Chapter 3: Chapter Three
Tiger studied the small stone house with a keen eye. Years of survival training were hard to break as he immediately searched for faults and strengths in case of an emergency. Once a Navy SEAL, always a Navy SEAL. At least it looked sturdy and sound, should a firefight break out. He sure hoped not. Dillon needed rest and downtime, not dodging bullets on the run with a bum leg and his body fighting infection.
“We’re here,” Mayberry announced, turning the engine of the large SUV off. Tiger hopped out of the passenger seat, intent on getting his brother to the relative safety of a warm bed.
As before, each man took a side and carried Dillon to the garage door, ensuring no weight landed on his injured leg. The front door would have been closer and easier, but Tiger resisted the temptation. The large vehicle covered their silhouettes and the darkness should cover the rest. No sense in standing on a wide front porch with a light over their heads to announce their presence to the area. Too many years of survival training cautioned him into the shadows each and every time.
They entered the kitchen, Tiger steadying his brother while Mayberry shut the door behind them. Smells and noises instantly caught his attention. Pots sat on the stove, heating their contents while the sweet scent of cinnamon sent his hungry belly to rumbling. A washer nearby churned clothes and footfalls of the owner quickly approached.
She stepped out of the bedroom, still dressed in her work scrubs, minus the shoes. Blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail swayed with her movements. A classical beauty she wasn’t. In fact, he had dated and been with much prettier women in his time. Yet something about this plain Jane caught his rapt attention.
“Let’s put him in here.” Lily gestured with her hands, indicating the bed’s location.
A minute later, they eased Dillon onto the soft mattress, watching as he sank into the bed with a groan of relief. Freshly washed sheets, crisp and with a tinge of lavender, covered his brother’s tired body.
Lily flipped the comforter over the linens, ensuring warmth and comfort.
Tiger couldn’t help but smirk at the pastel floral decorations covering the matching linen. Men didn’t complain about the scenery when in a lady’s bed. If you were lucky enough to get there, you had more to grab your attention than artwork on cotton.
Lily’s voice cut through his thoughts. “I’ve got some soup warming on the stove. Dillon, stay awake for a bit longer. Let’s get your stomach full and something to drink, then I’ll leave you to sleep as long as you like.”
Dillon nodded, but his eyes remained closed.
Pulling his gaze from his little brother, Tiger addressed Mayberry. “I’ll bring in those supplies.”
“I’ll help.”
Together the two men traipsed back and forth bringing in medical equipment, medications, supplies, and personal belongings stored in two large duffle bags. Within moments, Lily had the room organized and headed to the kitchen.
Tiger watched her go, noting the gentle sway to her hips, before chiding himself for doing so. He’d learned the hard lesson about women a while back. In his opinion, most couldn’t be trusted or depended on, not when something presumably more glamorous waved in front of their faces. “I’m not sure about this.”
The doctor leaned over to check Dillon’s bandage once more. They’d showered him at the office, placing him in spare scrubs that Carson had quickly cropped into shorts to allow air and easy surveillance of the wound. “I trust Lily. She’ll take care of Dillon like a mother with her only child.”
“It’s not that…” Tiger began to explain, shutting his mouth when Lily reentered the room.
“Soup is ready. I found an old serving tray that I think will work for Dillon.” She pinned Tiger with a stern expression. “I’ll feed him if you want to eat and get cleaned up yourself. You can use the shower here.” She pointed toward the bathroom to their right. “If you leave your clothes in the laundry room, I’ll toss them in with mine.”
“No need. I’ll take care of it.” He stood looking down at the woman whose crown reached not quite to his chin. Those hazel eyes flashed while her mouth thinned. She didn’t like being told no. Well, too bad. She can just get used to it.
“Listen, macho, there is no sense in doing the laundry twice. It’s a waste of detergent, water, and electricity. I guarantee my clothes contain no cooties and aren’t contagious. So if you’ll kindly dig out yours and Dillon’s dirty clothes, I will wash them.” She turned, then paused to look over her shoulder. “And before you think it, you are not walking around this house naked. My insurance doesn’t cover counseling from the trauma of being surrounded by arrogant, naked Neanderthals.” With that said, she strode confidently from the room.
A low chuckle sounded from beside him.
“Oh, shut up.”
Carson shook his head. “Play nice with the good nurse, Cale. I would hate to have to kick your butt when I return.”
“As if.” Cale snorted in reply, somewhat irritated that Carson had dropped his real name into the conversation. He much preferred to keep the cute little nurse at arm’s length. Using the nickname he earned in the Navy helped his cause—just another problem with this entire FUBAR mission, fucked up beyond all repair. He ran his hand through his hair and blew out a breath.
How did things go to shit so fast? More importantly, how was he going to fix them before an unexpected visitor arrived to finish what he started?
He caught sight of Lily as she puttered around the kitchen. Small yet fierce came to mind. Her work pants outlined a nice figure with curves in all the right places. A modest cleavage wouldn’t inspire any Playboy readers, but the lack of an over-sized bosom didn’t deter him in the least. Beauty tended to be only skin deep, covering selfishness and a downright cruel soul.
Once again he considered the sharp-tongued host. He made a point of looking all gift horses in the mouth—particularly Lily.
Lily carried the tray of soup, crackers, milk, and cornbread to Dillon’s room. Tiger took it from her, dismissing her when she insisted on helping Dillon eat. Knowing a lost cause when she saw it, she left the room, following Carson as he headed toward the door.
“Call me if you need anything or have any concerns,” he reminded her, stopping at the door in the kitchen.
“I will. Promise.” She took a deep breath, feeling the panic well up. Biting her lip, she pasted a smile on her face. What am I doing? Harboring criminals? Living with men she knew nothing about who obviously resided just a single step on one side of the law or the other.
As if sensing her concerns Carson pulled her into a brotherly hug. Pushing back he kept hold of her upper arms, smiling reassuringly. “They may be rough, but they really are the good guys. I can vouch for that.”
She nodded uncertainly.
His gaze flicked toward the bedroom before meeting her eyes once more. “They were comrades in arms a few years back. I trust them with my life. You are safer now than you have ever been.”
The words slowly sank in, quelling most of the panic, but her nerves still crackled with adrenaline.
“Trust me.”
She did trust him. The only reason she intended to go through with her promise—that and the fact that she really did owe him for everything he had done for her.
Tiger moved into her peripheral vision as he stepped from the bedroom. “What if Rambo here doesn’t like something I do to his brother and shoots me?”
The corners of Carson’s mouth crooked up. “Then Rambo gets to pack Mrs Snidley’s pilonidal cyst next week.”
That brought a smile to her face. Mrs Snidley had to be the most cantankerous, bitter, miserable, and hateful woman on the face of the planet. Nothing suited her, no one was good enough, and she complained mightily while the wound in her butt crack was packed. It couldn’t have happened to a better person. She was a pain in the rear to everyone that had to deal with her, so it was only fair that she had a pain in her rear as well. Gotta love karma.
Lily gave Carson a warm hug, then shut the door behind him.
“Where do you want this?”
She turned to see Tiger standing with the tray in his hand. “I’ll take it.” Glancing over, she found the tray completely bare—not a scrap of food remained. She looked up at Tiger and arched her eyebrow, while lifting the tray from his hands.
“He fell asleep. I ate what he didn’t finish.”
“You need more to eat than that. Why don’t you go to the kitchen and fix a plate? There’s plenty and you guys look like you haven’t had a good meal in a while.”
“I’m fine.”
The abrupt tone grated on her nerves, but she refused to let him get to her.
“By the way, what am I supposed to call you? If I’m calling your brother by his given name, don’t you suppose I can call you something besides Tiger?”
His jaw ticked. “Cale.”
She inclined her head. “Thank you. Now, if there’s nothing else in the food department you might need, I’ll work on that laundry.”
He folded his arms over his broad chest as his light blue gaze stripped her bare. “I said I’ll do it.”
With a long sigh, she stood toe to toe with him. “Listen. If this is going to work, you’re going to have to bend a little. I’m not asking you to be Gumby, just be civil and reasonable for a few days. That’s it. A bit of cooperation might be nice, too.”
Leaning down, he paused just inches from her face. “I’m a man who gets what he wants.”
The stark promise stoked her ire. No way would she allow him to run right over her in her own home. Instead, she met his challenge and tossed back one of her own, “Yeah, well, I am woman, hear me roar.”
He blinked at her as if stunned by such a declaration following his attempt to intimidate her.
Lily snorted, pivoted, then marched to the sink with the dirty dishes, quietly patting herself on the back along the way.