Chapter 9 #2
“The woman who was taken by the rebels in Timor-Leste?” he continued.
“She was with them for at least a year. And when her SEAL rescued her and brought her back to the States…she was okay. I mean, I don’t know her whole story, but from everything I’ve heard, she and Phantom are doing great together.
All I’m saying is, don’t give up hope, Grover.
Women are tough. Look at Gillian and the others.
We’ve got proof right in front of our faces how strong they are. ”
Grover’s shoulders seemed to straighten a little. “You’re right. Thanks.”
Doc nodded.
“What’s up with you and Ember?” Brain asked.
Doc was afraid someone was going to ask about her. He shrugged. “Nothing. She lives in California and I’m here. She’s famous, and I’m in a profession where secrecy is everything.”
“After the things she’s posted on her IG account the last few days, she doesn’t sound like the kind of woman who wants that famous lifestyle anymore,” Lefty noted.
Doc shrugged. “There’s still the matter of her life being in Los Angeles while mine is here.”
“Don’t write off a relationship,” Trigger said. “You never know what can happen.”
Doc nodded, though he’d pretty much already made the decision where he and Ember were concerned.
“See you guys tomorrow,” Oz said. “I need to get home to my family.”
“Same,” Brain said with a smile.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?” Lefty asked.
“To have someone to go home to? Yeah, damn good,” Trigger added.
Doc caught Grover’s eye and they shared wry grins. They wouldn’t know about that, but were happy for their teammates.
“See ya tomorrow,” Brain said as he headed for his car.
Everyone said their goodbyes, and despite everything going on in his teammates’ lives, Doc was relieved their relationships hadn’t changed. They made an effort to still get together outside of the job and no one seemed to mind that most of the time, those gatherings included all the wives.
Doc sighed as he started his Dodge Durango and headed toward the main gate of the post. It wasn’t a long drive to get to his house, and halfway there, his phone rang. He answered via his Bluetooth, expecting to hear one of his teammates’ voices.
“You got Doc,” he said.
“Hey.”
One word. That was all it took for a huge smile to break out on Doc’s face. “Hey yourself. It’s good to hear from you, Em.”
“Yeah, sorry I haven’t been in touch lately.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure you’ve been busy.” Doc tried to tell himself to keep his voice a little aloof. That it would be easier to break things off with Ember if conversations were superficial between them. But he couldn’t seem to do it. He was too damn happy to hear from her.
“I have. Things have been pretty insane, actually. Is this a good time to talk?”
“Of course. I’m headed home from work.”
“Okay, good.”
“What have you been up to?” Doc asked.
“I met with a lawyer, and we began the paperwork to start my new business venture. I have more papers to sign, but it’s a step.”
“Wow, you haven’t wasted any time, have you?”
“Nope. I’m more excited about introducing kids to the modern pentathlon than I’ve been about almost anything I’ve done in the last decade. I want to make a difference, and I really think this is one way I can do that.”
“I love it,” Doc told her. “I can hear the excitement in your voice.”
“I’ve also hired some people to help me.”
“That’s great.”
“Yeah. I had long talks with some of the athletes I’ve trained with. I told them what I wanted to do and asked if any would be willing to help. I offered a very competitive salary and agreed they could even keep training if they wanted.”
“And did anyone take you up on your offer?”
“Yeah, Julio and Marie. They seemed pretty excited about it all. I can find other experts in the various events to help out too. I should be able to find someone to help coach the swimming part, and I’ll need to team up with someone who has horses and wouldn’t mind kids using them.
The fencing won’t be too hard, I can buy the equipment for that; same with the laser sights and guns. And of course, we can run anywhere.”
Doc enjoyed hearing the excitement and energy in her voice. She’d obviously done a lot of thinking about what she wanted, and he wasn’t surprised she was making it work. “I can’t wait to hear more about it, and what the kids think when you start.”
Damn. He was supposed to be distancing himself, but it was impossible. Her enthusiasm was infectious.
Doc pulled down his street and waved at a few of his neighbors who were sitting on their porches, enjoying the fresh air. It was still warm, but for this part of Texas, it wasn’t too bad this time of evening.
When he saw a BMW he didn’t recognize sitting at the curb in front of his house, he frowned.
“Craig?”
“Yeah?”
“You seem distracted,” Ember said.
“Sorry. I’m about to pull into my driveway and there’s a car I don’t recognize here.”
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Uh-huh. I’m gonna have to let you go and deal with—” Doc’s words stopped abruptly as someone stood from the chair she’d been sitting in, on his front porch. “Ember?” he said incredulously.
“Surprise!” she said—sounding more than a little nervous. Doc could hear her voice shake on the word, even through the speakers in his car.
He didn’t remember putting the vehicle in park or getting out.
He stalked toward his front door, his gaze taking in Ember from head to toe. She looked even better than the last time he’d seen her.
She wore a tank top that hugged her curves and showed off her muscular arms. Shorts emphasized her strong thighs and calves.
She clicked off her phone and put it in her back pocket.
“Hey. I…um…I might have forgotten to mention that I’m planning on starting my new business venture here in Texas.
If it’s okay. I mean…I could really start it anywhere, but I figured since this was where you were, and I wanted to get to know you better, it would be as good a place as any to put down roots.
But if this is creepy or something, I can leave. ”
She was babbling, but her last words finally got Doc’s ass in gear. He practically leaped at her, snatching her up and holding her tightly to him as he spun her around in a circle and hugged her.
She laughed. The sound was carefree and happy, and Doc felt it all the way to his toes. “Don’t leave,” he managed to get out. When her feet were on the ground once more, he leaned down without thought. He was so glad to see her. So damn thrilled she was here…and was apparently planning on staying.
She eagerly opened under his lips, and Doc plunged his tongue into her mouth. Fuck, he’d missed this. He’d had erotic dreams every night since he’d left her in South Korea, and kissing her was even more satisfying than he remembered.
When she finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard.
“I was kind of afraid someone would call the cops on me,” she admitted.
“Not in this neighborhood,” Doc told her.
“Part of the reason I picked it is because of the diversity. My neighbors on either side of me are Black. There’s a Hispanic couple with three kids who live across the street.
A few white families, a gay couple, a family from Israel, one from India, and even one from Pakistan.
We’re truly multicultural here—and our block parties are awesome. ”
“I love that.”
“Me too. I can’t believe you’re here. You have to be exhausted. Did you drive all this way today? No, you couldn’t have. Are you hungry? Come in, let me show you my house and get you something to eat and drink.”
Ember chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re flustered. I’m a little hungry, but you know what I really need?”
“What? Anything.”
“Anything? What if I asked for caviar and truffles?”
“Then I’d find a way to get them for you,” Doc said, completely serious.
“I was kidding,” she said softly.
“I wasn’t,” Doc told her. He still held her close and couldn’t believe how good she felt in his arms.
“I need something green,” Ember said with a small smile. “I ate a lot of crap on the road and a salad sounds like heaven.”
“You’re in luck, I went to the store yesterday and have all the stuff for a salad.” Doc was moving before he’d finished talking. He unlocked his door and gestured for her to precede him inside. “It’s still a work in progress,” he told her a little self-consciously.
He dropped his arm as Ember wandered into his space, looking around curiously. After a long moment, she said, “It’s wonderful, Craig.”
Something inside him loosened. “It’s not huge, but I’ve enjoyed fixing it up.”
She ran a hand over the banister of the stairway as she turned to him. “You’ve done all of it?”
“Well, most of the woodwork, yeah. I’m not so good with plumbing or electrical stuff, so I’ve called in someone for that, but I’ve picked out all the fixtures, colors, flooring, that sort of thing.
I handmade the cabinets in the kitchen because everything I saw looked cheap, or was way too expensive.
And I made the banister slats and the railing myself too. ”
“It’s amazing. Seriously. I’m impressed.”
Doc shrugged. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand in his. He loved touching her and had a feeling he’d take any opportunity to do it in the future. “Let’s get you fed.”
He led Ember to a stool at the bar extending from the island work space in the kitchen. She sat with a smile and watched as he got out the stuff he needed to make a salad for her.
“Do you need any help?”
“Nope, I got this. You relax.” Then as nonchalantly as he could, Doc asked, “So…you have a place to stay tonight?”
She made a weird noise, and he looked up in alarm. She was smiling from ear to ear and trying very hard not to laugh.
“What?” he asked in confusion.
“Do you think I’d come all this way and not have a place to stay? Or that I’d just assume I could stay with you?”
“Well, um…I don’t know.”