Brianna's Navy SEAL (21 page)

Images from war tried to interpose themselves over the images of his fresh-faced, eager students. He didn't let them, but the drive home seemed three times longer than normal.

He hoped Steve found someone soon.

The month and a half after New Year's sped by. Brianna knew Cable had asked for a replacement. He was pushing Steve every day to find one, but the principal wasn't trying very hard. Cable had faced skepticism and prejudice at first, but the kids adored him and were doing extremely well, and the parents had started campaigning to get Cable a permanent position.

Brianna had joined the push, asking Steve every day, even recommending her mother take over the class, no matter how unqualified she was to do so. Watching Cable across the hall was torture. Sitting near him at staff meetings drove her bonkers because she could smell him, and couldn't take her eyes off the long legs he always stretched way out in front of him. But nothing either of them said could create a full-time sub out of thin air.

"Happy Valentine's Day!” Alena chirped when Brianna picked up the phone one morning before school. Alena was a definite morning person, night person, and everything in between. But today, she sounded not only more chipper than usual, but far more chipper than Brianna wanted to hear.

"Hi, Leni. Happy VD to you, too."

Alena laughed at Brie's disgruntlement, which just made it worse. She thought her brother would come around any moment. In fact, she probably thought today was a good moment. She didn't realize the decision had been mutual.

"What's up?” Brie asked, mindful of the clock.

"Gip's pleading guilty."

Her breath caught. “You're kidding.” She never thought he would do that.

"Nope. Apparently, he's made a few enemies while building his network. Enemies with guys in jail. He pled down so he could be incarcerated in a different prison, where he'll probably be safer."

"That's great.” She couldn't say anything more eloquent than that. She wanted to use the information, take it to Cable to convince him they were safe and could be together. She missed him so much.

But it didn't change anything. She hadn't agreed to end things because of Gip, but because of what Gip represented.

"I appreciate the call,” she said. “I have to get to school, so you guys have a great romantic day."

"You, too. Make sure Cable treats you right today, sis."

She hung up before Brianna could do more than sigh. It didn't matter. She didn't have to be married to Cable to have a sister-like relationship with Alena.

Brianna had never been one of those women who got bitter and resentful on Valentine's Day. But this year, the heart flags on the poles downtown, the two-for-one specials at the romantic restaurants, and the overabundance of pink and lace at school dragged her mood lower than she could remember, even considering the recent past.

She was setting out supplies before the kids arrived when Cable got to school. She recognized the sound of his footsteps, the jingle of his keys as he unlocked his door. She stood watching him like a moon-eyed teenager as he went into his room, removed his leather jacket, and hung it in his closet.

God, he was gorgeous.

The door closed, and it felt stupidly final. She wanted to ask how he dare cut them off when they what they had was so good, but she had made the decision as much as he had. She stood, unmoving, perfectly symbolic of her inertia regarding their future.

Which was stupid. She tossed the sheaf of papers to the table and stalked across her room, determined to convince Cable that they shouldn't let their enemies dictate their lives. It was cliché, but living around what might happen, sacrificing the things that made him happy, meant the bad guys won without lifting a finger.

But as she reached the door, the hall filled with students coming from the cafeteria, where they gathered in classroom groups when they got off the busses, and she was forced back into her room to do her job.

The rest of the day was one of her worst. The kids were too young for any romanticism, even though there were a few giggle-inducing crushes. But they talked about their parents and their older siblings and what mushy-gushy plans they had, and by the end of the day Brianna's anger had reached an intolerable level.

Shortly after the kids left her mother came in, coat already on, knit hat covering her dark hair.

"Brie, dear, do you want to come over for dinner tonight?"

Brianna raised her eyebrows. “It's a little late to be asking me. Aren't you and Dad going out?"

"No, of course not."

Brianna snorted. Her mother was such a bad liar.

"Okay, I thought you'd have your own plans with Cable, and just learned you don't.” Her eyes filled with pained sympathy. “So..."

"Thanks, Mom, but I don't need pity. Everything's fine.” She shoved her spelling tests into her tote bag and added the math papers from yesterday's homework. “I'm actually babysitting Joey for Kira and Jake,” she lied. She'd offered, but Kira had a babysitter.

"Oh.” Understanding dawned on Elyse's face. “Ohhhhh. Okay, then. That's nice. They need some time to themselves. It's good of you to give up your evening."

Brie would have jumped on the opportunity to avoid sitting home grading papers. The only thing more pathetic than that would have been going out with Ken Salzer.

"You and Dad have a good time tonight."

"We will, thanks.” But instead of leaving, her mother came in and closed the door. “What happened, Brianna?"

"Didn't Cable tell you?” She instantly regretted her snideness, but Elyse didn't flinch.

"No. And I haven't said anything because I thought you'd come to me when you were ready to talk. I don't know why, you never do. But it's obvious there's something wrong. He hasn't been to dinner in weeks."

Brianna really didn't want to tell her mother about her abduction or the risks that might still be out there, despite their breakup. Elyse wasn't the hysterical type, but she wouldn't be thrilled. And she'd tell Brianna she was doing the right thing, and that would make Brianna madder. If that were possible.

"Someday, Mom. Maybe."

"All right.” She moved to leave. “Then I'll see you tomorrow."

Brianna followed her out and locked her door, disappointed to see that Cable had left. She wasn't sure what she would have done if he hadn't. Saner thoughts had warred with her neediness throughout the day. It wouldn't do any good to go talk to him. If their nobleness was going to mean anything, they had to stay completely apart.

Forever.

"I really appreciate you doing this on short notice.” Jake watched Cable lift Joey up over his head and settle him on his shoulders. “Watch the doorways, little man,” he told his son.

"Don't worry, we got it.” Cable started cruising the room, making horse noises.

"We goddat, Daddy,” Joey parroted, giggling as Cable tilted him sideways to bank around a corner.

"Yeah, I see. So, thanks, man."

"I didn't have anything better to do,” Cable admitted. “Grading papers."

"Why aren't you and Brie going out?"

Leave it to a brother-in-law to ask the blunt question. Cable ducked under the bedroom doorjamb and headed down the hall so Jake couldn't see how much the answer bothered him.

"Didn't the grapevine give you the answer to that already?"

"Kira told me her mother found out you guys broke up.” He snorted. “I sound like one of the kids."

"Yeah, and not exactly like a normal dude.” He set Joey on his feet next to a pile of blocks that the toddler immediately knocked over. Straightening, Cable frowned at Jake. “Guys don't talk about this stuff."

Jake folded his arms. “They do when their wives won't shut the hell up about asking you what's going on."

Cable couldn't tell him. He was sure Brianna hadn't told her family about her abduction, so he didn't want to face their shock and fear that they'd probably transfer onto him.

Frank had said Gip had lost all external focus when he discovered where he might be going. He'd forgotten about Cable and Brianna and put all his attention on avoiding his own punishment. Frank thought it had changed his perspective. He also thought harming Brie hadn't been on the agenda, though they'd never know for sure.

Right now, in this brightly lit, homey place, with an adoring child climbing up his leg and a good friend trying to fix Cable's relationship, danger didn't seem close. So it didn't make sense to try to explain it to Jake.

"Brianna and I have different needs,” he finally said. “It was a mutual decision."

Jake shrugged. “If you say so.” He bent to kiss Joey. “You be good,” he told him. Joey nodded but didn't look up from his blocks, which he was now stacking. “I'm meeting Kira at the restaurant, since she was networking an office near there. We're going to the eight o'clock show, so should be home by eleven or twelve."

"No problem. Have a great time."

"You, too."

Cable locked the door behind him and turned around just as Joey launched himself from the arm of the couch. He caught him around the middle and turned the leap into a Superman soar. The kid screamed with laughter, and Cable thought maybe this wasn't going to be such a bad Valentine's Day, after all.

"I'm so sorry to ask so late,” Kira repeated for the sixth time. Brianna reassured her it was fine as she tried to negotiate the McDonald's construction zone in the dark, talk on the phone, and not think about what torture it would be to babysit her nephew on Valentine's Day.

"The damned babysitter backed out last minute. I think she got lured to the Franklins. They pay a dollar more an hour. Jerks."

"I said it's okay, Kira.” She settled down as the orange cones disappeared in her rear view mirror and she drove straight down the empty road. “I'll be there in a few minutes.” She frowned as she realized that instead of Joey, she heard clinks and murmurs in the background. “Where are you?"

"I'm at the restaurant. I'm meeting Jake. He'll be at the house but will leave immediately when you get there. I was working at this end of town,” she added.

Brianna narrowed her eyes. There wasn't any end of town that was more than ten minutes away. But there also wasn't a restaurant more than a few blocks outside downtown, which was part of what made Darcy want to build her frickin’ McDonald's.

"So I'll see you in a few hours, bye!” Kira hung up too quickly, damn her. Brianna sighed, wishing she could have said no to this. She wondered what her sister had cooked up. Was she going to be babysitting Parker's nephews or something, too? She couldn't think of anything else that could be going on. Until she pulled into the driveway.

Behind Cable's new Highlander.

Shit.

She was half tempted to back out and go chase her sister down. If Cable was here, she didn't need to be. She could go make a big scene and embarrass...

The mayor of Brook Hollow. Yeah, that would be a brilliant move. Plus, they did deserve a night out alone, despite her sister's betrayal.

And maybe she wasn't betraying her. Maybe Cable was there for something else, and if she left, Joey would be without a babysitter. Except she didn't see Jake's car. Joey's face in the picture window, followed by his waving arm, decided it for her. She couldn't leave now.

She slammed the gearshift into park and trudged up the walk, waving halfheartedly at her nephew, who didn't stop until she'd reached the door. Cable opened it as she started to turn the handle.

"Brianna.” He didn't look surprised.

"Stoneface."

That made Joey giggle. Brie entered the house, hung up her jacket, and hugged her nephew. Cable stood in the foyer, watching them.

"Did you eat dinner?” she asked Joey, who balanced on her knee.

He nodded. “Daddy made cheesy ronies and hot dogs. Me-n-Stoneface are playin’ blocks. Wanna play?"

"Sure."

He scrambled off into the living room.

Brianna straightened. “I guess Jake and Kira had other Valentine's Day plans."

"I guess.” He hesitated. “You don't have to stay, you know. I got it covered."

She finally looked at him. “So do I. But how do you think Joey would react if one of us left now?"

"Good point.” Now he wasn't looking at her. “So I guess we make the best of it."

"I guess."

"Stoneface! Bee-bee! Come on! Make tower wif me!"

Making the best of it meant building countless block towers that Joey gleefully destroyed, getting sticky with ice cream, and making the bathtub a sinking pirate ship—and the entire bathroom floor a sea—before they finally got the kid to bed.

Brianna collapsed onto the couch in the living room after she and Cable had split the kitchen and bathroom cleanup and put away the toys and blocks together. It had been a wonderful night, making her think that under normal circumstances, with Cable, she could have had this life and been happy, even if it hadn't been something she'd craved.

Now she cursed her sister and brother-in-law. They didn't understand how much this hurt, how impossible it was. It was as unattainable as it was idyllic. She'd been wavering, but now, considering the risk to Joey or his unborn cousins, to her own children, she knew Cable was right. They were doing the right thing.

It didn't make it any easier.

"Brianna."

She turned her head against the couch cushion. Cable was lounging in an identical pose, his face inches from hers.

"I want this,” he murmured. “You have no idea how much."

"I know,” she whispered back. “But we can't have it."

He rolled until he leaned over her, longing in his eyes. “Can we pretend?” His mouth brushed hers. “Can we pretend we just put our kids to bed, and now we're alone at last?” Another brush. “Just for a minute, let me taste you again. Love you.” His mouth came down, gentle but hungry, and Brianna couldn't resist. She put her hand on the back of his head. He opened her lips with his tongue. The kiss went on, and on, neither one of them moving or touching each other in any other way.

Until they heard the key in the door. Cable pulled back, his eyes locking with hers, and she saw that nothing had changed. He still loved her like she loved him, and still didn't want to risk being with her. He rubbed his thumb across her cheek, and she realized she was crying.