His Soldier Under Siege Page 8

  “That’s a brilliant idea.”

  “I have them once in a while.”

  A nurse and her aide came in and Derek stepped out to let them work, aiming for the family lounge to grab another cup of coffee.

  Last night he’d tossed and turned, more than a little tempted to knock on Grace Ann’s bedroom door. The selfishness of seeking comfort from her after the day she’d endured had been enough to keep him in the guest room. Their current agreement aside, she deserved better than him piling on. Of course, her brother snoring in the front room had been an additional deterrent.

  Had Hank convinced Grace Ann to leave town? Derek was definitely missing the whole picture, but she’d seemed dead set on staying put. Eager for a distraction, he pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through his email inbox for any news from his assistant.

  He glanced up when movement from the corner of his eye drew his attention. Grace Ann walked toward him, a shy smile on her lips. The sight punched right through him, heating his blood. He’d seen her in a dress uniform, her combat uniform, her scrubs and various outdoor gear. She wore the same jeans and soft gray hoodie she’d had on earlier and added high-top sneakers and a sheer scarf with soft pinks and greens that hid the bruising from yesterday’s incident and gave her skin a healthy glow.

  This was the Grace Ann he knew from their weekends. Almost. It made him want to lay claim to the woman and every brownie she’d ever bake again. Where was all this possessiveness coming from?

  “How’s Kevin?” she asked, stopping just out of reach in front of him.

  Only with her this close, could he see the signs of tension she hid behind the scarf and bright smile. “Pretty well. The surgeon was upbeat and pleased when he stopped in.”

  “That’s great news.” She shuffled her feet, her nerves evident as she toyed with the ends of her scarf.

  Clearly she wanted more details. “He expects Kevin to make a full recovery and eventually return to active duty.”

  She did a little hop on her toes, stopping just shy of hugging him. “That’s fantastic!”

  He wanted that hug, the freedom to hold her close. Except neither of them wanted family or friends to get any starry, happily-ever-after ideas. Meeting Hank last night and hearing a bit of her conversation with her dad this morning only emphasized the wisdom of that decision. Nothing was permanent in this life and steering clear of outside expectations and complications was the only way he knew to get through.

  “Why the surprise? This is the same prognosis you gave me yesterday,” he reminded her.

  “Well, sure. But now it’s official.”

  “Right.” Her grin was contagious. “I know you want to see him.”

  They headed back down the hall and when Grace Ann walked into the room, Kevin positively lit up. Derek wondered—too late—if Kevin had feelings for Grace Ann, but it was soon clear he was interested in food rather than the woman. “Did you bring me something?” Kevin asked.

  “Hospital food is the worst,” she joked. She reached into her tote and pulled out a small square wrapped in plastic. “Pace yourself and I’ll bring another one tomorrow.”

  Kevin was ecstatic over the treat. She stayed about fifteen minutes, clearly not wanting to wear Kevin out, but Derek wasn’t ready to let her go so soon. Making some lame excuse, he followed her out of the room. “Do you have time for coffee?”

  “I really need to get home and deal with that window repair,” she replied, not quite meeting his gaze.

  “I’ll take care of the window for you,” he offered. Anything to stay close to her. “In trade for advice about the timeline and next steps with Kevin,” he added.

  She shook her head. “I’m only here as a friend. You should ask his care team.”

  He didn’t need the reminder that they weren’t officially more than friends. “You’re a friend with expertise.” How could he become the person she trusted enough to talk to? Even independent people needed someone to rely on occasionally. “Unless you’d rather I left you alone?”

  “Not that,” she said in a rush. “You’ve got a trade.” She stuck out her hand to shake on it.

  He chuckled. “You make hospitals bearable.”

  “I’m glad. Feel free to submit a comment card.” At the lounge, she selected a coffee flavor and set the machine. “Maybe they’ll reinstate me sooner.”

  He wondered how to bring up Kevin’s remark about the training mission as his own coffee brewed. Sitting next to her on a bench that overlooked a grassy courtyard with cheery flowers tucked into the beds, he gave up on being tactful. “Kevin is worried that you feel responsible for his injury. Why is that?”

  Her eyes went wide before her gaze dropped to her coffee.

  “Talk to me, Grace Ann,” he prodded.

  Her cup trembled as she raised it to her lips. “You must have misunderstood him,” she said. “Everyone in the unit is upset because he’s hurt.”

  “Well, he is on serious painkillers,” Derek allowed. He took in the view, counting to ten twice over until he could trust his voice. “You’ve always shot straight with me. Why stop now?”

  To his shock, a tear hovered on her lashes before she dabbed it away.

  “Logic,” she murmured. “Logic says it isn’t my fault Kevin got hurt.” She tapped her fingertips over her heart. “My heart isn’t so easily convinced.”

  She twisted a bit to meet his gaze. “I was on the roster for that training mission. I was ready, willing and able to go. At the last minute, they pulled me and sent Kevin instead.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “No, it’s technically not my fault there was a system malfunction. Being the senior officer, taking care of those in my command...that’s in my DNA. It’s impossible not to feel like I should be in that hospital bed.”

  He understood the ingrained sense of responsibility and high personal expectations, even when those expectations were unreasonable. Still, he sensed there was more to the story. “Why were you pulled?”

  “I can’t get into that.” She laid a hand on his knee when he started to protest. “Not here.”

  “Can you get into it at your place?”

  “Probably.” She sipped her coffee. With a small grimace, she set the cup aside and pressed a hand to her stomach. “One cup too many, I guess.”

  His mind replayed the blows she’d taken yesterday. “You should let a doctor take a closer look,” he said. “Make sure you’re only dealing with a few bruises.”

  “I know the signs of serious trouble,” she said. “But I do appreciate the concern.”

  Of course she knew best. It was her body and her profession. Hadn’t he called her an expert a few minutes ago? Grace Ann wasn’t his dad. His father’s visible injuries had been bad enough, but it was the damage he couldn’t see that had left him and Kevin orphans.

  Derek asked her to dinner at the same time she suggested he get back to his brother. They stared at each other for a long moment. He reached out and adjusted her scarf, better concealing one of the bruises. “I’ll walk you to your car first,” he said. “I could use the exercise.”

  “I’m pretty good at seeing through lame excuses,” she said as they reached the elevator, a glimmer of amusement in her deep brown eyes. “I don’t need an escort.”

  “So why haven’t you kicked me to the curb?” he asked.

  “Well, you’re cute and I’m shallow.” She winked, making him laugh.

  When they neared her parking space, she grumbled something under her breath.

  “Problem?”

  She lifted her chin toward a man in uniform standing near her car. “That’s one of Hank’s guard dogs. It seems a waste of manpower to post someone here at my car all day long.”

  Derek stopped, eyeing the military policeman who was dressed differently than the security officer they’d spoken with yesterday. “He’s not in the normal base unif
orm.”

  “No. Hank surely called in a favor from a nearby unit.”

  “He means well,” Derek said.

  She folded her arms over chest. “He elevates overprotectiveness to an art form.”

  “You know you can trust me, right?” Derek asked before they moved closer.

  “That’s a silly question, all things considered.”

  True. “Let me stay at your place again tonight. I’ll bring dinner.”

  She hesitated. They might not have previously shared much beyond a mutual love of the outdoors sex, but he recognized contemplation on her face. “What are you doing, Derek?”

  “Talking.”

  She pursed her lips. “Did Hank put you up to this?”

  “No.”

  “All right.” She blessed him with another sincere smile. “Bring ice cream, too,” she said. “It’ll perk up the reheated brownies.”

  How had he consistently allowed months to pass without seeing that gorgeous face? “I can do that. Thanks.” Relieved to have more time with her tonight, he bent to give her a kiss, turning it into a hug at the last second. He didn’t need the guard to report intimate contact and have her big brother crash their dinner.

  They’d just reached her car when a sharp bang, followed by a deeper boom, reverberated through the parking garage. A car backfired, he realized. But it was the next sound—a scream chasing the resonating echo—that chilled him to the bone. On the ground next to the rear tire of her SUV, Grace Ann had curled in on herself, hands clapped over her ears.

  He dropped to a knee beside her, crooning soothing nonsense, not quite touching her. The MP guarding her car lurched forward.

  “Should I call it in?”

  “No,” Derek replied, waving the man back to his post against the wall. Grace Ann wouldn’t want more attention. He eased closer until his knee touched hers, then his hands drew hers away from her ears.

  She didn’t flinch, but she didn’t relax, either.

  “I’m right here, Grace,” he said. “You’re safe, sweetheart.” Her limbs shook with a persistent tremor that broke his heart. “You’re safe.” Her eyes were too wide in her pale face, her eyes glassy and distant. “Grace Ann,” he said with more authority. “You’re safe now.”

  She blinked rapidly and then squinted at him. “Derek?”

  “Right here.” He squeezed her hands.

  Her eyes closed tight, shutting him out. “What did I do?”

  “Looked to me like you heard a threatening sound and took cover.”

  “Don’t patronize me.” She shifted until she was sitting down, her back to the MP guarding her car. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she rocked a little. “I made a scene.”

  “You did not.” Her skeptical glare eased his mind. “Not a big scene. Only the guard dog and I witnessed your moment of weakness.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Just stop.”

  “Whatever you say.” If irritating her helped Grace Ann feel more like herself, he would do it all day. Standing, he held out a hand to help her up, inordinately pleased when she accepted the gesture and then laced her fingers through his.

  They’d rarely held hands on their weekend excursions, unless it was for an assist over an obstacle. Neither of them had come to those weekends for romance. He didn’t realize what he’d been missing.

  “Give me your keys and I’ll drive you home,” he said.

  She shook her head. “You need to be here.”

  “I’ll use a ride-share app to get back.” Her steps were halting and her voice tight as he walked her around to the passenger side.

  “I’m okay. Just give me a minute to catch my breath.”

  “Let me, please. Call it chivalry.”

  “No, Derek. I can manage. It’s not far.”

  He leaned in so only she could hear him. “Don’t make me root through your tote.” They could both see her car key on the carabineer clipped to the top zipper.

  Stubbornly, she reached for the key, but she needed his steadier hands to get it free.

  “Okay, okay,” she relented. “You drive.”

  He opened the passenger door, closing it quietly once she was seated before hustling to the driver’s side. There would be time later to sort out the array of feelings pinging through his system. What he was doing for her, he’d do for any friend in a similar crisis.

  Buckling his seat belt, he waited patiently for her shaking hands to complete the task for herself. With a nod to the guard, he backed out of the parking space.

  Who was he kidding? She unlocked something new inside him. Messy emotions and desires he was running toward rather than away from. Since assuming a parent role for Kevin, he’d sidestepped the typical expectations of relationships.

  He suddenly didn’t give a damn about preserving his space or independence, not when Grace Ann was hurting. For the first time, he absolutely needed to protect and shelter someone other than his brother.

  “I’m sorry,” she said as he turned onto her street. “You shouldn’t have to coddle me when your brother needs you.”

  “You keep telling me Kevin is on the mend.”

  “He is,” she insisted. “Still. I know you’re close.”

  “We are.” And knowing she’d heard it from Kevin instead of him got under his skin. Being her occasional lover wasn’t enough anymore. It was time to restructure their arrangement.

  Chapter 5

  Hearing the squeak of the garage door rising on the track, he slipped out the back door of the house, leaving a note for Major Riley wedged under the planter on her back step. It didn’t matter how long it sat there before she found it. Sooner or later, he’d enjoy the desired effect: abject fear. Thanks to his local contacts, he’d had a key made weeks ago and he could come and go from her home whenever he pleased.

  Finished with reconnaissance, he’d planted bugs where he thought it most likely to overhear something helpful. Or titillating. If he gathered enough content, the most innocuous conversation could be edited into something damaging.

  He cut through the neighboring backyard and headed to the car he’d left one street over. It amused him that this particular hunt coincided with his annual follow-up with his medical team here at Walter Reed.

  From the start he’d known General Riley’s second child would present more of a challenge. One he relished since it also gave him a hands-on role. The Rileys weren’t fools. The entire family had gone on high alert when he’d put the oldest son in his crosshairs. The kid had surprised him, surviving the traps, so he adjusted to the next, softer target rather than burn through his resources.

  Now it was the daughter who would squirm as he systematically dissected her life.

  With a daughter himself, targeting the oldest girl made the ultimate goal of revenge sweeter, and he had to tread carefully. Being too eager or bold could result in a shorter game and he wanted to drag this out. The more she suffered, the more the general would suffer and the closer he would be to paying his debt.

  He’d combed through the military personnel records, but unlike her brother, she didn’t have any obvious secrets to exploit. Again, the creativity required, the twist and doubt he could create, put a smile on his face. He had it on good authority that General Riley had wished for his daughter to find a career outside of the army. Despite her father’s desires, his network had provided solid intel that she was well-respected among her peers, and her detractors were few. Even her patients sang her praises, both abroad and here at home.

  He would make the most of every detail. All of the praise and respect and love would make for a touching funeral service. Assuming he could successfully manage the pace of events before news of her alleged misconduct overseas leaked to the press.

  The investigators were following the crumbs of evidence he’d provided and would continue to do so. Their overconfidence bordered on arr
ogance. By the time they realized they’d been played, it would be too late for the depressed, renounced and overwhelmed Grace Ann Riley.

  Before he was done, she would shatter. More brittle than glass, with no hope of piecing her life or career back together again. He’d toyed with Matt Riley, brought the man to the brink of death and let him live. Let them believe he’d escaped thanks to good friends and cleverness. Let them hope their enemy was cowering, afraid of capture.

  The daughter’s breakdown and “suicide” would knock them into their new reality with unbearable pain.

  He could see it now, General Riley heartbroken, his face tearstained, those once-proud shoulders rounded with grief and loss and guilt. Only then would the general comprehend the pain he had meted out with his calculated decisions and zero concern for the fallout of the people involved.

  Riley had once been his hero, a worthy spokesman for the soldiers he sent to carry out orders that would protect and preserve innocent lives. Those days were gone.

  Pulling up the app on his phone, he listened to her moving about the house, heard the music swell. The bugs were working perfectly. He finished the coffee going cold in his to-go cup and drove out of her neighborhood, a smile on his face.

  * * *

  Embarrassed beyond words about overreacting in the parking garage, Grace Ann shook the tension from her hands as she paced her front room. At least it had been Derek—cool, competent, steady Derek—to pull her back from that bleak emptiness. He’d known just what to say without coddling or lecturing. If Hank or anyone else from her family had seen that ridiculous display of weakness, they would’ve nagged her to take leave or talk to someone about letting go or managing her stress. Her early efforts to talk it out with a therapist had only made the nightmares more vivid, so she threw herself into her work.

  Once Derek headed back to the hospital after dropping her at her place, she’d called in the order for a replacement window and then cranked up the music to chase away the loneliness prowling the quiet shadows in the house. She’d get through. Being alone had never been a problem until the village school bombing. She couldn’t keep relying on patients or family or Derek to keep her balanced.