Vortex (SAI Book 1) (9 page)

Picking up the papers, she scooted over and made room for him. “I guess you better sit down and tell me how bad it is.”

When her shoulders moved carelessly, something shifted in his chest, something that hadn’t moved in years. Rubbing his hand across his T-shirt, he wondered if maybe Vivi was right and he was suffering from some sort of heart condition. “We have to set up some new rules so that I can keep you safe.” Sitting down next to her, he was instantly enveloped in her scent. Camellias. Maybe it was her lotion or shampoo. He stared at her and breathed deeply as he tried to figure it out. When her hand waved in front of his face, he realized that he had zoned out.

“I hope the list of rules you’ve got for me is a short one. I don’t much like them, and I have a tendency not to follow them.”

“I want to keep you alive, so you’re going to have to follow them whether you like them or not.”

“The last time I was told that I was being kept safe, my husband was gunned down in front of me. So you’re going to have to do better than that,” Vivi responded.

Taking her hand, he held it between his own. “I’m sorry, Vivi, I had no idea that it happened in front of you.”

Shifting away from him, she slipped her hand out of his and placed it between her knees. “The NGO that we were working with had private security contractors traveling with us, and when they made a change, the new group never showed up. The team decided to travel that day anyway because we were going to provide immunizations for a whole village, and we thought it was important. The rebel soldiers must have seen us traveling unprotected, and that’s why they decided to attack that day. Or it was just lousy timing and bad luck. Four people from the Team were killed that day, along with countless people from the village.”

“I know what it’s like to lose people from your team, and I know what it feels like to lose the love of your life.” He watched her gaze meet his, and for the first time since he’d met her, it was unguarded. It was like seeing into her soul, and all the sadness that lay there was finally revealed. How could he have ever thought that she was just another rich, spoiled doctor? When he screwed up, he did it spectacularly.

“I guess you would.” Tilting her head, she smiled sadly at him. “Maybe we’re more alike than we realize.”

Taking a chance, he grabbed her hand again and held it. “I lost two men from my Team as well as the man we were trying to rescue. We landed in a remote region of one of the most volatile countries on the planet and raided a village to rescue an American photojournalist. We ended up in a life-or-death firefight. We were heavily armed, operating with intelligence from satellites, drones, and high-tech eavesdropping equipment. We had night-vision goggles and were backed up by elite Yemeni troops. There was no way that we were going to fail.

“We went toe to toe with six militants from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. When it was over, two men from my Team were seriously injured and the photojournalist was dead. We took care of the militants, but the cost was too damn high. I was the commander, and it was my responsibility to bring everyone home. I failed that night, because two brothers didn’t make it off the chopper alive.” 

Rubbing his fingers over her hand, he noticed how delicate her skin was. “I need you to follow the rules, because I can’t lose another person.” He watched as one of her hands covered his, and he raised his gaze to hers and noticed that she studied him with kindness.

“I’ll follow your rules…for now.”

“Thanks, Viv. I promise to keep you safe.”

Patting his hand, she studied him. “You know, I think it may actually be possible.”

“What?”

“You and I could become friends, after all.”

The way she was grinning at him made him feel like they could be friends and possibly more. Which was what he wanted. The date she’d gone on last night had made him realize that he couldn’t let anyone else have a chance. It was stupid that it took another man to make him realize it, but there it was. The fact that he’d found Vivi attractive from the moment he’d met her was no longer something he was going to hide from. The opposite was true. He was going to finally do something about it.

“You and I are going to become real good friends, Vivi.” The look she gave him suggested that he might have taken it too far, but he didn’t care. Once he set his sights on something, that was how he operated. Full steam ahead. “What are you working on?”

“I’m looking at my current financial situation. My sister keeps me on a tight budget, and I have to figure out a way to cover the living expenses for the family of one of my patients. I have a little girl who is ready for heart surgery, and that expense is being covered, but her mom has to take a lot of time off work, and I want to help out.”

“Why do you let Ronnie have that kind of power over you?”

“Have you met my sister? She’s pretty forceful when it comes to her opinions. I’ve relied on her to manage the financial side of my life because I don’t want to be bothered with it. She’s brilliant and does an amazing job. When I opened the clinic, she made me create a foundation to fund it.”

“Why?” Joel asked.

“Because, according to my sister, you never touch the capital. You make do with the interest and income. But under no circumstances is the
capital
ever to be touched.”

“It makes sense. But what if you want to do some good with your funds?”

“That’s the problem. Well, not a problem, but a challenge. Ronnie explained to me that once I spent the capital that I could no longer help anyone. The best thing I could do was make it work for me. That way I could help a lot more people over a longer period of time. And, of course, she’s right.”

“Well, if you run short, let me know. I’m pretty flush, and I can help out.”

Leaning over, Vivi kissed him on the cheek and patted his chest. “You’re a good man, Joel McDade. Even if you’re a growly bear.”

When her lips touched his cheek, he felt a zing against his heart. Right then and there, he vowed to himself that he was going to do his best to quit growling at her and give her reasons to kiss him instead. “Can I take you to dinner tonight? I’d like to see what New Orleans has to offer.”

“Sure. Do you mind if we go to a casual restaurant? The food will be amazing, but I won’t have to dress up.”

“I like casual. I didn’t bring a suit with me, so that would be great.”

Patting his knee, she grinned. “I try to only wear heels a couple times a week, and I’ve hit my limit.”

“You can wear what you have on.” He watched her glance down at her outfit and shake her head.

“I can do better than this.”

Shrugging, he grinned in her direction. “Are you ready to hear about the intel, or would you like to finish what you’re working on first?”

Stacking her papers, she stood up. “Let’s go downstairs and have lunch, and you can give me the full picture. I feel like I’m going to need some potato chips to go along with this conversation.”

“Do you have any cookies? I think you’re going to need those as well.”

“Damn, that bad?”

Taking her hand, he led her out of the room. “And ice cream. You probably need ice cream.” She sighed and gripped his hand a little tighter. That wasn’t a bad development as far as he was concerned. He would hold her hand as tightly as she would let him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Super Bowl Sunday

Vivi stood in her mother’s kitchen and helped make the deviled eggs. As she mixed mayonnaise and mustard in, she felt the questioning glances of both Essie and her mama. Counting down from ten in her head, she waited for the inquisition to commence. She made it to six when Essie threw out the first question.
Let the games begin.

“So, tell us about that young man who you brought along today?” Essie asked from her station behind the stove.

“I’m sure Uncle Buck has already filled you all in, so why don’t you both ask what you really want to know.” Carefully, she arranged the eggs on a platter and started to fill them. “I know you two are not going to be happy until you feel like you have the full story.”

Mama came to stand beside her and lifted her face up so they were staring into one another’s eyes. “I want all my children to be happy, and this is the first time I’ve seen you with a spark in your eyes in three years. Are you going kill the man, or are you going to love him?”

“It’s hard to say at this point. It could go either way,” Vivi replied.

Glancing over her shoulder, Val winked at Essie. “You were right, Essie. As usual. The two of them have some fire between them. I guess we just have to wait and see what they’re going to do with it.”

Stirring the big pot on the stove, Essie beamed at Vivi. “I think you should let the man light your fire in the bedroom and not your temper. You’re due for some lovin’, and he seems like a man who can give it to you.”

Vivi’s gaze bounced from her mama to Essie and back again. “You all have lost your mind.”

“Oh, no, we haven’t,” Mama replied. “You don’t think you have another opportunity at happiness, and you do. Maybe it’s time you give it and that man a chance.” Carefully, she added a small shrimp to the top of each egg after Vivi filled it. “I bet he would agree with me too.”

“Oh, he definitely would.” Essie added, “He’s opened himself up to the idea of you, and I’d say he’s got a plan on how he’s goin’ to convince you that you all should be together.”

“Have you two been drinking?” She lifted her mama’s glass of iced tea and smelled it to make sure. “Joel has just decided that he doesn’t hate me. And that’s it.”

“That’s not
it
. And you know it. So don’t insult us by trying to lie.” Val sprinkled paprika on the eggs and wiped her hands. Picking up the plate, she handed it to her daughter. “Go on out and put this on the table.”

“Make sure that you let Joel know that you made them. He needs someone to take care of him,” Essie called.

“He’s a retired SEAL. I don’t think he needs anything from anyone. He’s fully capable of taking care of himself,” Vivi replied as she sauntered out of the kitchen.

“He needs someone to take care of his heart,” Essie replied quietly.

“Amen,” Val replied. “It seems that we have some work in front of us, Essie. Let’s plan a big weekend at the horse farm for Vivi’s birthday. That will give them lots of time to get to know one another in a relaxed environment. Maybe we should send them up at the end of the week. It worked for Ronnie and Chase, and I see no reason why it couldn’t work for the two of them.”

“Those two are not going to have an easy road, but everything tells me that they’re going to make it.”

“I hope you’re right. Our Vivi needs someone to love, and Joel seems like a good man for the job.”

***

Joel sat between Nana Boo and Aunt Lolly and tried to keep from fidgeting under their watchful gazes. There were some naval interrogators who could learn a thing or two from these two. “Well, I should go and check on Vivi.”

A small, bony hand covered his arm as Nana Boo stopped him. “Not so fast, young man. We have a few more questions for you.” Leaning forward, she winked at Aunt Lolly. “I believe it was your turn, dear. Go ahead and ask him.”

“I can tell that you like my grandniece, but I wonder why you’re fighting it.”

Brushing his hand across his short hair, he tried to come up with a good answer. Glancing between the two women, he realized that honesty was the only thing he was going to be able to get away with. “I respect Vivi, and I think she’s a terrific woman.”

Nana Boo slapped his arm with her birdlike hand and snorted. “What a load of bull hockey.”

“Fine. I like Vivi, and I’m interested in getting to know her better,” Joel stammered.

A twitter of laughter escaped Aunt Lolly. “We may be old, but we’re not stupid. You’re half in love or lust with Vivi, and you can’t admit it to yourself. The moment you do, your life will become much easier.” Lolly took a sip of her tea and stared at the TV. “Look, there’s our Ana. Doesn’t she look happy?”

The NFL awards show was playing on the screen that filled a wall of the family room. Someone must’ve taped the program from last night and fast-forwarded it to the middle of the show. The camera was zooming in on Jack and Ana Ellis’s faces as they smiled at one another. It seemed that Jack’s name must have just been called, because Ana grabbed Jack’s hand and waited as they announced the winner of the best defensive player of the year. When his name was called, he grabbed her and kissed her hard. When she held his face and gazed into his eyes, she told the world how much she loved him. Letting her go reluctantly, he moved toward the stage to accept his award. They were a terrific couple, and Joel was damn happy to see Jack receive the award for the second year in a row.

“Now that’s a girl who never thought a love like that would come her way,” Nana Boo stated loudly. “Our Ana thought she was destined for heartbreak, but that big, sweet man came along and swept her off her feet.” Leaning forward, she spoke to Lolly on the other side of Joel. “I think Joel could take a couple of notes from him, don’t you?”

Nodding vigorously in agreement, Aunt Lolly stared up at him. “You might also want to take Chase as an example. He went after Ronnie and didn’t let her fussing bother him a bit. Vivi doesn’t fuss as much as her sister, but if she doesn’t like what she sees, then she will just ignore you. Has she been ignoring you?”

There was no good answer to that question, and Joel tried to figure out a way to escape the interrogation and advice that he’d been receiving, and he couldn’t see a solution. Until…Vivi walked into the room with a plate of deviled eggs.

“Here comes Vivi. I should see if she needs anything.” Heaving himself off the couch before the second round could start, he made a beeline for the woman who was going to save him. Or kill him. Either option was better than the one he was in. “Hi, honey. What do you have there? I’m starved.”

She looked him up and down and gave him an assessing smile. “I made some deviled eggs. Help yourself.” She was about to return to the kitchen, but he grabbed her hand before she could escape. “What in the world is going on with you?” Glancing over his shoulder, she saw Nana Boo and Aunt Lolly staring holes into the two of them. “Did those two old women get ahold of you?”