Dream Shadow (34 page)

“Beth is stronger than you give her credit for,” Grace responded.

“I’m beginning to notice that.”

“Thanks for getting me out of it too.” Grace stuck her hand out between their two seats. Jacobs clasped it with his own hand and gave it a hard squeeze of affection.

“Where do you want to go from here, Gracie?”

Grace rolled her eyes at the use of that name.

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on whether or not Brice wants a bunch of house guests or not.”

“The man built a landing pad in his backyard.” Jacobs delivered that with dry humor.

“So maybe he wants me to stick around for now.”

Maybe…

But how long was maybe?

Grace watched the orange and red flames dance. Brice had built a fire in the master bedroom hearth. A smile crossed her face. Brice was currently propped up on an elbow behind her, idly running a hand over her naked breasts. When he had returned from town tonight, Brice very politely tipped his hat to Beth before tossing Grace over his shoulder like a sack of laundry. One solid kick from a boot-clad foot had slammed the master bedroom door shut.

That had been some time ago. The wood had been pre-stacked in the hearth. It had begun to get cold in the room. Grace didn’t think Brice was cold, the heat that came from his body told her that. He had lit the fire anyway. Grace had stripped the comforter from the bed and here they were.

“What did you and Jacobs decide today?”

“Is it really so hard to talk to me?” he asked. “I half-expected you to be gone when I pulled into the drive this evening.”

Grace felt a stab of guilt. She was used to the uncertainty of her life. That didn’t mean that Brice was. Sitting, she turned to face him.

“I’m sorry. Conversation isn’t exactly one of my strong points.”

“I’ve noticed.”

The sarcasm in his statement made her smile. “I have to go deal with this whole thing soon.”

Brice pushed himself up to listen to her. “Are you going to fight for some rights?”

She looked away but he cupped her cheek and made her face him.

“Did you really think I hadn’t noticed?”

“It would be easier if you hadn’t.” Grace informed him. She watched as anger began to burn in his eyes. He started to speak, but she held her hand up to stop him.

“There are certain things that I intend to ask for. There is little point in asking for the impossible. I will always work with this unit. I know you want answers, Brice, but you should consider very carefully what you ask for. There is a very dark line running between your world and mine.”

“You’re willing to continue just as you have been?” he demanded softly, too softly really. He was masking his true feelings by lowering his voice.

“No…” she said slowly.

“Good. Then don’t let it happen,” Brice said. “Marry me.”

“Excuse me?”

Brice slowly smiled. “It’s a good thing I have a strong ego, honey, that’s not the sort of reply any man wants to get to a proposal.”

“Is that your idea of how to keep me from disappearing? I can’t get married.”

Still, a reckless desire to say yes blossomed up inside of her like a poppy in spring.

His eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

“Because…because…I don’t even have a last name.”

“I’ve noticed that.” Brice reached over and picked up her jacket. Where there should have been a name patch, it was blank. “But since you’re planning on facing off with the general about your future, I want to add something to the conversation.”

He reached behind him and pulled something from one of the leather pouches on his gun belt. It caught the fire light, twinkling like a star.

“I think a band is more your style, but I still wanted it to have a diamond in it.”

He slipped something cold onto her ring finger. She lifted her hand and stared at what he’d left behind. It was an intricately carved gold band, like a piece of lace with diamonds set into it. There was no end or beginning to the pattern.

Brice reached out and curled his arm around her waist to bring her body into contact with his.

“I want to bind you to me.” He kissed her to seal her response inside her mouth. “In every way possible, Grace. All you need to do is stop trying to reason it out. Love is emotion, not logic.”

“It’s not that simple,” she argued.

“Yes, it is. Say you’ll marry me, Grace. Be my wife. Have our baby.” He settled his mouth on top of hers and blocked out her refusal. She tried to turn her head, but he followed her. Demanding her surrender.

The temptation to accept him was strong, and her body was weak. Grace struggled to remain in control, but her passion and his words undermined her will. But she would meet him somewhere in the middle. Her lips moved with his and she surged forward to greet him.

This is Brice.

Grace had never been so complete as she was when they were together. Their bodies moved together intimately as the outside world was forgotten.

The next night…

The sun was just starting to set. Grace loved it here. The forest. The people. In three months, her life had somehow taken an unexpected turn and was now sitting poised in front of a doorway that led to…happiness? How could that be? It seemed so achievable. Grace knew there had to be something that she was overlooking.

Grace stood and looked at the face of the dying sun on the water. She was avoiding the issue that was foremost in her thoughts.

Brice’s marriage proposal. His ring sat on her finger, even if she’d hidden it beneath her glove. She could have taken it off but she hadn’t wanted to.

It was amazing how much a single question could upset her life. Was it a question that she should answer? Maybe she should just walk into General Slynn’s office and inform him that she was getting married. That would certainly set an interesting mood. It just might get her thrown into the lockup. At the very least, shipped out to the Middle East.

As her thoughts moved, so did her body. Grace climbed the nearby hills as she tried to sort herself out. She really wished she knew just why Brice had asked her to marry him. Was he attempting to become her knight protector? If so, she would decline. Marriage vows were sacred to her.

By accepting Brice into her body, she had already formed a very strong bond. That bond grew stronger every time they joined together. It hit her with sudden clarity that she was completely out of control. Grace forced herself to move faster. Even as she did so, she knew that she could not escape her emotions.

“Is there a reason why you’re wearing yourself out?”

Grace whipped her head about. She had known someone was there. She had just assumed it was one of the Rangers. They tended to stay out of her way while they trailed her. She was never left truly alone. Brice stood a few feet behind her. He was still in his tan uniform. Her eyes ran over the symbol of his office that was neatly pinned onto his chest.

Brice wondered why his badge was holding her attention. She had seen him in uniform before. At the moment, she reminded him of the first time he had tracked her down. She had one of her masks firmly in place and her body was drawn tight and unyielding. He crossed his arms over his chest while he considered her. She was pulling away from him.

“Come on. I think it’s time to get this show on the road. Jacobs told me Slynn is just waiting on you, so let’s do this.”

His meaning slowly became clear. Grace simply smiled.
Yes, it is time. Whatever happens, it sure won’t be worse than this waiting.
Brice extended his hand and she placed her own firmly into it.

“Let’s go.”

The lights of the base landing pad were blindingly bright tonight. Grace had forgotten just how much the base reminded her of a stone cell. Concrete covered the earth, and the few plants that were allowed were contained and limited. A delicate shudder ran over her body. A large warm hand ran over her shoulder. Grace looked up into Brice’s warm eyes.

“Cold?”

Grace shook her head and started to leave it at that. The frustration that was reflected in his eyes caught her attention.

“I like Benton better. There is too much concrete here.”

Brice ran his hand over her neck to lightly rub at the tension that was there.

“Thanks for the explanation.”

It was late, maybe ten-thirty. Jacobs had gone in search of securing quarters for them. For the short term, Brice had moved both women inside a flight hangar along with four of the men that had traveled with them. Grace was at ease with the armed escort. Beth, however, was notably nervous.

Grace studied the girl for a time. She was trying very hard, but the close proximity of the armed men was making her jumpy. Grace reached out and grasped the other woman’s hand. Beth had made Grace feel comfortable in her world, now it was time for Grace to return the favor. While Beth was holding up extremely well, it was in fact a lot to ask for her to ignore all the automatic weapons that were currently present.

Grace pulled Beth with her as she slowly began to circle the hangar. It was a large one and walking would help to pass the time.

Beth gave a sigh of relief.

“I think I’m beginning to understand your affection for hiking,” Beth told Grace.

“It helps.”

“Is it always like this?” Beth asked.

“Yes, it is always like this. Sometimes there are more. Sometimes less, whether or not you see them, but they are always around.”

“Why did you answer my question?” Beth asked in a quiet tone.

They had reached the far side of the hangar and Grace stopped to look at her friend. They would not be overheard here.

“Because it’s more than time that we stopped expecting you to play dumb.”

“Damn straight it is,” Beth answered her companion. “I’m sorry, did I say that out loud?”

Grace couldn’t help but laugh. Beth had a sense of humor that just infected her.

“Now, it might be a little more difficult to get that fact through to Jacobs. As you have pointed out to me, men are thick.”

Beth gave her a slow smile.

“I think I’ll leave it to your imagination,” Grace told Beth. “Be careful, Beth. Before you ask those questions, think very carefully. Jacobs will not leave this unit. That means you will have to get used to the lack of privacy. I think you need to understand that you will only get one opportunity to get out.” Grace locked eyes with Beth for a moment. “Consider the choice very carefully, Beth.”

“Like you are?” Beth countered.

“What do you mean?”

Beth fluttered her eyelashes. “I’m talking about that ring you’ve been doing your best to hide from Jason.”

Grace felt her cheeks heat. Beth offered her a look of victory.

“I just couldn’t take it off,” she confessed.

“Are you telling me that or yourself?” Beth asked. “Because I know what I think.”

“What is that?”

Beth shook her head. “You are going to have to make your own mind up. I’ve got enough trouble with my own heart, thank you.”

Grace toyed with the ring through the soft fabric of her glove. No, she hadn’t wanted to take it off. The truth was she still didn’t.

Jacobs and Brice watched the two women as they walked.

“Makes me rather nervous to see those two with their heads together,” Brice informed him.

“Amen.”

“Are they going to release Beth?”

It was a blunt question, but one Brice knew was on Jacobs’s mind. The major shot him a hard look.

Brice returned it. “It’s time for some answers. Beth is my responsibility too. She’s a resident of Benton County and she knows too much. I’m interested just where you stand on it.”

Jacobs surprised him by shrugging.

“I guess a lot depends on what you plan to do about Grace.”

“I plan to marry her, watch her belly grow large with my baby and spend the next few decades trying to understand how her mind works.”

Jacobs’s chin dropped. “And just what does Grace think about that?”

“She’s still getting used to the idea,” Brice informed him.

“I’ll bet she is.”

Brice hooked his hands into his belt. “She’s still wearing the ring I bought her.”

Jacobs snapped his head to stare at his operative.

“It’s there,” Brice confirmed.

“Brice, the brass is never going to let that happen.”

“I wondered when you’d get around to having this conversation with me.”

Brice noted the distaste in Jacobs’s eyes as he searched for just the right words.

“Save it. There is no way I am going to forget her. If my only option is to put a uniform back on then I’ll adjust.”

“That doesn’t ensure you a posting to my unit.”

Brice grinned as he took in the frustration behind Jacobs’s voice. Becoming the man’s junior officer would be abrasive at the very least.