Chapter Seven
Four hours later and a few miles north of Coeur d’Alene, Luke had finally given in and let her drive. Sally could tell by his heavy eyelids and the slight slur to his words that he’d needed to rest, despite the dire description he’d given of his sleeping issues. She’d managed to doze some while he drove. Though not well rested by any means, she was alert enough to take the wheel. He’d fallen into a restless slumber almost immediately upon switching places. So far, he’d mumbled unrecognizable phrases, but otherwise he seemed like anyone else catnapping in a car.
Midmorning on a Saturday meant more traffic than she was used to. Huntington never saw many travelers other than locals. The sky was overcast, but the clouds were breaking up to the north. Seeing the sun would be a nice touch after the night they’d had. Jen squirmed on the seat behind her but settled in again without waking. Sally stretched taller so she could see her in the rearview mirror. Peaceful. Beautiful. Poor baby must have been exhausted.
Every few minutes, Sally’s glance fell on Luke, asleep in the seat beside her, his rolled-up jacket forming a pillow where he leaned his head against the side window. Warmth invaded her belly, making her smile secretly. His muscled chest moved up and down gently with each breath. The urge to touch him was nearly overwhelming. The memory of his lips on hers sent electrical pulses all the way to her toes. She was as giddy as a teenager, falling in love for the first time. The difference was, she’d been in love with Luke for a long time…and now he’d come back, professing an interest in starting over. She wanted to believe he felt the same way she did, but her heart was still raw—a gentle reminder the world could change in a heartbeat.
She’d meant every word, but was it possible to spend time with him, let him touch her…make love to her…and not risk her heart? Even though intimately acquainted with the shattered pieces he’d reduced her soul to after his rescue, she still wasn’t willing to give up this time with him—this possibility. Their relationship could work. She’d never know unless she let go of her fears long enough to give him a chance.
Masochistic much?
Never in her life had she acted like an irresponsible child. She’d grown up at fourteen—the day her mother died, leaving her in the care of her only living relative. Her father…Clive Brennan. Apparently, she was making up for lost time now, her insides turning to mush at the mere thought of Luke’s touch. To have so quickly abandoned her determination not to trust the man who’d broken her heart had to be foolish to say the least. Didn’t it? After all, hers and Jen’s lives depended on the decisions she made in the next few days.
What if she was wrong about him?
This is Luke.
She scoffed soundlessly, chastising herself for even thinking he could be anything other than honorable. Sally glanced at the sleeping military hero beside her and slowly shook her head. No. There’s not an unprincipled bone in his body. He’s come back a slightly different man—but the same in every way that matters.
The heaviness of guilt bore down on her again, as it had earlier, when she’d told Luke she wouldn’t settle for anything less than honesty. Wasn’t she guilty of withholding the truth from him—information that could easily put her life in jeopardy? Sure…she’d told him about Clive Brennan’s crime, her testimony and the resulting witness protection gig, but she’d left out the part that humiliated her to the bone—the fact that the monster was her father. She’d wanted to tell Luke—to have everything out in the open—but when she’d formed the words in her mind, her mouth had gone dry to the point her tongue refused to cooperate, the breath caught in her throat and her world began to spin. If Luke hadn’t reached to steady her on that mountain road in front of Garrett and Jonathan, she’d have hit the dirt for sure.
Still, it was crucial not to lose sight of what was important. Jen’s safety came first. Besides, Marshal Lambert was on his way to find her with plans to stash them back in hiding before the day was out. A sudden memory brought her up short. She’d left her cell phone behind when Jen and she jumped from Luke’s truck. It was going to be hard for Lambert to find her if she didn’t answer her phone. She couldn’t even call him because his number was pre-set in her contacts and she had no idea what it was.
Equal amounts of fear and relief surged through her, along with a hefty dose of excitement at the feeling of freedom from the bonds that had held her for so many years. To no longer have the federal government responsible for her safety brought mixed emotions—and possibly it was premature to be celebrating. On the other hand, the feds certainly hadn’t done such an outstanding job keeping Clive and his men away from her last night.
At that instant, Luke jerked forward, grabbing the dash with both hands, his eyes wild. Every muscle in his arms and legs strained in the throes of whatever nightmare had woken him. “Get back! Get the fuck back!”
Startled, she slammed on the brakes and the Jeep fishtailed to a stop on the side of the road. “Luke?”
For a fraction of a second, the blank look he gave her held no recognition. His features twisted into a mask of rage as he grabbed the steering wheel. Jen moaned and stirred on the backseat but apparently slipped back into her deep sleep. Sally cringed away from Luke’s obvious anger and, suddenly, concern for Jen’s safety and hers became Sally’s overriding thought. Would she upset him further if she tried to reach her daughter?
It’s still Luke! She forced herself to focus. He was still the man she cared about, and he was obviously hurting somewhere deep down inside. She wouldn’t cut and run at the first sign of trouble.
Sally placed her hand firmly over his where he gripped the steering wheel. “Luke, wake up.” She’d tried for calm and had managed a small amount of bravado.
Confusion surfaced in Luke’s expression and, as suddenly as it had begun, his glazed eyes cleared and a scowl hardened his features. He let loose the dash and steering wheel, dragging his hands the length of his stubble-covered face as he leaned back in the seat. “Sorry. I’m okay.”
Not wanting Luke to see how much he’d frightened her, Sally stepped on the gas again, guiding the Jeep into the northbound lane. Her heart still pounded as she stole a glance at his profile. Was that what it was like all the time for him? He’d warned her, but she’d had no idea his episodes would be so intense. Thankfully, Jen hadn’t witnessed his outburst. She wouldn’t have understood.
Silence resumed in the cab until, a few minutes later, he slid his hand onto her knee and turned his head toward her. “I’m sorry, babe. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She smiled. It was still Luke. He was having a hard time right now and he needed her to be strong. Her heart swelled to overflowing for her Navy SEAL and all the wounds he’d suffered. “I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”
He squeezed her knee before settling back in the seat. Heaven help her—she loved him. The need to touch him came again, stronger this time. We deserve a little happiness—all of us. It’s not like I’m going into this with blinders on.
Forty miles later, on the outskirts of Sandpoint, Sally yawned as she pulled the Jeep off the highway and into the parking lot of a small, tired-looking motel. The sun had broken free from the clouds and now hung directly overhead.
Instantly, Luke sat straight and scanned from right to left, his gaze finally coming to rest on her. “What’s up?”
“We’re stopping. I need food, a shower and a clean bed to stretch out in, not necessarily in that order.”
Luke looked toward the rustic motel, its faux log cabin sides missing chinks of plaster here and there. Huge, old air-conditioning units hung on the front of each room, lined up alongside a dozen doors, painted neon green, all in a row, ending with a glass door bearing a sign saying “Check-in.” His nose wrinkled. “Is this the best we can do, babe?”
Sally shoved the gearshift into Park and rested her head on the steering wheel. For a moment, she considered kissing the doubtful grimace off his face but dismissed the idea when she heard Jen rustling behind her. “Yes. For now, it will have to do. I don’t have any money, Luke, but I’ll pay you back every cent.”
“No need. Money should be the last of your worries right now.” Luke raised up slightly and inserted one hand into his right front pocket. “Besides, Uncle Sam has been taking care of my expenses for a while now. So, I’ve got a bundle saved.”
“I appreciate that I don’t have to worry now, but I will pay you back, so get used to the idea.”
Luke grinned as he pulled his hand from his pocket and handed her the wallet she’d left in the truck. “I almost forgot. Your purse spilled on the floor while I was taking a corner pretty fast. I grabbed a couple of things I thought you’d need.” He reached into his left-hand pocket and came out with her cell phone. “I turned it off. Didn’t want those thugs to hear it ring while I was clinging to the side of that mountain.”
Sally stared at the phone and, suddenly, the weight of the world collapsed on her shoulders again. Now she would have to turn it on. Answer it when it rang. Tell Marshal Lambert where to find her. She took it from Luke tentatively and smiled a thank you she didn’t mean.
He caught her arm as she swiveled to nudge Jen. “Hey. You okay?”
His sincerity and concern banished her pity party, and she nodded, raising her lips to his. Luke pulled her closer and she pressed into his warmth as their lips met in sensuous exploration. She wanted to stay right there, but she pulled away as soon as she heard Jen stir and come fully awake. Sally didn’t want to give her daughter false hopes. Until she talked to the marshal and figured out the next move, their lives weren’t their own. She pushed Luke back and frowned at his humorous smirk.
Jen yawned and rolled toward the bucket seats. “Mom, I’m hungry,” she whispered.
“Me too,” Luke said. “I didn’t think you’d ever wake up.” He tossed a wink at Sally, and she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. “Tell you what: Why don’t you ladies wait here while I get us a room? After we’re settled, I’ll run into town and grab us some breakfast. How’s that sound?”
“Can we have pancakes?” Jen slid to the edge of the seat, shook her curls out of her face and grasped the front seats to pull herself up. Her clear eyes and excited manner alleviated some of Sally’s worry. Her daughter appeared no worse for wear, despite the past several hours.
“You can have anything you want.” Luke landed a kiss on the top of her head before he opened his door and stepped out. “Figure out what your mom wants while I’m gone, okay?”
As Luke disappeared inside the motel’s office, Jen crawled into her lap and wound her arms around Sally’s neck. “Mom, what happened to your face?” Her small hand gently touched the bruise on Sally’s jaw.
How could she explain the black and blue marks without destroying her daughter’s trust in men? She’d promised herself, when Jen was barely able to walk, that she’d always be honest with her—something Sally’s own father apparently hadn’t known the first thing about. It hadn’t always been easy. Like when Luke was captured overseas and wounded and Sally had been sure she’d never see him again. Things like that were hard to explain to a child—so she’d omitted parts of the truth to protect her daughter. That wasn’t the same as lying, was it?
“Remember I told you I had a date with my boss last night?”
“Yeah,” Jen said.
“Well, not all men are nice. Some of them are bullies, just like in your school.”
“He hurt you? Did you tell Luke?” Placing her fingers under Sally’s chin, she turned her mother’s head and studied the abrasion on her cheekbone.
“Luke knows.” Sally went for the simplistic answer rather than also explaining Luke’s sudden appearance.
“Good. I bet that bully won’t bother you again. Mom, when can we go home?”
Apparently, her daughter was full of hard questions today. This was one Sally hadn’t wanted to field so soon. She pulled her daughter’s arms loose and took her small hands in hers. “I don’t know, honey. It might be a long time. There wasn’t much left of our house. The landlord might decide not to rebuild.” Sally tucked a lock of Jen’s hair behind her ear. How would her nine-year-old daughter handle such devastating news?
Jen stared at her thoughtfully for several seconds, then leaned into her again, and Sally hugged her small body close. “That’s okay, Mom. It’ll be like an adventure. As long as Luke is with us, I won’t miss home that much. Will you?”
Sally should have known her daughter of nine…going on thirty…would take everything in stride. She smiled, a genuine smile of relief. “Why would I miss home when I have everything I care about right here?” She tickled Jen’s ribs, mother and daughter giggling together.
The passenger door opened and Sally jumped. Jen laughed when she spotted Luke in the doorway. He held out both hands toward her, and she clambered across the seat and flung herself into his arms. Luke let out an oof and mumbled something about her being so big.
He situated Jen on his left side, reached for his duffel and nodded his head in the direction of the line of motel rooms. “Ours is the last one.”
Sally hurried to keep up with Luke’s long stride, but when he reached the last bright green door, he unlocked it, shoved it open and stood aside, waiting for her to go ahead. The musty, closed-up smell hit her first, and she kept walking to the far side of the room, where she wrestled with the window for a few minutes before she gave up. Frustrated, she turned and surveyed the rest of the room. Shag carpet, two full-sized beds with mattresses that dipped in the middle, covered by worn bedspreads of questionable cleanliness. It was all she could do to keep from shuddering as her gaze drifted to Luke.
He set Jen on her feet and straightened. A crooked smile slid across his countenance. “Next time I choose the accommodations.”
His dark brown eyes, sparkling with amusement, were her downfall. She coughed to disguise the laughter that sputtered from her throat, but when Jen and Luke broke up, Sally lost it too. She hadn’t really laughed in so long—since before Luke was deployed. It felt good to be reckless, impetuous and carefree.
Luke collected himself first and eyed Jen. “Did you find out what your mom wants for breakfast?”
“Oh shoot, I forgot.” Jen sounded truly repentant, and Sally was relieved when Luke turned his best smile on the girl.
“No worries. I’ll get it out of her.” He grinned at Jen, and she dropped on the edge of the bed, watching to see what would happen next.
“Okay, pancakes for Jen. You want anything else with that? Sausage? Bacon?” Luke pretended to pull a waiter’s order pad from his pocket and began writing with the tip of his finger.
Jen dissolved into giggles. “No. Just pancakes and milk.”
Luke pretend-jotted another note. “You got it, miss. And for the beautiful lady?” His gaze locked on Sally’s.
She could practically feel the heat emanating off him from where she stood a few feet away. Between that, him calling her beautiful and the lust in his eyes, she found herself stumbling for words. “Um…I’ll have…whatever you’re having will be fine.”
He raised an eyebrow as though he doubted her decision but folded the pretend notebook and put it back in his pocket. He strode to the door and stopped. “I won’t be long, but one of you might have time to get in the shower. Help yourself to anything I’ve got in the way of clean clothes. We’ll do a little shopping before we hit the road again. Pick up a few essentials. The place we’re heading to is out in the sticks, so if we don’t get it here, we’ll have to go without until we get back to town.” He paused and frowned. “Lock the door and don’t open it to anyone while I’m gone.” His gaze fell on her again, and she gave him her abbreviated version of a salute. He smiled, but this time the humor didn’t reach his eyes.
As soon as he left, Sally strode across the room and locked the door. His ominous warning, accompanied by obvious concern, had left a dark cloud over the occupants of the room. Even Jen seemed to feel it, so Sally hurried her into the bathroom and turned on the water, adjusting it to the right temperature. Then she left her daughter to the shower and returned to the other room to search through Luke’s bag. She settled for a T-shirt that would pass as an oversized dress on Jen’s small frame. It would have to suffice until they found something better.
She chose a button-up, light blue shirt for herself, mostly because it smelled like Luke, and carried the clothes into the bathroom. Jen was just stepping out of the shower, so Sally helped to pat her dry, then pulled the fresh shirt over her head. They had a good laugh over how it hung off one shoulder.
Luke still wasn’t back, so after reiterating his instructions about keeping the door locked to Jen for good measure, Sally peeled off her soiled clothes and crawled under the inviting spray. She couldn’t remember when a shower had felt so divine, although it would probably take more than one to get the smoke out of her pores. With the soap and shampoo provided by the motel, she did the best she could. Then she dried off, ran her fingers through her hair in a last-ditch attempt to restore order without the proper equipment and wrapped Luke’s shirt around her shoulders, slipping her arms into the sleeves. She breathed in deeply of the slightly spicy, slightly fresh-mown-hay scent that clung to the fabric. Luke’s smell…it brought back all kinds of memories she’d tried to forget.
When she left the steamy bathroom, Luke and Jen were sitting at the table eating breakfast from Styrofoam containers and discussing the end of the school year, which was only a couple of months away. God only knew when Jen would see the inside of a classroom again.
Luke did a double take when he saw Sally and, feeling self-conscious, she tugged on the bottom of the shirt to make certain everything was covered. Heat invaded her cheeks anyway, and she was sure she’d turned a bright shade of red. Suddenly, she was regretting her decision to rinse her tank top and panties and leave them draped over the shower curtain in the bathroom. When she pulled out her chair and sat to eat, Luke’s gaze remained on his food. Was it just her imagination or did his pained expression and stiff spine mean he was uncomfortable for some reason?
Pancakes, eggs and sausage seemed to be the fare everyone was enjoying, and Sally dug in without hesitation. “Oooh…this tastes really good. Thank you.” She smiled her gratitude at Luke.
When he glanced at her briefly and nodded, she was startled at the nearly black color of his eyes and the intensity burning in them. She started to ask if he was all right, but he averted his eyes and the words caught in her throat.
Jen sat back and dropped her plastic fork onto her empty plate. “Mom, can I be excused?”
Sally dragged her gaze from Luke’s profile. “Sure, honey. There’s probably a garbage container under the sink for your paper and plastic.”
Jen jumped up, tossed her plate and utensils in the trash, then skipped around the table and landed a kiss on Luke’s cheek. “Thank you for breakfast.”
“It was totally my pleasure.” He returned the peck before she scooted away to flounce on the end of one of the beds.
“Is it okay if I play a game on your phone, Mom?”
“Sure. You’ll have to turn it on first. Just for a few minutes, though. I don’t want to run the battery down.” The only charger she’d owned had been incinerated with the rest of her belongings.
Jen found the phone, where Sally had dropped it alongside her wallet on the nightstand and propped herself on the pillows of the far bed.
Sally turned back to her breakfast and caught Luke studying the blue button-up shirt she’d pulled from his duffel and slipped on. The grim set of his mouth seemed a lot like disapproval and emphasized the emotional distance between them. Suddenly uncomfortable, she laid her fork down. “Should I change? You said to help ourselves, but—”
Luke’s gaze slowly rose to her eyes, and the heat in his glance warmed her skin as surely as if he’d touched her. “Do you have any idea how damn sexy you look in my shirt? Hell no, I don’t want you to change.” A glimmer of his familiar grin banished his serious expression. “We just need a certain little girl to go to sleep.” His words were a conspiratorial whisper.
Sally gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I wouldn’t count on that. She slept practically all the way here.”
“I know.” His lips contorted into a half grimace, half self-deprecating smile. “I need a shower anyway. I guess it’ll be a cold one.”
Luke finished the last of his food and pushed his chair back. He leaned toward her and swept her hair behind her shoulder, baring her neck to the gentle brush of his lips. “You don’t mind if I imagine you in there with me, do you?” A tip of his head indicated the bathroom door, and his gaze did a slow burn over her breasts to her lap, and the spot on her thigh where his shirt ended.
A tremor surged through her torso, and her stomach felt as though it flipped clear over as his head slowly lifted until he focused on her face again. His lips met hers, a silent promise of more to come. Another few seconds and Jen rolled over, breaking the spell. Luke stood. With a smile of regret, he dumped his trash, grabbed his duffel and disappeared into the bathroom.
Sally let her breath out slowly. Clearly she was putty in his hands, unable to form a coherent thought if he was within arm’s reach. What did Luke expect from her—besides the sexual intimacy that he obviously craved? Was he interested in an overnight family—forever? Because that was the only kind of relationship she’d bring into Jen’s life. She and her daughter were a package deal.
Luke had made it obvious the sun rose and set with Jen, and Sally had no doubt he’d take on the role of father with all his heart. Her little girl thought the world of Luke too. Sally pushed her remaining eggs around with her fork, no longer hungry. That only left her—what did Sally want?
She loved their reawakened closeness—the sexual tension that zinged between them. Sally wasn’t immune to Luke’s charm and devastatingly good looks, and there’d been a time she’d dreamed of a hero riding in on a black steed, offering the house in the country with a white picket fence…and maybe more children someday. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit the prospect of sex with Luke Harding excited her. A slow smile faded as quickly as it came. If only she could keep from dwelling on the rubble of her house and her current situation.
There were problems with her happily-ever-after scenario. The man who’d sired her apparently wanted to make her life significantly shorter in retribution for sending him to jail. Marshal Lambert wanted to protect her but, in the process, would completely destroy her current existence.
Neither was acceptable. Both were reasons why she shouldn’t waste what little time she and Luke had.
Sally pushed to her feet, finished clearing off the table and glanced toward Jen. Her daughter was completely engrossed in the game she was playing, and experience had taught her Jen would continue happily until asked to stop.
The shower turned off, and Sally’s imagination kicked into high gear—Luke stepping from the steamy cubicle, running the towel over his muscled body, soaking up the water droplets. She shook her head. She couldn’t just walk in on him…could she? What if Jen sees me? Sally glanced toward the bed, where the girl lay propped on her elbows, thumbs pounding out a rhythm on the phone’s face. Jen was obviously in her own world at the moment. She wouldn’t notice a brass band parading through the room. Sally grabbed a napkin and absently wiped down the table where they’d eaten. If she was honest…it wasn’t Jen’s reaction she was worried about. What if Luke didn’t want her there?
Huh? Get a grip, girl. How much more transparent could he be? If she’d doubted he was attracted to her before that sizzling kiss, she didn’t any longer. He’d made himself quite clear on the subject. It was time she reciprocated. Too bad she was scared to death. All the more reason…
With one last glance toward Jen, she strode to the bathroom door and knocked quietly.
“Be right out.” Luke’s deep voice came from the other side.
Sally straightened her spine, pushed the door and slipped inside.