Chapter Three
T hree days later, Holden was at ESI storing his gear after a two-day job in Dallas with the guys. Providing extra security for some famous, egomaniacal rapper was a lot different than the life-or-death details while on active duty. Mac still ran a well thought out and precision op, but it had been weird to not draw his weapon or operate without a K-9 by his side. More than once, Holden had glanced down to check on Braddock.
He rubbed at his chest as if that would relieve the sudden ache. It was going to take some time to get used to the changes in his life. He was glad he’d agreed to go to the shelter after work with Sinjin later. Hopefully, helping dogs in need would fill some of this emptiness.
Focusing on that thought, he shoved his pack in his locker and shut the door.
“So, how does it feel to have your first ESI mission under your belt?” Mac asked, stowing his gear away in an adjacent locker.
“Good, but it was definitely different,” he replied honestly, knowing that his boss would expect nothing less.
Still in the room, Sinjin and Hunter both grunted in agreement.
“The pace, the rules…I need to retrain my brain,” he told them.
“It does take a while,” Hunter said. “We’ve all been through it.”
Sinjin nodded. “I’m still working on it.”
“Everyone transitions at their own speed,” Mac said. “I don’t want either of you to think you need to force it.”
Knowing he wasn’t the only one who’d found adjusting to life outside the military a little tougher than expected eased an anxiety Holden hadn’t realized he was carrying.
He blew out a breath while Sinjin nodded again. “Roger that.”
“Good.” Mac set a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go join the others in the garage. It’s tradition to enjoy a quick drink at the end of each job before we scatter.”
When they were active duty, they used to celebrate after a successful mission too.
A smile tugged at his lips. “So apparently, some things don’t change.”
Mac laughed. “Yeah, except we don’t get shitfaced.”
“And Carter doesn’t pass out,” Hunter said over his shoulder as he exited the room, shadowed by a smirking Sinjin.
Holden chuckled and trailed his buddies, with Mac on their six. A sense of déjà vu hit him. This was the comradery he’d sorely missed after these men had left him for civilian life. Technically, they hadn’t specifically left him behind, just active duty…and now, the military was in his past, as well. His smile broadened.
It was good to be with the pack again.
That thought followed him through the hall that led to the garage at the back of the three-story brick building. Headquarters occupied the first two floors, but the top floor consisted of two apartments. Both were secured stronger than Fort Knox, thanks to tech wizard Carter, who resided with his wife in one of them. The other apartment, according to Mac, was vacant and ready should they catch a bodyguard job.
When they entered the garage, they found the others already kicking back in the lounge area set up in front of a man-size bird cage, home to two hilarious, talking cockatoos. Lex and Marilyn, owned by Carter and Dex, entertained without provocation.
The two birds were definitely the company mascots, even though ESI stood for Eagle Security and Investigations. Holden already knew the comical duo would relieve stress with their banter.
“’Bout time you lollygaggers joined us.” Carter snickered.
“Lollygaggers,” Lex immediately repeated. “Gaggers…gag me…a spoon.”
“Lollypop…lollypop,” Marilyn chimed in. “Oh…lolly lolly…pop.”
“Pop goes…the weasel,” Lex said before both birds fell silent.
Holden chuckled with the others as they all sat down.
“Hey, Carter, your bird’s talking about you,” Cooper, one of the SEALs, joked.
More chuckles erupted.
“Nah, that’s his code name for you, squid.” Carter grinned.
“Squid…squidward,” Lex squawked. “Barnacle for brains.”
“That’s right, Lex.” Carter turned to his bird, the grin widening on his face. “Cooper has barnacles for brains, indeed.”
“Yeah, but at least I have a brain,” Cooper volleyed.
Carter snorted, nodding toward the mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on the coffee table that centered two couches and several large chairs they all occupied. “As much as I love besting you, Coop, the beer’s getting warm.”
An oversized area rug anchored the seating area, just like the mats did for the sparring section next to two company SUVs in the back of the garage.
“Pretty sure he’s more concerned about his wife getting cold,” Cooper remarked with a grin.
The other two squids , RJ and Dean, nodded.
“No offense, Rylee,” Cooper added, sending a contrite gaze to the only female at ESI.
The clever, capable beauty was also Gabe’s sister and Dex’s wife…and pregnant, but she refused to sit behind a desk. Although, he knew as she got further along, there was no way Mac, let alone Dex or Gabe, would allow her out in the field, even on easy cases like the one they’d just completed. Rylee had been in a security booth watching the monitors.
“None taken.” She grinned, sitting on Dex, who set at hand on her belly and looked as if he was the richest man in the world.
Holden had heard about their courtship but man, he wished he’d been around to witness it firsthand.
Carter snorted. “Don’t go trying to play innocent, Coop. You can’t tell me you don’t want to get home to my sister.”
That was another courtship Holden had missed, but it hadn’t surprised him. Come to think of it, neither had Dex and Rylee. The attraction had always been there between the couples. It was only a matter of time. Leaving the military behind had no doubt spurred both men to finally take action. Now Cooper had a wife and baby girl, and had never looked happier.
“I do want to get home,” Cooper said. “To both my girls, but the difference between us is I’ll admit it outright.”
“’Aight. Let’s end that right there and get to our drink,” Mac said, cutting the two yahoos off while grabbing a can of soda. “Stef’s due in ten days, but if you two keep going, she’ll have our son before I get home.”
Holden had met Mac’s wife at the barbeque the other day. She was beautiful and witty, but the poor woman looked uncomfortable and ready to pop.
Cooper nodded. “True. Babies come on their own schedule, not ours.”
Once again, disbelief whispered through Holden. He still couldn’t believe that every guy here was either married or living with a significant other. Plus, Coop was a father. Hunter was a stepfather, Mac would be a father any day now, and Dex and Rylee were expecting by the end of the year.
Domesticated.
Once again, he couldn’t escape that thought. It had followed him since arriving in Harland County.
For his buddies, the ‘D’ in D-Force definitely represented domesticated.
That was good, though. It suited them well, but not Holden. Not exactly. He was happy to concentrate on himself and reacclimate to life outside the military. So, for him, the D in D-Force stood for dealing with his new life.
“’Aight.” Mac held up his cola and waited for everyone to choose a drink and do the same. “To another mission accomplished, and to our newest teammate.”
Holden also chose a cola, and it went down smooth, in a figurative sense. “Thanks,” he told them.
“Now that you’re here. I need your help with a debate that’s been running for a while,” Dean said, turning to face Holden. “You’ve yet to do the morning bakery run with us, so I’m curious to see if you’re on the bear claw bandwagon or the cinnamon bun one like me.”
Holden knew Dean lived with Loni, the woman who’d baked the delicious cake for the barbeque, and RJ was living with her twin. Lori had decorated the cake and was also one of the volleyball players.
At that thought, his mind recalled another player…one with a set of supple legs and a sweet ass.
Carter sighed. “Don’t draw the poor kid into it, Dean.”
Kid?
Holden’s attention returned to the conversation, and he almost snorted. Thirty-two was hardly a kid. Hell, he was only four years younger than his buddies.
Dean frowned. “What do you mean?”
RJ set a hand on his SEAL brother’s shoulder. “Surely, you’ve realized everyone has been choosing the bear claws because we don’t want to tell you we enjoy your woman’s buns.”
This time Holden did snort, along with almost everyone in the room
“If you were us, would you admit that?” RJ asked, his expression surprisingly serious, considering the subject.
Dean’s gaze narrowed but twinkled. Holden got the impression the former SEAL agreed.
“Amen,” Cooper said, raising his beer in the air. “Loni’s cinnamon buns have always secretly had my vote.”
The guys laughed, and even Dean’s lips twitched.
“Well, there’s definitely no debate on leaving,” Mac said, tossing his empty can in a recycling bin near the bird cage.
“Score,” Marilyn said.
“The crowd goes…wild,” Lex added, his head bobbing as he walked back and forth on a large perch.
Mac laughed. “I’m out of here. We can circle back to buns versus claws in the morning.”
Within minutes, everyone dispersed, and with the exception of Carter, who took the elevator upstairs, Holden and Sinjin were the only ones to leave on foot. They lived a block away, on a quiet, dead-end street that led to six cottages, three on each side.
ESI held the lease on the last cottage on the right that Holden currently occupied. Sinjin lived with Isla across from him. Once Holden got a feel for the area, he’d start searching for a permanent place, preferably with land for a dog or two to run freely.
“I just need to take Loki out before we go,” Sinjin said as they neared Holden’s cottage. “Isla’s shift at the hospital ends at eight.”
He nodded, allowing only a spark of envy over his buddy’s relationship to rush through him. Not his human one, although that was great. No, the animal one. The German Shepherd was originally Isla’s dog but was now owned by both. Holden knew Sinjin had trained her in the proper way to suit the large, intelligent, energetic breed.
“Give him the time you need,” he said. “Then shoot me a text when you’re ready.”
“Roger that,” Sinjin replied before crossing the street.
Holden turned and headed inside his one bedroom, one bathroom cottage. The layout with an open concept kitchen/living room was apparently mirrored in every house on the street. It was the perfect set-up to entertain and to keep clean.
Especially for him, since he didn’t have a lot of belongings, just some clothes and a few personal items, like Braddock’s chewed up tennis ball and a few framed commendations they’d earned together. He also had a photo of his recent unit, as well as an older photo of the unit when Mac had been in charge.
Both pictures made him smile but the newer one also sent a shaft of guilt through his chest. He hated leaving those brothers behind, especially his four-legged one. But it was better for them.
Pushing away those thoughts, he unpacked his overnight bag and tossed his small duffle in his closet then decided to grab a quick shower to wash away any odors with a natural soap that was free of chemicals and fragrance.
When working with dogs, especially shelter dogs, he found it best to keep things simple and honest, including his scent.
Fifteen minutes later, he was showered, dressed and on the way to the shelter with Sinjin, talking about Loki and the progress he’d made in just a few short weeks.
“He no longer exhibits out of control energy,” his buddy said. “He’s calm and respectful, as long as we expend his energy.”
“That’s definitely the key, especially in a pup.” He smiled. Loki wasn’t a year old yet, and sometimes it took males several months past that to mature. “Shepherds are smart, man. So easy to train. They’re eager for it. They want to be given a job.”
Sinjin nodded. “I’m looking forward to cooler weather so Isla and I can run him on the beach. I’m certain Loki’s going to be best friends with a Frisbee.”
Holden laughed. “I agree.”
They were discussing several possible “jobs” for Loki as they arrived at the shelter and parked. This was technically Holden’s first time at the Shadow Rock Shelter but his second time seeing it.
On Tuesday, he’d spent his first day filling out paperwork at ESI and getting acquainted with the building and where everything was located. After work, Holden had done some local recon, traveling through Harland County, getting his own lay of the land.
Shadow Rock Shelter had been part of that scouting trek. He’d been surprised by the size of the facility, but standing in the parking lot, he realized it was much bigger than he’d originally thought.
“Yeah, it’s pretty impressive,” Sinjin said, no doubt reading Holden’s expression. “These three buildings here are part of the original operation. It’s a no-kill shelter.”
“No kill? That’s great,” he said, walking with his buddy toward the entrance.
There weren’t enough no-kill shelters.
“And they take in all animals, small and large,” Sinjin explained as they entered. “The building next door houses the livestock—horses, cows, llamas, goats, and pigs. This one has the cats, dogs, bunnies—you know, the domesticated animals. Like me.”
Holden snorted at the guy throwing his description of his brothers in his face. “Hey…if the boot fits…”
Sinjin grinned. “I’m surprisingly happy to wear it. And I know you will be too…when the time comes.”
“ If the time comes,” he corrected. “I’ve no intention of jumping onboard that ship.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t either, but here I am. Happily involved with an angel.”
He cupped his buddy’s shoulder and glanced sideways at him as they continued to walk. “And I’m happy for you, man. But I hope you aren’t going to be like the others and try to set me up with someone. They were definitely giving off that vibe.”
Sinjin halted, and Holden released his shoulder. “You know me better than that, so no worries there. Besides, nature has its own agenda, and you and I both know never to go against nature.”
“Exactly,” he said, secure in the knowledge that at least one friend wouldn’t try to force his idea of happiness on him.
He didn’t see Mac or Holden bothering either.
With that subject shelved, Sinjin continued to give him the tour. “Connected to this building is the new Humane Society that includes an emergency vet hospital, a team of behaviorists, and the Animal Control and Rescue office.”
“Nice,” he said, before he was introduced to the volunteers behind the counter in the lobby.
“Sinjin, I think Kade needs your help in the horse barn,” Tracy, one of the volunteers informed. “I’ll make sure someone finishes Holden’s tour and gets him started with the dogs after he fills out his volunteer application.”
“All right,” his buddy said, then turned to him. “I’ll meet you by my car at eight.”
“Roger that.”
Tracy smiled and pointed at a door on the wall to his left. “If you go through there, you can come around to this side, and we’ll get this red tape out of the way.”
Several minutes later, he was handing his paperwork to Tracy when he heard someone walk into the room behind him.
A familiar awareness trickled through his body and prickled his spine.
Holden knew without looking that Emily had entered the room.
“Hi, Tracy,” she said. “I was told you needed help.”
“Ah, here’s one of our Animal Control officers.” Tracy smiled.
Animal Control?
He turned to find Emily standing in the doorway, surprise lifting her brows.
“Oh…hello, Holden,” she stammered, a flood of color filling her pretty face.
His pulse mirrored that stammer as he took in the way the beauty filled out her navy-blue uniform to perfection. From the patch on her left sleeve, badge above the left pocket on her button-down shirt, name tag above her right pocket, and utility belt slung low around the sexy curve of her hips, she was sure to fuel some of his late-night fantasies.
Damn, she looked hot.
Holden rose to his feet, doing his best to regain control over his pulse. “Hi, Emily.”
“Oh, great, you two know each other,” Tracy said. “If you’re off duty, can you give Holden a tour of the place and get him started with the dogs?”
Emily blinked then straightened. “Sure. I just clocked out.”
“Super! Thanks,” Tracy said, before turning her attention to a potential adoptee who just entered the building.
“Come with me,” Emily said, motioning for him to follow her out the door.
Gladly.
His pulse took another hit at the way her navy pants showcased her sweet ass-et.
Yeah, the woman had some great assets.
He trailed after her through one hallway and then another, his mind barely registering his surroundings.
“As you can see, this is the feline area,” she said, waving her hand around.
Ripping his attention from her, he focused on the cages. “They’re only half full.”
Odd. He’d never been to a shelter that wasn’t overloaded with cats and litters of kittens.
She smiled. “That’s because they’re in the cat colony.”
“Cat colony?” he asked, following her out the door.
“Yeah, it’s a fun area for cats that can socialize and hang out with one another.”
The smile was still on her pretty face as she led him into the next room. It was there that he understood the reason for the lack of cats. Most of them were running, climbing, or lounging in the wooden structures along the walls, and several kittens were playing with toys and one another on the floor.
“This is a far cry from the shelter I worked at in Virginia,” he said with a grin, enjoying the free spirit of the felines, healthy and safe in this special environment.
Emily’s brows rose. “I didn’t know you’d worked in a shelter before.”
He shrugged, stroking a black cat sprawled out on a wooden shelf. The fact they were the least adoptable always ticked him off. They were no different than any other cat. The black color was not a conduit for bad luck.
And he would know, because he was that conduit.
Between that messed up Delta mission a few years ago involving Mac’s ex-fiancé that had nearly gotten them all killed and Holden’s next to last mission that could’ve claimed Braddock’s life, yeah, he was the bad luck magnet.
It was probably a blessing that he’d been out of the country when his sister had needed help and he sent Sinjin. The outcome might’ve been significantly different.
He just hoped that bad luck hadn’t followed him to Harland County.
“When did you work there?” Emily asked, pulling his mind out of his dark thoughts.
Shaking his head, he shrugged again. “When I was a teenager,” he replied. “Started as part of a Boy Scout project, but then I was hooked.” It was there he’d discovered his love of working with animals, especially dogs. “Their cat area was just stacks of cages. This is nice.”
She grinned. “I know. It’s like Disneyland for cats.”
“I can’t wait to see the dog area.” He returned her grin.
Holden wasn’t sure how long they stood there but all the tension left his body, and the room and its feline occupants started to fade into the background. Then he became acutely aware of his heart beating loudly in his ears, and how the warmth flooding Emily’s face and eyes somehow found its way into his chest.
The experience was new, unexpected, a little exhilarating…and a lot dangerous.
So was the sudden urge to kiss her lush lips, especially when her tongue darted out to wet them, and heat darkened her gaze as the space between them slowly disappeared.