Back in the Soldier's Arms (37 page)

Desperate for a cocktail, Jo crunched on a piece of ice.

Delwyn’s gold bangles rattled as she plonked her empty highball on the table. “So anyway, Merry, all I’m saying is, why buy the pig, all for a li’l saus—” She broke off, her brown eyes lighting up as “It’s Raining Men” started booming over the sound system. “Oh, I love this song. I hope the male stripper uses it.”

Jo choked on her ice. “You ordered a stripper? For tonight?”

“Why should I miss out jus’ because I’m not having a hen night anymore?”

“Does Anton know?” She looked for the bar manager, spotted him polishing glasses.

“Phfft,” said Delwyn.

From the dance floor, Dan’s mother hollered drunkenly, “Girls, get out here!”

Meredith shrank back in her seat. “Not again.”

“Coming!” called Jo and shoved Delwyn out of the booth. “You got her this way, you go dance with her.” Obligingly, Delwyn boogied on over, snagging a couple guys en route.

Jo signaled Anton and broke the good news about the stripper. Shaking his head, he reached for his cell. On the dance floor Pat started a conga line, her platinum hair swinging. Her daughter watched in awe.

“I’ve never seen Mom like this,” Meredith confided. “I’m starting to think she might actually care about Dad … I mean as a person, not just out of habit.”

Jo knew what she meant. For Pat to loosen up meant a seismic shift was taking place. “I really hope they work it out.” It seemed unlikely. Herman had only returned with Merry and her two kids a couple of days ago and was avoiding his estranged wife.

Noticing Meredith twisting her wedding ring, Jo asked gently, “Any chance of reconciliation for you and Charlie?”

Meredith shook her head and sucked so hard on her straw that the ice rattled in the bottom of her glass. “I need another one of these.” No one knew the details of her separation, not even her twin in New York.

“Here.” Jo slid her untouched cocktail across the table. “Have mine.”

Emboldened by alcohol, Merry finally asked the question Jo knew she’d been dying to. “Are you really going to stand my brother up at the altar next week?”

“It won’t come to that,” she said firmly. “Ross will help me talk sense into him.” Jo glanced at her watch. “Dan is picking him up from the bus station now. They should be here any minute.”

Ross was Jo’s last hope. If he wouldn’t help convince Dan to cancel the wedding, she’d leave town the day before the ceremony.

Meredith glanced nervously at the door. “They’re coming here?”

“We’re going to need reinforcements with Pat.”

Merry scrambled for her bag. “I’m calling a cab.”

“Relax,” said Jo. toÑ€† “I know he’s Charlie’s brother but we’re talking the Iceman, remember? Ross will be cool. And only an idiot would hold you responsible for the breakup.”

Meredith began twisting her wedding ring. “The thing is,” she began, then stopped as her mother bopped toward them.

“Get ready for some action, girls. The stripper’s finally arrived.”

Looking to where Pat was pointing, Jo saw Delwyn approaching a muscle-bound hunk standing at the door. “This is going to be interesting.”

The new arrival stepped into the light and Pat stifled a tipsy giggle. “Oh, how funny!”

Meredith gulped. “Ross,” she said faintly.

Delwyn cupped a hand to her mouth and yelled a question above the music. Ross inclined his head and listened politely. One corner of his mouth twitched, but otherwise nothing about the Iceman’s demeanor suggested he was being asked if he got naked for a living.

He might have the body for it but to Jo everything about Ross Coltrane screamed soldier, from his bearing and close-cropped dark hair to the uncompromising line of his jaw. He lifted his gaze and met hers. Even his eyes were battleship gray.

Of all the men in Dan’s SAS family, Ross was the one Jo liked least.

“I’ve never understood the appeal of the strong silent type,” she confessed when Dan first asked what she thought of his troop mate. He’d killed himself laughing.

“That’s because you’re so alike. Both smart, pig-headed, loyal and laws unto yourselves.” Jo hadn’t appreciated that.

But now, seeing the gaunt cheekbones and heavy limp as Ross started toward her, she swallowed a lump in her throat. He’d hate pity as much as she did, so she forced herself to keep her welcoming hug casual. “Just in time to buy the next round, Coltrane.”

“Is that before or after I take my clothes off?”

“I thought you guys were trained to multi-task?”

The music stopped as the DJ took a break. Ross’s grin faded as he caught sight of Meredith. Ignoring her, he turned to greet Pat, who was tugging on his arm with tipsy dismay. “Oh, Ross, my poor boy, sit down. You look terr—”

“Mom,” Dan cut in harshly as he joined them, and Pat recollected herself. Swaying slightly, she patted her hair, as though aware of her dishevelment.

“Ignore me, Ross,” she said with dignity. “I’m a little drunk.” She saw her son’s disapproval and giggled. “Oh, lighten up,” she said. “We’ve having such fun. We’ve been dancing and drinking … what was it again, sweetie?”

Delwyn moved closer to Ross. “A Sloe Comfortable Screw,” she told him. “Against the Wall, with a Kiss. That’s with Galliano and Amaretto.”

Dan half groaned, half laughed. “No wonder you’re all tanked.” He sat beside Jo and dropped a kiss on her mouth. His lips were cold from being outside. In the overheated fug of the bar, he smelled of fresh air and cypress. He was breaking her heart. “It’s encouraging to see you’re still sober.”

“I’m trying to take a more matup,Ñ€†ure approach to my troubles these days.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Three drunken and unhappy women frowned at her.

“C’mon, Pat.” Delwyn tucked her arm through her new best friend’s. “Les’ go ask the DJ if he’ll play ‘Girls Jus’ Wanna Have Fun’ again.”

Ross sat down next to his sister-in-law. “Don’t you want to join them?” He tweaked the parasol behind her ear.

Blushing, Meredith yanked it out. “Delwyn put it there.”

Jo frowned at Ross. “Merry’s been a really good sport about this.” “I’ll bet.”

Back in the Soldier’s Arms/Here Comes the Groom

CR!93BHZ3MAHS4NVAVVWQG1QCZMZ0ZB

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DAN LOOKED BETWEEN his sister and his friend. “Am I missing something?” Normally they got on like a house on fire.

Merry folded her arms. “Have I told you, Danny, how much I appreciate you staying out of my marriage?”

Ross narrowed his eyes. “If that’s a dig at me for taking my brother—”

“Taking him in is fine.” Merry turned on him. “It’s the advice I object to!”

He snorted. “The facts pretty much speak for themselves, so don’t play pious—”

Reaching across the table, Dan laid a hand on his friend’s forearm. “Why don’t you go get the beers?”

Without another word, Ross stood and limped toward the bar.

Dan looked at his sister. “What the hell was that about?”

She deflated like a balloon. “Call me a cab.” “When I’ve got answers.”

Knowing it wouldn’t work on him, Merry looked plaintively at Jo.

His lover folded. “I’m on it.” She nudged him to let her out of the booth. “Be gentle,” she murmured as she passed. Tonight she wore a navy jersey dress that flowed over every curve and as Dan watched her walk away he noticed he wasn’t the only male appreciating that. Sorry, guys, she’s taken.

Jo didn’t know yet that Ross was Dan’s best man. Like she didn’t know that the first of their wedding guests were arriving tonight. Of course, he’d expected to have his reluctant bride on side by now. He should have guessed she’d be stubborn about this.

Dan returned his attention to his little sister, wishing her twin were here to sort her out. But Viv was in New York designing costumes for a Broadway show that opened next week.

“Talk to me,” he said more quietly, follo To T‡wing Jo’s advice. “What don’t I know about this breakup?”

Tears brimmed in her big brown eyes. “Please, Danny, I can’t cope with a postmortem right now.”

“Okay,” he said reluctantly and handed her a cocktail napkin. “But whatever it is, I’m on your side.”

Merry dabbed her eyes. “Even though one of your best mates is on the other?”

That could be a problem, but it wasn’t hers. “Ross and I will work it out.”

Jo waved from the door.

“Taxi’s here, go get your coat. I’ll make sure Mom gets home safely.”

Tortured singing drew their attention to the dance floor. Arms around each other, Pat and Delwyn were singing at the top of their voices. “… take from me … Herman an’ Wayne can’t trample on our digg-ni-ty.”

“Oh, God.”

“I’ll send Dad back,” Merry promised. Herman was babysitting his grandkids.

“Maybe seeing her like this will shock some sense into him.”

“I hope so.” Merry gave him a hug before she left. “You’ve got enough on your plate talking Jo into the wedding. I won’t let Ross rile me again.”

“I’ll talk to him, don’t worry.”

He waited until his sister joined Jo then strode to the bar where Ross had lined up two beers on the brushed steel surface. What concerned Dan most was that a year ago the Iceman would have kept his feelings to himself.

Ross had been so badly injured that medics hadn’t thought he’d live, let alone walk. But like Jo, the guy didn’t recognize limitations. His relentless reconditioning regime was driven by the burning ambition to get back on active service.

He’d always been the consummate soldier, totally professional, dispassionate, even clinical in his duties. Ross would never let something as paltry as emotion ride him. Now he seemed to slow-burn with a cold rage that worried his superiors. As yet, they didn’t need to make a decision about active duty, but when they did … and if they consulted Dan …

He rubbed his temple, knowing he’d have to argue against his friend’s redeployment. One ambush, two deaths and the course of so many people’s lives changed.

Dan pulled up a stool. “Mind explaining why you’re picking on my sister?”

“Charlie’s really hurting over this.”

“And Merry’s not?” His friend’s mouth tightened. “Oh, c’mon, Ross, this is Saint Meredith we’re talking about. She’s been running after your little brother since the day they met.”

“Hey, he’s never asked her to.”

“Or stopped her, either.” Dan picked up his glass.

“At least he didn’t kiss someone else.”

Back in the SoldierȌlaဆ19;s Arms/Here Comes the Groom

CR!93BHZ3MAHS4NVAVVWQG1QCZMZ0ZB

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DAN’S BEER WENT DOWN the wrong way and Ross had to thump him on the back. “She hasn’t told you, has she?”

“Not yet,” he wheezed, “and I don’t want to hear it from you.”

“Don’t trust my version?”

“Don’t trust Charlie. I assume that’s where you got it.”

“You calling my baby brother a liar?”

“You calling my baby sister unfaithful?”

There was a tight silence. Both men gulped some beer. “Only one way to deal with this, Shep.” Ross put down his chilled glass and wiped his palms against his jeans. Dan followed suit.

Ross thrust out a hand. “Never speak of this again.” They shook on it. Picked up their beers again. “And to think you called me a cynic,” Ross added, “when I turned your other sister down for a date.”

Sipping his beer, Dan recalled his friend’s reasoning at the time. “Yeah, there are sparks with Viv,” Ross had admitted, “but I don’t want our friendship caught in the crossfire when it turns to shit. It’s bad enough that my brother is marrying into your family.”

“You were right,” Dan said. “I was wrong. I’ll never question your judgment again.”

“What if I told you to back off this wedding?” Dan scowled. “Thought not,” said Ross mildly. “Explain to me again why you’re trying to marry an unwilling woman?”

“She’s not unwilling …” To hell with it, Dan badly needed an ally. “Jo had cancer … thinks she’s doing me a favor by trying to protect me.”

Ross’s expressionless gaze went to Jo, who was talking to Anton at the other end of the bar. He took another sip of his beer. “What time am I due at the suit rental place tomorrow?”

Dan relaxed. “Ten.”

“I can’t believe Nate’s not here.”

The mirror behind the row of liquor bottles showed two guys sharing a drink. It should have been five. Dan raised his glass. “To absent friends.”

“To absent friends.”

The ale found its way down his constricted throat. It didn’t make sense that Nate had cut himself off from his surviving SAS brothers, but then neither did Dan’s sense of dread.

He’d believed if he devoted himself to living a meaningful life that he’d conquer his feelings of hopelessness over Steve and Lee’s deaths. Single-minded dedication had always worked in the SAS. You committed to a mission, and regardless of setbacks, you never wavered from your objective.

But his marriage mission had only intenhe d‡sified his dread, and Dan couldn’t say why.

“I’m starting to think it’s more than grief with Nate,” he said to Ross.

The other man frowned. “I wish I could remember what happened but I was out cold most of it.”

“Nate did everything right. More than right. There’s no reason for him to feel it.”

“Feel what?”

“Guilt.”

Ross whistled silently. “You really think that’s what it is?”

Dan nodded.

“I guess you’d recognize the signs.”

He forced himself to return his friend’s piercing gaze. “I’m over it,” he lied.

“Good. Because you don’t want that bullshit tainting what you have with Jo. That would be a tragedy and we’ve had enough of that this past year.” Ross raised his glass again. “To everything there is a season,” he said softly and Dan recognized the scripture he’d quoted at Steve’s funeral. “And this is your time to sow, farmboy.” His gaze shifted over Dan’s shoulder. “And to dance.”

“What?”

Pat seized his arm. “Come boogie with your mother. That spoilsport bar manager canceled our stripper so we’ll have to make our own fun.”

Dan looked down at her flushed face and that awful hair that made her look like a cougar. His mother was not someone he wanted on the prowl. “Why don’t you sit down and rest?”