Agent I1: Tristan [01] The D.I.R.E. Agency (9 page)

That was the first time she’d ever heard the L-word come out of Cody’s mouth. When Cody first asked her out on a date, Rachel had been shocked. Cody had always gone for the more
adventurous
girls in town and after what had happened with Zach, Rachel had been pegged as a couch potato.

Nevertheless, her mother had been ecstatic, and it had pleased Rachel to see Kate smiling again. After all her mother had been through, she’d wanted to give it to her.

“Cody…” Rachel held out her hands to her sides. “We both know this marriage would never work.”

His brows furrowed. “No, I don’t know that.”

A tiny voice in Rachel’s head told her Cody could still answer her prayers. Her mother could quit her job at the county offices and the diner. An easy fix stood right in front of her.

However, Tristan’s hand at her waist screamed louder. It told her she didn’t want Cody Brewster and his high-handed attitude. It told her Cody would never make her body sing like Tristan had last night. It told her Cody was a mistake.

Rachel shook her head. “Cody, just go.”

Cursing under his breath, he pointed a finger at her. “This isn’t over, Rachel.”

“Yes, it is.”

He stalked to the door and flung it open. “We
will
get married. You’d better get used to the idea.”

Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she watched him go. Sitting on the wrong side of the Brewster’s wrath was not a smart thing to do in Creekmore.

Stalking to the door, Rachel shut it and turned around.

“What the
heck
did you think you were doing?”

With a bright flash of light, Tristan appeared in front of her, forcing her back against the door. “Letting you know I was here.” He braced his hands on either side of her head.

Rachel swallowed hard. “By kissing me on the neck? By… she glanced down at her chest.

A small, mischievous smile lit his face. “By what? Touching your extraordinary breasts in front of another man?”

The subjects in question tingled just listening to him talk about it. “A… a tap on the shoulder would have sufficed.”

He nuzzled a spot behind her ear. “But, not nearly as fun.”

Rachel’s heart raced in her chest. His citrusy scent, his lips on her neck were driving her mad. “I, I couldn’t think.”

“Mmm, me either.” His hand skimmed up her ribcage.

Her breath caught. “What are you doing?”

“Seeing if you’re telling the truth.” Cupping her breast, he kneaded it with unparalleled expertise.

Rachel nearly collapsed to the floor. “Oh… really?”

“Yes, it’s a
D.I.R.E.
interrogation tactic.”

Rachel felt him smile against her throat.

What was she doing? She didn’t want a temporary affair. He was only here for a few days, and then he was off to save the world. She had to stay sane, stay focused on how she would pay the bills now that she didn’t have Cody to take care of it for her.

“Tris, no.” She pushed him away. “I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression last night. It was a crazy day. I was drunk, and high on Europe. Just because you’re staying here doesn’t mean sex is for the taking.”

Straightening, he glared down at her with a fierce frown. “That’s not what I thought.”

“Well, that’s what this looks like.”

He backed away, hands in the air. “Backing off. I won’t touch you again.”

Chapter 7

“Ben, you’re out of socks again,” Rachel said, as she dug through his dresser drawer.

Ben Adams grumbled as he sorted the cards in his hand. “You take all that time to write my name on the socks and they take ‘em anyway. I see other people wearing my socks all the time. I don’t want them back after that, so I throw them away.”

Straddling a chair, Tristan sat across the table from the old con artist. Ben lived at the assisted living center connected to the hospital. The old man liked to appear helpless, but Tristan had quickly surmised he had a mind like a steel trap.

He threw down two pair. Ben laid down a full house.

Cursing under his breath, he watched Ben scoop up the pile of quarters in the center of the table. The old man was also a card shark.

“So, you just showed up and carried her out of the church?”

Nodding, he glanced at Rachel. Things had been stilted between them since he’d stupidly, idiotically groped her and kissed her in front of Brewster. Watching Cody try to claim her had brought out some primitive, territorial crap inside of him. He had absolutely no claim on Rachel whatsoever, but logical thought had not been an active participant during that exchange in the bride’s room.

The scent of orchids still filled his nostrils. When her breath hitched, he’d thought she offered the side of her neck for his leisure.

Wrong again, Jacobs
.

He’d told himself he wouldn’t sleep with her again. He couldn’t do that to Aidan - or Rachel. She deserved someone better.

“Yes, he just whisked me away from the church like magic, Ben. One minute I stood in the bride’s room, the next I was gone.”

Tristan frowned at the sarcastic tone of her voice.

“Damned glad someone had some sense and got you out of there. Cody Brewster is not a man you want to marry.”

Tristan leaned his hands on top of the chair back. “You think he’s dangerous?”

Ben nodded. “Oh, yeah. When he and Jock want something, they will get rid of anything standing in their way.”

Rachel scoffed. “You make them sound like the mafia or something.”

The old man gave him raised brows and a nod. The thought of Rachel married to a bully like Brewster made his blood boil.

Ben said, “What I don’t understand is why he suddenly wanted to marry Rachel.”

Rachel turned away from Ben’s clothes. “Yes, I have no redeeming qualities whatsoever.”

“You have more redeeming qualities than anyone I know,” Tristan said.

Rachel blushed before glancing away from his stare.

Ben grinned as he folded his hands over the chair arms. “Rachel, you have to admit, he’d never shown any interest in you until a couple of months ago. Why?”

“I’ve wondered that myself.”

A man wearing an EMT uniform and friendly smile stood in the doorway. If Rachel looked the typical small town girl, he was her male compliment. Short brown hair, clean-cut good looks, ready with a smile.

The total opposite of Tristan.

“Zach.” Rachel gave him a smile that lit the room. She hugged him tight.

Lucky bastard.

“Where did you come from?”

“Some of the nurses were talking about your fiasco yesterday and said you were here.” He looked at Tristan. “You must be the swashbuckling hero.”

For no reason whatsoever, the urge to deck him filtered through Tristan’s veins. “Tristan Jacobs.”

“Zach Frederickson.” He turned to Rachel. “Hey, you have a minute?”

Frowning, Rachel set down a stack of Ben’s shirts. “Sure.”  She gave Tristan a don’t-even-think-about-it glare. “I’m just going out in the hall.”

He reciprocated by giving her a don’t-try-me-then shake of his head.

“Tris is my bodyguard for a few days, Zach.”

Frederickson frowned. “He’s staying with you?”

Damn straight. Got a problem with it
?

Rachel nodded as they stepped around the corner.

Ben chuckled. “Frederickson has been waiting for Cody to screw up. He and Rachel were an item a few years ago but she caught him cheating on her with the twins.”

“The twins?”

“Yeah, a couple of sisters who get around more than the mailman. Zach has been after her ever since, but Rachel won’t have any part of it.”

Good girl
.

“He’s a good man and all,” Ben said. “Just stupid as hell. She’ll never give him another chance, especially now that you’re here.”

“I’m only here for a few days.”

Ben laughed as he dealt the cards again. “That’s the way it always starts out.”

Not that he would mind sticking around - if he were a normal person. However, between his job, Aidan’s friendship and Rachel’s aversion to him, he didn’t think the idea would win a popular vote.

“So tell me, old man. What do you know about Jim Monroe’s death?” Tristan arranged the cards in his hands. “Think it was Jock?”

Ben frowned at his cards. “Jock has connections, make no mistake. I just don’t know why he would’ve been involved. Six months ago, Cody wouldn’t give Rachel the time of day.”

“Do you think Jim was involved in drugs?”

He stopped to look at Tristan. “No. Jim and I were friends. He used to handle all of the computer issues at my processing plant. He was a good man.”

Leaning forward, Ben lowered his voice. “Did you know Jim used to be a SEAL, too?”

Tristan shook his head. Aidan never said a word. Why?

Mitchell had to be around the same age as Jim. They had to serve in the Teams around the same time. Why hadn’t he said anything about the connection?

“Everyone thinks professional hit men killed Jim,” Ben said.

“Rachel told me.”

“If they were professionals, why did they use two-inch barrel Commando revolvers?”

“Commando revolvers?”

The guns were issued to US Military intelligence and the Office of Strategic Services, among other various intelligence services, back in World War II. They were outdated, and definitely not something a modern day professional would use.

Which would eliminate Robert Naylor and his agents.

“Want to know something else?”

He gave Ben a brief nod. The old man was full of interesting information.

“The brass bullet casings were stamped with a Mainland logo. Mainland Corporation went out of business after the Korean War. I still have some of their bullets from my father’s guns.”

“So?”

He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “My bullets are tarnished with age. The casings found in Jim’s store were shiny and new.”

Sitting back in his chair, he said, “Make sense of that one, mercenary.”

#####

“Zach said he would stay with me if you wanted to leave and enjoy the rest of your vacation.”

Shifting her truck into second with a jerk, Tristan rounded the corner and headed down her street.

“Cody would know his work schedule and come by while Zach was gone. I don’t think so, Rachel. Besides, I made a promise to Aidan that I would see this week through.”

Dang it
. Rachel had hoped he’d take the offer and run. She couldn’t get the feel of his lips on her neck out of her head. If she shut her eyes, she pictured him at her back, his arms around her waist, his hands cupping her breasts. It did funny things to her lower belly and made her want to rip every shred of clothing from his body and throw him on the seat.

However, sanity shook its finger, reminding her that Tristan had thrown a big man like Cody on the table in two seconds, and stopped his hand in mid-air. He was a professional soldier, trained in combat and warfare. The only man on the planet that could turn invisible and teleport himself wherever he wanted to go. He’d get quickly bored with a small town girl like her.

Pulling into her drive, he put the truck in park and turned off the motor. He climbed out without a word. She met him at the hood and they walked inside in silence.

“Zach-“

“I heard about Frederickson.” He shut the front door behind them and tossed her keys on the bar. “He cheated on you. Upstanding guy.”

Dang it, Ben had a big mouth.

The truth was, on the surface, she didn’t think about what  had happened between her and Zach anymore. However, each time he tried to get close, his infidelity stood front and center in her brain. She would never get past his deception.

“How long was your father in the SEALS?”

She pulled back her head. Where did that come from?  “Wow, you and Ben were busy while I was out of the room.”

He cocked his head. “Should’ve stayed in the room.”

Should’ve indeed. All Zach had wanted to do was offer a shoulder to cry on over dinner and drinks at his place.

“Four years. When they figured out he was good with computers, he got transferred to naval intelligence. He worked there for eight years before he got out. Why?”

Tristan walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Aidan never told me.” Grabbing a soft drink, he twisted the cap and took a sip. “He only said your father was in the Navy.”

Dropping down on the sofa, Tristan kicked off his boots. He wiggled his toes in his socks. “He and my… boss, Mitchell, are about the same age. I’m going to see if he knew him, and can dig up any information for you.”

Walking around the sofa, she sat beside him. “You would do that?”

His steady gaze never left her face. “For you.”

Hope blossomed in her chest for more reasons than she cared to admit. “Thank you.” She placed her hand on his thigh. “I’ve been praying for someone to help me get answers. Between you and Aidan, surely we can find out something.”

He glanced down at her hand on his leg. Rachel shifted to snatch it away. With lightning quick reflexes, he covered it with his own. The heat of his palm, the strength it contained, made her feel safe.

“We’ll get answers. It just might take some time.”

“I’ve waited this long. I can wait a little longer.”

She laid her other hand on top of his. “I promise to give you all the time and space you need. I won’t be any trouble.”

He caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “I’ve seen my share of trouble, Rachel, and you’re not it. You’re everything that’s right in the world.”

Rachel sighed. Why did he have to do that? Say such sweet things, and offer to help her when no one else would?

She wanted to climb into his arms and spend the evening naked on the sofa.

Tristan jumped up and walked to the back door. “I’m going to call Mitchell. See you in the morning.”

#####

The view really was picturesque. Grand Lake in the summer, with the pines greener and the lake clearer than any others on earth. The wind worked in tandem with the sun, its rays floating and shimmering on the water, making it glitter like diamonds.