Chapter 29

Abby trailed the tip of her finger in nonsensical figures on Dare’s chest, the light sensation sending tiny tremors through him despite how hard he’d just come.

Her screams had ripped through the island serenity, so he had to trust she’d come thoroughly as well.

But there she was again. Circling his nipple with the pad of her finger, dipping down toward his spent dick, then shooting back up when he groaned in deep protest.

He loved it. Every millisecond of it. He hadn’t quite come back down to earth, but that was okay.

“God. You sure haven’t lost your touch, lover-boy,” she said, thudding down onto her back beside him. Groaning deeply, she stretched all her muscles languorously from head to toe, in one, long, bow-like flex. She let out a lingering sigh and relaxed.

“Neither have you.” He couldn’t even open his eyes, that’s how spent he was.

Unfortunately, that’s when his cell phone dinged. Incoming text.

He reached over, palmed it, did his swipes and clicks. “Aww,” he said. “Tabby.”

“Oh wow. She must have heard about the storm…crap.”

“Yeah,” he said, reading the message, probably delayed until reception had kicked in.

-Text me Hulk. ASAP. Need to know you’re okay.

His heart softened. His little sister. Okay, not so little, and very grown up, but in his mind? She’d always be his little sister.

Though her left hook, deftly employed and all too often lately, had been starting to cause him to rethink that whole thing. As had the way she’d sorted out her life, recently.

-We’re fine, Sweetpea. No bumps. All good.

Who knew when she’d get that, but at least when she did she’d know he was fine.

He went to lay the phone down again, but saw a bubble starting. Tabby was responding in real time.

His heart beat faster. Damnit. She must have been worried sick. And worrying about him, in any circumstance, was not what he wanted to inflict on her.

She’d already been through too much. Their mom’s remarriage and subsequent divorce, their financial issues, then that crazy accident. The fact that she’d kept going with the attitude she had was a testament to her spirit. The book thing? Had been awesome. Getting published, with her own set of fans, had made him incredibly proud of her. As had her teaming up with a wonderful solider from B.C., crazily, his old platoon leader.

Storm.

But right now, he couldn’t be the cause of any more worries for her. He started texting back, quickly, to reassure her.

-I’m good, all is well. We’ll be back soon. Me and Abby are fine.

Wait for it, he thought. Wait for it…and there it was.

-Holy crap. ABBY????!!!!!

Said woman wiggled beside him on the sand, fit her curves to his side.

-Yeah. The one and only. Tell you more later. Let mom know I’m good.

-OMG. Abby. Can’t wait! Text me when you get back.

This time he did place the phone down. “She’s good. Just needed to know big brother was safe.” He held his arms open to receive her and Abby moved into the warmth of his hold.

“She must have been so worried.”

“Was. But she’s fine now. Just like us.” He tightened his embrace, squeezed.

“This is perfect. We can lay here all day. Burrow ourselves into the sand, if we want.” She wiggled around to lay on her side, facing the ocean. When he didn’t move off his back, she pressed her voluptuous ass to him. Bumped his hip. Bumped him again.

“Hey you,” he groaned. “Give me five minutes to recover, then…”

He felt it suddenly, the stiffness in her frame.

“Oh no.” Her voice quivered. “They’re back.”

He thrust himself up onto his elbows, following the direction of her gaze.

Out to sea, three motorboats were riding the turquoise waves, making headway toward their beach. And they were almost upon them.

Abby screamed then scrambled up and ran toward the cavern, splaying sand everywhere. Grabbing their things, he raced after her.

‘Shit, shit, shit’ was her mantra as she threw on her clothes behind the palm trees. Fumbling through the pile of clothing she’d left earlier to dry in the heat of the sun, he pulled out his jeans and yanked them on.

“They saw us,” Abby wailed. “Ugh. McCreepo saw me naked.” She grabbed the shoes he’d scooped up from the beach for her, jammed her foot into one, and hopped on it while pulling the other one on. “Shit, shit, shit. Do you think they saw us?”

“Nah. We’ll be good.” He hastened to reassure her, but he could tell by her expression that she wasn’t buying it. Unfortunately, there was no time for regret now.

They had to face McMaster.

The crew had disembarked by the time they emerged from the grove and were pulling supplies from the boats when he and Abby met them.

McMaster was the first to greet them. It would actually have been a bit better if he’d spoken. But Dare could see by the lewd expression that stretched across the man’s face he’d seen a lot.

And it really bothered Abby.

“Glad to see you’re okay. Really okay.” McMaster guffawed, his eyes traveling down Abby’s form, then back up again, his jaw slack. “Didn’t expect to be treated to that flick when I got here.”

Abby stared at him, and she had no retort.

“Kinda makes me wish I’d stayed back here with you, sweet-cheeks. Gratitude’s a wonderful thing, huh, Logan?” His eyes widened in a lurid look that he shot at Dare, definitely both jealous and in awe of him at the same time.

As if he thought Abby would ever entertain his fat ass…and Dare snapped.

Pivoting on his heels toward McMaster, Dare swung his right arm as hard as he could. His fist connected joyfully with the side of McMaster’s face.

The dufus fell back a couple of steps, and yelled. “What the hell was that about? Are you out of your mind?”

“No, but you’re going to get the crap beaten out of yours!” If he caught him about the belly, he could bowl him over onto the sand. Get him down, then beat him like the rat he was.

Taking a run at McMaster, Dare suddenly found his arms pinned behind him by Jake and Jordan. “Lemme go! I’m going to kick his ass!”

Jake’s grip was powerful around his upper arm and echoed McMaster’s message. “Stand down, Logan.”

Dare thrashed, the anger in him at a boiling point. God, he wanted to smash McMaster.

And why the hell were the twins taking his side? They hated the jerk as much as anyone.

Talking to Abby that way. Looking at her that way.

“No, I mean it.” Jake bent, close to Dare’s ear and whispered. “We got something of our own cooking. Let us handle it, or you’ll wreck it. Alright?”

He hissed the words. “Not happening.”

“Dude, I’m serious. You slam him, it feels good for a minute, it goes on your record, it’s over. Jor and I have something in play that will make him hate life. For probably the rest of his. You wanna mess with that?”

“I want to kill him.”

Jordan spoke in a low tone. “Okay, okay, fine. You can punch him. In five minutes, okay? If you still want to do him in after we lower the boom, we’ll back off.” He shifted his attention to his brother. “That good, Jake?”

Dare gritted his teeth, saw the look pass between the two men. Saw them giving up the reins to him. Well, if he’d learned one thing in the military, it was TEAM. Even though he wanted to level the moron. He nodded assent and both men slowly released his arms.

McMaster smoothed his clothes into place. “No call to go crazy, Logan. I got no beef with you. The lady was grateful, and wanted to show it. Hey, I get it. Nice goin’, bro.”

He approached Dare like the foolhardy freak he was. Tossing a glance at Abby, who was still a curious combination of shock with anger starting to gather, he lowered his voice. “Plenty to go around, you know what I mean?”

In Dare’s immediate fantasy, McMaster was laid out, unconscious, on the beach, with cartoon x’s where his eyes should be. Carrion birds picking at his rotting flesh.

He swallowed carefully. Slowly. Decided to stick to his word and not dislocate half of the guy’s body with a ramming blow.

Turning and nodding at Jake he said, “Your show. Better make it good, or I’m back to plan A.”

* * *

Abby was absolutely mortified. In a sick, kind of shocked, angry and spell-bound way.

In that order.

Something was going down, right in front of her eyes, and if the indication on the models’ faces was correct, it was something big.

Her heart warmed thinking of Dare’s immediate, yet completely insane response. From his perspective, he needed McMaster’s contacts and goodwill. He’d thrown that away without a moment’s hesitation.

Yeah. Her man. She was number one in his life, and he in hers. They’d rebuild. And she’d find another contest, another way to fulfill her crazy burning artistic desires in life. She was sticking to this career, regardless of what anyone thought, parents included.

She’d found her family. Her heart squeezed and settled into a happier, more stable rhythm than she’d felt for years. And it was because of the one man she was crazy about, who it seemed was definitely crazy about her.

Her soldier, no longer her ex, but her present, and future.

Dare Logan.

“You okay, hun?” Jordan’s arm slid around her as the men seemed to circle around McMaster. “Logan and you get through the storm okay?”

She nodded, but her mood was full of heat. “That prick left me here, because I wouldn’t sleep with him. But the proof. It’s all gone.” She nodded to where McMaster’s tent had been. “That’s what’s left.”

He tugged her close in a brotherly half-hug. Then his expression grew grim. “We got proof. We found out later that you weren’t on one of the boats like he told us you were, and we almost threw him overboard. Serious. But then we got to work, and we’ve got something better to nail his ass. Don’t you worry, Abby. His moments are numbered.”

Meanwhile, McMaster was bellowing at the group. The crew and models were standing around him like statues, their glacial expressions aimed at him. “What the hell are all you idiots standing around staring at me for? Move!”

Jake stood directly in front of McMaster. “There’s been a lot of stuff going down here and on your other shoots, and—we don’t like it.”

McMaster’s eyebrows shot up as if Jake wasn’t speaking in English and had started dancing a jig to boot. His eyes narrowed in on him. “You don’t like it? Who the hell cares? You’re just the talent, boy. I might remind you that you’re not that good at it, either. I suggest you shut your trap and enjoy the last shoot you’ll ever be on.”

Jordan stepped in to stop McMaster from departing the scene. “Actually, um, boy, as of last night, we’re, uh…” He drew out the phrase, the time it took to say it, and Abby was captivated by the expression that screamed ‘oh, this is delicious’ on his face.

“We’re not just the talent.” Jake unbuttoned the pocket on his cargo shirt and drew out a piece of paper, unfolded it. “As of last night, we, the two of us, we own your damn company.” He stuffed the paper in McMaster’s hand, even as the man’s jaw went limp. “You idiot. Did you never cop to what out last name is?”

McMaster was starting to realize something was really not good. Pretty bad for him, in fact.

“Yeah, stupid. You’re…you’re…”

A terrible realization streaked across his face. “No. You couldn’t be. You wouldn’t be.” When he finally spoke, it was in hushed awe. “You’re not that Riordan? Why the fuck would you be modeling? Taking my shit?”

Abby’s stomach pitched as she watched the grin on Jake’s face spread. One of Canada’s oldest and richest families, Riordan?

Dare’s arm tightened around her shoulder as he tugged her close. “Damn. This is better than the Juno Awards.”

“Yeah. That Riordan.” Jake’s smile was broad, as was all of the crew’s. “So, as of right now, we own your company. We own your company’s company. Essentially, what we have to say to you is…”

McMaster stared at him dumbly.

“You’re done. Fired. Get your ass back on that rowboat and get the hell out to the cruise ship. We don’t want your lousy carcass on our plane when it flies us out later today.”

“You.” Jake turned to Dare. “We might have a gig for you. Not sure, but if we do, it looks to start the beginning of next year. You interested?”

Dare blinked. “Um, probably. What would it entail?”

“A supervisory role, something you could do from afar, fly in once in a while, that would pay more than this moron was paying.” A glance passed between him and Jordan. “Does that work for you?”

The expression that spread across Dare’s face was priceless, and Abby felt the energy coil upwards in him as he stood beside her. “Yeah. I mean, absolutely, Jake. Sir. I mean, I’ve got one weekend a month I owe to my unit. Some time, during the week. But…”

Jordan’s quiet voice was emphatic. “Dump the sir stuff. We don’t stand on ceremony here. Jake and Jordan’ll do just fine.”

“Jake, Jordan—guys—if you’re okay with that? It would be an honor to work for you.”

“Yeah, it works. We like your military connection, your fire-fighter thing. Along with your trade certifications, it makes you ideal for what we’ve got planned. And while we’re at it—how the hell did you get certified in numerous trades? At your age? Most dudes are glad to get the one done, then get working. It’s a bitch to have a finger in so many pies.”

Abby’s heart beat faster. She knew where.

Because of her. He’d pushed because of her.

Dare started to pan a gaze over to her with a serious look on his face, but she cleared her throat, spoke up quickly. “That’s Dare, guys. What you see is not what you get. More. You get so much more.”

The flush of pride spread over her face and thickened her voice. She didn’t actually say I’m so damn proud of him—she wasn’t his freaking mother—but she sure felt it. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks, with the loser attitude who’d turned it all around. Sure, with some support from her. But he had.

Her man.

She felt the vibe in the air ping-pong between them. An almost tangible joy held steady between them, that she didn’t need to look at his face to be aware of. She just knew.

“Agreed,” Jordan said. “That’s our take too.”

Jake grinned his agreement, then turned toward Abby. “You’ve been through the mill too, hon. I’m glad you had this guy,” he jerked a thumb at Dare, “to take care of you during the storm. We wouldn’t’ve been near so congenial with that asshole over there if anything had happened to you. Though,” he slanted a cold glare at McMaster, “that little piece of behavior will be settled soon, too. Legally. Count on it.”

A glaze of shock spread over the lug’s face and Abby didn’t mind. McBastard deserved what he got, and more.

Jake continued. “Oh. And that thing you wanted to enter? Jor and me sent a special note in from the ship, stating why you were late.”

“And we let the headquarters know you were sending in some fantastic shots,” Jordan interjected.

Abby’s heart squeezed, shock and joy intermingling. For a moment she was caught between two realities. “You did that…for me?”

“Yeah, but Abby, hold on.” Jake exhaled a skittering breath. “They didn’t accept them. Sorry, hon. No submissions past the deadline. We tried. Even waved the Riordan flag. Jor made me do it, subtly. But we did.”

“Yeah. They basically told us to get lost. Those artsy types. They’re in a world of their own.”

Suddenly, something shifted in her, and laughter bubbled up. And something clean.

Happiness.

And she couldn’t stop the smile that enveloped her face, hell. That felt like it was spreading to her whole body.

When had she had such people on her side? Actively trying to help her? Who read her wants and desires, then did what they could to help her?

And the answer dawned on her.

Now.

She had it now.

She leaned into Jake, felt the surprise in his frame. The tension, the sudden easing. “You’re a hero.” Tossed him a grin that meant more than he’d ever know.

Or maybe he did. She caught his grin back.

She moved across the hot sand to Jordan, wrapped her arms around him, and gave him a quick squeeze. “You’re another hero.”

“Stupid fucks.” The disgusted words drifted almost imperceptibly from where McMaster sat, nursing his jaw, ass on a crate. But even he couldn’t wreck the moment.

And she was on such a high that as much as she despised him it was kind of okay to know his spirit wasn’t broken either. In a backwards sort of way, she supposed.

And then, she looked around for him. For Dare.

He was watching her, taking in her moment of joy. Enjoying it. She mouthed the word to him quick, before anyone could see. And…you’re my hero.

He caught it, smiled. Motioned her close, as the twins broke to speak to the crew, and laughter erupted around them. “You okay, Abs?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“But without the contests…the shots…the win...?”

Ideas whirled in her head. Something new, something breaking.

She started where she knew. “I’ve got the shots. All I need to do is showcase them. There’s other places to submit. Not without the power of this one, for sure. But I can do that.” She pulled in an excited breath. “I will do that.”

They were all staring at her now, waiting for an answer.

Jake scrutinized her. “This is about more than submitting a few photos.”

“Well, yeah. It is. I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for quite a while, just didn’t know exactly what to do to make it…ping, you know? Be something I actually wanted to do when I got up in the morning. I’m not a writer—I don’t have any interest in that.”

“So?”

“Well, I can submit these storm shots first. I know they’re good. To a bunch of places. But then…”

Dare nodded hurry up. Tell me already.

“If they don’t pop, for some unknown reason….”

“Yeah, like everyone has McMaster’s IQ out there….” That earned Jordan a glare from the dufus.

“…then I’ll showcase them on the blog. Along with other work. But the exciting bit is, I’ve wanted to help kids with developmental issues, or heck, just kids that are broke or whatever, for ages. I remember when I needed the help, and I got it, it changed my life, gave me a start at least. So…I can start a blog like that. Kids can upload their photos, the equipment they took it with, all that. And I can critique the shots, mentor them. An hour or two a week, for the blog. Something like that.”

“Doesn’t your parent’s company support charities? Give grants?”

The words shot through her like a flaming arrow, unsettled her. “Yeah. Yeah, they do…” She left the word ‘but’ suspended in the air.

“Hey.” Boomer came from the palm grove, holding something in his hands. “Look what I rescued!”

“Booze! Holy hell, kid, where’d you find that?” Jake practically leapt to his feet, charged forward.

“In one of the safe holes Dare made me dig. We were messing around. Good thing.”

The models and crew moved forward as a united throng.

But Dare was still watching her. “We cut out for a moment? Think we’ve got something to sort.”

Abby nodded, but with trepidation.

Nothing like ripping the band-aid off the wound she’d thought had been beginning to heal.