SEAL by Fate Read online

  “Well, we might, but it won’t be much. Sometimes we have a vehicle left that no one wanted.” She stepped behind the keyboard and tapped away, paused several seconds, tapped a few more keys, mumbling something under her breath. “Hmm. Looks like we do have something. A two door that gets great gas mileage.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Stormy wasn’t sure whether she should smile or frown at what she was witnessing. Gray had just “sweet-talked” his way into a rental car. What really bugged her, which she had no right to feel, was the jealousy swirling through her. The way the young service woman responded to Gray was close to unabashed admiration. No doubt, Stormy couldn’t be the only woman who swooned when he smiled.

  He had a certain spectacular charisma about him that could easily rock any woman’s boat. It only made it more prominent because he was built like a Greek God and his posture warned everyone that he would snap a person in two if they gave him reason. She’d also witnessed a softer side to him. His compassion, determination to keep her safe, his gentleness. What woman, even the most independent, wouldn’t want a hero sweeping in and promising to keep her safe from harm’s way.

  Stormy had always prided herself on being self-reliant and had never believed she’d feel like she did right now for anyone. She gathered that she was falling, if that were even possible. She felt like she was standing on a diving board and below was a pool of water drawing her to jump and take the risk. Once she took a step off the edge, she would be gone and it scared her. Usually when a person started having feelings for another they had a sliver of an idea that person reflected those emotions, but she had no clue how Gray felt about her. As she watched him smooth over the pretty redhead, Stormy had a thought that this was exactly what he’d done to her. He’d swept in like a thunderstorm, flashed those baby blues and kick-ass smile, and she’d lost her mind like a hypnotized puppy. She could easily wind up losing herself and getting hurt.

  When they walked out of the shop, rental agreement in hand, she didn’t even look at him. If he sensed her detachment, he didn’t say anything.

  The car was definitely a gas-saver, that was because it was the smallest car she’d ever seen. He looked like a GI Joe doll stuffed inside a Matchbox car. Her mood instantly lightened and she laughed. “Well, she did say it was small.”

  Gray groaned and started the engine. “I can’t complain. It’s warm and it moves faster than I can walk…barely, but at least by a few miles more per hour.”

  Silence grew between them.

  “Want to talk about it?” he asked once they were out on the main road.

  “About what?” Best to play imprudent.

  “You’ve been quiet since we left the rental shop.”

  He was observant. She’d give him that, but she couldn’t allow him to see inside of her where her secrets were hidden. He didn’t need to know that she was developing strong feelings. “I’m just caught up in all this. Before two days ago, my life was average, and now I feel like I’m on the back of a bronco for the eight second ride, except eight seconds passed hours ago.”

  He gave her a quick side-glance. “For a woman in her first rodeo, you sure are hanging on like a pro.” He winked.

  No, she wouldn’t let his sweet talk sway her. “This is your everyday life, isn’t it?”

  “Not every day, but close.”

  “Don’t you ever see yourself doing something—”

  “Boring?”

  “Less dangerous. Leaping from tops of buildings and being shot at are all foreign to me.”

  “Let’s not confuse me with James Bond, unless you really want to.”

  “Do you ever take things seriously?”

  “Yes, my job. Everything else I tend to take with a grain of salt, otherwise I might get premature greys.”

  She could easily take his statement as another quip at being funny, but he was dead serious. So he was somebody who could leave the office at work. Yet, when did he leave the office? Was this considered work or pleasure? “What do you do for fun?” Once the words were out she wanted to fish them back. When he grinned from ear to ear she realized he was thinking the same dirty thoughts that she was, and it made her nipples tighten. This was the response she wanted to prevent. How could she get her thoughts and emotions back on track when each time he flashed that grin she was a puddle of a mess at his feet? Taking a long sip of her coffee, she didn’t care that it burnt all the way into her stomach. She was already on fire so it didn’t make a big difference.

  “Is that a trick question?”

  She turned her cheek and looked at the passing scenery but not seeing anything except his smiling reflection in the glass. “No. I just wonder if you ever take time off for fun.”

  “I’ve been known to on occasion, but when it’s just me, I don’t have to abide by a schedule.”

  “I remember you saying you don’t come home to the family ranch often. Is it because of her?”

  Did she see his jaw tighten some? She couldn’t be sure because he had a few days of growth of whiskers. She kind of liked the mountain man look.

  “Excuse me? Who’s her?”

  “Your ex. I believe you said her name is Hannah.” She felt the tension come over them like a dark cloud.

  “What she and I had is history. Have you ever milked a cow?”

  She eased back into the vinyl of the seat. “No. Will that be a requirement?”

  “Everyone should milk a cow at least once. Especially if you’re staying on a working ranch.”

  “Is it a rite of passage?”

  “You bet. So is mucking stalls and slopping pigs. Something gives me the idea you’ve never done either of those things.”

  “And you’d be right. I’m a city girl.” She plucked at a loose thread on her jeans. “I should have known by first glance that you’re a country boy.”

  “Yeah?” He held the steering wheel with one hand and laid the other on his thigh and she wasn’t sure why she had the urge to reach over and take his hand, like lovers would. To keep herself from acting upon her desire, she clasped her hands tightly together in her lap. Being here in the close space, chatting about everything but nothing at all with Lola in the back snoozing brought of images of what it would be like if she and Gray were a couple. It was a dangerous road to travel, but a woman had the right to ponder what ifs. This would come to an end. She and Gray were from two different worlds. He was a hardcore lawman and she …what was she exactly? She’d hit bottom and would have to work her way back up. New job. New place to live. New life.

  Which led her to think of her sister. Reaching for her phone, she frowned. It was dead. And she had no charger.

  Thankfully, they were only a few miles from the storage unit.

  17

  GRAY TRIED NOT to stare at Stormy as she surveyed the ranch. He hadn’t brought a woman home in…well, not since Hannah.

  “You didn’t tell me.” Stormy brought her chin up, nailing him with a narrowed gaze.

  “Tell you what?”

  “That you’re rich. This place is more than just a ranch. It’s a mansion.”

  “Not a mansion.”

  “My last apartment would fit into the foyer.”

  He laughed and the sound echoed off the backsplash of the modern kitchen. “I’m not rich. My father is. Big difference. He was one of the most prominent attorneys in Wyoming and he had a golden thumb in real estate investments. He likes to stay busy.”

  “Ah, so you came by it honestly.”

  “I remind him of that when he complains that I don’t visit enough.”

  He watched her run her fingers along the smooth tip of the granite countertop and how she admired the space. Unfortunately, the kitchen was designed for a chef, but there was none in sight.

  “And this is the place you’re running from?” She smiled. “I’d have to say you might be a little crazy.”

  “Not running, sweetheart. Good news is, no one gets onto the property unless they’re buzzed in first. Also, watch
this…” He stepped over to two folding doors at the backside of the kitchen and opened them, revealing a row of legitimate looking monitors and keyboards. He flipped a switch and the screens came alive. “You can see every angle.”

  “This is a bit overwhelming.”

  “If it helps, we’ve never had any issues out here. My dad built the fortress after he had a client threaten him. That’s when my mom was still alive and I think he did it for her peace of mind.”

  “Your mom passed away? You didn’t tell me.”

  He shrugged. “I guess that’s another thing that I don’t open up about often.” He stepped away from the monitors. “How about I show you to your room? Do you have a preference in color?”

  “I have that choice?” Her eyes widened.

  “I think I know which you’d like. Follow me.”

  He grabbed her luggage and led her up the back-winding stairs to the closest room on the right. He set her bags down and opened the door, pushing it all the way open with his foot. He motioned for her to step in first.

  She took several steps, stopped, then turned on her heel. “Wait. What. This is your room, right?”

  “I needed to make sure you knew how to get to me if you needed me in the middle of the night.”

  Her cheeks flushed. “How considerate of you.” She quickly turned and he wondered if she was wanting to hide her obvious flustered reaction.

  Once they were back out into the hallway, he showed her to the closest guest room and left her alone. He guessed she’d like to shower and clean up and he wanted to scrub the last few days off his body too Then he had some work to do. The Ghost Hawks were onto Phantom. Although he wasn’t in their grasp yet, they were very close to nailing him. The bastard thought he had the upper hand, but he’d find the end of his rope and there he’d find Gray waiting ready to throw his ass behind bars.

  Back in his bedroom, he stripped his clothing, turned the shower temperature as hot as he could stand, and stood under the spray until he felt some of the tension ease from his body. When he finished scrubbing, he climbed out, dried off and decided it was high time he shaved. Although he was anxious to check in with Jamison, he also wanted to leave a good impression on his guest. Maybe even provide her with a good meal. His stomach growled at the thought of eating something that didn’t come out of a can. Although growing up they had a cook who prepared their meals, when Gray enlisted in the Navy he’d learned right quick that if he wanted to survive, he had to learn some skills and cooking was one of them. If he said so himself, he could grill a mean steak and mix up a salad, and maybe even dessert. And truthfully, he wanted to impress Stormy. He’d never wanted to with anyone else, wanting a woman to take him as he was, but he was learning if a man really cared for someone, he had to change some.

  Once his jaw was smooth and he was dressed in clean clothes, he strolled down the hall and stopped momentarily at Stormy’s closed door. He could hear the water running and an image of her naked in the shower, soap running down her body certainly did test the seam of his jeans.

  Dragging himself away from the position and the fantasy, he hurried down the stairs. At the refrigerator he grabbed two fresh steaks and laid them on the counter on his way to the office off the kitchen. Sitting behind the desk, he picked up the phone receiver and dialed a familiar number. If Jamison was still on the mountain, he wouldn’t have service, but when the phone was picked up on the second ring, Gray’s heart hitched. “Nail the bastard?”

  “Sorry, man. I searched the cabin where they were staying and both were long gone. I did find something that’ll make you a happy though.”

  “You found a print, didn’t you?” He leaned forward, grabbed a pen and clicked it in restless energy.

  “I found bloody gauze in the trash can and, drumroll please, a hairbrush that had fallen underneath the vanity. I’ll send both to the lab for top priority. However, I did find a partial print. Could be his or hers, but I’ll run them through the scanner and see what we come up with. Once I get a face, you’ll be the first to know, but it might take some time. As far as catching a trail, I saw evidence of more than two people at their location, which means your first thought of them having help was right on. Also, it appears our terrorist has come up in the world. They had a helicopter pick them up at a nearby clearing. You know what that means.”

  “That none of this makes sense. It seems Phantom has switched his operation. Initially I believed he was on Whispering Mountain hiding out until his next hit, but instinct warns me there’s something else going on.”

  “You thinking he was there solely for the purpose of getting you alone?”

  “Hell, nothing makes sense. What am I missing? I think he’s out for me, sure, and after what happened on the mountain he’ll be hell-bent, but this seems a little elaborate.”

  “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, man, but watch your back.”

  “Did you have a chance to stop at the cabin where Stormy and I were staying?” Gray dropped the pen.

  “I grabbed everything I saw and cleaned up. After a bit of research, the cabin belongs to a private owner who rents it out online. The owner gave me a name. Sandra Wolford. Ring a bell?”

  “No, but I bet she also goes by the name of Dory Shewalter.”

  “I ran both names and came up empty.”

  “I figured you would.” Gray moaned. “Thank you, buddy. Stay in touch.”

  After hanging up, he went back into the kitchen and turned on music while he prepared the steaks for grilling.

  He heard her before he saw her. Her soft footsteps sounded on the stairs. The fourth step creaked, and he looked up just as she took the last step. His breath came out like a gust of air. She looked radiant with her hair brushed out around her shoulders and she wore a red floral off the shoulders filmy top with skinny jeans.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a shower more,” she said as she stepped into the room, bringing with her sunshine.

  It took him a good five seconds to get his tongue to work. “I-I hope the guest room is to your liking.” He attempted to concentrate on seasoning the steaks, then remembered he’d already seasoned them once. He was off his game when she was near.

  “To my liking? Seriously? I could move in.” She must have realized what she said because her cheeks flushed and her eyes widened. “I didn’t mean literally. I’m just saying—”

  “Stormy. It’s okay. I knew what you meant.” He smiled. He should find humor in her discomfort, but she looked so cute flustered.

  “If this is your dad’s place, where is he?” She strolled in, bringing with her a fresh, clean coconut scent that reminded Gray of a sweet drink on an island.

  “I don’t know, but this isn’t anything unusual. He likes to take off to some exotic location when the mood hits.”

  She slid up on the wrought iron barstool and tossed her hair over one shoulder. “So, we’re alone?”

  Did he see some concern flash in her pale blue eyes? “Are you worried?”

  “Uh, no, I was just asking.” She turned her cheek and looked at the security monitors. “It’s odd to be able to see every view around the house.”

  Sure, she was changing the subject and he’d let it go, although he didn’t want her to be afraid. “It’s easy to get used to.”

  “When someone stops at the locked gate it chimes?”

  “If they press the button. If it’s someone who has the access code, they can enter it into the system and come in without being buzzed in.” He placed the steaks on the table. “I’m heading out to put these on the grill. Would you like a beer, glass of lemonade or tea? Water? I could open a bottle of wine.”

  There was a pointed hesitation and a flicker of her tongue rolling across her bottom lip. “I think a glass of wine sounds good.”

  “Coming right up, madam.” He stepped over to the row of bottles set up neatly in a decorative wooden case. “I bet you’ll love this.” He felt her eyes on him as he opened the bottle that came loose with a lou
d pop.

  “It’s hard to believe we were drinking whiskey out of a bottle last night.”

  He smiled, grabbed a wineglass from the cabinet and poured her half a glass and grabbed himself a beer from the fridge. “Care to join me?”

  “Outside? In the snow?”

  “No. I’m grilling them on a covered patio. It’s heated.”

  He waited for her and Lola, and once they were out, he closed the door and followed her, liking the soft sway of her hips as she made her way across the covered patio. The sun rays shining caught the blonder highlights of her hair. After setting the steaks on the preheated grill, he walked over to the stereo, hit power and found a station he knew played a variety of music. After all, he had no clue what genre she listed to.

  After fifteen minutes of talking about everything from the weather to movies she liked to watch and skirting around the heavier issues like bad guys and killers, they ate in comfortable silence. An hour later, their dishes were set aside, and he asked, “I’m going to grab another beer. Can I get you another glass?”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  He wasn’t sure if it was because she was safe or because of the wine, but she seemed much more relaxed. Once he grabbed the drinks he stepped back out and sat down at the glass table. She had her feet propped up on one of the chairs.

  “Dinner was delicious,” she said with an engaging smile.

  “So was the companionship.”

  “Ah, are you trying to sweet talk me?” She brought the glass to her lips and took a sip.

  He took a long swig of his beer. “Maybe.”

  *

  Stormy sipped at the expensive red wine, enjoying how smooth it went down. Unfortunately, she could imagine drinking several glasses easily and once she stood up she’d be tipsy. The wine was just that good. It eased the tension and soreness in her body and the easy conversation between she and Gray relaxed her back into the comfortable cushion of the chair.

  “So, what was it like growing up rich?” She rolled the tip of one finger around the rim of the glass.