Next to Die (17 page)

Tomorrow she’d look up the local television stations and send in her résumés.

Enough for tonight. Lia stood and stretched.

That same itchy-under-the-skin feeling ambushed her. She wanted something—but what? Another kiss from that boy SEAL would be nice, if only to verify whether it was really as toe-curling as she recalled.

Find me.

Oh, she could find him, no problem, the same way she’d found Joe Montgomery’s number, by performing an online search.

But what would she do once she found him? Her heart beat faster at the thought. Maybe she’d have sex with him, just to see what a younger lover was like.

With a shimmer of excitement, she sat down again to execute an online search.

Vinny DeInnocentis had an unlisted number.

Lia crossed her arms and thought hard. After a moment, her frown cleared. She reached for the phone and dialed Penny’s SEAL.

“Montgomery,” he answered with a faint western drawl.

“Hey, this is Lia next door.”

Silence answered her cheery greeting. She plowed ahead. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor. You know that guy who was here the other day, the Navy SEAL? You think you could find out where he lives?” Adrenaline made her heart race.

“Why would I do that?” Joe asked.

“Well, because . . . I have information to give you in exchange.”

His silence was skeptical. “Like what?”

“Tell me you’ll find his address first. His name is Vincent DeInnocentis, all one word.”

“I’ll do my best. What did you want to tell me?”

“Well, uh . . .” God, was she really going to come right out and say it? Oh, why not? Men loved a challenge, and Penny wasn’t getting any younger. “Penny hasn’t had sex in five years,” she blurted.

The silence was bottomless this time.

“Do we still have a deal?” Lia finally asked.

“I’ll call you back,” he said, hanging up the phone.

She dropped the receiver in its cradle and came shakily to her feet. Now what?

Her grumbling stomach prompted her to pad downstairs, where she found that Penny and Steven had finished their dinner of grilled salmon. They sat on the couch with a yard between them, watching a movie on DVD.

Lia helped herself to leftovers and a glass of wine. The drama in the movie captivated her, prompting her to join the couple. She sat in the recliner, nursing her drink.

In her peripheral vision, she saw Steven Parks turning his head to study her. She ignored him, drawing her feet up in a visual cue for him to back off. But the retard didn’t get it. And Penny, who was engrossed in the movie, didn’t seem to notice.

For the next ten minutes Lia tolerated Steven’s stares. How crass could a guy get, ogling his date’s sister right in front of her? At last, she turned her head to send him a warning glare.
Back off.
To her horror, he winked at her.

That’s it.
Lia pushed to her feet. “Penny,” she said, “send this idiot home. You’re wasting your time with him.”

Penny gaped at her. “What?” she cried, looking horrified.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t stand the fact that he’s here on a date with you and he’s checking me out!” Lia’s face burned with indignation.

Penny swiveled a questioning look at her beau.

The Navy surgeon had the grace to look chagrined. “I’m sorry,” he laughed. “I’m just amazed by how different you two are.”

“Yes, we’re different,” Lia retorted. “But you’re on a date with her, so stop looking at me.”

“Ophelia!” Penny cried, obviously mortified. “Do you mind?”

“Obviously I do mind. He’s not right for you.”

Penny put her hand over her eyes. “Why don’t you go out?” she moaned. “I’m sorry,” she added to her date. “She says what she thinks.”

“That’s all right. Listen, uh, I think I’d better call it a night, anyway. I have to work tomorrow.”

“Oh, I thought you had the weekend off.”

“No, they need me to step in for Commander Owens. He’s got the flu or something.”

Lia, who had beat a quick retreat, paused where the stairs turned. She couldn’t tell if Steven Parks was lying through his teeth or telling the truth. Either way, she’d scared him off, ruining Penny’s date.

She tried to hide in her room, but her conscience wouldn’t let her stay there. Creeping down the stairs again, she found Penny in the foyer, arms crossed, looking pale and taut. She waited for Lia to speak first.

“I’m sorry,” Lia apologized. “But I swear to you, he was coming on to me. I did you a favor by pointing it out.”

“A favor?” Penny pounced on the word. “If you do me any more favors, Ophelia, I’ll be single for the rest of my life!”

“What’s wrong with being single? You have everything you need. At least you have a job.”

“Is that what this is about? Are you feeling so sorry for yourself that you have to ruin
my
evening?”

“I’m not feeling sorry for myself,” Lia hotly denied. “This has nothing to do with me. The guy’s a worm. He’s not good enough for you.”

“Well, thanks a lot,” said Penny caustically, “but I don’t need you to decide who is or isn’t right for me. That’s my decision. Just like this is my house and this is
my
life! Mine!” she added, stabbing a finger at her chest.

A light knock sounded on the door behind her, causing Penny to gasp and whirl. The sisters peered anxiously outside, only to exhale in relief when they recognized their neighbor.

“Hi,” Penny greeted him, dredging up a ghastly smile.

Wearing a rust-colored flannel shirt, jeans, and boots, Joe looked just like the Marlboro Man, even with that scar on his face. “Hey,” he said. His dark green eyes took in everything from Penny’s heightened color to Ophelia’s secret smile. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No problem,” Penny replied.

“Any word on Eric yet?”

“No, nothing. The police still can’t find him.”

“Damn,” he said, shaking his head. He finally caught Lia’s eye and handed her a Post-it note.

“Thanks.” She glanced down at it, feeling pleased with herself.

Penny divided a puzzled look between them, but before she could ask, Joe said, “You look different.”

It wasn’t a compliment, but Lia saw Penny blush.

“Did you change the lock on your back door yet?” he added matter-of-factly.

“Uh, I bought the right kind of deadbolt, but I haven’t mounted it yet,” Penny admitted.

“You want me to do it for you? Right now?”

“Oh.” The offer seemed to catch Penny off guard. “Well, sure, if you don’t mind.”

He glanced at Lia as he shut the door and wiped his boots on the mat. She had trouble stifling a grin
. I knew that would get you stirred up, you naughty boy.

“I’ll get the new lock,” Penny volunteered. “It’s in the garage.”

As she disappeared into the laundry room, Lia murmured, “Just don’t tell her that I told you.” And then she beat a quick retreat, praying for her meddling to have the best possible outcome.

“Let me see that Phillips head,” Joe requested, pointing to where the screwdriver lay in Penny’s modest toolbox.

Her gaze slid over his long, powerful finger as she bent to retrieve the screwdriver. Why was it that every part of his anatomy, from his ears to the size of his feet, was so immensely appealing to her?

As she passed him the tool, a crisp breeze sighed through the cracked French door, carrying his unique scent into her nostrils. It summoned memories of kneading the dense muscles of his back. Lord, if he knew how much enjoyment she got from touching him, he’d stop coming to his appointments!

“So, what happened to your date?” Joe inquired, going down on one knee to tighten the screw on the faceplate.

He must have seen Steven’s car and assumed the rest. “Ophelia scared him off,” she admitted, aware that her disappointment had flown.

“Your sister’s a trip,” Joe commented.

“Yes, she is.” Penny lips firmed.

He glanced up at her disapproving tone. “I heard you two arguing,” he volunteered.

She cringed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t know if you realize it,” he added, ignoring the apology, “but she looks out for you, you know.”

“She does?” Had she missed something between Joe and Lia?

“Yep. She chewed me out good the other day for coming over here to dress you down.”

Penny gasped. “No!”

“It’s true. You may think she’s in the way, but I like how she sticks up for you.”

With a hot face, Penny considered the words he must have overheard. “You must think I’m such a bitch,” she lamented.

“A bitch?” he repeated, swinging an astonished look at her. “I would never use that word to describe you,” he said, coming to his feet.

What words would he use?

“It’s none of my business, so don’t worry about it. Here, hold this side still while I tighten up the back.”

She had to step within inches of him to hold the lock in place while he tightened up the screws. Eying his long, muscle-corded neck, she savored this moment. A wave of desire rolled through her, making her want to lean into him. She had to get a hold of these feelings or she’d end up making a fool of herself.

“All set,” he said, disappointing her that it was over so quickly. “Keep this handy but out of sight,” he recommended, dropping the key into her hand.

“Thank you,” Penny said. “That would have taken me all morning. Can I interest you in a glass of wine?” she asked, almost desperate to keep him from leaving.

Trailing her, he cut a glance at the half-empty wine bottle as she hung the key on a peg in the kitchen. “I’m trying not to drink at night,” he confessed with a shuttered expression.

“Oh.” She understood why. “Well, how about some juice?” she offered.

“Sure, I’ll take some juice.”

With a tremor that she couldn’t quell, she poured two low-sugar fruit drinks.

“Hey, I buy the same brand,” he observed, practically in her ear.

Penny gasped. She hadn’t heard him step up behind her. Trapped between him and the counter, she blurted the first thing to pop into her head. “You want to help me with a jigsaw puzzle?” Immediately, she wanted to kick herself. Joe wasn’t the type to sit around putting puzzles together.

“Puzzle?” he repeated, with a quizzical look.

“It’s in here.” She shoved his glass at him and led him to the dining room. “I’ve been working on it for weeks.”

As she snapped on the lights, the crystal chandelier shone down on the thousand-piece puzzle that was two-thirds complete and took up half the mahogany tabletop.

Joe took one look at the project and thought,
No wonder she hasn’t been laid in five years.
But then he looked closer, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. “This is Red Rock Canyon. This is where I grew up.”

“Are you serious?” She smiled her amazement.

“I used to propel off this lip right here.” He touched the part of the puzzle that was put together, then dragged his gaze upward to look at her. “You just happened to be putting this together.”

“Well, yes. I have a passion for canyons. I love the colors and the wild, almost other-earthly terrain.”

Alight with enthusiasm, her face struck him as beautiful.

“What?” Penny asked, looking suddenly self-conscious. “Do I sound stupid?”

“No.” He was the stupid one, stupid for coming over here against his better judgment. Platonic friendship involved as much catlike balance as rock climbing. He didn’t know if he was even capable of it. But he liked Penny too much not to try.

He dragged out a chair and surveyed the puzzle pieces, picking out those that complemented the section he wanted to work on.

Penny eased down beside him. Catching on to what he was looking for, she handed him several more pieces.

“One night I slept in a hammock, right here, two thousand feet in the air.”

“You’re kidding me,” said Penny with a dubious look.

“Nope. Slept like a baby.”

“Why would anyone do that?” she wondered out loud.

Joe shrugged. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, what can I say?” he confessed, mocking himself. Ah, the things he’d done in his youth to catch a natural high, to feel like he was really living life, not just going through the motions.

He reminisced over a few more daring adventures. Penny sat wide-eyed, listening to him. At last, he worked up the courage to share what he’d been wanting to share for a while now. “You, uh, you wanted to know what really happened in Afghanistan,” he reminded her.

“I’d like that,” she admitted, on a soft, inviting note.

“Okay, then.” With a deep breath, he told her the story, pushing every painful detail through a tight throat. And when he was done, he looked up, dreading so much as a glimpse of Penny’s disappointment. “I don’t know if I took Harley’s place for the right reasons or if I was just being selfish,” he admitted, feeling his eyes sting. “Maybe I just craved some excitement. I’d been away from the field for ten years. I was rusty. Harley might have done things differently. He might have kept our boys from dying.”