Hearths of Fire (23 page)

“Doc. I didn’t expect to hear from you until tomorrow.”

“I know, but I’ve run into a slight problem.” Neal paused, his mind spinning this situation a million ways. No matter how he put it, it still didn’t negate the fact that he was shirking his responsibilities to the team. Fuck. “I’ll keep this brief and to the point. A friend of Mandy’s has gone missing.”

“As in abducted?” Starr asked, a little curiosity lacing her tone. It was better than the
I don’t give a shit
answer he thought he would get. It wasn’t that Starr wasn’t a nice person, but she ran a damned tight ship and an even tighter schedule. “Give me a quick SITREP.”

Neal spent the next five minutes providing a verbal situational report on what had transpired within a little over twenty-four hours. He gave what facts he had so far and then he gave his estimation of what he expected to find. Once that was over with, he requested the additional days that he felt would be needed.

“I know this comes at a bad time, but we’re talking about a girl’s life. I know in my gut this is related to the Ashes. I just can’t prove it yet.”

“This isn’t going to make Gunny very happy. The drill that he has planned for this week required all of you or it’s going to fall short of its training objectives.” Starr paused and Neal gave her the time she needed, knowing better than to rush her in the decision making process. Been there, done that—and look at what transpired with Trigger and Diesel. “You have until Tuesday. We’ll go through the additional naval operations block training and you’ll have to bust your ass to catch up once you’re back in the saddle.”

“Consider it done,” Neal replied, his chest loosening in relief at being given the additional days. He would do what had to be done, including trespassing on the Ashe property if there were no solid leads come morning. “Starr?”

“Yes?”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

“Don’t get all sappy on me, Doc. Even my heart beats once in a great while.”

Before Neal could say another word Starr had disconnected their line. Shaking his head at the abrupt way she handled her calls, he lowered his phone and immediately speed dialed his next contact. Waiting for Daegan to pick up, Neal walked toward the window and pulled back the curtains. Night had already fallen and Mandy was still out with Garreth. The high school kids were having some type of candle ceremony during the big bonfire that had been planned for this evening. Sheriff Plinkton and some of the deputies were supposed to be present, so Neal was confident nothing unforeseen would occur this evening.

“What’s up, Doc? You headed back in the morning?”

“No, that’s why I’m calling.” Neal thought he saw movement off to the right where the edge of the lawn connected with the neighbor’s house, but after he zeroed in on the area…nothing could be seen. He’d make a security sweep before they turned in this evening. He figured Charlotte and his visit today had made some of the followers a little uneasy, specifically Robert and Patricia Ashe. “I just got approval from Starr to take some additional days.”

“Things not going well or did your woman change her mind again?” Daegan said with a laugh. “Wait, let me guess. She’s got you back at the altar and you need a best man.”

“Yeah, yeah…you keep that shit up and I’ll personally see to it that Starr knows you’re the one who’s banging the comms specialist aboard
The Promised Land
. The boss doesn’t like fraternization among the crew.”

“Now that’s not funny, bro.” Daegan’s voice had dropped all humor and it was apparent he wanted to drop the conversation as well when he got right to the point. “Fine. Why do you need extra days?”

Neal covered the story one more time, hoping that Daegan would pick up something that he was missing. This much information in a day was a lot to take in and come away with answers. He was too close to the situation as well. No matter what was asked of the Ashes today, they were careful in their replies. Neal hadn’t spent much time with Garreth, but maybe that needed to change soon. It didn’t help that the dinner they’d planned for tonight had gone by the wayside.

“You need to get your ass on that property,” Daegan said, confirming Neal’s decision. “Are there any of your old buddies or someone at the sheriff’s office that can cover your six?”

“No.” Neal thought through the list of people in town and there wasn’t anyone that he would trust to have his back in this type of situation. It didn’t help that he would also be asking someone to break the law. “No reflection on the people here, but no one is really trained for this type of op. In addition, it’s not exactly legal.”

“I’d be there by morning if I thought Starr and Gunny would give me leave, but you and I both know that’s not going to happen unless the second coming happens first. I know you did a search on the Ashes, but let me see if I can’t do a little more digging.”

“You mean the pretty brunette with librarian glasses from the operations intel cell?” Neal asked, already shaking his head. “You and I both know we’re not permitted to use Red Starr’s resources for private use—I’m damn sure that this would qualify as personal use.”

“You’re assuming I’d be using a certain someone. Oh ye of little faith,” Daegan laughed before following up with another of his one-liners. “While I’m digging for intel, don’t get your ass married or redneck clan brainwashed.”

With that the line went dead. Neal couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s twisted sense of humor. It was a relief that Charlotte understood that what had happened today was a mistake. He’d apologized and then even followed up with why it was a bad choice. They’d spent the rest of the afternoon questioning people at the festival, as well as some of the townsfolk. They’d grabbed a quick meal at the diner and in all total, they’d seen five cult members wandering around town as if they were lost in their own little world. Not once did Charlotte bring up the fact that he’d kissed her. It was just as well they forget it even took place.

Crossing the distance to the door, Neal went in search of Charlotte who’d said she was going to call Pam and see how the store had done today. Tomorrow was Sunday, which meant the shop was closed. Neal assumed that if Becky didn’t miraculously appear the sheriff would initiate a search party for the surrounding area. Considering the information that Neal had given the old man, one could hope that it would be enough for the local judge to issue a search warrant of the Ashe property.

“Char?” Neal called out, finding her sitting at the kitchen table. She had a faraway look in her blue eyes and was twirling her phone round and round with her fingers. “Everything okay?”

“Do you remember the last time we made love?”

Charlotte’s question brought Neal up short and instead of taking a seat next to her at the table he chose to walk to the counter in order to give himself more time to think before answering. He didn’t like trick questions and his hopes were dashed in thinking that the matter of him kissing her earlier could be dropped. Fuck.

“Of course.” Neal opened the cupboard and grabbed a glass, making use of his hands. He then went to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of sweet tea. It was time to change the subject. “How did Pam do with the store today? Any chitchat regarding where Becky might be?”

“No, but you and I both know that she didn’t leave on her own accord,” Charlotte said, remaining seated while Neal poured himself a glass of tea. Her next words had him reaching for another glass, thinking she could use a drink herself. Too damn bad it wasn’t something stronger. “Back to us…I want—”

“What
do
you want?” Neal asked, slamming the pitcher on the counter and turning to face the woman who’d haunted his dreams for the past eight and a half years. This petite curvaceous blonde that left him holding his teenage heart in the palm of his hands didn’t have a right to state what she wanted. He asked her anyway, because damn if the two of them could move on until it was verbally stated. He’d had many women over the years, but never one that could rid him of the memories he had of Char. It was apparent that she’d never found anyone to settle down with, or he wouldn’t have been the one she’d called last week for help. “Tell me, Char. This is what you wanted—your own life here in Hearth while I served my country, experienced other cultures, and met new people. I did exactly what you said and now you want what? Are you changing your mind? Or are we talking about a one night stand?”

“I don’t know, Neal,” Charlotte said, standing while throwing her hands up out of frustration. She could damn well join the club. Daegan had been right about coming back, but there was nothing Neal could do about it now. “I don’t know what I want tomorrow, but I do know that for this moment in time I want to be back in your arms. I want you to make love to me.”

Neal’s jaw physically hurt from the pressure he was exerting with his clenched teeth, but it was better than flinging the words he wanted to say. He would never intentionally hurt her, but didn’t she realize how painful this was going to be for them when he left here on Tuesday? It wasn’t like this decision would alter the course of their futures. Hearth wasn’t his home anymore and this trip just hammered that nail in. Hearth was the past…Hearth was just a collage of half-remembered memories in a void of many times and places best forgotten.

Neal could have ended this by walking out. He could be securing the perimeter or attending the bonfire and monitoring the event, including Garreth. He could have made any decision but the one he came to, but he didn’t. He wanted tonight and maybe a couple more before returning to San Diego. He wanted to get Char out of his system so that he could finally move on with his life. If fucking her six ways to Tuesday got the job done, then so be it. And that was how he had to look at it…fucking. It was the only way he could see his way through to get his ass out of here clean come Tuesday.

“Come here.” Neal wasn’t a nineteen-year-old boy who thought he knew everything there was to know about a girl. He was now an experienced man who understood how to please a woman along with recognizing his own preferences. As Charlotte slowly took those few steps to come stand in front of him her blue eyes never left his face. It was almost as if she was holding her breath and waiting for him to turn her away. He’d made his decision to go through with this, based on needing to get her out of his system, and he didn’t want her concentration on anything other than this. She needed to expel whatever emotions she had left as well. “Give yourself to me.”

‡

C
harlotte felt as
if electricity was caressing her skin and seeping into her pores. The earlier sensual stimulation had returned tenfold and she wanted nothing more than to take him by the hand and lead him into the bedroom. She was sensing he’d changed though and wouldn’t just follow along. That realization had her heart beating like a drum against her chest and blood rushing through her ears until she couldn’t hear her own breathing above the roar. With trembling hands, she cradled the face that had forever remained in her dreams. He was real.

Lifting up on her tiptoes, Charlotte waited a half second before connecting her lips to his. His green eyes were dark, like the predator she’d only ever seen at the zoo. Neal looked as if he could devour her and honestly, she’d be okay with that. Not even when they were teenagers had she ever felt as alive as she did right now. Seeing the reciprocation within the windows to his soul, she finally melded her lips to his.

The softness of his mouth against hers made Charlotte instantly want more. She slid her fingers through his short blond hair and tried to bring them even closer but he firmly stayed where he was. The challenge he just issued shot a tremor through her and although her calf muscles were starting to ache from standing on her tiptoes, she tried to stretch even further. She traced his lower lip with her tongue, tasting his sweet flavor and not resisting the urge to nip. Upon the playful act, Neal growled and swung her into his arms. The light woodsy musk of his cologne, or maybe it was just his natural scent, surrounded her and she couldn’t prevent herself from friskily biting his neck as well. Playing with his inner tiger had gotten her the results she’d wanted. His strength seeped into her, devouring any thought of resisting their animal attraction, but it was all too soon that he slowly set her on her feet beside her bed.

“Undress for me.”

The simple command didn’t seem so simple. Charlotte felt a chill when he turned and walked to the door, closing it firmly and turning the lock. She knew he’d done that for Mandy’s benefit as well as theirs. It wouldn’t do for her to come home early and find them in mid-coitus when Neal had already put some ground rules into place. He’d made it perfectly clear this was a one-time thing. She would take what she could get and then worry about the aftermath later. There were moments in life that should be savored and this was one of those times. With that thought foremost in her mind, she gripped the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head.

Unable to help herself, Charlotte dropped the sweater on the floor and waited for some reaction. She wasn’t as thin as she used to be and her curves had become more of an hourglass figure. Would Neal find that attractive? Would he still want her the same as he did back when they were young? The seconds ticked by until a minute had passed and when he showed no reaction other than the hunger in his eyes as he waited for her to continue, she slowly reached for the button on her jeans.