Storm Warning (Security Specialists International Book 4) (13 page)

She pulled away and immediately cursed the knee-jerk reaction.

“Are you scared of me?” Ace’s blue eyes darkened with hurt.

“No. You’re Ace. Not him.” She tried a smile, and it must have been okay since his expression lightened a bit.

Slowly, cautiously, he skimmed his hand over her curls. His touch was gentle, comforting … familiar. It felt … right. She leaned into his hand.

“Don’t you remember?” he whispered. “I had to cut off your clothes. They were wet from snow and sweat. The leggings were crusted with blood. After I warmed you up and cleaned your wounds, I put you in the shirt. And, yeah, I looked, but that’s all. I’m a man, not a monk.”

“I know you’re a man,” DJ stuttered, her cheeks burning. “That’s the problem.”

A look of sadness came and went on Ace’s face.

“Forget I said anything.” She petted his arm. “I know you did what needed to be done.” She squeezed his arm. “Ace, I’m glad it was you with me when all this happened.”

His expression brightened. “If it makes you feel better…” His voice was as smooth as warmed honey. “I was more concerned with treating your wounds and making sure you didn’t get any sicker than you already were than checking out your body.”

“Thank you … I think.” She wrinkled her nose. Now, she wanted to know if he liked what he’d seen.

Dahlia Jane, you contrary hussy.

“You’re welcome.” Chuckling, he stood and walked back to the counter where he resumed making her hot chocolate.

DJ took the opportunity to check out Ace from top to bottom as his back was turned to her.
Man, oh, man.
Her heart rate accelerated. Her breathing grew choppier. All bad experiences with the male sex vanished like smoke on the wind as she took in the picture he made.

Ace had always looked fit, but in his thermal underwear, she recognized just how muscular he really was. His body was that of a tri-athlete—all lean muscle with broad shoulders and narrow hips.

She swallowed—hard—and managed not to hum her approval. She’d never liked hulk-type men; they reminded her too much of Sean who’d used steroids to beef up for football, still used them if the pictures Dev and Andy had taken were any evidence.

Ace turned, and she moaned low in her throat before she could stop it. Lordy, lordy, the man was built … all over. The front view was even better than the rear. The tight thermal underwear displayed a nicely formed chest, a nice set of sculpted abs, and a large bulge at the juncture of his thighs. A bulge that grew even larger as he watched her staring at him.

DJ swallowed hard and decided not to ignore the obvious. “That looks painful.”

“I’m not going to jump you.” His voice was a low croon, akin to what he might use to reassure a frightened animal.

“I know that.” She licked, then bit her lip. “What if I want you to—”

To do what, exactly? She wasn’t sure. But she did know she was tired of being afraid … of being half a woman. Plus, Ace would never hurt her.

“DJ,” Ace murmured, “you’re injured. I’m under strict instructions from Lacey to keep you as quiet as possible until they can get the chopper here to take you to the hospital in Grangeville for x-rays on your hip and an exam by a doctor.”

“Nothing feels broken.” She wiggled. “Just bruised and sore.”

“We’ll let the experts tell us whether you’ve fractured anything or not. Ren insisted.” Ace’s lips thinned into a stubborn line.

“Pulling the boss card?” DJ shook her head. “Not fair.”

“He has to clear you for training.” He moved to her side, placing the hot chocolate out of the way, then he pulled over something to prop her up and helped her to a sitting position. “Here, drink this.” He handed her the insulated mug.

DJ took the cup from his hands. Her fingers brushed over his. He inhaled sharply. “Ace? What…”

“Drink your chocolate.” He stood. “We’ll talk about
what
later—once I have you safely back at the Lodge.” He moved to the counter and picked up another mug and then returned to sit by her side. “By the way, the shooter was after you. We need to address that. Who would want to scare or hurt you—and knows you’re on Sanctuary?”

Thinking over his question, she sipped the chocolate and murmured, “Yummy, marshmallows.”

“Thought you’d like those. You and your mom make S’mores in the fireplace each evening.” He shook his head. “Now, I’m craving them, too.”

“You should’ve said something.” She stared into the mug. “We’d have made room for you.”

“Nope, that’s your alone time with your mom.” He took a deep drink from his mug and swallowed. “Mmmm, that’s good.” Then he licked the marshmallow foam off his lips.

DJ’s body tightened, remembering his kisses after he rescued her and how they’d taken her away from the cold and the pain. She was tempted to pull him to her and lick the foam off his mouth and then kiss him, sharing the taste.

“Answer the question, DJ.” He turned, a frown on his beautifully sculpted lips. “Who would want to scare you? Take a chance at hurting you?”

“Sean Varney. His father. My father.” She shrugged and wiped a finger around the top of her mug, removing the sticky froth. She stuck her finger in her mouth and sucked off the yummy goodness.

Ace’s heated gaze zeroed in on her mouth. His nostrils flared. A quick glance at his crotch showed a small wet spot where his cock head was religiously outline by the tight fabric.

She took another sip to avoid moaning aloud. Now, she realized what the topic was he wanted to table until later. He was attracted to her, but had strong enough control to wait until she’d been given a clean bill of health.

“They were all in West Virginia. Ren checked. There has to be someone else,” Ace said.

“No one else. I tried not to make enemies in the military. Couldn’t whoever shot at us be one of SSI’s enemies? After all, just one week ago, we had a battle at Ma’s with some mercs y’all think MacLean sent to get Keely and Riley?”

MacLean was a former Defense Intelligence Agency employee and a traitor who’d blamed Keely and SSI for exposing him and forcing him to run. He was currently in the wind, but still managing to cause trouble.

“Then the shooter would’ve also shot at me. For all he knew, you were just my climbing buddy.”

“I’m female and blonde like your sister. Also like Callie,” she parried.

“You look nothing like Keely or Callie. Even a crappy sniper would notice that through a long-range scope.” He shook his head. “No, the shooter knew who you were. All the shots were aimed at you. The avalanche was a side effect of the shooting and unstable snow conditions.”

Ace was silent for several seconds, then snorted like an angry bull. “Plus, Varney doesn’t want you dead. He wants to kill you himself.”

But she didn’t plan on letting Sean kill her.

After several seconds of companionable silence, Ace stiffened and snarled. “There is someone who’d want to hurt you. Ben Crawley.”

DJ inhaled sharply. “Yeah. I can see him blaming me. In his juvenile brain, I was the reason he got kicked off Sanctuary and later, fired.” Men like Crawley always blamed others for their own bone-headed moves.

“Yeah, those reasons and because the rat-bastard had a hard-on for you from day one. You rejected him. You physically took him down in front of his peers. He didn’t like that at all.”

Ace clenched his hand around his mug until the tendons showed white. He clicked his headset. “Come in Sanctuary … Ren? … No, DJ’s fine. You need to locate Ben Crawley. We need to question him about the shots taken at DJ.”

His facial expression changed, grew more tense as he listened to whatever Ren said. She felt for her headset and muttered “rats” under her breath when she realized it was gone. She really wanted to know what put the glowering look on Ace’s face. If he ever looked at her that way, she’d run as fast as she could in the opposite direction; that was, if she hadn’t already expired on the spot. This man was definitely not the easy-going geek the Walshes had said he was.

“Roger that, Ren. Out.” Ace tapped his headset and looked at her. “Let’s get some sleep. You need rest to heal, and I’m bushed.”

“No…” She reached across the short space between them and touched his chest. “What did Ren say?”

“DJ…”

“No, tell me. I’ll just lie here and make stuff up and not sleep. Don’t hide things from me.”

Ace let out a harsh breath. “Crawley’s dead. Another man, a trouble-maker well known to Idaho County law enforcement was found with him, also dead. The rifle was by the bodies.”

“How did they die? From the weather?” She frowned when he shook his head. “Then who killed them?”

“That’s the question Ren and Dan want answered. Whoever killed them, dumped their bodies at the side of the highway this side of Grangeville.” He paused then added, “There was a note. It was addressed to you…” His lips twisted and his eyes blazed with anger.

“Tell me.” She caressed his fingers.

He turned his hand over and cradled her hand as if it were the most precious thing he’d ever held, and she knew in that instant, this man would treat the rest of her just as gently and lovingly—if she allowed it.

“It said the note’s author would collect later for getting rid of the men who tried to kill you.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the tips of her fingers, then stared into her eyes over their clasped hands. “Seems you have a very deadly secret admirer, sugar.”

No, that was wrong. The only men she’d met since she left the Army were good men, with Crawley being a major exception. There was only one man who wanted her in his clutches—

“Not an admirer, more like a deadly stalker. Sean’s found me.” She looked into Ace’s stormy blue eyes. “He knows where I am. You said it, he wants to kill me himself. He has someone watching me, keeping me alive until he can get his hands on me. Ace … I’m scared.”

“Don’t be.” He leaned over and placed a light kiss on her mouth, even the brief touch sent heated awareness through her body. “Whoever the note’s author is, believe this—I’ll never let anyone hurt you. Swear to God.”

“Ace…”

His lips cut off anything she might’ve said. This time his kiss was longer, deeper as his tongue swept inside and tangled with hers. Any lingering cold in her bones vanished as his kiss set fires burning in her core, in her very soul. Just as she began to return the kiss, seeking to taste his mouth as he tasted hers, he pulled away. Like a chill wind, disappointment swept over her.

“Sleep, sugar.” He helped her to lie down.

DJ didn’t want to sleep. She wanted to kiss Ace and find out where it would lead. She turned to him and found exhaustion on his face. This wonderful man had rescued her, taken care of her, watched over her for hours—he needed his rest. She could wait.

Ace dimmed the lights with a voice command and settled next to her on the bedding and pulled the blankets over them both. He pulled her into his arms, his arm anchored at her waist. She felt as if she’d come home. It was a good feeling.

Looking back, she realized her reaction to Ace had been different from the beginning. Why had this man reached her and no one else over the last ten years?

It is what it is, Dahlia Jane. Accept it.

DJ let out a sigh. Ace’s arms tightened as he murmured unintelligible words against her hair. She snuggled closer to his heat and drifted into sleep. She could get used to this.

8 a.m., February 15
th
, Main Lodge, Sanctuary

“I need to get out of here.” DJ glanced at the women sitting around the breakfast nook table.

Lacey, Elana, Callie, and Keely with Riley had joined her for breakfast. Her mother and Scotty were off doing … well, she didn’t want to know what they were doing, since she suspected her mother was getting more intense foreplay than DJ had been. Ace, for once, was not hanging around like a gander protecting his goose.

It had been five days since she and Ace had been rescued from Cave A8. The trip to the hospital had been a non-event since the doctor proclaimed her fracture-free. Other than a few bruises and the two wounds, which were healing fine, she was as healthy as a horse. But in Ace’s mind, she was a frail, gentle creature who needed tending or, at least, it seemed that way to her.

Since the sniper adventure, Ace had hovered. When he wasn’t making sure she was safe, comfortable, or warm enough, he was kissing her. There were the quick kisses with a hint of tongue and maybe a sweep of his hand over her back or arm if there was a chance someone might walk in on them. When he was assured they wouldn’t be disturbed, there were the longer, hungrier kisses with lots of tongue, while he held her close and touched her, stroking her breasts, back, and hips. She liked all his kisses, but especially the longer ones; those she craved—and wanted more.

In fact, last night as they’d made out on the couch in front of the Lodge’s great room fire, she’d pleaded, “Ace, I want more.”

“You’re still healing.” He’d placed light sucking kisses on her mouth, her chin, her ear lobe, and finally at a particularly sensitive spot on the side of her neck right below her ear.

“I’m fine.” And, yeah, she’d whined, sort of, but he was driving her effin’ nuts. Her clit had throbbed and her pussy had gotten wet. She might not have had a normal sex life over the past ten years, but she was well aware her body was preparing for intercourse … preparing for him.

Ace had smiled and touched his forehead to hers. “I don’t want to hurt or scare you. We can wait.” Then he’d taken her mouth and French-kissed the heck out of her.

Maybe he could wait, but she damn well didn’t want to. For the first time in her life, she was horny and wanted to experience an orgasm. Yet, the only man she’d ever trust to initiate her into true intimacy was too busy protecting her.

AARGH!

She was also stir crazy.

“Earth to DJ”

DJ looked across the table at Keely, whose eyes danced with amusement as if she’d read DJ’s mind. How long had DJ spaced out? She was doing a lot of wool-gathering lately; mostly because Ace’s kisses messed with her normally acute mind. “What? Did I miss something?”

“You said you wanted to get out of here … so, where do you want to go?” Keely asked as she wiped Riley’s breakfast off his face and hands. It looked as if more food was on him than in him. And why that made DJ’s heart pang and her insides turn to mush, she didn’t know.

This sudden gooiness over baby Riley she blamed more on her mother’s words than Ace’s actions. Her parent kept dropping casual remarks about what a nice man Ace was—and he was—and what a good uncle he was to Riley and how he’d be a good father. Of course, Ace had to share some of the blame since he was so danged nice and solicitous and funny and smart and … sexy.

Her normal D.O.A. libido had received a jump start. As a result, her biological clock was sending use-it-or-lose-it notices.

“Go? Anywhere.” DJ flung her arms in a wide sweeping motion. “To a mall. A fast-food restaurant. Heck the county library. Just away.”

“Well, you’d better make your escape before your keepers get back.” Lacey laughed. “Tweeter hasn’t been more than twenty feet from you since your sojourn in A8. And your mom has been even closer.”

DJ groaned. “You all noticed that, did you?” Keely, Lacey, Elana, and Callie nodded in sync, big grins on their faces. Then DJ frowned. “I know my mom is with Scotty.”
Still not going there on what they’re doing.
“But where is Ace?”

“My brother, along with my husband and Vanko, flew to Boise to meet some clients about a job,” Keely said. “Can’t tell you what the job is yet, but you might be going on an intelligence-gathering mission soon.”

DJ perked up. A mission was just what she needed to take her mind off other “things.” “Really? Ren thinks I’m ready?”

“You were ready the day you started,” Keely said. “The training period was to get you acclimated to SSI ways, not to improve your skill set.”

DJ was complimented by Keely’s words and proud of the confidence Ren was showing in her by considering her for a mission a mere two weeks after she’d come on board. It warmed her heart at how quickly she’d been accepted as part of the team, and a lot of the credit for that went to Ace. He’d showed her the ropes and constantly praised her skills to the other operatives.

“So…” Keely said. “Where do you really want to go?”

DJ shrugged. “Suggestions?”

“I could use some body lotion and shampoo,” Keely said. “Want to hit the Center Mall in Lewiston and have a girl’s day out? We could make it a full day and have a meal before we come home. The mall’s about four-and-a-half-hours driving time, round trip. Once we hit Grangeville, it’s all interstate. The roads should be clear, and there’s no snow in the forecast for the next twenty-four hours.”

“That sounds like exactly what the doctor ordered.” DJ wasn’t only excited to get away from Sanctuary, but also thrilled she finally had female friends to do “girl-things” with. Yeah, she’d had female friends in the Army, but many of them had families or boyfriends. Plus, she had little in common with them other than the job. For the first time in her life, she felt she was becoming the woman she was meant to be, more rounded with work
and
personal time. More in balance. It was a good feeling.

“You gals go. I’m still having lingering morning sickness.” Elana did look peaked. “Riley needs a sitter since I overheard Scotty ask Nancy to help him do the monthly grocery shopping in Grangeville. They planned to make a day of it with lunch out and all.”

“You sure about staying in, Elana?” Lacey asked. “I can stay and take care of Riley. You might feel better after an outing.”

“Thanks, Lacey. I don’t think I can handle that long of a trip right now. Even without the nausea, I need my afternoon nap. Riley and I can take one together.” She grinned. “But I do have a list of things I could use if you wouldn’t mind picking them up for me?”

“I’m going, but I warn you I might need frequent potty breaks,” Callie said. Everyone laughed. “Give me your list, Elana.”

“Then you can count me in,” Lacey said. “Quinn’s taking some of the corporate security clients out on the property for more war gaming and survival lessons. He won’t be back until tomorrow. I could use a break away.”

“Meet back here in an hour?” Keely suggested.

“That’s great. Thanks. Y’all are the best friends a gal could have.” DJ grabbed a can of Pepsi to up her caffeine level another notch or two and then headed to the suite of rooms she shared with her mother. If she was going to be out all day in the bitter cold, she needed to add more layers.

****

7 p.m., February 15
th
, Ma’s Bar and Grill

DJ scooted into the only booth at Ma’s which gave a clear line of sight to the front door, the diner’s counter space, and the entrance to the barroom off to the side of the main dining area. Lacey followed her in taking the end of the curved booth. Keely was next to DJ and Callie sat on the other end of the booth, opposite Lacey.

Settling back against the faux burgundy leather, DJ sighed happily. “That was a long day, but fun. I’ve never bought so many things at one time before.”

DJ had never enjoyed shopping so much. The fun company made all the difference. She’d bought more winter clothing and a one-piece swimsuit for the Sanctuary indoor lap pool and hot tub. She also managed to find some pretty clothes for her mother whose birthday was later in the month.

“Well, you didn’t buy the bikini that looked so good on you.” Before DJ could defend her position, Callie added, “So, I bought it for you.” The former model winked. “Tweeter will lu-u-urve it.”

DJ picked up a packet of sugar and threw it at Callie who laughed as she batted it away. “I can’t wear that,” she protested. “Not all of us are former
Sports Illustrated
swimsuit cover models. Besides it has huge holes.”

“My dearest DJ, they’re called strategically placed cut-outs,” Callie intoned in a snooty tone she must’ve picked up from a top fashion designer. “And you, my dear, have the perfectly toned body to show this little ensemble to advantage. It just screams
you
.”

DJ snorted and shook her head, but she couldn’t help smiling at Callie’s silliness.

Callie giggled and added in her normal voice, “Seriously, DJ you looked
hawt
in it. That royal blue color was great against your skin tones. So … I’m giving it to you and you’re keeping it.”

“Might as well give up,” Keely said. “Callie’s going through the hormonal need-to-mother-everybody part of her pregnancy. And she’s right, my brother will love you in that suit. I wish I had long legs … and a long torso. I’d have bought the fuschia-colored one. Unfortunately, those cut-outs would hit me in all the wrong places. It’s hell being short.”

Before DJ could respond to Keely’s—and Callie’s—nonsense about Ace caring what she wore, someone’s cell rang. It wasn’t hers since she’d turned hers off when they’d left Sanctuary, not wanting her mother or Ace to track her down and scold her for leaving the premises. For chrissakes, she was a security operative and a former Army pilot who’d been involved in secret missions in some of the most dangerous places in the world and they were treating her like a two-year-old.

Plus, her ring tone wasn’t Saving Abel’s
Addicted to U
.

Keely pulled her ringing cell out of the side pocket of her purse and answered, “Hey, big guy. Where are you?” She eyed the rest of them and smiled. “We’re at Ma’s. What do you guys want to eat? We’ll order for you. We haven’t even ordered drinks yet.”

After some “hmming” and “sures,” Keely handed the phone to DJ. “Tweeter wants to talk to you. It seems your cell is off.” The little blonde winked, amusement in her sparkling green eyes.

DJ took the phone and before Ace even had a chance to say a word said, “Don’t start with me, Ace. I had a wonderful day with the girls. I plan on having a scotch since I’m not driving and then a nice meal. How was your day?”

“Productive.” Ace sounded amused. Then in a more serious, solicitous tone, he asked, “You feeling okay?”

DJ sighed and crossed her eyes at the smiling women who avidly listened to her side of the conversation. “Did I tell you not to start with me?”

“Sugar…” Ace growled, sounding a lot like his father and older brothers when he did so. Walsh males seemed to breed true. All of them were over-protective, bossy, macho-men, but also honorable and caring. A very attractive combination. “I asked, because I care, not because I’m trying to dictate to you.”

The man read her too well. Plus, of all the men she’d met or worked with, Ace was the best, hands down, at letting her be herself. She needed to cut him some slack and—

Answer the man’s damn question, Dahlia Jane. He cares … and so do you.

“I feel fine.” His snort of disbelief had her admitting, “Okay, I’m a little stiff … but nothing a little yoga and a good night’s sleep won’t fix.”

“Get Lacey to give you a massage when you get home.” Ace chuckled. “I’d offer, but I like my balls where they’re at.”

Ace? Massaging her? With those long, supple fingers? Skin to skin? Her whole body flushed at the thought … at the images in her mind’s eye. Oh yeah, she was definitely into the concept of Ace touching her and then she’d have the right to touch him back. After which, they’d kiss and move on to other more intimate touching.

Before she could edit herself, she said, “I didn’t hear an offer.”

At Keely’s delighted trill of laughter, DJ shot her petite friend the finger and handed the phone to Keely before Ace could reply. She also ignored Lacey’s poke on the arm and muttered “what offer?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, big brother.” Keely’s eyes twinkled with suppressed laughter. “No, I won’t hand the phone back to her. We’ll see you guys when you get here.” The little blonde ended the call and then stared at DJ. “So-o-o … you like my brother?”

“Never said I didn’t.” In fact, she more than liked him. She also needed him to stop teasing her with kisses and light touches and take the sexual foreplay to the next level. The promise of what they’d be like together was tantalizing and had occupied far too much of her conscious thought—and her dreams—ever since their time in the cave.

Her face burned as a result of the avid looks the other three women shot her way. Studiously ignoring them, DJ focused on the menu and decided meat was what she needed at that moment. The rarer and juicier, the better.

“You’ve never said you liked him, either,” Callie pointed out. “I … we … have noticed you observing Tweeter when he wasn’t looking. You don’t watch any of the other single men that way.”

“We’re working together, so, of course, I look at him.”

Lame, really lame, Dahlia Jane.

“It’s more than that so fess up,” Lacey urged. “We won’t tease you … much.” Then the older woman laughed.

“This is the kind of thing you share with your gal pals,” Keely said. “Plus, I know my brother, and he likes you … a lot.” Keely reached over and covered DJ’s hand where it was fisted on the table. “
A lot
a lot. I’ve never seen him this way before, not even when he was dating one gal at M.I.T. for two years.”

“Was that the girl he dated after…” Callie paused, a slight pink flush on her high cheekbones. “…this might be the time to mention that Tweeter and I … um, were each other’s first lovers.” She hurriedly added, “We immediately decided we were better friends than lovers.”