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“Thanks for the history. I wanted to offer to cover some self-defense basics with Ariana. Actually, it’d be good for all of you. Not only to protect yourself from attacks but situations that get out of hand.”
Chill bumps broke out on Elizabeth’s arms as his meaning came through. Her throat tightened at the memories she still couldn’t forget. “That’d be good. I don’t want them to ever be victims again.”
She wasn’t going to be either.
ChapterTwelve
I MET A GIRL – William Michael Morgan
A short,loud bark woke John from a deep sleep. Motion sensor lights lit up the loft enough for John to see Boss on his feet, his head up, listening.
John bolted upright and struck the top of his head on the low ceiling—again.
“Shit!” Hunched over, he rubbed the spot to lessen the pain. He grabbed his pistol off the nightstand and edged to the steps. Boss scrambled down behind him.
Looking out the living room window, he saw nothing. Not that he expected J.R. to be standing in plain sight. He donned his helmet and stuffed his bare feet into his tactical boots without bothering to lace them.
“You stay,” he said to Boss. He waited until the sensor lights went off, then lowered his helmet’s enhanced night-vision goggles and slipped outside. He scanned the area but saw no human or animal heat signatures. Still, something had triggered the lights, so he listened. Cigarette smoke tainted the air. Footsteps on gravel by Wren’s place interrupted the comforting concert of crickets and frogs.
Hair on his bare arms stood on end. He raised his weapon and peered around the front of Hope Harbor. Sticking close to the side, he crept across the front. Smoke wafted toward him, stronger now. John had hoped J.R. would take his chances in court rather than force a showdown, but even if J.R. brought someone with him, with John’s training, J.R. was outmanned.
John peeked around the corner just as Wren’s Doberman, Coco, whipped his head around and barked, killing any element of surprise.
Wren shrieked and jumped away from the side of her car as John stepped into sight. The cigarette fell from her fingers. “What the hell? You nearly gave me a heart attack.” She pressed a hand to her chest.
“Boss heard something, and the lights came on in the middle of the night. I thought it could be J.R. What the hell time is it?”
“Around two thirty.” Wren’s words were a bit rushed.
“What are you doing out here?” Had she heard something too?
“I just got home. I let Coco out and was finishing a cigarette since I’m not allowed to smoke inside.” She crushed out the cigarette with the sole of a dressy, high-heeled sandal.
He flipped up the NVGs and removed his helmet.
“Sorry to get you geared up for nothing.” She grinned and stepped toward him. “Though it’s kind of hot. You should have come out with me and my friends. It’s more fun dancing at the club than the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. It’s all no-touchy line dancing at the VFW. And my girlfriends would love you.” She looked him up and down.
“Sorry I scared you. Goodnight.” He didn’t say anything to encourage her and shuffled back home. It’d been a long time since he’d been with a woman, however, Elizabeth had warned him about Wren’s issues, and he didn’t need to add to them or risk disappointing Elizabeth—especially when she was the woman he’d been thinking about when he’d gone to bed alone.
Since he’d gotten stateside, the only women he had contact with, other than those taking his food orders, were Ariana, Wren, and Elizabeth. The best he could tell, Elizabeth was in her early thirties, so close to his age. She had a natural, no-fuss kind of beauty and curves that could fill a man’s hands. Except she hadn’t given any signs of romantic interest in him. His dog was welcome at her house anytime, but her guard was up when it came to him. Or it could have to do with what she’d shared about her father abusing her mother.
Boss waited at the door.
“You might as well come take care of business.”
Boss came out and sniffed his usual spot, lifting a leg for a few seconds, then tromped back inside while John stowed his boots and helmet by the door again.
John felt the knot on his head. Great. At least this time it wouldn’t show. Maybe he’d attach some foam to the ceiling over the mattress—just in case.
ChapterThirteen
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT – Pat Benatar
John parkedat The Oasis with supplies he’d picked up at the training compound at Fort Bragg and the PX. Yesterday, he’d checked the doors and windows on Sanctuary Lodge—the name Elizabeth had given to the little blue home where Ariana was living—and replaced the short screws used for the door’s strike plates with longer ones.
He wasn’t going to go overboard and freak the women out, but he wanted to give them self-defense basics in case J.R. showed up again. It wouldn’t hurt to teach them how to protect themselves should the need arise after what they had likely been through before ending up here.
He tapped on the truck’s horn, then went to let Boss out. When Wren stepped out of her house, her Doberman, Coco, shot out too. The two dogs romped and chased each other in the clearing.
