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She was shaking. “I’m fine. Just clumsy.”
“I said your name twice.”
“I was daydreaming. What’s going on?” she asked, avoiding looking toward the table and Mercury, especially that Spocko guy.
“I was going to show Spocko the gardens. He hasn’t been here since last spring.”
“Okay. I’ll just make some coffee.?
?? She went to turn the other way, but Lee stopped her. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed the top.
Holding her gaze, she knew he wanted her to come along.
“Come with us. It’s beautiful outside.”
She was hit with a mix of emotions. She felt angry, confused, scared, and yet flashes of other thoughts went through her mind as she walked outside with Lee and Spocko. She didn’t want to think about anything that happened. Since getting out of the compound, her main focus was Keith, and of course her attraction to Lee, Mercury, Stitch, Tex, and Tiek. Her heart soared with a love for them already. That frightened her, too. She was in love with five men. A woman like her who swore to lock her heart away forever.
The sun was gorgeous and warm against her skin. Lee talked to Spocko about the new trees they planted this spring and how they were building a special area, fenced off from the rest of the flower garden.
“What are you putting in there?” Spocko asked as he leaned against a fence and inhaled the fresh clean air.
“A vegetable garden. Different than the one Tiek started last year. That wasn’t big enough.”
Spocko chuckled. “That was a great garden. I loved the tomatoes and the cucumbers he dropped off.”
“Yeah, he kind of has the magic touch with that,” Lee said.
Shawna listened to the conversation, happy to learn something else about Tiek and Lee, and of course their home. She was cautious as she evaluated Spocko. He seemed sincere. He really was a very attractive man, and maybe she was being too hard. But her heart, her gut was so well trained in being on guard and protecting her, she stepped farther away from him and even Lee. She walked toward the small sitting area. It was gorgeous there, and decorated with wood furniture and cushions in a semicircle around what appeared to be a large fire pit. She could imagine sitting by it at night listening to the sounds of peacefulness. That was what their ranch made her feel. At peace.
She ran her hand along the custom bar made of a combination of wood and stone.
“You like this setup?” Lee asked her, drawing her attention back toward him and Spocko. Spocko took a seat on one of the cushioned chairs. She looked at Lee.
“I do. It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” She admired their ability to decorate their home both inside and outside. It was obvious that they had money and an ability to buy whatever they wanted, or needed, in life. She was envious of that.
“Shawna, did you know that Lee, Tiek, Stitch, Tex, and Mercury built all of this themselves?” Spocko asked.
She turned to look at him, surprised by his words. She glanced at Lee, who ran a hand along the wall of stone.
“Really? This is impressive, Lee. It must have taken you a long time.” She sat down on one of the chairs where Spocko was.
“It did take us a long time, but every stone, every ounce of sweat we poured into this house, this patio and garden, helped us to heal.”
“To heal?” she asked, feeling her chest tighten.
Lee turned to her and smiled softly. “We had all finally retired from the service after more than fifteen years. It was one of our last missions that did us all in. We didn’t think we’d make it out alive.” He turned away a moment as if remembering the mission. Her belly tightened. He turned back toward them and smiled.
“But, we did. Thanks to Keith and freaking Tiek. That crazy bastard came barreling into a sea of fire and bullets flying, like a goddamn superhero.” He chuckled.
Then he walked over and took a seat next to Shawna. “Your brother helped save his team that day. He wanted to catch Montoya so badly. When he got away, your brother vowed revenge. But the rest of us were just so damn lucky to get out alive. We figured the feds, the government would continue to try and catch him. It wasn’t our problem anymore. Our mission had been a success.”
“Keith wanted revenge on Montoya, the man who was helping to create that missile?” she asked. Her heart began to race. She didn’t want to think about the compound, about being abducted, held hostage, and assaulted.
“I think that’s what got him involved with the undercover job. That and of course Chavez’s pull to set Keith up. What a fucking mess. Keith must have known that Chavez found out about you.” Lee ran his fingers through his hair.
She was silent a few seconds, remembering that day Keith came to her.
“I knew something was wrong the moment Keith showed up. He looked tired, on edge, you know. He warned me that men might come.” She stopped talking, bit her lips, and looked away from them.
