brock. He’s expecting me. The name’s Blaze.”

“Right. Brock’s in the back. Go right ahead.” The man pointed toward the door to the shop. “He’s working on a blue vintage Mustang. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks.”

Blaze meandered through the shop, checking out all the cars. The Mustang was in the corner, but Brock wasn’t with it.

The baby-blue vehicle was spectacular. It was a 1966 convertible and it was in mint condition. It looked damn fucking new and looked identical to the one he owned when he was twenty years old. He loved that damn fucking car.

Blaze ran his fingers across the side of the vehicle as he leaned inside to get a better look.

Damn, a stick. Just like he had and it was way too much fun to drive. He’d thought about buying a sports car when he’d left the military, but a truck made more sense, especially with the thought of being out west in the winter. The military had taught him to be practical, and regardless of the pull to have one of these bad boys, he couldn’t pull the trigger.

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” an oddly familiar female voice said.

He froze, unable to turn his head toward the sound as his brain tried to reconcile that noise because no way in hell could it be her . He cleared his throat. “She sure is.” He ran his fingers through his hair. It was longer than it had ever been since he’d been eighteen years old and he signed the enlistment papers. His parents had been so proud that day. Their son. A Marine. An honorable profession. Serving his country. Following in his big brother’s footsteps.

And now Axel was dead and it was Blaze’s fault.

He pushed that thought right out of his head and turned.

His heart plummeted to his toes like a rocket landing on its target and exploding with pure perfection.

“Jesus,” Pandora whispered. “Blaze? Is that you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the hair against his fingers as it tickled his skin. “Holy shit. Pandora. Un-fucking-believable.”

“You can say that again.” She inched closer as a slow smile spread across her angelic face. She was as beautiful as he remembered. Her hair was shorter, falling only to her shoulders instead of down to her waist, but he liked it that length. Her eyes were still as blue as the sea. Her hips were rounder and if he wasn’t mistaken, her breasts might be bigger.

But now he was an asshole for staring at them.

He blinked.

“By the lack of a jarhead haircut, I’d say you’re either on leave or out of the military.” She leaned into him and gave him a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“I just retired two months ago.” He returned the favor, letting his lips linger on her sweet skin. She still smelled like coconut and roses. It was an intoxicating scent and he definitely didn’t want to let his arms drop to his sides, but he did. He also stepped back, doing his best to regain some composure. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I live here,” she said.

He cocked a brow. “I have to say, that’s shocking.”

She laughed. “A lot has changed in twenty years.” She leaned against the side of the Mustang. “What brings you to Fallport?”

“I’m here to see Brock. He’s an old friend.”

“Ah.” She nodded. “He mentioned someone coming to visit; he just didn’t give me a name.”

“Where is he?” Blaze asked. Small talk wasn’t his strong suit. Never was. And twenty years ago, Pandora used to tease him about his ability to sit in silence and not be bothered by it. But right now, silence would make him squirm, but he had no idea what to say.

Or how to act.

His heart still belonged to this woman, and his body knew it.

But his mind wasn’t in the game. At all. And probably never would be.

Not after Axel.

“He’s in the office. He had to make a phone call.” She pointed to the Mustang. “This sweetheart is mine.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He chuckled. “You finally learned to drive a stick.” He shook his head. “I remember trying to teach you and I had the worst whiplash for days.”

“I wasn’t that bad.” She gave him a little jab in the arm. “But the first car I bought on my own was a stick. You learn real quick when you no longer have a choice.”

“That you do.” He leaned against the hood and stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. “You look good.”

“So do you,” she said. “So, why did you leave the Marines?”

He ran his hand over his mouth. The only person, outside of the men in his unit, who knew the sordid details and his sister-in-law was Brock and he wasn’t about to get into it with Pandora. Or anyone else for that matter. “It was time.” He shrugged. “What have you been doing all these years?”

“I’m a firefighter and a paramedic.”

“Really? I thought you were going to be a nurse.”

“That’s what my parents wanted me to do. But again, a lot has changed.” She jerked her head. “Here comes Brock.”

Blaze pushed from the car. “Hey there, old man.”

“Fuck off.” Brock laughed, giving Blaze a big bro hug. “You’re looking mighty scruffy. Welcome to civilian life.”

“It’s fucking weird, is what it is.” Blaze smiled.

“I see you met Pandora and her car. I thought you might like it since you love a good vintage sports car,” Brock said.

“Funny thing, Pandora and I actually knew each other a long time ago.” Blaze still couldn’t believe of all the people he could run into in this sleepy little town, it would be the girl he could never get out of his head. There had been many times he thought about looking for her, but then decided it wouldn’t be right. She could be married with kids and he had no business messing with that.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Brock slapped Blaze on the back. “Maybe she can show you around town since I’m slammed here and won’t be free until at least six. Then you’re coming to my place for dinner.”

“I was about to go over to Sunny Side Up for some lunch,” Pandora said. “You’re welcome to join me, and then I’m happy to take a stroll through town and give you a little tour.”

“I’d love that.” Blaze nodded.

“All right. Hop in.”

Blaze cocked his head. “I want to drive.”

“Not happening, big fella.” She jumped into the driver’s seat. “Thanks for everything, Brock.”

“Is my truck okay parked out front?” Blaze asked.

“Give me your keys. I’ll have someone move it around back. Just in case your dumb ass parked it in a tow away zone.” Brock laughed. “He’s done that more times than I can count.”

“He once got his Mustang towed in Myrtle Beach. It was a nightmare and he was pissed.” Pandora laughed. “I guess some things don’t change.” She revved the engine. “Are you coming? Or are you too afraid to get in a car with me?”

“Utterly terrified.” He tossed Brock his keys and slid into the passenger seat, buckling himself in. “How far away is this place?”

“Just around the corner. But maybe we can go for a little joyride first. I know a few back roads.” She winked.

“Don’t scare the boy.” Brock knocked his knuckles on the hood. “And don’t make Weston pull you over again. He’s tired of not writing you tickets.” Brock arched a brow. “Just because you’re a first responder doesn’t give you the right?—”

“I got pulled over twice.” She twisted her hair into a ponytail. “Once for failure to use my blinker and the other time I was doing ten over and Weston just likes to bust my balls.” She released the emergency brake and put it in reverse. “Stop acting like my dad. I’ll see you later and tell Finley thanks for the treats. The fire station always appreciates them.”

“Drive safe.” Brock waved.

“Why do I get the feeling this might be payback for taking you down that windy road in Lake George and scaring the crap out of you.” Blaze gripped the holy shit bar as she turned the wheel, putting it in first gear.

“Because it is.” She slowly eased out of the parking lot and onto the side street, then turned onto the main drag, passing his truck. They headed out of town and down a few more roads that he hadn’t driven on his way to Fallport. Before he knew it, she was doing sixty on some curvy back street.

But to her credit, she handled the sports car like a pro.

And he wasn’t scared shitless, like he honestly thought he would be.

She turned the car around and returned to town while playing music from the seventies. Something else that hadn’t changed. They both loved to listen to that music. Classic rock. They would blast it from the radio while taking long drives and talking about nothing.

This was exactly like those days and he wasn’t sure what to make of how it eased the ache in his soul. The pain in his heart.

Nothing could bring back his brother.

Blaze had gone over every step of that mission. His superiors had told him it didn’t matter if he had made a different decision. The mission was doomed from the get-go. There had been a mole and his team had been compromised. Failure was the only option.

The mole had been caught and dealt with. He faced life in prison.

But again, that didn’t change a damn thing.

And Blaze should have known there was a traitor in his ranks.