Extreme Honor (23 page)

“You're right about there being a lot of things to process. But”—she tipped her head to the side—“I don't need solitude to think straight or see my way clearly and I definitely don't need to go back to my old life to figure out how I want to live my days. If there's one thing I learned from you here, it's that you can't ever go back and being too stuck in the past doesn't work.”

A muscle twitched along the side of his jaw. She'd hit a nerve. But that was okay. She leaned forward, her hands flat against his chest, and kissed the spot on his jaw. When she straightened, his lips had softened from the hard line and he settled his hands on her hips.

“I was so caught up in proving to my stepfather that I could be out on my own, I didn't even realize I'd established myself already. I was just…running, charging forward to prove a point.” She gave him a smile and warmth spread through her chest when he smiled in return. “Working with you and Atlas gave me perspective. And maybe I needed some chaos to knock me off my train tracks and really think about what I'm doing, where I'm headed.”

She paused and he held his peace, patient. It was never a race to get a word in edgewise with him and for that, she was grateful.

He gave her so many things. Time, consideration, caring.

“What happened is going to give me issues for a good while.” She smoothed her hands over his chest, taking comfort from the hard muscles under her palms. “But whatever steps I'm going to take toward recovering from this won't be backward to resuming my old life. I'm moving forward and I want to do that with you.”

She held her breath.

His hands tightened on her hips. “You sure?”

“I love you, David Cruz.” She kept her gaze steady on his. “And you remember I was first to say it.”

He laughed. “I'd have said it first if you needed me to.”

“Well, now's a good time.” Because she did need to hear it.

He sat up straighter and kissed her first, his mouth sliding over hers in a dizzying, intense kiss. Heat seared through her and she clutched at his shoulders as his arms tightened around her waist, pulling her in snug against him. And still he kissed her, drowning them until they were both breathless. “I love you, Evelyn Jones. Since I don't even know when. I want you in my life and I'll wait forever if you need me to.”

She pressed her forehead to his and closed her eyes. “No more waiting. I'm done waiting for my choices to feel like mine.”

His arms tightened around her in a fierce hug, then loosened enough to relax again. “So what's next, Miss Jones?”

His teasing tone made her smile wider. Wow, had she ever been this happy? It bubbled up inside her and she barely knew what to do with it all. “Well, we've got some administrative stuff to work through here with wrapping up the contract paperwork and submitting any reports they'll need.”

He nodded, running his hands up and down her thighs. There was a naughty gleam in his eyes and she narrowed hers as she put in the extra effort to remember what she was saying.

“And you were right about my having other clients. I've got people who need me to work with them and their dogs.”

Atlas barked.

She glanced over at him, sitting close, his tail sweeping the floor in a happy wag. Reaching over, she gave him an affectionate scratch behind one ear.

“I think he's going to have to accept it's a part of your job.” David chuckled. “He's got to learn to share you.”

“Mmm.” She looked back to David. “I'll still be traveling some and next time I leave, there should be texts. Texts from you, pictures of Atlas, maybe we should create accounts on a couple of social media apps. Whatever it takes to feel connected.”

“But you could use this as a home base.” He made the offer quietly.

Her words caught in her throat for a moment and she bit her lip as she nodded. It seemed impossible in such a short time, but this cabin and Hope's Crossing Kennels had come to feel like a home in ways her actual apartment way back on the West Coast never did.

He grinned. “I'm on board with that. Maybe we'll travel together, too, go to a few training conferences together and learn some new techniques.”

Or he could kiss her some more and remind her of a few of his techniques. She lost time in his kisses, enjoying the taste of him and teasing him back in turn with nips at his lower lip.

Happy. She was so happy with him.

She opened her eyes, met his gaze. He wasn't her stepfather. Hell, her stepfather wasn't even who she'd thought he was. David was everything she hadn't even known she needed and now that she was back in his arms, she didn't intend to give him up.

Lyn took a deep breath. This was it. And if she could let go of everything she believed she knew, quit comparing, she wouldn't mess this up. “No matter where my job takes me, I think I could find my way back here. This is home.” She met David's gaze, steady, loving. “
You
are home.”

David folded her in close against his chest. “I'll be here for you. Count on it.”

Piper began her writing career as “PJ Schnyder,” writing sci-fi and paranormal romance and steampunk, for which she won the FF&P PRISM award as well as the NJRW Golden Leaf award and Parsec award.

Play Find the Piper around the Internet for insight into her frequent travels and inspiration for her stories.

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Y
ou've got to be insane.”

Elisa Hall took a prudent step or two back as the tall man in front of her clenched his fists and glared at the woman in scrubs behind the reception desk.

“I'm sorry, sir, but ambulances take precedence over walk-ins.” The nurse held firm. A braver woman than Elisa would've been in the face of rage on a level with the man at the counter.

He was dressed in loose fitness shorts and a close-fitting black tee. His hands were wrapped in some cross between tape and fabric.

Fighter
might as well have been printed across his very broad, muscular shoulders.

Actually, now that she was looking, his tee said
REVOLUTION MIXED MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY.

Well then, maybe she could take more ibuprofen and forget about seeing a doctor after all. Getting her own injury examined wasn't worth staying anywhere near this guy.

The nurse glanced quickly at Elisa then returned her attention to the man, her expression softening with sympathy. “As soon as an examination room opens up, we'll get you in to see the doctor. Please, wait right here and fill out these forms while I help this young lady.”

Wait, what? The man turned and stared at her. Oh, great.

Usually she envied nurses, their ability to sympathize with so many patients, make such a difference in lives. Now was not one of those times.

Elisa squashed the urge to bolt. Never ended well when she tried it. Better to hold very still, wait till the anger in front of her burned itself out and pull herself together afterward.

But the expected explosion, shouting, other things…never happened. Instead, the man had quieted. All of the frustrated aggression had been stuffed away somewhere.

She swallowed hard. Leaving remained the best idea she had at the moment.

But he stepped away from the counter, motioning with a wrapped hand for her to step forward, and incidentally blocked her escape route toward the doors. He couldn't have done it on purpose, could he? But Elisa took a step up to the reception counter and away from him anyway.

“Yes, dear?” The nurse's gentle prompt made Elisa jump.

Damn it. Elisa's heart beat loudly in her ears.

The nurse gave her an encouraging smile. “Don't mind him. I've already asked another nurse to bring ice packs as fast as possible. I don't mind if he blows off some hot air in my direction in the meantime. I would be upset too.”

Elisa bit her lip. She could still feel the man standing behind her, his presence looming at her back. He couldn't possibly appreciate the nurse sharing some of his private information. And he didn't seem to need ice packs or any other medical attention. He appeared very able-bodied. “It's none of my business.”

The nurse placed a clipboard on the counter and wrinkled her nose. “Oh trust me, the entire waiting room knows what his concern is. Tell me what brought you here.”

This might be the most relaxed, and personable, emergency room reception Elisa had been to in years, not counting the extremely angry man standing behind her. But the waiting area wasn't packed and no one there seemed to be in dire agony. They were either not very busy—not likely if all the examination rooms were filled up—or extremely efficient.

Efficiency meant she could get in and out and decide what her next steps would be.

“My wrist.” Elisa held out her left arm, the wrist obviously swollen. “I thought it was just a bad sprain, but it's been more than a few days and has only gotten worse, not better. I can barely move it now.”

And, if she could, she definitely wouldn't have stopped in to get it treated. An emergency room visit, even with the help of her soon to be nonexistent insurance, was still an expense she didn't need.

“Is that your dominant arm, dear?” The nurse held up a pen.

Elisa shook her head.

“Oh, good. Leave your ID and insurance card with me so I can make copies. Take a seat over there to fill out this form and bring it back to me.”

Okay then. Elisa took the items and made her way toward the seating area, thankful the nurse hadn't asked her to give her name and pertinent information verbally. It was always a risk to share those things out loud. There was the slightest chance someone would overhear and take note.

She'd learned over and over again. There was always a chance a slip of information in the unlikeliest of places would find its way to exactly the person she didn't want to have it.

It might not be crowded but just about everyone in the room had decided to sit with at least a chair or two buffer between them and the next person. The buffer seats were all that was left and most of the other people waiting to be seen were either men or women sitting with men.

Of course, Elisa wasn't feeling all too sociable either.

Then she caught sight of a little girl sitting with her legs crossed in the seat next to the big planter in the corner. The seat next to her was open, and she was waiting quietly hugging a big blue plush…round thing. Whatever it was.

Elisa walked quickly over and when the girl looked up at her with big blue eyes, Elisa gave her the friendliest smile she could dig up. “Mind if I sit next to you?”

The girl looked around, her gaze lingering on the reception area behind Elisa for a moment before saying, “Sure.”

Elisa took a seat.

After a few silent moments, the little girl stirred next to her. “Are you sick?”

Well, paperwork didn't take much of her attention and it'd been a while since Elisa had been outside her own head in a lot of ways. Conversation would be a welcome change as she finished the forms, and a good distraction from the constant worry running in the back of her mind. “Not sick so much as hurt. I won't give you the plague.”

A soft, strained laugh. “Same here.”

Elisa glanced, then took a harder look. The girl wasn't hugging the big plush toy as she'd first thought. It was supporting the girl's slender left arm, which was bent at an impossible angle.

“Oh my god.” Why was she sitting here alone?

“Don't worry.” The girl gave her a quick thumbs up with her right hand. “The doctors are really good here and I'm in
all
the time.”

Such a brave face. She had to be in an insane amount of pain. And here she was encouraging Elisa.

“Is there someone you should talk to about how often you get hurt?” Elisa struggled for the right tone. It was one she'd heard more than once when people had been concerned for her. Some places had safeguards in place for…

Blue eyes widened. “Oh, it's not what you're thinking. Trust me, people ask my dad. And it's not like that
at all
. I study mixed martial arts. I get bruised and bumped all the time and usually it's nothing, but Dad always makes me come in to get checked.”

It was hard not to believe in the earnest tone. But monsters were everywhere.

The girl gave her a rueful smile, still amazing considering how much pain she had to be in. “This time it wasn't just a bump.”

“Which is why they're going to see you as soon as they can, Boom.”

Elisa hadn't heard the man approach or seen him approach. He was just there, kneeling down in front of the girl, gently tucking an ice pack under her arm while moving it as little as possible. For her part, the girl hissed in pain but otherwise held up with amazing fortitude.

Elisa would've been in tears. The arm had to be broken. It didn't take a doctor to figure that out. No wonder the man had been mad earlier. She dropped her gaze, unable to watch.

“Here.” An ice pack appeared in her view. “Your wrist should be iced, too. Take down the swelling while you wait.”

Speechless, Elisa looked up.

The man's words had been gruff, awkward. His expression was blank. But his eyes, a softness around his eyes and a…quiet in the way he watched her made her swallow and relax a fraction. Her heartbeat stuttered, but in a fluttery kind of way. A completely different reaction from what she should be experiencing if she were wise.

Learn from your mistakes. You never know who a person really is.

“You should listen to Dad.” The little girl had regained her earnest tone. “He's usually right. Even when I think he's crazy, it turns out he's right and I wish I'd listened to him. Besides, he gets hurt even more than I do. He says ice is his best friend.”

“So is ibuprofen.” Elisa snapped her mouth shut, not even sure why she'd let the comment pop out.

The little girl gave her a brighter smile. “Yeah. He says that, too.”

The dad in question stood, his knees creaking a bit as he rose up and took a step back.

Elisa was grateful for the space even though he probably wanted to be near his daughter. His presence was intense even if his movements were all steady and smooth. No sudden or frenetic motion. Nothing to freak her out.

“Have you ever had self-defense?” The girl was continuing. “Dad says every person should take at least one class or seminar. It's what got me started in mixed martial arts. I liked it so much I started taking classes.”

“I haven't, no.” Elisa wasn't sure if the man minded the conversation, but it did seem to keep her mind off her own wrist, so maybe it was a distraction for the girl, too. If it was, the least she could do was help a girl this nice. “But it sounds like good advice. Will you be worried about mixed martial arts now?”

The girl gave a slight shake of her head, grimacing as she unintentionally shifted her arm. “I want to go back as soon as this is fixed. I've got a belt test at the end of the year, and I want to make black belt before I get to middle school.”

“We'll let the doctor take a look and get some X-rays,” the man interjected, his voice low and maybe amused. “Then we're going to follow the doctor's orders to let you heal up correctly.”

“
Then
I'll go back to class.” The little girl was not to be deterred.

Elisa couldn't help but smile. Dauntless. So much conviction in such a young package.

“Rojas?” A new nurse was standing in the double doors leading from the waiting room back into the emergency room area.

Her father straightened. “Here.”

The nurse nodded and motioned for a young man in scrubs pushing a wheelchair.

In moments the girl was eased into the wheelchair, big round plushy support and all. She gave Elisa a wave as she was wheeled away to see the doctor.

Elisa waved back.

Wow. Just wow. Elisa took a deep breath. There was one heck of a personality. Someday that little girl was going to grow into a powerful, confident woman.

Someone cleared his throat near her.

She jumped.

For the second time in the space of a few minutes, the man had snuck right up on her. This time he was holding out a cup of coffee and a card. “Revolution Mixed Martial Arts. It's local, if you're staying in the area. There's a women's self-defense workshop coming up in the next couple of weeks. Boom made me promise to come give this to you.”

Words stuck in her throat as she stared at the proffered card. It took a minute for her to pull her wits together long enough to take it from him, and the coffee, too. His hand remained steady until she had both in her own. As she gingerly took the offerings, he didn't extend his fingers to touch her the way some men did.

Warm brown eyes, the color of dark chocolate, studied her. “The workshop takes it slow and easy. It's assumed everyone is a beginner. If you mention my name, you'll get a discount. Rojas.”

She blinked. “Oh, but that's not nec—”

“You distracted Boom for a while and I appreciate the help.” His words had gone back to gruff, his speech concise in cadence. “And she's right, you'd benefit from the workshop.”

He turned on his heel and headed back to the ER.

Okay then. Elisa studied the card for a minute. She was too new to the area to recognize the address, but if she could get a hotel room with Wi-Fi, she could map it pretty easily.

Exhaustion rolled over her in a wave. If she decided to get a hotel room tonight. Everything she owned was stuffed into her car, not that there was much. She could find an out-of-the-way rest stop and catch a little sleep before trying to find a job tomorrow morning. Nothing like her last job, but hopefully something full time with some sort of benefits. Even fast-food restaurants had full-time positions, if it came down to it. But she'd try bookstores or maybe a nearby mall first. Anything to get an income going while she looked for a more stable position.

She took a sip of coffee. She'd think more on it. Later. After she had her wrist examined. One step at a time.

As she worked through her jumbled thoughts, realization washed over her in a wave of caffeine. She'd completely misjudged him at first, and he'd done one nice thing after another and she hadn't thanked him. Not once.

Elisa looked around the waiting room. A few people had entered but the room seemed emptier somehow, without the girl and her dad. Boom, he'd called her. Had to be her nickname. And, somehow, Elisa could picture the girl kicking butt in a martial arts class. Boom was probably appropriate. Imagining what her father could do was something Elisa shied away from, but the thought was tantalizing more than frightening.

Elisa shifted her position in her seat, her hamstrings and backside aching from hours of driving. Her foot hit something and she looked down to see a stray glove on the floor almost under the chair. She bent to pick it up and found a tag on the inside wrist of the glove.

Boom

Hope's Crossing Kennels.

Oh, no. Elisa rose and wondered if she could ask the nurse to return the glove to Boom and her father. After all, they'd be there a while.

But as she approached the desk, the nurse took the clipboard from her without looking at her. “Thank you, dear. They'll be calling you any minute now to take you back. Have a seat.”