SEALs of Summer 2: A Military Romance Superbundle (55 page)

“I’m so sorry.” Ysabeau and put her hand over his and whispered, “That must have been so hard for you.”

Hard didn’t begin to describe the hell. “I couldn’t do anything except hold her and tell her that I loved her. One by one the cancers attacked. She fought, with everything she had. In the end, I was useless.”

“That can’t be true.”

“I couldn’t save her.”

“You loved her. That is all a woman ever wants. To be loved by a good man.” She rubbed his arm gently, slowly. “It was enough.”

Her words were a balm to his heart scars. For the first time in years, Luke had an electric sensation beating in his chest. He had been dead inside for so long it was a surprise to feel anything.

A really good surprise.

*

After lunch, they
walked back to the car, her arm hooked with his. Ysabeau had to get back to the clinic, but she felt strangely saddened she couldn’t stay with Luke a bit longer. He wasn’t an evil monster sent to close her clinic. He was gentle, sensitive, and wounded. It was impossible not to care for a man who had loved his wife so dearly.

What would it be like to love that much? And to be loved back? How she wished to have what Soli once had. She sighed.

“Are you feeling all right?” He stopped walking and faced her, his blue eyes scouring her face.

Had she made that sound out loud? Heat rose to her cheeks. “I’m fine. I’ve just been thinking that my anti-viral serum is designed to improve the immune system. It could help people with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.”
If it would finally work as it is supposed to
.

“I know. It’s one of the reasons I wanted the Guardians to fund your project.” Sadness washed over his face. “It’s why I’ve given you more time. I need it to work, Ysabeau.”

His eyes filled with such raw emotion she had the urge to grab him and kiss his pain away. Kiss her pain away. Maybe she’d never stop kissing him. She was a complete disaster, a total wreck of a woman who longed to wrap up in the arms of a man she barely knew in the middle of the crowded street until she stopped aching inside.

He traced her cheekbone with the back of his knuckle. “Thanks for taking me to lunch.”

She couldn’t breathe.

He smiled at her. “You are really beautiful, you know.”

“So are you,” she said softly.

They were at the car and she was glad she could hide her burning cheeks by searching for the keys in her purse.

When they were finally back at her house, Luke went to the hall bathroom to take his shower and Ysabeau crept off to the kitchen to call Gran.

“Ysabeau! The cards are ominous. Is everything okay?” Grann said as soon as she picked up the phone.

It was a bit unnerving having a grandmother who read your future in her tarot cards. “Everything’s okay here. I’ve been worried about
you
. Haven’t seen you in days.”

Grann mumbled something that sounded like, “Deolina’s stupid plan.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

Ysabeau nibbled on her lip. She’d hardly said a word; how did Grann know something was wrong? “I’m fine, it’s just, wait a second—” Holding the phone to her chest, she peeked around the corner. The shower was still running down the hall. “Okay, I have a question about auras. Can a person have two of them, one over the other?”

“What colors are you seeing?”

“Red and blue?” Ysabeau’s voice hitched on the end.

“That shouldn’t be. Who is this person?”

“No one you know, Gran. A, uh, patient.” Ysabeau frowned. She hated keeping secrets from Gran, but her instincts told her a little evasion was warranted here. Deolina and Grann had been acting funny since Luke arrived. Even though she never thought she’d see them working together, those two were clearly up to something. “Are we having supper together on Sunday?”

“No, Ysa, I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Can’t say.”

That was it? Now who was being evasive? “Grann are you seeing a new man?”

“Sweet girl, you know I don’t kiss and tell,” Grann said with a laugh.

“You do so tell. All the time. Don’t hold out on me, missy. I want all the details—” Ysabeau heard the water shut off. She needed to wrap this up. “Uh-oh. I’ve got to go to take care of…something.”

“Wait! Maybe you should come over here. Stay with me a while,” Grann said.

Ysabeau frowned. “You want me to leave my house and stay with you?”

“I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

Every muscle in Ysabeau’s body tensed. “Safe from what?”

Grann let out a deep breath that sounded suspiciously like a protection spell.

“Gran?”

“Watch yourself, child. Guard your heart with all your might. I love you,” Gran’s voice cracked. “More than anything.” Then she hung up.

Ysabeau’s insides were shaking.
What was that all about?

*

In the light
of the streetlamp, Luke lay on the couch and wrestled with a decision.

His mother had raised him to be a gentleman. He couldn’t, in good conscience, continue sucking up Ysabeau’s hospitality like soda through a straw. He had enough cash to stay in a hotel for a few nights. Once his new credit cards arrived, he’d be able to stay the five days he promised Ysabeau. He should move out. That’s what a gentleman would do.

There was also the matter of how to deal with the clinic. To make an unbiased decision about the funding, he needed to put a bit of distance between himself and Ysabeau. It was the right thing to do.

But sonofabitch, he didn’t want to leave Ysabeau. The woman was getting under his skin. She was brave, intelligent, and determined, but it was her soft side that spoke to Luke. He wanted to protect her from her troubles, make her life better. Be with her.

That last thought stood up like a cobra and bit him in the face. He couldn’t be with Ysabeau. Not here, not now, not anytime. His life was in San Francisco with his daughter. As a Guardian, he’d vowed to save lives and do everything in his power to cure cancer. Haiti, love, dating? None of that fit into his plans.

He blew a breath toward the ceiling fan.

In the morning, he’d check in to a hotel. He had to. The decision was made.

A scream caused him to bolt upright. His head didn’t spin when his feet hit the floor and he sprinted down the hall. Ysabeau was crying in her sleep again.

Only this time, she called his name.

When he crawled on top of her bed and wrapped her up in his arms, all hastily-made hotel decisions were already forgotten. Leaving Ysabeau was going to be impossible.

*

Her own screams
jolted her awake and yet the nightmare still gripped her. Her heart pounded. The bad man’s fingers clawed at her throat. She couldn’t catch her breath. When Luke’s shadow crossed the room, she whimpered with relief that she didn’t have to fight her demons alone. He was there, in her bed, holding her in those amazingly powerful arms. Her American.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” he whispered into her ear. “I’ve got you.”

A tidal wave of emotions—gratitude, desire, need, anguish, fear—roared through her with such force she couldn’t tell which way was up. One word rumbled from deep inside her and poured out, “Luke.”

“I’ve got you,” he repeated.

She clung to him, waiting for the nightmare to abate and the bad man to go back to hiding in the depths of her memories. She breathed in the musky scent of his skin and the quivering fear settled. The dregs of the dream were gone, replaced with only one thought—him. Her savior.

Placing her palms on his cheeks, she pulled him toward her and kissed him. His lips felt so…perfect. Passion throbbed deep in her core and she dragged him closer until he was stretched out the length of her body. She was very aware of all the parts of his body touching hers. Hard, strong, beautiful male. The last time a man was in her bed…a soft cry escaped her throat. No. Don’t think. She kissed Luke harder, trying to smother the bad memories, longing to feel alive, safe.

He fisted her hair and his tongue dove inside her mouth. Electricity flashed through her spinal cord, lighting up her soul.

She let everything go, giving into wild abandon kissing. She pressed her lips to his lips, cheeks, chin, jaw…she was like a crazed woman tasting life for the first time, craving more and more until she might explode from wanting him.

“Ysabeau,” he whispered against her lips.

His deeply sensual voice flamed her fire. She wanted to feel his warm skin against hers. Still kissing him, her fingers struggled to unbutton his shirt. In her haste, one of the buttons flew off.

“Ysabeau, wait—”

She couldn’t wait, or slow down, or think. Tugging on his shirt, she gave it a mighty yank to pull it over his head. “I want you. Now.”

The sound he made was like a deep growl. She liked it. She nipped at his neck and picked the spot.

“We can’t.” He pressed her trembling hands against his chest. “We don’t have protection.”

She was about to tell him she had a whole box of condoms in her desk drawer for educational purposes at the AIDS Clinic. Staring into his eyes, she saw something that surprised her. They were the most blazing blue glowing with passion, depth, caring and…sadness? Why did he look so sad?

“Even if we did.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I have to be sure this is what you really want. To be with me. In a relationship. You mean too much to me to just…” He shook his head. “I don’t do one night stands. I’m not that guy. I’d want more.”

She could see that he was suffering, struggling with his decision, wanting her as much as she wanted him.

Before she could answer, he stood up. “Think about it. Make sure this is what you want. I’ll be on the couch.”

Still breathing heavily, the salt of his skin lingering on her lips, she flopped back on her pillow and wondered what just happened.

‡

January 10, 2010. Two Days…

T
he next morning
he rose from the couch to find her making oatmeal and coffee.

She caught him watching her and smiled, “How about the beach today?

“The beach?”

“We can enjoy the morning while the samples cure. In the afternoon, I’ll run more tests.” She chewed on her lip. “Unless you don’t feel up to it.”