Ice (Elite Forces #1)(25)

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"Alright, you win. I'll take the box of donuts and dinner next week at  your favorite Irish Pub, dad. You do know though I'm going to have to  work out extra hard for eating these donuts." The way he looks at me,  and his damn eye is twitching, I know he's coming back with a smartass  comment.

"Do me a favor and use those muscles you have to knock your brother  Jeremy in the water. He's still cocky as hell. A good ass-whooping is  what he needs." I slide the box of donuts and my small bag into the back  seat of my car, laughing. Jeremy will never change. His mouth has  gotten him into more trouble than any other person I know.                       
       
           



       

"I'll do my best. Maybe pay him back for all the things he did while we  were growing up. Thanks for everything, dad," I say seriously.

"Anything for you, Jade. You have a great time this weekend." He pulls  me into his arms. I could stay wrapped up in him forever, but I need to  go. I've had a great time with my parents these last few days. Shopping  with my mom, lunch and a much needed mani/pedi, which will probably be  ruined by the time Harris has me cleaning up pig shit with these damn  shit kickers I have on my feet. These things are hideous. It should be  fun though; laughing is exactly what I need.

My idea of fun is not rolling around in shit, but hey, after talking to  my doctor on the phone yesterday and getting clearance to go back to  active duty when I'm called, I probably should live a little and  experience things outside of work before I'm back at it. I worked really  hard to make the doctor believe I was ok. Deep down I'm dealing with  it, but it's something I need to work out on my own. A trip like this  will give me more time to process it all.

"Drive safe, baby girl." After pulling away from dad, I'm enthralled by  my mom's arms. A tear escapes my eye by the time she lets me go. This  time, it's a happy tear.

I enjoy the drive to my apartment and take the time to reflect on  everything that's been heavy on my shoulders. Killing that child. Kaleb.  Jason. My parents. It truly feels great to have at least one area of my  life taken care of somewhat, but the others are enough to cause my gut  to wrench in pain just thinking about them. I wonder if Kaleb is  extremely pissed that I left him like I did. One day, I'll find him and  apologize. I think he'll understand I needed me time to process my  living nightmare.

"Well, fuck me. Is that really my roommate? My best friend?" Mallory  damn near mauls my ass when I step through the door of our apartment.

"I should be the one asking you that. You dyed your hair. Shit, Mallory.  I love it. It brings out the green in your eyes." Damn, she looks  great. Her normal long, blond hair is dark brown, framing her face.

"I do too. I needed a change. You look good too, and you have about  fifteen minutes to pack before this friend of yours shows up. He better  be as hot as you say he is or I'll personally kick your ass. Nice boots  by the way." Harris texted me earlier this morning, stating he would  pick us up around one o'clock. It's a little over a six-hour drive to  get to Sterett, Alabama, where his ranch is.

"Did you pack yours?" I reply sarcastically, knowing damn well she did.  She may be from the city, but I can't count the times she's talked me  into going to a country bar so she can line dance while I sit and laugh  my ass off at the way she shakes her ass on that floor.

"Dumb question. Now go pack. I'm thirsty for a good throttle from a  cowboy. Do you think he has a whip?" Her eyes light up when she asks  that. Christ. I hope she's joking. Well, maybe not. The thought of her  and Harris hooking up would be great for the two of them. It might even  keep him occupied, get his mind off of drilling me about Kaleb Maverick.  I inwardly sigh, knowing damn well whether they hook up or not, he's  going to want answers. Answers I can't give him, because hell, I don't  even know myself. I can't count the times I've picked up my phone over  the past few days to call him just to hear his voice, only to toss my  phone aside. A part of me wants to wait and see if he will reach out to  me, to know if the things he said to me were true, if he wants to try  and make this work, while the other part of me is scared out of my mind.

"I'm sure he has anything you need, Mal. Just don't break his heart," I  tease and saunter into my room. It looks exactly the way I left it.  Except for the suitcase on top of the bed Mallory must have retrieved  out of my closet. I drop my bag on the floor and make my way to my  closet, pulling down a few sleeveless shirts and bending down to grab my  favorite pair of pink Converse that are battered and worn. No way in  hell am I spending the entire weekend in these damn boots. After  grabbing a few pair of shorts and my favorite matching lace bra and  panties along with the rest of the things I need, I'm packed and ready  to go, just in time for the doorbell to ring.

"Hey. You must be Mallory?" I hear Harris' deep voice ask.

"Um. I am. Harris, right?" I wait just inside my bedroom door. My hand  flies to my mouth to stifle my laugh. I warned her he was hot. Now, for  the first time since I've known her, she's flustered. I can tell by the  tone of her voice.

"It's Beau actually. Everyone in the Army calls me Harris. You ladies  ready?" Damn, Harris. I can feel his smoothness through these walls.                       
       
           



       

"All set." I walk out of my room, towing my suitcase behind me. Mal  turns around to face me, her mouth hitting the floor. Yeah, he got to  her.

"Jesus Christ. You look, well fuck. You look totally different, Elliott. You clean up good."

"You do too, cowboy. Let's hit the road. My shit-kickers are ready for  some shit." I lift my leg to show off my nice, new, ugly boots.

"I'll have you both pros at shoveling horse shit by the end of the  weekend," he remarks, taking my suitcase from my hand and grabbing the  handle of Mal's.

"After you," he says all gentleman-like. I roll my eyes when he tilts  his head to the side and stares at Mal's ass in her tight short-shorts  when she walks by.

"Pervert," I whisper.

"She has a nice ass. What the fuck can I say?" He shrugs.

"Say whatever you want. Just gag her, she's a screamer." I nudge him.  She's not a screamer. More like a moaner. I'm not going to tell him any  differently though.

Setting our alarm and locking up behind me, I follow them down the  corridor and onto the sidewalk only to come to a screeching halt when he  stops by the biggest black truck I have ever seen. Maybe I don't know  this man like I thought I did. This is a country boy's truck for damn  sure.

"Don't say a damn thing, Elliott. Trust me, I would much rather be in my  Mustang," he says when he notices the shocked expression on my face.

"Whatever you say, cowboy."

"And knock it off with the cowboy shit." He raises his brows, and I  burst out laughing. God, it feels good to laugh. The smile on my face  fades when I see the Jeep parked on the street right in front of my  house. It's Kaleb. I'd recognize that Jeep anywhere.

I don't waste any time marching straight to his door, yanking it open,  and unleashing on him. "So now you're fucking stalking me? Kaleb, you  have to learn fucking boundaries. You can't just show up in front of my  house and watch me. You don't think I'll see your goddamn Jeep when you  park directly in front of my house?" He has already stepped out of his  Jeep and slammed the door. He has turned so that my back is against the  side of the truck, and fuck if he hasn't already smashed his hard body  against mine. My deep breaths hit him in the face as he just watches me  closely.

"What were you saying?" Fuck if I know, because when he's near me, I  can't do logic, especially when he's this close. My mind starts the  insanity of wanting to touch him even though the reason I'm over here is  to tell his ass off.

"I was saying … . You can't just watch me."

"Oh, but Jade. Watching you is exactly what I want to do. Your perfect  skin … " He moves his hand down my arm, sending chills all over my body.  How does he do this to me? My mind was so clear from the few days at my  parents' house, now I can't even put him in his fucking place.

Our eyes are locked. His other hand begins to slide down my other arm,  skipping slightly as he covers my wrap. I let my eyes fall to his chest  and watch as it rises with each breath he takes.

I swallow hard and finally speak. "It's fucked up, Kaleb. I can't deal  with fucked up. I need something normal. I don't want to worry that  you're tracking me and watching my every fucking move." A smirk lands on  his face, and I watch him contemplate his next sentence.