Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) (6 page)

“Just didn’t want to deal with the questions. Ace took care of her and I kept an eye on the place after he left. I worked up a plan for a system. I’ll have Ace take care of it.”

“I don’t want Ace taking care of it. I want you on this. From what she said the place was in a shambles. My guess is someone was looking for something. If they didn’t find it they could come back. I want my best man watching out for her. That’s you.”

Dos wished it were true, but they both knew better. Not anymore anyway. He was a has been, washed up, put out to pasture. Whatever cliché you wanted to use worked. The army just hadn’t made it official yet. And the Colonel didn’t want to believe it. Still, how did you say no to the man you respected most in the world next to family? Trying to think of a way Dos remained silent.

“That’s not the only reason I called,” the Colonel said. “I’ve received some disturbing information.”

“They made my discharge official?” Dos couldn’t think of news concerning him that would disturb him more.

“No, son, I told you I’m working on that. This has to do with your hosts during your tropical vacation.”

Dos couldn’t move. He also couldn’t speak.

“I know you’re busy right now. Why don’t you call me back when you finish dinner?”

“Fine,” Dos managed to answer and flipped the phone closed.

It took him a full minute to shake off the cold fear and hate that always came with discussion of his capture. Another five and his muscles relaxed enough that he could walk. In the kitchen he pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. Downing the contents he grabbed another before unlocking the door to his home office and a secure line.

Swallowing the last bite of her mushroom and garlic pizza Copper stared into big sad brown eyes. How had she ever survived living without him? “You are spoiled rotten, you know?”

Her Irish wolfhound mix thumped his tail against the floor, as if to say, “Me? You’re silly.”

She tossed him the crust off her plate. Letting him out to the fenced back yard she turned her attention to the dishes. Another five minutes off the danged slow moving clock.

Kismet barked and she opened the door. He bounded in making a beeline down the hall. He slid on a throw rug into the living room and jumped off onto the braided rug there coming to a screaming halt. He turned as if he was waiting for applause at his antics. Copper complied following him to the living room and hugging him before turning to her computer.

Checking her email she found one from the coordinator of the animal shelter fund raiser she’d gone to last night. He asked if he could have copies of the pictures she’d taken. Someone spilled a drink on his digital camera and all the photos of the animals up for adoption were lost.

Copper had to grin. “Good old technology strikes again,” she told Kismet. “That’s why I keep my old fashioned 35mm for backup. Guess I’ll have to actually get my butt in gear and develop the film now. Of course, that means I have to finish the second roll. Are you up for a photo session, Kiz?”

Woofing at his name he started running around the too small living room.

“Okay, okay, let me get the camera.”

She had found Kismet at the pound the day before he was scheduled to be put down. Why she’d gone in that day she didn’t know. The pound was on her way to a nursing home where she gave free massages to residents every other week. She’d passed it a hundred times and never thought about going in before. When her eyes had seen his big sad eyes staring from behind the chain link cage she couldn’t resist.

He was way too big for her little house. Her love of hiking made up for the time he spent cooped up inside. His only other major requirement, besides food was love. As long as she talked to him and touched him now and then he was devoted. He would do anything, even allow her to wrap boas around his neck and hats on his head then snap a picture.

After half an hour of it, Copper wound the finished film and popped it out, a mindless chore that allowed her mind to wander.

It wandered straight to Dos. The image of him in pain had her chewing the inside of her lip.

Copper had felt the tension in Ace the moment he came back. Knowing military stonewalling techniques pretty well after twenty-eight years dealing with her father she didn’t push him. Certain that the vague answers were at Dos’ insistence she had accepted them and let him work.

It hadn’t stopped her from glancing across the street every now and then, or worrying.

Dos had never returned. She had expected him to go home. Her mother had dealt with migraines, so Copper knew how devastating they could be. The one Dos had suffered appeared to be a doozie.

When his truck remained parked next to his building by the time she was ready to leave, she’d thought about offering him a ride home. His headache could have been too intense to drive. She’d nixed the idea realizing he had a brother that would have done so if needed.

Reasoning he had probably fallen asleep in one of those comfy leather chairs by his desk, she left. Now, two hours later, she was still worried.

It was her father’s fault. If he weren’t so concerned about the man, she wouldn’t have given Dos a second thought.

Like you’re not thinking about those dark chocolate eyes right now
.

Snatching the phone off the desk by her computer she dug the business card with his number on it out of her back pocket. Before allowing herself time to change her mind she punched in the numbers.

“Masters.”

“Hi, Dos.” Wow, great. Real original, Copper. She shook her head, burying her face in her hand.

“Copper? What’s wrong?”

She sat bolt upright at his concern filled voice. “Nothing, relax. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Then why are you calling?”

Copper held the phone away from her ear and stared at it. Then she reminded herself why she had her no-military-men romance rules.

“Gosh, I don’t know. Maybe I was concerned when you didn’t come back over today. When your brother said you had a killer migraine. When my father got all close-mouthed on the phone after I told him about it. Pretty stupid, huh?” Why the heck had she cared?

“Why did you feel the need to tell your father?”

The question puzzled her. Why didn’t he just tell her she was being a pain in the butt and hang up?

“Because I know he likes you. Is there a reason I shouldn’t tell him?” Silence greeted her question. Not the silence of a dropped call. He was still there. She could almost feel him trying to think of an answer.

“I would rather keep our relationship professional.”

“Which relationships? Yours and mine or yours and his?”
This was becoming fun
.

“Both.”

“How does that work with dad if you’re not going to be in the service anymore?” She wanted to see if there was a possibility of trying for more than a professional relationship with him. Discharged military guys didn’t count in her rules, did they? She couldn’t remember, but had a feeling it didn’t matter with the silence drawing out.

“I told you I’m not out yet.”

“Meaning you’re not sure you’ll be going back?” Copper heard him release a long breath. She was digging and he didn’t like it. But he hadn’t hung up. That intrigued her.

“Is this going to be a long call?”

Copper smiled at the question and the light tone of his voice. Maybe it meant he wanted to talk. She moved to the sofa and tucked her feet up under her. “Could be, why, got a hot date?”

He chuckled, she liked that. “You never stop do you? And no I don’t have a hot date unless you count my computer. I wanted to know if I should sit down.”

She heard the thump of his cane on the floor before another exhaled breath. Knowing the sounds that go along with stiff sore muscles a twinge of sympathy for him worked its way into her thoughts. “I could help those aching muscles and the headaches, too.”

“I doubt it. What was your question again? My brain’s still fuzzy from the migraine.”

It must have been a really bad one. She wondered what kind of medication he was on and how much he had taken. Not knowing him well enough to ask that personal a question yet, she settled for getting to know him better.

“You told me you never said you weren’t in the service anymore. I said, meaning you’re not sure you’re going back.”

“Shoot, I thought you might have forgotten.”

“Steel trap,” she said laughing. “Ask my father.”

“That would be personal. I don’t do personal.”

Good lord the man had avoidance down to an art. “Nice try. Answer, what did you mean?”

“I’m on what you might call extended leave to get back in shape and give the powers that be time to decide.”

“Because of your accident.”

“Right.”

“It wasn’t an accident, was it?” She nibbled on a fingernail waiting to see if he would actually answer. It would mean a lot if he did. Why she wasn’t sure, but knew it would.

“No. Don’t ask more.”

“Okay, I won’t. But thanks.”

“For what?”

“Telling me the truth, it means a lot. I get tired of secrets. Since my mom died, my father seems to hide or worry about everything. I’m tougher than he thinks.”

“Yes, I believe you are, but I told you for a reason,” Dos said.

Copper didn’t like the sound of that. It sounded like military walls being assembled. “And the reason would be?”

“Your father and I agree on one thing. The break in at your place wasn’t by kids. It was too purposeful. Whoever did it was looking for something specific. What we don’t agree on is what to do about it.”

“You’re losing me again. What does this have to do with your lack of an accident?” She figured that was as good a reference as she could come up with given her limited information. “And who says you have to do anything about it anyway?”

“Your father wants me to keep an eye on you.”

That answered one question, the one she knew already. “And you, like me, don’t think it’s necessary. Right?”

“No, I just think it shouldn’t be me.”

Grasping for the calm that had disappeared when he started pulling back again, Copper released a loud sigh. “Because I’m a pain who asks too many questions and cares if your head still hurts?”

“Stop caring, my head doesn’t still hurt. And--"

“You’re lying.”

Dos grinned as he rubbed his temple. He couldn’t help it. How did she get a handle on him so fast? “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t be me because being around me could be dangerous.”

“Okay, look. I’ll make this easy for you. I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on me. I can take care of myself. You want distance; feel free to fax the security plan to my shop. The number’s in the phone book. Here’s a suggestion though, next time you want a girl to leave you alone, just say so. The macho act is a tad much even for you.”

Dos stared at the phone for a full minute after she disconnected debating whether to call her back. He’d actually enjoyed talking to her. Closing his eyes he tried to remember the last time he had enjoyed talking to anyone. He couldn’t. All his relationships seemed tainted by his capture. Now everyone always wanted to know how he was doing, if he needed anything, how they could help. Copper was the first person untouched by that ugliness.

He punched the button that would show her number. His eyes stared at it, burning it into his memory as his finger hovered over the call button.

You got what you wanted. She won’t be near you. She’ll be safe.

Flipping the phone closed he stopped just short of throwing it against the hearth across from his chair. He set the phone down and looked at the cold fireplace. With the scratch of a match he could have a good blaze going. It was all set. He just never lit it, afraid he might have an attack and burn the place down.

He rubbed his burning eyes and pressed against the dull ache still in his head. Sleep wasn’t an escape option right now. After the Colonel’s call earlier, bad memories were too close to the surface. Nightmares were pretty much guaranteed. Already having the plan for Copper’s shop taken care of, thanks to her marathon cleaning session, he didn’t have that to distract him.

With all his possible escapes unavailable to his mind, he didn’t have a choice. Pulling himself from the chair with his cane he made his way back to his home office. To the disturbing information the Colonel had given him a couple of hours earlier. To planning for a battle he didn’t know if he could win.

# # #

After ten minutes of railing at herself for the slightest twinge of sympathy for the insufferable Dos Masters, Copper shook off the angry mood. “Okay, Kiz, a quick trip outside for you then we’re going dark.”

He beat her to the back door. While Kismet snuffled around the yard looking for the perfect spot, Copper gathered supplies. Dog toys, water bowl, and his favorite blanket all went into the room she’d made over into a dark room. Next she dug one roll of film from her backpack and snatched the other from the counter next to her cell phone.