Chapter Fourteen

“Did you call your mother?” Summer asked from the passenger seat, watching Night drive the rented silver truck. She’d just closed her phone after notifying her agency that an emergency had come up and she wouldn’t be able to get to her final patient of the day. They’d nicely assured her they’d have a co-worker sent right out to cover her shift—thankfully. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind to tackle another therapy session—not when her fingers trembled now and again and her heart raced at any fleeting memory of her ordeal.

“Yeah. On the way to the restaurant. She was relieved and told me to tell you she’s very sorry for putting you through this.”

“It’s not her fault. I was going to call her, but I wasn’t sure. Figured you would do so as soon as you could.” She twined her fingers with his when he reached over, soaking up the physical closeness.

“Are you really okay?” Night asked, his gaze turning to hers for a long second before returning to the road.

“Yeah. I think so.” She considered the question further. The day seemed like a blur of good and evil. Ever since Dillon had whisked her away to force her to eat, she’d perked up, feeling much more safe and secure, as if waking from a bad dream.

“All the same, is there anyone that you can stay with for a few days?”

You. She clamped her mouth shut before the word could escape, refusing to appear clingy or needy despite her recent traumatic experience. All her life, she’d prided herself on independence and smarts, she couldn’t lose that now, not in front of the man she so wanted to be with. “No. I have to work and care for my animals. My mother would take me in, but she lives three hours away in a tiny house. No room for the horses.” She squeezed his hand. “Really. I’ll be fine. I have Murphy to keep me company. Work keeps me too busy to give me much time to reflect.”

He stopped for a red light, turning his full attention to her. “I’m sorry, Summer. If I had any inkling this would happen…”

She shushed him. “It’s not your fault. Who could have known some crazy, desperate man would break in and start such a mess? I’m just thankful you came for me.”

His jaw tightened while his lips thinned. “Of course I came for you. I wouldn’t have let the bastard get his hands on you in the first place if I could have prevented it.” He sucked in a breath, shoulders pushing downward. “Damn, Summer. You don’t realize how I felt when Mother called me. I’ve never been that scared before in my life.”

Scared? Night? The two seemed to go together like oil and water. Never had she met a man with more ability, confidence, and determination, all well-earned. “I don’t understand.” Certainly, he would fear for his mother’s welfare and well-being. Surely, he didn’t mean her abduction. You’re putting words into his mouth.

“You mean a lot to me, Summer.”

The soft words buoyed her heart.

“I know it’s only been a few days, but I think we have the beginning of something. Maybe. All I know is when I heard you were taken, I felt like the sun exploded, leaving my world in darkness.”

So poetic and moving. Downright romantic. She soaked up his words and held them snug. After lifting their joined hands, Summer kissed his knuckles. “I worried that I would never see you again. That I missed my one and only chance to tell you how I felt.”

He swiveled the wheel of the truck, pulling into a nearby gas station, where he parked. He cupped her cheek. “How do you feel?”

Summer sucked in a breath. “I think I might be falling in love with you.” When he sat mute, she spurred forward. “I can’t wait to see you again, talk to you. You make me feel special.” She waved her hand. “It’s probably way too soon and I don’t have a clue how to explain it, but I feel more for you than I’ve ever felt for any other man.”

He released his grip on her fingers and pulled his other hand up to bracket her face. He stared at her with feeling. “I think of you all the time. Especially after you stood up to my inquisition and told me to stick my nose back into my own business.” He chuckled warmly. “I envision the future with you in it.” Leaning in, he meshed his lips to hers in a tender show of affection. He broke the kiss to say, “I want to be with you. Now and for a long time to come.”

Summer teared up, touched deeply by his admission. She had no idea men ever uttered such words except in soap operas, romance novels, and movies. “Ditto.”

He smiled, sealing his mouth over hers again. Before they could get carried away, he pulled back, and set the truck into gear. “So, we’re officially a couple?”

“Uh, huh. I think so. We could always run it by the guys to see what they think.” She bit her bottom lip to maintain a straight face while teasing. She took his offered hand, clasping tightly. If he didn’t insist she wear her seatbelt, she would have plastered up against him for the remainder of the trip. Instead, she made do with hand holding.

Night snorted. “They would either drag us to Vegas for an Elvis chapel wedding or toss us in some oversized closet and throw away the key for a few days.”

Odd, neither option sent panic racing up her spine. She scrunched her nose at the idea of a Vegas wedding, but being locked in a room all alone for a few days without interruption—that had definite possibilities.

“What are you thinking?”

She smiled widely. “Just wondering what I would do with you for a few days, locked in a room, alone. I guess we could play checkers or card games.”

“You play poker?” His eyebrow lifted.

“No. Don’t know hardly anything about it, to be honest.” The expression on his face sent her belly to a slow somersault. “Why?”

“Remind me to bring a deck of cards along.”

“But I don’t have any money.”

“You won’t need money, baby. Just a few clothes.”

A heat wave blasted across her face. “Do I get a handicap? Like you half naked to start the game?”

“Sure.”

Fanning herself, Summer let her mind wander down a few rabbit trails, all of them naughty and delightful. Her gaze darted to his fine body, lowering to lock on his groin. Wonder if what they say about the size of men’s hands…

Night chuckled. “Yes, it’s true.”

Startled, she stared at him, mouth-dropping open. “You can read minds?”

“Nah. I can read faces, though. Yours is pretty damn transparent, especially when you’re looking at me like I’m a side of beef and you’ve been stranded on a desert island living on seaweed for a year.”

“I bet you’re tender and tasty.” The words slipped from her mouth before she could filter her verbalized thoughts.

“You can nibble on me anytime you like,” he threw out the challenge, backing it up with a wicked grin.

Oh, boy. Sometimes Christmas does arrive early.

* * * *

Night followed Summer into her house a while later, in no hurry to leave her alone. No matter how many times she claimed to be fine, he knew better. At some point, she would suffer after-effects from her experience, either while asleep, during waking hours, or both. He prayed she could overcome this, quickly putting it behind her, in order to return to her peaceful existence. She’d never deserved to be involved in such a violent encounter, but, then again, most victims didn’t. Whether it was fate or simple bad luck, they stumbled into something not of their making or fault and suffered mightily for it.

Her abduction brought a few items to his attention, namely how he felt about her. He’d tap danced around the issue, believing he had plenty of time to pursue Summer one step at a time. Now, fate reminded him how fleeting each day could be and how a life could be snuffed out in a moment’s notice. No longer did he want to take the leisurely stroll toward being a couple. He leaned more toward rollercoaster speed.

She did so much for him and he couldn’t even protect her in his own home. Fucking bastard. He tempered his mood, assuring himself he’d make the evil disappear soon and never again would Summer stand with a gun pointed at her head. Protective instincts rode him hard, making the fact he had to leave her for a short time that much more difficult.

Murphy bounced happily, plastering kisses across Summer’s face, her tail wagging as if she hadn’t seen her owner in a couple of dog years. Summer hugged the dog close, returning all the love and then some.

“Let’s go outside, Murphy.” Summer took her collar, nudging her to the front door.

Night brought up the rear, watching her play with the large canine as she headed toward the nearby gate separating yard from field.

She had called her neighbor on the drive home, explaining in general terms what had happened, reassured her she remained fit and fine, and would be able to care for her animals that afternoon.

Three horses lifted their heads from grazing, spied them, then as a group, hurried toward the barn, whinnying in eager greeting. The gray led the herd, his motion effortless and beautiful as he flowed across the ground. The bay kept abreast, his trot a bit more ragged, but efficient. Domino, the black, cantered along, keeping pace. His swollen, front knees not slowing him down in his bid for dinner.

The sight took Night’s breath away. He could almost imagine what his Lakota ancestors saw watching wild herds of mustangs covering the rocky terrain, a strong stallion protecting his harem of mares and foals from predators and other stallions.

Summer busily poured bags of grain into different colored buckets, adding a variety of supplements to each. She topped the creations with a carrot in two containers and a cut up apple in the third. After lugging the items inside the stalls, she opened the door, allowing each animal to enter their own stall and head immediately for their bucket of food. No one pushed, shoved, or stuck their head in the wrong stall.

With the quiet murmur of chewing in the background, Night watched Summer work. “I have to leave soon.”

She glanced up at him while retying feed sacks. “You should be with your mother right now. She had quite the upset today.”

He couldn’t stifle the small smile. “That’s what she said about you.”

Summer grinned, using a piece of twine to secure the final bag.

“I have to meet the guys early in the morning.” He sobered, concerned about leaving her. He needed to track down the drug boss who’d driven Summer’s kidnapper to such extreme measures. If the man hadn’t been so desperate this would’ve never happened. “We have a job.”

“You do more than simple security, don’t you?”

He released a long sigh. She deserved to know the truth. After what she’d just experienced, he trusted her to keep his confidence and not fly into a fit of panic at the idea of his near mercenary status. “What I told you before is true. All the guys have strong special ops backgrounds. Necessary to perform our job.”

She stared up at him, patiently waiting.

“We’re Wind Warriors. A team I pulled together that accepts missions from the federal government to locate and wipe out ugly and dangerous vipers that the government can’t soil their hands on or have their name attached to. We provide a service by ridding the world of a deadly criminal and their underground operation. Officially, we don’t exist. In fact, only a handful of people in the top tiers of government know about us.”

“What kind of missions?”

“Mostly taking out high level drug lords, but other assignments as well.” He searched her face for any sign of censure or disapproval.

She stood, meeting his gaze strongly. Her dark brown eyes didn’t waver. “Night, I realize now what you do and I’m very thankful for it. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know you have to pursue the criminals behind this whole mess, the sooner the better before they get wind of what happened. I’m okay with that and I’ll be fine by myself. Promise.”

“I wish this time could be different, that I could be with you during the days to come.” Although he respected her for her strength in the face of a difficult situation, he still fretted about her mental health, wanting nothing more than to camp out with her for the next few days to ensure himself she truly could recover from such an ordeal without deeply imbedded, lasting scars. Scars she wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for him and his family.

Her lips morphed into a sad smile. “I know. I would like that as well. But, in the real world, other things hold priority.”

He sighed, running his fingers through his long hair, pushing the loose strands from his face. “You should be my priority.” His gruff tone reflected the conflict he juggled inside.

She strode over, stopping right in front of him, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek. “Night, you truly are my hero.” Her soft words caressed his soul.

“I’m just a man.”

She shook her head. “You’re an amazing man.” She slid her fingers over his lips. “Listen. I’m not some weak woman who will faint at the slightest stench. I’m strong and I can do this. It’s what I have to do. The same for you. You have to do your job, track down the bad guys, and bring them to justice before they can hurt anyone else. It’s what you do, but more importantly, it’s who you are. I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

He kissed her fingers, reaching out to cover her hand, holding it against his cheek as he nuzzled in a show of genuine affection.

“The warriors of old wouldn’t stay home, hanging out in the teepee, while the other warriors rode off into the night to track down some enemy. You’re a true legacy, Night.”

He nearly choked up at her profound words, as it was he swallowed several times to clear the lump in his throat. Never had anyone praised him so sincerely and thoroughly, tapping into his deep respect and admiration of his ancestors. She touched him in a way he never knew could be possible, while filling him with self-pride and fortitude to live up to her views.

He didn’t have the heart to point out that the Navajo lived in hogans made out of wood and mud. Later, when he returned, they could sit down and share a history lesson—after the drug cartel ceased to exist. They bore responsibility for the whole matter. Besides, the Wind Warriors couldn’t stand by and let such evil continue to exist when they had the information and ability to stop them. Especially when it tied back to a previous mission.

Night leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, pulling her snug against his body. She responded instantly, opening her mouth for a deeper exploration. He wrapped his arms around her, matching her passionate embrace until he broke away with the driving need for air.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She licked her lips. “Be careful.”

“Always.”

Murphy trotted up, her long pink tongue hanging out as she panted. He reached out to pat the animal. “Take care of her.”

He spun on his heel, heading out.

“Night?”

Pausing, he looked back over his shoulder.

“I love you.”

He smiled. When did such a small woman become the balm to my soul? “I love you, too.” The admission flowed from his mouth naturally, though he’d never said the words to another woman besides his mother. They held truth, despite the short time they’d known each other. A bright future and so much more shined ahead, once he completed this circle.

That said, he strode to his truck, turned the engine over, then headed home before embarking on his latest mission, this one personal.