Shelby's Secret (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 4) (10 page)

And then it happened. Lily let out a shriek, and Beth finally closed her mouth.

“Shelby Lynn? The country singer?”

“How does Mike know her? Oh my god, this is so exciting.”

“I won’t even know what to say, she’s so famous. And what’s going on that Mike is expecting trouble?”

“I have to get out my Shelby Lynn CD collection so she can sign them .”

“The twins will go insane with they see her, she’s their favorite singer in the whole world.”

The women were talking so fast to each other he wasn’t even sure who was asking the questions. Zach looked at his best friend and nodded toward the back patio door. “Time to retreat, Marine,” he said out of the side of his mouth.

Jesse nodded, and they both backed away from the happy whirlwind.
 

“Think they’ll notice?”

“Nope.”

They stepped outside to the sounds of a game of hide and seek coming from the side of the house. Zach poked his head around and found all three kids easily. They knew better than to leave the yard.

“So tell me the rest,” Jesse said.

Zach filled him in on everything Mike had told him. He finished talking, and Jesse had a considering look on his face.

“Damon and Dani are home in Louisiana for a couple of weeks before she gets deployed again. Damon could easily run up to Nashville and take a look around.”

Zach leaned back against the rail of the back porch. “I was thinking the same thing. From what Mike said, he doesn’t think these murders and Shelby’s friend going missing are related, but I’d like to know for sure.”

“So would I. And Damon can get answers out of anyone.”

“I haven’t told the wives yet, but they’re coming out for the concert.”

Jesse smiled. “That’s great. I want to give him shit about the dopey grin he always has in their pictures.”

“We’ve all come a long way from where we used to be,” Zach said.

“You mean pathetic men who couldn’t dress themselves?”

“At least we don’t have to go shopping anymore.” Zach couldn’t be happier, and he knew Jesse was just as content with his life. They were better men because of their wives and children, and Zach wouldn’t trade his family for anything.

He knew about Mike and Shelby’s past together. And he wondered if maybe this was Mike’s second chance at love. Zach, Jesse, and Damon had found the right woman at the wrong time, but then they all got a second chance. And so far, they were three for three in the love-conquers-all arena. He hoped he could add ‘Little’ Mike to that equation.

Mike deserved some happiness.

***

“You can both sit up now.”

Mike’s voice from the front seat floated down to Shelby who was flat on her back with Rebecca lying in her arms. Mike had the foresight to pad the seat with a few blankets and a couple of pillows, so she was quite comfortable in her hiding spot. He had allowed them a single bag of clothes each, which he stowed on the floorboard of the back seat. He didn’t want to chance them being seen in the bed of the truck.

Rebecca sat up, still sleepy from the swim.

So Shelby climbed into the front seat and let her little girl lay back down.

She’d been playing a game on her tablet but for the last thirty minutes her eyes had started to droop. Before long she’d be out cold.

“You’re sure we weren’t followed?” Shelby asked.

“Positive.” Mike’s thumb tapped the steering wheel in time with the song playing on the radio as he drove.

“I thought you didn’t listen to country music.” She was surprised he put it on that station while negotiating traffic to get them out of town.

“I developed a taste for it some years back.” He stared at the road.

But Shelby thought she heard a bit of humor in his voice. She bit back a smile. “I’m shocked. You actually like that twangy crap now?” Recalling his words to her years before got a tug of his lips, but not an actual grin.

“I’ve mellowed with age. Plus, seems country is the preferred music of the armed forces, so I was inundated with it during my tours.”

“How many did you do?”

He glanced at her. “Two in the field, one at a desk.”

“You don’t seem like a desk kind of guy. I’m surprised.”

“Not my choice, but I received an injury that prevented another active tour of duty.”

“What kind of injury?” Shelby thought he looked as perfect as she’d ever seen a man. He didn’t move with difficulty, but maybe the injury was something that couldn’t be seen. She hoped it wasn’t something that still caused him pain.

“I took a shot in the leg, but the problem was the bomb that went off at the same time. The shrapnel messed me up pretty good.”

Shelby sucked in a breath and started to reach for him, but stopped short. “Dear God. Are you okay now?”

“I was okay then, just took too much time healing. They knew I had a knack for figuring out stuff, so I ended up in Intelligence as my punishment.”

“I don’t imagine that just anyone ends up in Intelligence, punishment or otherwise.”

Mike shrugged and his hands tightened on the wheel.
 

He didn’t like talking about it, but he was. Shelby hoped it was a good sign that he was willing to share his past with her. But she wanted to know so much more. “How do you like being a homicide detective?” Then she winced. “I mean, the job can’t be fun, but with your knack you must’ve been a natural for the position.”

He glanced at her and then back over his shoulder toward Rebecca.

Looking back herself, she could see that Rebecca was out cold. Her lips were parted and the tablet was still going in her little hands. She’d fallen asleep mid-game. Shelby unbuckled her seatbelt and reached back to turn it off. “You were saying?” she prompted as she settled into her seat.

Mike finally grinned at that point. “So nosy. But yes, I do enjoy my job. I like being the one to catch these people and put them behind bars where they belong.”

“And do you have a woman in your life? Currently, I mean.” Shelby hoped he didn’t, not that it was a fair thought. She didn’t have anyone, and so much time had passed since she’d had sex that she was afraid she was a born-again virgin. Worse, she was half afraid her libido had died.

That all ceased to be an issue when Mike walked into that conference room four days ago. Her body had revved to life in an instant, like she’d come out of hibernation. And she hadn’t stopped thinking about the kiss. His goodbye kiss. It was fire and ice. A rather lethal combination.

Mike had yet to really unthaw with her, but it didn’t stop her body from turning to an inferno every time he was near. “Normally, I’d say that I didn’t mean to pry—but I do. I want to know about your life.”

“I haven’t been a monk, but no, there’s no one current. What about you?
Have
you hidden a relationship from the press?”

Shelby shook her head. She didn’t have time for one, much less want one. “I’m single, much to the distress of the paparazzi.”

“Another reason I wanted you to hide out as we left your place. The last thing we need is this guy knowing where you are from some damn photographer out to get an exclusive.”

“They are the bane of my life.”

“I will keep you safe, Shelby. Nothing is going to happen to either of you while I am around.”

But how long will you be around?
“I know you will. I imagine you are trained in ways that I’ll never understand, and you take it seriously. I couldn’t feel safer.”

“I appreciate the cooperation. I didn’t want to use my trump card.”

“And what was that?”

He gave her a quick glance. “You won’t like it.”

“I haven’t liked anything about this situation, so you might as well tell me.”

“We could have forced the Mayor to cancel your concerts, due to the risk to the public.”

Shelby sucked in a little breath. That would ruin everything. “Well, I hope this little hiatus will help your people catch this guy.”

“It might not, Shelby, so don’t get up your hopes.”

“I can’t let you cancel those shows. I will fight you on it.”

“Use your head for once. The money is not worth the danger involved. And what if someone gets killed there? We already have two dead girls and one that’s missing.”

“I have a duty to the fans—”

“Bullshit,” he cut her off. “You have a duty to that little girl in the backseat. She’s lost one mother already. She doesn’t need to lose two.”

Shelby didn’t have a comeback for that statement, and they both knew it. Performing was a risk, but one she was willing to make for the life she had mapped out for herself and Rebecca. Besides, she would be perfectly safe. There would be tons of security, plus Phoenix police officers for crowd control.

She faced the window and watched the scenery. Mike wasn’t overly talkative, so another hour passed before anything other than music interrupted the silence. Not that atmosphere was uncomfortable exactly, but it wasn’t the kind of quiet that felt natural.

As comfortable as his truck was, Shelby couldn’t wait to be outside stretching her legs. The higher in elevation they got, the cooler the air was outside. She could feel it on the window. The saguaro cacti and scrubby little acacia trees melted away as they drove, replaced by tall pine trees, slender birches, and the occasional oak tree. Not anything like the immense oak trees in Nashville, but a hardier version that could live with little precipitation. “I’d forgotten how much I missed Arizona.”

“Scorching heat, no rain, Snow Birds every winter, and the never-ending shades of brown—what’s not to love?”

Shelby smiled. “Mild winters, no snow to shovel, the Grand Canyon—I missed it.”

“Arizona does have its finer points.”

“You came back,” she said. “You could have gone anywhere after the Marines, but you came back here. Why?”

He shrugged. “It’s home.”

Shelby felt the same way, but she took a bit longer to realize the restlessness that wouldn’t go away was really a longing for home. A place that she missed, even while surrounded by the opulence of her lifestyle and the high energy of Nashville.

“You’ll be meeting some friends of mine. They’ll be extra eyes to make sure you and Rebecca are safe. Their wives and kids are excited to meet you.”

She turned slightly to look at him. “Are you sure we should expose them to this danger?”

Mike threw back his head and laughed.
 

It was a wonderful sight and tugged at the corners of her mouth. She couldn’t stop the silly smile.

“Just wait until you meet them, you’ll see. It’s going to be fine and Rebecca will have some kids to play with.”

“They won’t be mean to her because she doesn’t talk, will they?”

Mike grinned, looking relaxed as he drove on. “Don’t worry, it’s better that she doesn’t. The twins wouldn’t let her get a word in edgewise, and Xavier will just drag her along with whatever he has planned. That kid is a natural leader, like his father.”

“Well, then, I can’t wait to meet your friends.” Shelby couldn’t help the nervousness she felt. She, who could sing in front of thousands of screaming fans, was nervous to meet Mike’s friends. Mike was never the kind of guy to have a lot of friends. He much preferred being a lone wolf. That he could laugh and talk about these people with such affection was a wonder. They must be great people, and she didn’t meet too many of those in her business.

She just hoped she lived up to their expectations. Most people only wanted to meet the superstar, never realizing she was just a “person” too. With her own insecurities, hopes, and dreams. Being an internationally acclaimed country singer was only one of those dreams, and recently the role had become more of a burden.

They turned off the main road and onto a dirt track where the trees were thicker. The sun was sinking into the horizon, and Shelby heard yawning from the backseat. She looked back and saw Rebecca was awake and sitting up.
 

She looked around and rubbed her eyes.

“We’re almost there, honey,” Shelby said.

And sitting there, next to Mike and with Rebecca in the backseat, was like they were a regular family. Maybe getting away from the bustle of the city at their weekend cabin. It was nice.

It was normal.

But nothing about her life was normal. So maybe she could just pretend for a couple of days.

Chapter 9

Where is she?

There was some extra security around her rental, but that big manager of hers had picked a bad spot. Oh, the house was nice enough if you were into big monstrosities of luxury. What interested him, though, was the mountain at its back. The other side of which was accessible to the public as a hiking trail. It was easy enough to walk along and then disappear around the other side.

From his vantage point, he could see the back of the house and into the room Shelby claimed. She liked the balcony, and he enjoyed watching her. When the time was right, it wouldn’t be hard to take her from there.

He was getting anxious.