Agent I1: Tristan [01] The D.I.R.E. Agency (12 page)

He didn’t want to insult the old man but… yeah. Ben pulled a legal document from an envelope and slid it across the table.

Unfolding it, Tristan read the title: Last Will and Testament. He looked up at Ben. “And?”

“Read it.”

Scanning the print, Rachel’s name jumped out at Tristan. He did a double take. When Ben died, he would leave everything he owned to Rachel.

His gaze shot to Ben. “You’re kidding…”

“No. I changed it about four months ago – after Jim died.”

Between him and Ben, Rachel could one day buy a small country and live comfortably for the rest of her life. The load on Tristan’s shoulders lightened. It comforted him to know she’d be taken care of when he left.

“Look at the signature of the county registrar’s office.”

Tristan sifted through the document and found the last page. Underneath Ben’s signature was stamped the official county filing seal with a clerk’s signature.

Kate Monroe.

Tristan’s mind whirled. Cody started showing an interest in Rachel about three months ago. Had Kate told Jock about the will? Why would she wish Cody on her daughter?

“You think she told Jock about the will?”

Ben gave an exaggerated nod. “Makes sense, don’t you think? Rachel marries Cody, Jock knows the land is his one day soon. He pays off the hospital debt now, but in the long run, he comes out way ahead.”

“Would Kate do something like that?”

Shrugging, Ben said, “She and Jim used to get into some hellacious arguments about money.”

Rising from the chair, Tristan cursed low as he ran his fingers through his hair. Was Kate trying to take the easy way out of the medical debt by marrying off her daughter to Cody? And hell, what would Aidan say about all of this?

He needed that information from Mitchell on Jim Monroe.

Regardless, there was no way in hell he would leave Rachel now. He could take her somewhere but Naylor would track them wherever they went. She didn’t deserve to live like that. He wouldn’t trust her safety to anyone else now – even Aidan.

He had to end this somehow. Maybe he could talk her into marrying someone else. That would take care of the Cody problem.

Tristan couldn’t stomach the thought of her with any man. Frederickson wanted her, but if he cheated on her once, he’d do it again. Rachel didn’t deserve that, either.

“Rachel needs to marry someone. That would put a stop to all of this.”

A wide grin split Ben’s face. “That’s what I was thinking.”

“Frederickson is
not
an option.” Tristan sliced a hand through the air.

“I agree.”

“You have a suggestion, Ben? Someone Aidan
wouldn’t
murder?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I have one.”

Tristan waited for him to answer. “Well?”

“You.”

#####

Robert Naylor sat down beside his beautiful daughter in the video conference room. One thing he could say about his children, they had their looks going for them. The ladies loved Dar, and Cassandra brought out the lust in every man she met. Robert had made it clear to all of his agents that she was off limits.

Of course, there always had to be one that learned the hard way.

“I had breakfast at Brewster’s Diner today.” Dar’s face loomed large on the video screen. “Best buttermilk pancakes I’ve ever had.”

Naylor rolled his eyes. “Great, Dar. I’ll call The Food Station right away. They’ll be thrilled with that review.”

Cassandra smiled as she swung back and forth in her chair.

“And you wonder why I’m such a smart ass? Anyway…” He told them about his talk with Cody Brewster. “Apparently, his bride-to-be jilted him at the altar last Saturday. Tristan Jacobs kidnapped her from the church.”

He held up a picture for them to see. Robert’s heart took off at a fast run. The young woman was a beauty, with lightly tanned skin, thick brunette hair and big, aqua eyes.

Oh… hell…

Dar lowered the picture to reveal a superior grin. “She was with the guy in the park, which confirms my guess that he was Jacobs. Want to know her name? Rachel-“

“Monroe...” Robert whispered.

Kate’s daughter
.

He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

“Father, are you okay?” Cassandra touched his back.

He hadn’t been okay since Kate left him for Jim Monroe all those years ago. The only thing that had gotten him through most days in El Salvador was the knowledge that Kate waited back home for him.

It wasn’t until he returned with his SEAL team that he learned she’d married Monroe.

The damned of it was, he still loved her after all these years, despite what she’d done to him. The twins’ mother, Angela, had known it even though he’d denied it.

Shaking his head, Robert sat up in his chair. He, Jim and Mitchell used to be the best of friends. They’d gotten each other through BUD/S and some hellish ops. Way back when, no one could have told him that Jim and Mitchell would betray him. Kate, too.

Never Kate.

Now, the betrayal had made its way back around, starting with Jim’s death.

It was about damned time.

His richest deal to date was on the horizon, besides the opportunity to capture Tristan Jacobs. And with Kate in Creekmore… 

Yes, things were finally looking up.

“Don’t do anything, Dar. I’m coming down there.”

“
What
?”

“I want to handle this one myself.”

#####

Rachel sat between Glenna and Tristan in the stands behind the dugout. From the stares and whispers billowing throughout the crowd, you’d think the fans had come to watch her and Tris, not the game.

She couldn’t hide it. None of it. Everyone knew about Tris and the wedding, and Cody showing up at the church community center.

What could she do about it?

So, she held her head high and let the gossip roll off her sweat-soaked back.

Of course, it would ‘ve been a lot harder to do that if Tristan wasn’t around. He’d become her anchor in all of this mess and she wondered what she would do when he left in a couple of days.

You, Rachel, you’re worth dying for.

Those words had played over and over in her head today. If she hadn’t been so terrified, she would’ve taken Tristan to her bed last night and shown him how much his words meant to her.

She had pegged him as a bad person, someone cold to people and their vulnerabilities.

Yet, he was the vulnerable one. A man that wanted to care yet couldn’t afford to do so. A man that wanted someone
to
care yet couldn’t allow it to happen.

Too late. She already did.

“Jacobs.”

Mark yelled up at him from the dugout. “Frederickson has to work tonight. Want to fill in for him?”

Rachel caught her breath. She knew Tris wanted to play. She had seen the way he hit those baseballs back home. He loved the game.

Tristan shook his head. “No way, man. You know I haven’t played since high school.”

Walking out of the dugout, Mark made his way up to them and lowered his voice. “If you don’t play, we forfeit the game because we don’t have enough players. I don’t want to lose our place in the standings because Zach has to work.”

She could see the wheels turning in Tris’s head. He wanted to play. He just didn’t want to leave her side.

“Go.” She gave him a slight shove with her shoulder. “I’ll be fine. We’re in a crowd. Nothing will happen.”

He stared at her, his blue eyes brighter than she had seen them since Trunk Bay.

“You know you want to…” She grinned.

He gave Mark a pointed stare. “If Brewster goes near her while I’m out there, I’m leaving the game to come get her.”

Rachel’s heart swelled. Tristan wouldn’t take any chances with her. How many women found a man like that? Would she ever again in her lifetime?

He’s just doing it because he made a promise to Aidan. Don’t make more out of it than it is.

Sometimes she wished reality would stay at home.

“Cody’s on the other team,” Glenna said. “He’s supposed to stay in the dugout but you never know with him.”

“That’s the deal, Mark,” Tristan said, “and if they ask, the armband doesn’t come off. Deal?”

Mark sighed as he adjusted the cap on his head. “Deal. I’ll tell the ump you have to leave on the armband for work. Shouldn’t be a problem. If you need to leave the game, just call a time out.” He started down the bleachers. “Come on. I’ve got an extra cap and t-shirt in the dugout.”

Tristan turned to her, his eyes somber. “Stay alert. If anyone approaches, make a lot of noise. I’ll be watching you.”

The urge to kiss him kept her on the edge of her seat. She nodded. “Wow ‘em, Jacobs.”

He grinned before jumping up and surveying the area. They hadn’t seen any sign of the men from yesterday. Rachel prayed they’d left town.

Tristan stepped down into the dugout. The men he’d met at church shook his hand. Mark handed him a Creekmore Cougars t-shirt and cap. Grabbing the hem of his t-shirt, Tristan whipped it over his head. A feminine buzz erupted in the stands. Rachel wanted to throw a sheet over him.

“Do I have drool on my chin?” Glenna asked.

Rachel couldn’t answer, her mind bombarded with memories of her night with Tristan. Seeing his naked torso brought to mind the taste of salt on his skin, the feel of sleek, hard muscle beneath her fingertips. The tattoo reminded her of soaping his back under the shower in the cool night air.

She wanted Tristan Jacobs. Badly.

“Baby, meet us in the parking lot after the game.”

“We’ll show you a home run.”

Tristan glanced up in the stands and grinned. Rachel cringed.

She knew those voices. The twins, Penny and Piper Burke, had slept with almost every available man in town. Now, they were after Tris.

An old and vicious hurt chomped a hole inside Rachel’s chest. She knew she could never compete with women that looked like them.

“Put that shit up,” Mark told Tristan. “My wife will never sleep with me again.”

The rest of the team followed with teasing remarks and flexed biceps.

Glenna leaned into Rachel. “Please tell me you’re sleeping with that. If you aren’t, I’m seriously going to have your head examined.”

Tristan pulled the navy blue t-shirt over his head, threw on the matching cap and grabbed a glove off the bench. He looked back at her with a frown. She gave him a thumbs up before he jogged onto the field.

“There’s something I haven’t told you.”

Glenna turned to her. “What?”

“That first night with Tristan…”

“Yesss?”

“I had sex with him.”

“I
knew
it-“

“Several times,” Rachel continued. “In different…
locations
.”

Glenna’s mouth dropped open.

Rachel shook her head. “I was upset about Dad and the wedding, I drank too much, and…”

“And?...”

“It was
the
most amazing night of my life.”

Glenna threw back her head and whooped at the top of her lungs. She turned to Rachel and hugged her tight. “You’re one
lucky
woman.”

Piper plopped down beside Rachel on the bench, Penny on Piper’s left. The twins always acted like they were the best of friends, as if their night with Zach hadn’t totally changed the course of Rachel’s life.

It had all been in good fun, right?

“Hey Rachel, who is that guy?”

An acute, raging jealousy consumed Rachel. The uncontrollable urge to claw out their eyes made her clench her fists in her lap.

“He’s a friend of Aidan’s from the Navy.”

“Hmmm, really…” Penny said. She stared at Tristan standing between second and third base. “He’s totally hot.”

Glenna leaned in front of Rachel. “Yes, and totally taken by Rachel.”

What
?

With raised brows, the twins eyed Rachel up and down. “We’ll see.” They jumped up and left.

“
Glenna
.” Rachel wanted to shake her friend. “You know that’s as good as putting a target on his… back.”

She shrugged. “If you want him, Rachel, you’d better turn it on now. You don’t want to live through another Zach incident, do you?”

A half hour later, Rachel sipped on a bottle of water at the top of the third inning. The score was tied at zero and Tris had not been up to bat. He played shortstop, Zach’s usual position, but hadn’t seen any action yet. She hoped he enjoyed himself. It had to be strange for someone that usually spent his evenings spying on bad guys.

“Rachel.”

She glanced up to find Cody standing beside her, hands in the air.

No, Cody
.
Not here in front of all these people.

“I don’t want to cause trouble or anything. I just want to talk.” He dropped his hands. “This is the first chance I’ve had without that SEAL around.”

“Cody, he’s not a SEAL-”

“And, I’m
always
around.”

Gasping, Rachel whipped around. Tristan stood below her, hand extended. The game had stopped, the entire crowd watching the spectacle in the stands.

Cody’s face flamed. “I just want to talk to her.”

“No, you want to marry her because she’ll inherit Ben Adams land and oil one day. Isn’t that right, Brewster?”

Cody’s eyes went wide.

Rachel sat stunned. “Tris, is that what he talked to you about yesterday?”

He nodded.

Cody launched into Tristan with a string of expletives that made Rachel’s face heat. Tristan ignored him as he clasped Rachel’s hand in his and led her down to the dugout, Glenna on her tail. They took a seat at the far corner of the bench.

Tristan squatted in front of her. “I’m sorry you had to hear it that way, Rachel, but Cody had to know we were onto him.”

She nodded, her head reeling. “I just can’t believe it.”

“Ben did it after your father died – to take care of you.”

The old curmudgeon. She loved him, too.

“Let’s play ball,” the umpire cried.

“Gotta go.” With a quick nod, he ran onto the field.

Glenna clutched Rachel’s hand. “Someone told Cody about Ben’s will, Rachel. No wonder he was willing to pay your father’s medical bills. That’s pocket change compared to what Ben Adam’s assets are worth.”