Deadly Secrets by V. K. Powell

Author:V. K. Powell [Powell, VK]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636790886
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2022-02-01T21:27:17+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Rafe replayed the earlier interaction with Jana on her ride to the nest. Too much touching and closeness, not nearly enough objectivity. The color of Jana’s eyes. The softness of her skin. And Rafe’s desire to be the kind of woman Jana would consider spending time with. She wheeled into her driveway, and the bike skidded on gravel, nearly dumping her. She righted herself but blasted the perimeter security and set off alarms. Thinking about Jana was dangerous.

She screwed up when she met Jana’s gaze. G-ma Carlyle said the eyes were the windows to the soul, and hers were always open if anyone took the time to look. And Jana had looked too closely. Had she seen the way Rafe felt about her—caring, protective, and conflicted? If so, Rafe’s job just got harder.

She turned on the coffee pot and unpacked the business suits she’d picked up from her go-bag to refill with work clothes and a backup security system. She poured a cup of coffee and settled by the window to calm her thoughts. Why hadn’t she refused this job? A hiatus to reintegrate into society was normal SOP. Time cleared the mind of the debris of war or at least dimmed it, like the breeze rippling across the surface of the lake washing fallen leaves to the edge. If she’d taken time, maybe she’d be ready for someone like Jana Elliott.

But not now. She couldn’t talk about her life or her work, and Jana would never accept that. She loved to discuss, analyze, and feel. When was the last time Rafe allowed herself to really feel what was happening around her? Compartmentalizing kept her alive and sane. How could she give up a coping mechanism that was a vital part of her life? Her job and feelings didn’t mix, and neither did an outgoing corporate dynamo and a solitary soldier.

Rafe tidied the nest and took in the small space. Other than in full battle gear leading men, she felt most comfortable in this aluminum can. Home. Insulated. Safe. She locked the door behind her and headed toward the water unsure when she’d return.

A small fiberglass dinghy floated under the raised dock, and she tugged the lines free and tossed her bag in. After checking the fuel and connecting the line to the motor, she engaged the choke, and jerked on the cord. After a couple of tries, the engine sputtered to life. She untied from the dock and angled out into wide water toward the Carlyles’.

The engine leveled into a hum as she skirted across the water in the waning light. She scanned the shoreline, alert for anything unusual, but her tiny finger of the lake was unaltered. She tried to shift out of work mode and enjoy the easy ride and cool temperatures, but the image of a young boy she’d lost on foreign soil flashed through her mind. As she guided the boat to the Carlyles’ dock and secured the lines, she vowed Jana would not be another casualty, even if it meant she could never acknowledge her feelings.

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