In Zach's Arms (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 1) (2 page)

It had been forever since they’d talked, even longer since she’d seen him in person. They were different people now.

“This was a stupid idea.”

Too bad she had nowhere else to go.

Oh God, this was a huge mistake
, Elizabeth thought, rubbing sweaty palms down her jeans. The sun was barely up and she’d been awake all night, first with the police and then debating whether or not to come here.

She reached for the car door, ready to double back to town and check into a motel, when the door to the cabin opened. Zach leaned against the frame dressed in a blue flannel shirt and faded blue jeans. His six-foot-three-inch body filled the doorway as he slowly crossed his arms over his chest. His thick brown hair was shaggy and tousled; it looked as if he’d been running his fingers through it.

Elizabeth straightened and slowly walked toward the porch. This was Zach. The doubt had been a product of an overly-tired imagination. He would help her and make sure no one could hurt her. But first, he was going to growl and grumble and probably yell.
 

That thought had her smiling.

***

Zach had watched the slow progress of the SUV from his window as it made its way down the drive. The Sig Sauer 9mm in his hand was a familiar weight and the shotgun behind the door was within easy reach.
 

Strangers weren’t welcome.

When the vehicle stopped and a blonde head emerged, his whole body tensed up and he almost shot himself in the foot. Beth might be average height, but there was nothing average about the curves that graced her body.

The expressions that chased across her face made Zach’s eyebrows arch. Dark circles under her eyes showed her exhaustion. Even her posture was sunk in, as if the weight of some burden was on her shoulders.
 

Something was wrong.

Zach tensed again as he scanned the area, noting the birds still singing. If danger was close, the woods would be quiet. Sensing no immediate threat, he turned back to Beth.

As she reached the porch steps, their eyes met.
 

“Hello, Zach.”

Her soft, sexy voice had a soothing effect on him. It always had. She’d grown up while he’d been gone. The teenager she’d been had given way to a stunning woman.

“Hello, Beth. It’s been a long time.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” With her hands jammed in the pockets of her jeans, she shot a glance at the partially-opened door.

“And if you are?” he asked, curious to see her reaction.

He wondered if she had the ability to be jealous. Wondered if he even cared about that any longer. He was alone, as usual. But she didn’t need to know that.

Yet.

“Then I would, of course, leave. I should have called but I didn’t even think…” her voice trailed off.

“You’re looking good.”

She gifted him with a small smile. “You’re not looking so bad yourself, jarhead.”

Automatically lifting his hand to his grown out hair, he grinned back. “It’s weird having hair again.”

The smile slowly faded and she looked over her shoulder toward the road. She let out a big sigh and turned her liquid brown eyes back to him.

“I’m in trouble, Zach.”

Fear. Bright and vivid in her eyes. That’s why she was exhausted. And why her whole body was pulled tight.

“Tell me.”

“You mind if I sit down?”

He waved her toward one of the chairs on the porch and watched her sit, while he half-sat on the railing.

“My apartment has been broken into twice in the last few weeks.” She shuddered. “The police think someone is after me.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“The police are already investigating and I thought this would get cleared up quickly.”

Zach shoved his hands in his pockets to hide the fact that they were clenched. If there was one thing in his life that was constant, it was his overwhelming need to protect her. That she didn’t call immediately bothered him. Once upon a time he’d been the only rock in her fractured world—a place he wanted to get back to.

She sighed. “I’m here now.” Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she shook her head. “I always seem to run to you when I’m in trouble. But, there just isn’t anyone else.”

Zach pushed away from the rail and moved to her side. Squatting down to her level, he reached out to nudge her chin up so that her eyes met his.

“I will always protect you, Beth. Always.”

She pulled her chin away and sat back. “It’s pathetic. My parents died and I just expected you to be there for me. Now this, and here I am again, expecting you to take care of it.”

“I’m good at taking care of things. It’s what I do. And I’m even better at taking care of you.” And she knew it, Zach thought, or she wouldn’t be here. She tried so hard to be Miss Independent, but when it came down to it, she depended on him, to a certain extent. He would always be there for her.

Because she was his first love.

Moving back to give her some space, he asked, “Tell me about the break in.”

***

Elizabeth sipped the hot coffee he’d poured for her. The wooden chair she’d claimed was comfortable and the fresh air helped her recount the details. They went over it twice. “There’s a detective assigned to the case. Detective Wolfe. He’s seems young, but competent and extremely thorough. I felt like I was a part of the Inquisition earlier.”

“He truly believes this isn’t random?”

“Correct. He says it’s personal, but I don’t know who might want to hurt me. I just don’t come into contact with that many people.”

“Could be anyone. Some clerk at a store that you frequent. You smile and he thinks it means more than it does. Anyone in your building seem strange?”

Mr. McCreedy gave her the willies, but he’d never said much to her that was weird. Still, something must have shown on her face because Zach’s eyes narrowed.

“Who are you thinking of?”

Elizabeth shrugged and sighed. McCreedy rarely spoke, but he watched her.
 

“It might be important,” he prodded.

“It’s just this one neighbor…,” she shook her head. “It’s probably my imagination, but I feel like he watches me. More than the usual nosy neighbor would. His window faces my parking space and, no matter what time I come and go, he’s there. Staring.”

“What’s his name?”

“McCreedy is his last name. I don’t know his first name.”

“That’s a good start. Did you tell Wolfe about him?”

“I didn’t even think about it until now. He’s lived in the building for years. Bea would have said something if she thought he was a problem.”

“Maybe he never had a reason to be a problem until you.”

“Nice. So I’m a problem now?”

“Yeah, you are. How many other desirable young women live in that building?”

Trying to ignore the warm tingle his words caused, she said, “It’s true, I’m one of the youngest tenants. Bea doesn’t usually rent to anyone younger than thirty. She says twenty-somethings are flighty and don’t pay the rent on time. But I remind her of her niece in Chicago, so she took a chance on me.”

“This guy ever invite you to his place? Or try to touch you?”

“No, and he barely even speaks to me, or anyone else for that matter. I’m sure he’s harmless. Probably just lonely.”

“Or he’s a freak who’s planning on taking more from you than just your panties.”

“Okay, I was feeling better until you said that.”

“I won’t sugar-coat this because you’re scared. You need to be. Someone out there wants to hurt you and I’m not about to let that happen.”

Elizabeth pulled her knees up to her chest. “This is all so ridiculous.”
 

“Give me your keys. I’ll move your SUV and get your bags.”

“I don’t have much with me, just a purse, laptop, and a small bag of clothes.”

“Got it,” he said, palming the keys. “Go on into the house. The only room made up is the biggest room at the end. Crawl in and get some rest. You look ready to drop.”

“’kay.”

It wouldn’t hurt to close her eyes for a few minutes and catch a nap. Lethargy settled into her body and made her arms and legs feel as if they weighed a thousand pounds. She didn’t really sleep these days, but a nap sounded so good.

A nap curled up with Zach sounded even better.

Chapter 3

Zach watched Beth sleep on the leather couch. She hadn’t even made it to the bedroom. Squatting down to stare into her face, his breath caught. Even as an awkward teen, Beth had been lovely, but she’d grown even more beautiful.
 

He reached out to brush a strand of hair out of her face. It caressed his rough fingers like silk. It was hard to believe so much time had passed since she was a freshman and he was a trouble-making sophomore from foster care.

 
The snore made him smile. Beth’s full lips were slightly parted. It was good that she was finally getting some rest. The puffiness under her eyes concerned him. Knowing Beth, she probably hadn’t slept a full night since the first break-in.
 

“Time for bed,” he said, as he slowly slid his arms under her shoulders and knees.

“Hmmm.”

The sexy murmur made him smile, and when he adjusted her in his arms, she cuddled closer. Her breath blew against his neck as he carried her down the hall, causing his body to react. Beth’s soft breasts brushed his chest, making it suddenly difficult to walk. It didn’t help that he could easily visualize her naked in his arms, their bodies intertwined.
 

The throbbing in his jeans increased, nudging painfully against the zipper. He’d been a walking hard-on since Beth was in her teens, so this wasn’t new for him.

He slid her under the covers, took off her shoes and tucked her in. Then he left the room, grabbed his cell phone and called Mike Hanson. He and “Little” Mike had done two tours in Fallujah together. They’d had each other’s backs in some squirrelly situations. Since transitioning into civilian life, Mike had become a cop, moving up to sergeant quickly.

“Hello?” Mike answered, a hint of annoyance creeping through.

“What? I catch you sleeping?” Zach taunted.

“Nah, eating a donut and wasting the taxpayers’ money,” was the reply.

“You hate donuts and the taxpayers don’t pay you enough for the shit you do for them.”

“I heard that. What’s up, brother?”

“I have a friend with a problem. She’s in your jurisdiction and I’m curious about the case and about the lead investigator.”

“Give me her name and I’ll dig around.”

“Thanks, Mike. I’ll owe you one.”

“Damn straight you will. I’ll think of something good to ask for, too.”

“You got it.”

***

The secret admirer was tired today, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to check in on her. That’s how he thought of himself. Her secret admirer.

Elizabeth.

Even her name excited him. His visits to her apartment had been spur-of-the-moment, but that didn’t diminish the depth of his admiration. He thought she’d liked the rose, even though he’d been hoping to surprise her in person. He’d lost his temper a bit over that. He hadn’t meant to do so much damage, but really, it was her fault.

Switching on the monitor, he waited for the tiny camera he’d planted yesterday to power up. He’d placed it in her bedroom in the vent, facing the bed, so that he could watch her any time he wanted. He was happy that the police obviously hadn’t found it.

The image finally cleared and showed nothing but rumpled covers and some of the mess he’d made. He felt bad about that. It wasn’t like him to lose control like that, but that’s what she did to him. It’s how she affected him.

She made him crazy.

“Where are you, my Elizabeth?” he whispered.

He assumed she’d be there, cleaning up. Turning off the monitor, he forced himself to relax. She’d be back, sooner or later, and he knew where she’d likely be anyway. That old woman who owned the place was always meddling. She would have demanded that Elizabeth stay with her last night. Maybe Elizabeth was still sleeping.

He would have preferred to watch.

Fingering the silk in his pocket, he pulled out her panties and brought them to his face. He shouldn’t have taken them. But even her smell was fresh. Almost virginal. He liked that about her.

It was one of the reasons she was special.

And why she deserved his attention.

***

Elizabeth woke with a start, jerking into an upright position. Disoriented, she wondered where she was. Glancing around the masculine room, she sighed in relief. The wood siding, the cedar scent, and the four poster bed…Zach’s cabin.

A loud noise blared into the quiet and she jumped.
 

What was that? The sound happened again and her racing heart began to calm down. It was her cell phone. She fumbled through her purse on the nightstand until she located the ringing phone.