The Homecoming (38 page)

“That’s a good idea.”

“It was Sax’s.” Faith smiled at the former SEAL who’d once been the bane of her existence. Who smiled back.

Weird.

Her mother skimmed her fingertips over Kara’s face, which was now turning into a rainbow of colors. None of them pretty.

“It’s not as bad as I’d feared,” she said, studying Kara more like a physician than a mother. “And I brought you some makeup to help cover the bruises until they fade. Let’s go into the bedroom and I’ll examine you.” She glanced over at Sax again. Then at Trey and Kyle. “Surely you all can find something to do.”

“Tide’s going out,” Sax said. “We’ll go look for stranded baby sharks.”

“Perfect.” The chirp was back. Kara’s mother didn’t exactly clap her hands in that oddly cute way Paula Abdul had back when she’d been judging
American Idol
, but she came perilously close.

“That wasn’t necessary. Because I’m fine,” Kara protested as Sax, Trey, and her deputy obediently left the house.

“Gracious,” Faith said. “I hadn’t realized you’d received a medical degree during the short time John and I have been in Portland.”

“And I don’t recall you being so sarcastic.”

Faith grinned—not her trademark cool smile, but a quick, bold flash of perfectly straight white teeth.

“I’ve turned over a new leaf.” She made a scooting motion with her hand toward the hallway. “Let’s get this over with. Because I have news.”

Since she’d already confirmed that they’d brought Danny back with them, and that he was fine and currently staying with his uncle, Kara guessed her mother’s news didn’t concern him. But from that oddly uncharacteristic smile and what appeared to be an actual twinkle in her eyes, whatever it was appeared to be good.

She stripped down to her underwear, feeling a bit uncomfortable being examined by her mother in the room that she feared still smelled of sex. But if Faith noticed that, or the rumpled sheets, she didn’t comment. Instead she briskly and professionally worked her way from the butterfly bandage on Kara’s temple to the swollen bruise on her ankle, which she’d slammed against the iron leg of the chair while kicking out at her attacker.

“This appears new.” Faith’s fingers skimmed over a mark on Kara’s neck.

Terrific. Was there anything that could make you feel more like a teenager again than having your mother notice a hickey? “Curling iron,” she mumbled.

“Isn’t that odd?” Faith continued to study it. “Given that a curling iron leaves a burn. Yet this is most definitely a bruise.”

Kara caved. “I should know better than to try to fool a doctor.”

“You should know better than to try to fool your mother,” Faith said mildly. Her expression sobered. “John said that your attacker might have had something to do with a cold case your father was working on.”

“That’s a possibility.” John wasn’t one to gossip about police business. But this was different—because it not only involved his lover’s daughter, but perhaps Faith Blanchard’s husband, as well.

“He also said that you believe your father’s death might not have been an accident.”

“I honestly don’t know, Mom. I suppose he told you about Sax’s friend’s wife. The former F.B.I. agent.

“Yes.”

“I’m working the case from the files. She’s got people working on the shell casing. If we get a match, or I find a connection, I promise you’ll be the first to know.”

Her mother, who’d always been composure personified, shivered. “I hate the idea of anyone murdering Ben.”

“You’re not alone there. But if someone did, I promise, John and I will get him.”

“I have not a single doubt about that.” Something shadowed Faith’s already sober eyes. “Now, get dressed. Then we really need to talk.”

“If it’s about Sax—”

“It’s not. At least, not directly,” Faith amended. “Get dressed. Then I’ll explain everything.”

“Oh, super. Because I’d really love to know the true story behind Bigfoot. And black holes. And if Scully and Mulder have managed to unearth the truth yet.”

The mood, which had turned serious during the discussion about her father, lightened, as Kara had hoped. Her mother flashed one of those grins again. One that made her look at least ten years younger. “Brat.”

“I do have one more question.”

“Which would be?”

“Who are you? And what have you done with my mother?”

Faith laughed.

Then left the room, leaving Kara staring after her.

“I can’t believe it,” Kara said, still stunned three hours later.

Her mother had left to return home. Trey was in bed with Chesty, Velcro, and a stuffed bear wearing a hospital gown and carrying crutches Faith had bought him at the hospital gift shop.

She and Sax were sitting outside, watching the moon float across an amazingly clear, star-studded sky.

“What can’t you believe?” His arm was around her shoulder, her head on his. Sax figured he could easily spend the rest of his life here, just like this. With Kara on the porch, and Trey asleep inside.

As good as the mutt seemed to be for the kid, Sax knew the value of brothers. Maybe he and Kara could talk about that later. Once she got used to the idea that he was really in this relationship for the long haul.

“That your mother and John are in love?” he asked. “Or that they’re leaving Shelter Bay to have themselves a grand adventure?”

“Neither one is young anymore. And if they want to be together, which I honestly think is great and I’m happy for them, why can’t they be together here? They could get themselves killed going off to some godforsaken third-world war zone.”

“They could also do the world some good. There’s this guy, Shane Garrett, an Army SOAR helicopter pilot, who was on the team with Quinn and me. He married a former relief doctor. Which is what your mother told you she’d wanted to do back in her twenties, then deferred the dream for a family after falling in love with your father.”

“She also said that she never regretted a moment of that decision.”

“And you believe that?”

“Absolutely.”

“So do I. But your father’s gone and you’re a grown woman. Would you prefer her to stay here, stick to the status quo in a job she’s clearly less than thrilled with, and spend the rest of her life wondering
what if
?”

“Of course not. I guess, along with worrying about her, I’m also upset about John.”

“Why? He and your mom have been friends for years. They seem a great match.”

“I know. They’ve both suffered the loss of someone they loved, someone they expected to live the rest of their lives with, so I’m honestly happy to see them have this second chance at happiness.

“And John did agree to stay on until I can find someone to replace him. But although he insists he didn’t want to be sheriff, he’s been like a rock to me. I honestly don’t think he can be replaced.”

“He’s a special guy, all right. But you’ll find someone. And you know what? From what I can tell, you’re pretty much a rock yourself. You’ll be fine.”

“If I didn’t think I could do the job, I wouldn’t have taken it.” She sighed. “I guess I’m just not that wild about change.”

“Few people are.”

“Do you miss it?” she asked.

“Miss what?” he asked idly, as he ran his free hand up her jeans-clad thigh.

“Having grand adventures all over the world. Going, what do you call it, ‘wheels-up’ at any minute?”

“Yeah, that’s what we called it. And no, I don’t miss it.”

She turned toward him, her expression earnest. “It seems, after all you’ve done, running a dance hall and restaurant in a town with a population of less than a thousand might seem a little stale.”

“When I was younger, I got off on the extreme stuff,” he admitted. “And there’s probably nothing like the adrenaline rush you get in a battle. But I’m not like some of those guys who defined themselves by their military role. And who get withdrawal when they’re away from the action.”

Like it sounded as if Jared had been. Kara’s soft sigh told him that her mind was running along the same lines.

“I was drifting when I came back here. I knew I was through with the Navy, but I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do next. I watched Cole running his fishing business, caught up in tasting cupcakes and talking about bachelorette parties, looking at travel brochures for his honeymoon and trading in his truck for that kiwi hybrid, and thought maybe he was making a mistake.

“But now I realize he’s the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet. And if you tell him I said that, as much as I love you, sugar, I’ll call you a damn liar.”

He felt her tense. “You said the L-word.”

“Yeah. I guess I did. It just slipped out. So?”

“It’s too soon.”

“Nine years ago would’ve been too soon. Our personal roads were taking us in opposite directions. Besides, even if Jared hadn’t been in the picture, we weren’t ready for each other back then.

“We are now. But don’t worry; I’m not going to turn crazy stalker on you or anything. Like I said, I’m a patient man. I’m willing to give you time to realize that you’re so in love with me you can’t think straight.”

“Some men’s egos are not to be believed,” she huffed. Since things were getting a little more emotional than she might be able to handle right now, he’d decided that would draw a rise out of her. “Awful sure of yourself, aren’t you, Douchett?”

“No.” He touched his smiling mouth to her frowning one. “I’m awful sure of you.” He kissed her a second time. The third time he felt her lips curve beneath his. “Of us.”

He wanted to take her. Here. Now. With the crashing surf below, and the white galleon moon and stars whirling above.

If it hadn’t been for her son sleeping just inside . . .

But without Trey, Kara wouldn’t be the woman she was.

She pressed her fingers against her temple. “It’s my fault.”

“What?”

“I told you I don’t take sex lightly. So now that we’ve gone and done it—”

“Several times. And hopefully it was as good for you as it was for me.”

“It was amazing. But just because we shared amazing sex doesn’t mean you need to feel obliged to tell me you love me.”

Okay, so that bit about it being as good for her as it had been for him admittedly hadn’t been that great a joke. Still, he’d meant it as one. But damned if she hadn’t taken it seriously. As she’d always done with so many other things in her life.

Sax decided it was past time for Kara to loosen up—as she had in the shower, then later in bed—and start having herself some fun.

“Wow.” He shook his head. “That accusation definitely came out of left field.”

“Cait told me that SEALs don’t go into battle guns blazing.”

“As a rule, if guns are blazing, we haven’t done our job right,” he agreed, wondering exactly where and how this conversation had gone so badly offtrack.

“So you need to fit into your environment.”

“True again. Sounds as if Quinn’s shared some stuff with her.”

“It appears so. Including the fact that SEALs are really, really good liars.”

Okay. That hurt.

“Is that what you think?” The warm, fuzzy feeling he’d been experiencing just moments ago was getting burned away by a flash of temper he’d inherited from his mother. He’d thought the Navy had trained it out of him, since, contrary to Hollywood’s often skewed portrayal of war, cool heads usually trumped hot in battle. Apparently, as he’d been discovering the past few days, he’d thought wrong. “That I’d actually lie to you to justify doing what we both wanted?”

“I wasn’t calling you a liar.” Her eyes glistened suspiciously, and damned if her lips hadn’t begun to tremble. Just a little.

Now he’d upset her.
Smooth move, Douchett.
He glanced up and viewed the guys shaking their heads, looking thoroughly disgusted. Bad enough he was screwing this up. The last thing he needed was an audience.

“I was merely trying to explain that just because we slept together, you needn’t feel obliged—”

“Fuck.”

Her eyes widened at the word, which, especially being a cop, she’d heard before. But not from him. He might have been a SEAL, but having his dad wash out his mouth with a bar of Ivory soap for cussing at his mother when he’d been ten had taught him there was just some behavior, and some words, you saved for the guys.

“There’s something you need to know, while you’re making up your mind.” He could win her over. In a heartbeat. But it was important that she come to the realization on her own. “I’ve known a lot of women. Been with a lot of women.”

“Now that’s a surprise.”

She’d sure been a lot easier back in high school. “And I’ve been known to toss around a few compliments. Because I like women, so I enjoy making them feel good.”

“Again, I’m shocked.”

She wasn’t going to ever make it easy on him. Maybe he was perverse, but that was one of the things Sax really loved about her.

“But here’s the deal. I’ve always been real careful, even in the heat of, well, you know—”

“Amazing sex,” she helped him out.

“Yeah. Even then. I’ve never, not once, ever told any woman I loved her.” Because he didn’t want her to think he was taking advantage of this confession, trying to get some more of that amazing sex, he pressed his lips against her forehead instead of taking her smart mouth. “Until you.”

She shook her head. “Cait’s right about another thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You SEALs fight dirty.”

He grinned. “You know what they say.”

This time he kissed her on the mouth, a slow, deep kiss that had her kissing him right back.

Oh, yeah, and hooyah, the woman was crazy about him. “All’s fair in love and war.”

Displaying a sensitivity Kara wouldn’t have guessed she possessed, Maude didn’t say a word about the bruises that the concealing cream and liquid foundation her mother had shown up with last night couldn’t quite hide.