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Before long they were out the door, walking hand in hand up the path toward the concrete pad where Daniel’s cabin had been. Overnight, a tent city had sprung up in the meadow among the tall grass and wildflowers. People were milling about, greeting newcomers who came in a steady stream of cars down the dirt road. Sally’s excitement sizzled just beneath the surface.
“It was thoughtful of you to organize this cabin-raising for Daniel and Ellen.” Sally was busting-at-the-seams proud of him. He’d worked his butt off the past several days, getting commitments from everyone he could think of to show up and work for as long as it took to replace Daniel’s cabin. Between ordering materials, drawing plans and raising money to cover what Daniel’s insurance wouldn’t, he’d still taken the time to make certain she was comfortable and cared for while she healed.Thoughtfulwasn’t nearly a good-enough word to describe him.
“I have my moments.” Luke smiled and squeezed her hand. “Don’t forget about the dance tonight. I promised to take you dancing.”
She glanced toward the crowd ahead and smiled. “I’m looking forward to our first real date—the first of many, I hope.”
He brought her hand up and kissed her fingers. A mischievous grin appeared for a heartbeat before he looked away. When he met her gaze again, the same worried creases that had lined his face for days were firmly in place. “You know I’m here for you, sunshine, but let’s try not to overdo it today. Okay?”
Sally refused to let her disappointment show. How many openings like that had she given him over the past week? He had yet to mention their future or his marriage proposal, changing the subject, as he’d done now, obviously uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. What was a girl to think?
Luke cared about her—desired her. There was no doubt about that. But it seemed everything had changed since he’d believed he’d lost her. It was as though he pulled back from her to keep from being hurt again. No one else was likely to notice the difference…but she noticed.Paranoid much?
On the other hand, who hadn’t changed? There’d been a carefully orchestrated and carried out attack by a brutal terrorist group in a sparsely populated area of Idaho. The terrorists hadn’t been content torturing and killing on the other side of the world. One man had conceived a plan to follow Luke from the pit of hell and finish what he’d started simply because he’d survived. The attack was nothing on the scale of 9-11, of course, but it served to remind many there was an enemy and he could strike anywhere. Whether a flesh-and-blood witness to the horror or seen through the eyes of news reporters, everyone’s world had tilted a degree or two. Why would Luke be any different?
She squinted into the newly risen sun to look at him as another of her unending questions turned her attention from the ache in her heart. “Apparently, we suck at hiding, don’t we? How did they find us?”
Luke’s breath escaped on a sigh.
Immediately, Sally regretted bringing up the subject. “Forget I asked. I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about it.”
Luke stopped, pulling her up short. “The truth is, I’ve been waiting for you to ask…and dreading the look in your eyes when you hear the answer.” He cupped her cheek and teased her lips with a light brush from his thumb. “I’ve given that plenty of thought. Talked it over with my commander and Homeland Security. We’ll never know for sure, but the most likely scenario is, they followed me to the hospital in Bethesda, and when I was released, I led them right to you and Jen.” The tick in his jaw surfaced as he paused.
“Ahmed knew what you meant to me because of the picture. He knew I’d do anything to keep you and Jen safe. So he used you to get to me. The bomb in your house in Huntington was Ahmed’s handiwork, and later on the road to the lodge—the cars that tried to run us off the road. It was me they were trying to kill, and you got stuck in the middle. I’m sorry, babe.”
Her heart constricted at the misery and anguish in his eyes. Did he think she blamed him for any of that? “Luke, you have nothing to be sorry for. The responsible person, and I use that term loosely, is dead. He’ll never hurt anyone again.” Sally fisted her hands in Luke’s camouflage jacket and pulled him against her. “I love you, Luke Harding, and I would do everything over again if it meant having you in my life.” There. That was so in-his-face there was no way he couldn’t respond—not say he loved her back.
A cute-as-sin grin settled on his mouth…and she waited expectantly.
“Hey, Harding, ya wuss. What’s takin’ you so long?” Travis’s drawl drew their attention to the crowd of people watching them from a hundred feet away.
Luke’s gaze swept back to her, and the moment was gone. “I guess we’d better join them. The crowd’s getting ugly.” He took her hand, an expression she couldn’t read darkening his brown eyes. “Come on. Let’s get this party started.”
There were so many people, and they just kept coming. Travis, Coop and Matt had stayed, so they could be there to help Daniel and Ellen rebuild. She gave them each a huge hug, feeling as though they were lifelong friends, rather than the two-week relationship it had actually been. These men would always hold a special place in her heart.
The rest of Luke’s SEAL team was there too, and Luke clasped hands with them all and introduced her to each of them. Name tags would have been a good idea. Too bad she hadn’t thought of it sooner.
Luke’s Aunt Peg, a petite figure beside all the brawny men, with shoulder-length silver hair and chocolate-brown eyes, squeezed through the crowd to greet Luke. Then she turned to Sally and dispensed a warm hug. “Thanks for making my nephew so happy, dear,” she whispered.
Sally’s eyebrow shot up as the friendly woman smiled and winked. What on earth? There was no time to contemplate the odd exchange as Luke’s brother, Garrett, grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off her feet for a bear hug. Setting her down, he planted a platonic kiss on her cheek and reached for Luke’s hand. “Damn, it’s good to see you both in one piece.”
It touched Sally deeply that Luke’s family had made the drive from Cougar Ridge to help a family they didn’t know for no other reason than that Luke asked them. Cowboy, Garrett’s retired military dog, had come along for the ride too. The shepherd was currently being spoiled and treated like the hero he was by the large Navy contingent.
Sally scanned the grounds for Garrett’s fiancée, Rachel, and spotted the pretty redhead talking to Jonathan. They were outside the crush of people waiting to be told what their jobs were as Daniel began organizing the workers.
Luke looped his hand around her neck and pulled her closer for a quick brush of his lips. “Daniel needs some help. You’ll be okay?” Excitement shone in his eyes.
“I’ll see you later,” Sally said.
As he strode over to Daniel, her gaze slid back to Rachel.
Garrett moved alongside Sally. Cowboy loped up to him, checking in, no doubt, before racing off to join a group of young boys with a rubber ball. Garrett and Sally both chuckled when the dog stole the ball and joyously evaded the boys’ attempts to get it back.
Jonathan stepped away from Rachel, joining the detail beginning to dig postholes at each corner of the concrete foundation. Alone, Rachel fidgeted, and Sally’s heart went out to her.
“She’s nervous,” Garrett said, stating the obvious. “She was devastated when the truth came out about Luke’s request not to see you in the hospital.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I love my brother, but…well, sometimes he can be a real ass. Rachel knew how much he hurt you, and she felt responsible, even though she wasn’t. I know it’s been uncomfortable for both of you when you’ve attended the same functions, but she’s missed you—”
Sally lay her hand on his arm and smiled. “This past year has been one poor decision followed by misunderstandings and topped off with a lack of communication. We’re starting fresh today.”
