Chapter 4

  Collette sat forward in the passenger seat of John’s truck, her heart in her throat as she scanned the ditches, searching for Ryan’s truck and her daughter. “I should’ve known it wasn’t safe for them to go out. Especially after Sly’s threats. I shouldn’t have let them go.”

  “You can’t beat yourself up.” John reached for her hand and squeezed it gently before returning his to the steering wheel. “You couldn’t have known Sly would run them off the road.”

  Collette had liked the feel of his strong fingers holding hers. Too much. She wanted him to hold her hand again and make everything right. But hadn’t she fought all these years to remain independent? Letting someone else shoulder her burden wasn’t something she could allow to happen. This was her life and her daughter they were dealing with.

  Still, she didn’t own a truck and couldn’t pull anything out of a ditch with her car. Nor could she afford to hire a tow truck. Relying on John to assist was the smart thing to do without setting her back a week’s worth of tip money. He was shaping up to be a friend. Collette had so few friends. The only other friends she had were the people she worked with at the Salty Dog Saloon. Jim Walker, known to most as Sarge, had given her the waitress job, with the understanding she was limited on what days she could work. Sophia Phillips, or “Red” was a bartender, who’d bonded with her over their hair color. Plus, Red made sure the guys at the bar didn’t harass her too much. When they got out of line, she came to Collette’s defense.

  Red had recently fallen for one of the Deltas. Collette turned to John. “You know Sophia, the bartender at the Salty Dog, right?”

  John shot a glance her way before returning his attention to the road and the ditches. “Yes, why?”

  “She’s seeing a Delta.”

  “She sure is. She’s with Blade. He’s one of the members of my team. They hit it off on a trip she’d won to Cancun, Mexico.”

  “That’s right. So, you’re a member of Blade’s team? I should’ve seen you at the saloon.”

  John scratched his head. “That’s what I was thinking.”

  “I did miss a few nights when Hope got sick with the flu. The girls covered for me and let me take a couple weeknights to make up my time.”

  “And we have been gone off and on lately for different assignments,” John said. “I’d know if I’d seen you there; I would have remembered you.”

  The headlights bounced off a metal object in the ditch on the other side of the road.

  “There!” Collette pointed to Ryan’s truck, buried up to the axel in mud from a recent rain. She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of Hope and Ryan.

  Ryan dropped down out of the truck and hurried to the passenger side to help Hope down.

  John turned the truck around and parked on the shoulder, far enough off the highway to avoid getting hit. Even before he shifted into park, Collette had opened her door and was getting out.

  She rushed toward the kids, crushing Hope in her arms. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. McCallick,” Ryan said. “I tried to keep it on the road, but they rammed me several times.”

  Hope pushed her mother to arm’s length. “I’m okay, Mom. You should’ve seen Ryan. He was amazing.” She slipped her arm around her boyfriend. “I don’t know how he didn’t lose it. I was for sure we’d roll once we went down in the ditch. But Ryan handled it beautifully.”

  Collette’s stomach roiled at the thought of the teen’s truck rolling over in a ditch.

  “Don’t worry, we were wearing our seatbelts,” Hope said. “Even if we had rolled, we wouldn’t have been thrown from the vehicle.”

  “Don’t worry?” Collette laughed, the sound more of a sob. “You were almost killed. Was it Sly?” Collette had her cellphone out, ready to call the police, the sheriff and the National Guard.

  “We’re not sure.”

  “The police should be here any minute,” Ryan said.

  John gave a brief nod. “Good. You’ll need to tell them everything you remember, like a description of the vehicle, color, make, model, if you can remember.”

  “It was an older model four-door car,” Hope said. “Like one of those boats some of the old people drive from back in the nineteen-hundreds.”

  “It was black,” Ryan added. “It must’ve had heavily tinted windows. We couldn’t see into it.” He shuddered. “They just kept ramming into us. Over and over.”

  Hope touched Ryan’s arm. “You did good. You held the road as long as you could. And when we went off, you still had control. If the ditch hadn’t been muddy, we could’ve pulled right out.” She grinned. “You were like a stunt man, rolling with the punches.”

  Ryan drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I did what I had to. And, believe me, I don’t want to do it again.”

  Sirens sounded and flashing lights strobed in the distance, moving toward them. Moments later, a Killeen police car pulled up behind John’s truck, and the officer got out. Moments later, Ryan’s parents arrived and hugged their son, glad he hadn’t been hurt.

  After Ryan and Hope explained what had happened, the police officer radioed into dispatch for the other units to be on the lookout for a large, black, older model sedan with damage to its right side. He took pictures of the damage to Ryan’s vehicle, noting the dark paint that had scraped off onto Ryan’s white pickup.

  When he’d gotten enough information to file his report, the officer helped John and Ryan attach straps to Ryan’s and John’s trucks.

  With Ryan at the wheel of his truck and John driving his, they pulled the stranded vehicle out of the ditch and back up onto the pavement.

  Once they’d removed the straps and checked out the drivability of Ryan’s truck, Ryan’s parents, John and Collette followed him. Maybe it was overkill for all of them to follow, but after what had happened, Collette was glad to see the boy home.

  Once Ryan was safely in his house, Hope climbed into the back seat of John’s truck. John helped Collette up into the passenger seat and rounded the front of the truck.

  Collette turned to Hope. “Are you okay?”

  Hope nodded, rubbing a hand across her chest. “I’m a little bruised from the shoulder strap of the seatbelt, but I’m fine.”

  Anger burned through Collette all over again. “When I find out who did this…I’ll…I’ll…”

  “What, Mom?” Hope shook her head. “You have to let the police handle this,” her daughter said with the voice of reason and maturity.

  “You could’ve been killed.” Collette reached for her daughter’s hand and squeezed it tightly.

  “But we weren’t,” Hope assured her.

  John slipped into the driver’s seat and pulled out of the Alston’s driveway, heading back to the trailer park. “Everyone okay?”

  “I am,” Hope said, her lips twisting. “I’m not so sure Mom is.”

  Tears welled in Collette’s eyes. She released her daughter’s hand and wiped away a stray tear running down her cheek. “I was so worried,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t have let you go out. Not after Sly’s threats.”

  “I know you were worried,” Hope said, “but you can’t protect me from everything.”

  “I can’t lose you,” Collette whispered.

  “I know. I’m all you have.” Hope reached for Collette’s hand again. “And you’re all I have. We’re in this life together. I promise to be careful and aware at all times.”

  “I think you shouldn’t ride around with Ryan for a while.” Collette’s lips pressed together as she watched her daughter’s brow furrow.

  Hope frowned and released her mother’s hand. “But, Mom, Ryan’s my boyfriend.”

  “And he and his brother are the targets of a gang. They know his truck, have attacked him once and will do it again, until they get what they want.”

  “They’ll never get what they want if Mark flushed their drugs down the drain,” Hope said. “I don’t know why they’re bothering Ryan, unless they’re trying to bring Mark out in the open.”

  “That’s probably what they’re trying to do,” John said. “If Ryan’s brother has disappeared, they’ll go after someone he cares about. Your mother has a point. You’re in danger if you’re with Ryan.”

  “I’m not asking you to stay away from Ryan forever,” Collette said. “Just until this blows over.”

  “No,” Hope said. “I can’t abandon him. He needs me now more than ever. He wouldn’t abandon me if the situation were reversed.”

  Collette recognized the stubborn look on her daughter’s face. It was the mirror image of her own when she fought for what was right. She sighed. “Okay, but promise me you won’t go out after dark until they quit harassing you two.”

  Hope nodded. “I can promise that. I have no desire to be out after dark. Not if random cars are forcing us off the road.” She smiled. “John, thanks for helping pull Ryan’s truck out of the ditch.”

  “It didn’t appear to have any mechanical damage,” John said. “Just cosmetic. He was able to pull the fender away from the tire enough that it wouldn’t rub.”

  Hope sighed. “He took such good care of that truck. And his parents only had liability insurance on it. It’s not going to be repaired.”

  “You’re alive,” Collette reminded her.

  “I know. And I’m glad for that.” Hope stared through the front window. “There was a moment or two I thought things weren’t going to end up so well.” She grinned. “But they did…besides Ryan’s truck being smashed.”

  “I’m worried,” Collette twisted around in her seat to look at her daughter. “I can’t be home all the time to keep a watchful eye on you.”

  “You don’t have to,” Hope said. “I can take care of myself. I have this down to a science. When you’re not home, I’ll go from school to the library. When the library is closed on Monday, I’ll go to the church and study there until you get out of school. It works. You don’t have to worry.”

  “I get home around four-thirty most days that I’m not out on the range training,” John offered. “I could go by and pick up Hope at the church or school. I could let her know when I’m off.”

  “Despite today, you’re not responsible for our family,” Collette said. “We can’t keep relying on you.”

  “Why not? I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t willing to help out.”

  “Let him, Mom. That way I can get home sooner and maybe even get dinner on the table so you don’t have to when you get home.” Hope tipped her chin toward John. “Thanks for offering. I promise I’m not a whole lot of trouble.”

  “I’m sure you’re not,” John said. “Not if you’re anything like your mother.”

  Collette snorted and held up her bandaged finger. “She’s not like me. Hope is a lot more coordinated than her mother.”

  Hope reached for Collette’s hand, a frown denting her brow. “What happened to your finger?”

  “Just a little cut while chopping up a salad.” Collette pulled her hand free of her daughter’s grip. “I’m fine. John treated it like a professional, and I didn’t need stitches.”

  “I can’t leave you alone for a moment,” Hope said.

  “I wasn’t alone,” Collette said before she thought better.

  “She was with me.” John smiled at Collette. “Determined to make me eat some ruffage.”

  Hope laughed. “That’s Mom for you. She’s always trying to get me to eat healthy stuff.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not a big fan.”

  “Same,” John said. “But the salad was good, once we washed the blood off it.”

  Collette swung a hand at John, smacking him lightly on this shoulder. “I didn’t bleed on the lettuce.”

  “No, you didn’t. But you could have.” He winked.

  By the time they pulled into the trailer park, they were all smiling. Even Collette. What could’ve turned out to be a really bad day with Sly’s threats, cutting her hand and Hope ending up in a ditch, had ended on a happier, playful note.

  Admittedly, that had a lot to do with their new neighbor, John Sanders.

  Collette could get used to having him around—and he was enough of a gentleman and friend to help her keep an eye on her daughter when she couldn’t be there.

  Granted, they’d gotten along just fine before John had moved in. They’d be fine when he moved out. However, while he was there, they’d have a little more help. The weight of her responsibilities seemed just a little bit lighter for the first time in years.

  Sadly, she had to remind herself, Don’t get used to it. He won’t be around forever

  * * *

  John parked his truck in front of Collette’s trailer and walked the ladies to the door. After he was sure no one was inside waiting to pounce on them, he remained there until they closed the door before he backed out of their drive and pulled into the one next to theirs. His little camp trailer had the light on in the kitchen and Collette’s leftover steak on the counter. He quickly slid it into a plastic bag. He could give it to her in the morning, but he might miss her. The team met early for PT. She might not be up by then. He’d be better off getting it to her before she went to bed. That way she’d have something for lunch the next day.

  He worried about her. As much as she wanted him to eat healthy, he doubted she got enough to eat. She was slim enough, not too slim, but if she lost any weight at all, she’d be too skinny.

  No, he had to get that steak to her that night.

  He left his camper and walked around the trailer to the front door, where he knocked lightly. If they didn’t answer, he’d go away and deliver the steak in the morning.

  “Who’s there?” a soft voice called out.

  “John,” he answered.

  The door opened a crack, and Collette peeked out. “Hey,” she whispered.

  “Hey.” He stood for a moment staring up at her auburn hair and green eyes in the light streaming through from her living room.

  Her lips curled upward on the corners. “Did you need something?”

  “No…Yes…” he stammered, and then held out the plastic bag with the steak. “I thought you might want this for lunch tomorrow.”

  She smiled down at him, looked over her shoulder then stepped out onto the porch. She wore a light robe that only came down to mid-thigh. Her legs were bare, and she had a brush in her hand. She took the steak from his hand. “Thank you. I’d forgotten all about it. I would’ve hated for it to have gone to waste. Your steaks are phenomenal.” She waited for a moment.

  John didn’t have anything else to say, but he couldn’t make himself leave. After a long, awkward silence, he cleared his throat. “Well, I guess I’d better go.”

  “Yes,” she agreed. Still the door remained open and neither one of them made a move.

  “I’m glad Hope is all right,” John said.

  Collette nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Goodnight, Collette.” John turned to leave. He was already down two steps when a voice sounded behind him.

  “John.”

  He stopped and turned on the step where he stood.

  Collette set the bag with the steak down on a table near the door. “Wait.” She left the trailer, pulling the door almost closed behind her. She stood on the landing, on eye-level with him as he stood two steps down. “I wanted to thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked, his gaze drinking the sparkle in her eyes, reflecting the light over her door, and the way her mouth curved into a sweet smile as she stood in front of him. He had the sudden urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

  It took all his control to keep from doing it.

  “Thank you for being there for Hope when Sly was here earlier today. And thank you for feeding me the best steak I’ve ever had. And thank you for pulling Ryan out of the ditch.” Collette leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

  His control snapped, and his arms came up around her, pulling her body against his. He crushed her lips with his.

  When she opened to him, he swept in, claiming her tongue with his in a long, sensuous caress.

  Her arms circled his neck, and she pressed her breasts to his chest, wrapping her calf around the back of his thigh.

  The kiss went on, his hand sliding lower to cup her ass.

  Collette’s calf tightened around his thigh to the point her sex rubbed against the denim covering his leg.

  Heat rushed through John’s body, coiling low and swelling his cock, which was constricted by his jeans.

  Holding her wasn’t enough. He wanted to strip her naked and make love to her beneath the stars.

  This woman he’d only met that day, whose path he could’ve crossed at the Salty Dog but had missed by days or maybe hours. Why now? He wasn’t ready for more. Not while he was on active duty, subject to deploy.

  And she wasn’t interested either. She had a goal she needed to remain focused on to achieve. He’d be a distraction at best.

  As reason returned, he pulled back and stared down into her eyes. “You’re welcome.” He set her away from him. “Go inside, Collette.”

  Her tongue slid across her swollen lips. “What if I don’t want to?” she whispered.

  John’s hands came up to grip her hips. He was about to pull her into his arms again when a voice called out.

  “Mom?”

  John dropped his hands to his sides. “Goodnight, Collette.”

  “Goodnight, John.” She backed up a step, turned and rushed into the trailer, closing the door with a firm click.

  He waited until he heard the reassuring sound of the deadbolt turning before he returned to his camper and his lonely bed, his cock as hard as a two-by-four and his pulse pounding through his veins.

 

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