Igniting the Flame (Firebrand Series) (7 page)

He arched an eyebrow. “Arrogant and cocky, huh?” He tightened his arms around her. “Then I guess I’m lucky you love me enough to overlook those little character flaws.”

She laughed, and he covered her mouth with his in a kiss that he hoped told her how much he really did love her. As the kiss grew more heated, he eased her down until they lay on the sofa, lost in the wonder of the passion they shared. Here in this moment, Firebrand didn’t matter. Lainey mattered, and nothing else. The life he wanted with her. And when the memory of what had once been his dream threatened to intrude on this moment, he pushed Firebrand from his mind and surrendered to the flames of love that Lainey had ignited in his heart.

Chapter 9

Three Months Later

Lainey swallowed in an attempt to calm her churning stomach as Ash pulled the car to a stop in the parking lot of the restaurant and swiveled in his seat to face her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

She pulled down the sun visor, and the mirror on the back of it lit up. Leaning forward, she checked her hair and makeup. So far so good, but she knew when she stepped from the car, the late-August temperature would wilt the hairdo she’d spent hours perfecting. Tonight she needed to look her best. She was about to meet Reese Alexander and Colt Hanson, Ash’s two best friends, and she wanted to make a good impression.      

Flipping the visor back into place, she turned to Ash. “I’m excited about meeting your friends, but I don’t want to put a damper on your last night with them.”

He draped his arm over the steering wheel and smiled at her. “I’m really glad you came. I want you to meet them. They’re more than friends. They’re like brothers. I hope you won’t be bored with all the guy talk.”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. Richard said that if I see that it’s getting late and the three of you are showing no signs of calling it a night, I can call him to come get me.”

Ash’s eyebrows pulled down in a frown. “Yeah, he’d just love having you to himself for a while.”

Lainey’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at Ash. “What are you talking about?”

Ash waved his hand in dismissal. “Oh, come on, Lainey. You know Richard’s been in love with you ever since I brought you home to dinner. I see how he looks at you, but I trust him. He’s my brother and would never try anything with you behind my back. If I thought he would, I wouldn’t let him within ten feet of you.”

In love with her? Ash was crazy. Richard had been nothing but kind to her since the night they met. “Don’t say things like that about Richard. He’d never do anything to hurt you.”

“I know. Like I said, I trust him.” Ash took a deep breath, chuckled as if to clear the air of any friction, and inclined his head toward the restaurant. “Of course I don’t know about these two guys waiting for us. I may have to be on my guard all night to keep them from monopolizing your time.”

She laughed and swatted at his arm. “Quit teasing me. I’m nervous about this. They’re your best friends. What if they don’t like me? What if they think you could do better?”

“They’ll love you,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “but not too much, or they’ll answer to me.” He laughed, and then a somber expression covered his face. “Seriously, though, I am glad you’re with me. After all these guys and I have been through together, it’s going to be tough knowing this is the last time we’ll be together for who knows how long. But with Reese and Colt leaving for South America in a few days, I’m glad they took the time to come to St. Claire so we could have a farewell dinner.”

Lainey reached over and covered Ash’s hand with hers. “Are you sure you’re okay with them going without you?”

He leaned closer and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “I’m fine. They understand.” He linked his fingers with hers and lifted her hand.A light in the parking lot shone through the car window, causing the diamond of her engagement ring to sparkle. “Besides,” he said, “I’m about to become a married man with responsibilities to you and to my father.”

Lainey kissed his cheek. “I never dreamed last Christmas that I’d be getting married on Christmas Eve this year. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe it.”

“Believe it,” he murmured. “The wedding is only three months away, and you’re not getting away from me.” He pressed his lips to her forehead and kissed her once more before he straightened and opened the car door. “We’d better get inside. Reese and Colt will think we’re not coming.”

She grabbed his arm to stop him before he could get out of the car. “Ash, we promised we’d be honest with each other. I need you to do that now.”

“About what?” he asked.

“About Firebrand. Reese and Colt are getting ready to go to a jungle in South America to train for fourteen months, and they’d planned on you going with them. Are you sure you’re not sorry you aren’t going?”

He turned to her, put his hands on her shoulders, and squeezed. “No, babe. I made the decision to stay here, and they understand this is my choice. Now don’t worry. Let’s go in and have a good time.”

She took a deep breath, stepped from the car, and walked toward the entrance. Her steps grew heavier the closer they came to the building. She’d been worried about this dinner for weeks. It stood to reason that the two men Ash had shared life and death experiences with for years wanted him to be a part of what they’d planned to start together. And if it weren’t for her, Ash would be joining them. Her stomach clenched every time the thought popped into her head that Ash might also hold her responsible for his decision in years to come. But he had promised to be honest with her, and she had to accept what he’d said.

Two hours later Lainey didn’t know why she’d been worried about meeting Reese and Colt. They’d made her feel comfortable right away, and within minutes, she felt as if they’d been friends for years. Ash had beamed as the two seemed to hang on every word she said, and he leaned over from time to time to brush his lips against her cheek.

The stories they’d told of harrowing adventures in the military scared her, but they made her proud that Ash was so highly regarded. As they talked, she let her gaze travel from one to the other and decided if there had ever been any group that could truly be called three musketeers, these men were the ones. With their collective good lucks and military bearing they could very well have served as models for military recruitment posters.

She’d been so lost in studying them that she’d missed what Reese had said. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?”

He laughed. “I told Ash that Colt and I got our tattoos.”

Puzzled, she looked at Ash. The muscles in his throat constricted as he swallowed. “Really?” he finally said before he picked up his water glass and took a long drink.

She turned to Reese. “What kind of tattoo?”

“Our Firebrand tattoo. Didn’t Ash tell you?”

She shook her head.

Before she knew what was happening, Reese and Colt had both shrugged out of their dinner jackets and had pushed up the right sleeve of their shirts. Lainey leaned closer to get a better view of Reese’s tattoo. It looked like a flaming torch and a sword crossed in an X shape.

She looked back up at Reese. “What does it mean?”

Reese chuckled as he and Colt pulled their sleeves down and slipped back into their jackets. “When I was a kid,” he said, “my dad gave me a comic book about a mythological god named Heracles who was strong and courageous and very brave in battle. Because of his reputation, he was sent to slay a water serpent called the Hydra. This reptilian creature had many heads and was invulnerable as long as it retained one head.”

Lainey wrinkled up her nose. “Sounds lovely.”

“Yeah, it was.” Reese took a breath. “So Heracles takes a sword and starts to cut off each head, but every time he does, two grow back in its place. Finally, he discovers the only way to kill the beast is to cut off the head with a sword and cauterize the wound with a firebrand. When he does that, he kills the Hydra.”

“Interesting story,” Lainey said. “So this is the basis for the tattoo?”

Colt nodded. “When we were approached about forming a group dedicated to government covert missions, we knew we only wanted to recruit and train men who had the characteristics of Heracles. So Reese came up with the idea of the crossed sword and flaming torch. Anyone able to pass the requirements for entrance into the Firebrand brotherhood has earned the right to wear the tattoo.”

Lainey cut her eyes around at Ash.He was staring at his plate. “You don’t have a tattoo, Ash. If you helped Reese and Colt with the plans for Firebrand, why didn’t you get one on your arm?”

He glanced up, and her breath hitched at the empty stare he directed at her. “Only those who serve in Firebrand get to wear it.”

Reese chuckled. “We three made ourselves eligible for the tattoo because we knew once we were in there was no backing out. Now the guys who want to join us have to prove they can come up to our standards.”

Lainey smiled. “It sounds like you three have mighty big egos.” She reached over and patted Ash’s hand. “I know Ash does.”

A small smile curled the corners of Ash’s mouth, and Colt and Reese laughed. “It looks like she’s got us pegged.” Reese said. “Truth is, Lainey, we’ve been together for years. We’ve fought battles, seen men die, and saved each other’s lives. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we know we can count on each other. The new guys coming in are unknowns. They have to show us they’ve got what it takes to come up to our standards.”

Lainey mulled that over. “Ash told me that you three are like a band of brothers. I don’t think I understood what that was until I met you.” She picked up her water glass and took a sip before she continued. “There’s something I don’t understand, though. From what I’ve heard tonight, Firebrand sounds like the government has big plans for keeping you busy. Why are they sending you to South America to train? Why not at a military base?”

“Because,” Reese said, “we aren’t in the military.Sometimes, politics get in the way of solving American problems. That’s where we come in.”

“That sounds like a mercenary group to me.”

Ash jerked his head up and glared at her. “That sounds like something my father would say, but it’s not true. A mercenary is someone who hires out to the highest bidder to do whatever dirty work is required. Firebrand’s only purpose is to protect the rights of American citizens at home and abroad.”

Her breath hitched. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound critical. I was only trying to understand.”

His features relaxed, and he brushed his hand across her knuckles. “I know. I didn’t mean to sound harsh.”

A wobbly smile pulled at her lips, and she looked back at Reese and Colt. “So Ash tells me you’ll be in South America for fourteen months. What about your families during that time? Will you get to see them?”

Reese shook his head. “All we’ll do for the next fourteen months is eat, sleep, and breathe Firebrand. We’re leaving all cell phones stateside and will only communicate with our operative at the CIA. As for families, most of the guys going don’t have anyone.” He waved a hand back and forth between Colt and him. “The two of us both lost our parents, and we’ve steered well clear of women.”

Colt slapped Ash on the back. “And that’s why we’re willing to give up the best strategist I’ve ever worked with. Nobody can figure out how a mission should be planned like Ash can. He has a gift for it.” He turned and smiled at Lainey. “But Reese and I are happy that he’s found you, and we want the two of you to be happy.”

Reese glanced at his watch. “Hey, it’s getting late.” He nodded pointedly to two waiters, who stood against the far wall with arms crossed. The rest of the diners had left, and aside from their table, the dining room was clean. “Why don’t we go back to our hotel? The bar’s open for a few more hours, and we can sit and talk for as long as we want.”

Lainey shook her head and stood. “Not me. I’ll let the three of you have some guy time, since it’s your last night.”

Ash pushed to his feet. “I’ll go with you.”

She put a hand on his chest and smiled. “Stay with your friends. I’ll call Richard to come get me.”

He nodded. “We should only be a few more hours. Can I come by on my way home?”

She smiled. “Please do. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll do it.” He turned back to Reese and Colt. “I’ll walk her out and wait until Richard gets here.”

Reese and Colt rose and walked around the table to where Lainey stood. Reese extended his hand. “It was good to meet you, Lainey. Take care of this guy for me. He’s one of the best.”

Lainey blinked tears from her eyes, and, ignoring his hand, reached up and gave him a hug. “I will, Reese. And be careful in South America.”

Next to him Colt grinned at her. “Do I get a hug, too?”

She laughed and reached out for him. “You do. Take care of yourselves, and let us hear from you when you get back to the states.”

Ash touched her elbow, and as she glanced at him, she saw him slip his cell phone back in his pocket. “I called Richard. He’ll be here in a minute. I’ll wait with you at the front door.”

He put his hand in the small of her back and guided her toward the restaurant entrance. They didn’t speak as they walked through the restaurant and out the front door. Once outside Lainey turned to Ash. “I like them.”

He nodded. “They’re great guys.”

The silence hung heavy between them, and Lainey clutched her purse tighter. “How long do you think you’ll be?”

“Not long. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Okay.”

When he didn’t say anything else, she turned to him. “Ash, is something wrong? You seem like something’s on your mind.”

He shook his head. “Just tired I guess.”

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “Please. . .”

He stared down at her hand and then covered it with his. A sad smile pulled at his lips as he pressed her hand to his mouth and kissed her engagement ring finger. “I said I’m fine.”

They stood without speaking until Richard drove up. Ash opened the door for her. She slipped into the car, and he reached around her to buckle her seatbelt. When it snapped into place, he glanced at his brother.