Someone Like Her(79)

 “Give him time, Maria,” Logan had advised when Jake ignored her calls and text messages.

 “I don’t understand what his problem is. Good God, he’s a hero.”

 “Sometimes being a hero comes with a price. He lost a man on his watch and, believe me, he blames himself. The last thing he considers himself is a hero.”

 She supposed Logan understood better than most, as Dani’s first husband had been killed on a mission to rescue a captured Air Force pilot. It had taken her brother years to come to terms with Evan’s death. Still, Jake didn’t have to be alone. She could help him if he’d only let her.

 What if he never got over it?

 The day before, she’d given up on waiting for her phone to ring and had gone to his condo. When he didn’t answer her knock, she’d turned to leave when a young woman came out of the condo next door and glanced over.

 “He’s not there. Said he’d be away for a while.”

 “Did he say where he was going?” The girl was very pretty, and Maria couldn’t help wondering if Jake had ever slept with her.

 “Just said something about a vacation.”

 He went on a freaking vacation? “Did he say when he’d be back?”

 Earlobe-length, sleek blonde hair swirled around the girl’s head when she shook it. “Nope. I’m Sugar Darling, by the way. Just moved in a few weeks ago. Jake’s the only neighbor I’ve met so far. He’s a real cutie.”

 Maria raised a brow.

 Sugar rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, and yes, that’s my real name. I love my daddy, but I’ll never forgive him for laying that one on me. He thought since our last name was Darling, Sugar would be just the cutest thing evah to name me.”

 Her grin was so full of mischief, Maria couldn’t help but like the girl. Even if she did think Jake was a cutie. “Okay, thanks.” She started to walk away, then turned. “Nice to meet you, Sugar, and your daddy’s right. That is the cutest name evah. You from South Carolina by any chance? Charleston, maybe?”

 Sugar blinked big blue eyes. “Wow, you’re amazing. What gave me away?”

 “Just a lucky guess. At least you weren’t loaded down with two names.” Maria’d had a roommate in college from Charleston, and Sugar sounded just like Emma Grace. “Count your blessings he didn’t name you Sugar Sweet.”

 A throaty laugh sounded from the girl. “Oh, Lordie, don’tcha dare suggest that to my daddy.”

 Maria took two steps before adding, “And by the way, my name’s Maria, and Jake belongs to me so don’t get any ideas where he’s concerned.”

 “Dang, all the cute ones seem to belong to someone else.”

 Maria turned and with her back to Sugar, she grinned. “At least, this one does,” she murmured. All she had to do was find him.

 If he wasn’t at the funeral, she’d make Logan tell her where he was. She didn’t doubt her brother knew, and she’d make his life miserable until he gave up Jake’s location. Deep in her bones, she knew Jake needed her and one way or another, she’d run him to the ground. The poor man had no clue how determined she was.



     Maria got to the chapel early and positioned herself in a far back corner. The glossy black coffin at the front drew her eyes. It was an open viewing and she dreaded the moment when she’d have to walk to the front and see Rick. He’d been the newest guy at K2, so she didn’t know him as well as the others, but she’d liked him.

 Her heart hurt for the life lost and for Jake—the man who blamed himself for getting Rick killed. She blinked against the burning in her eyes and opened the small pamphlet that gave a brief biography of Rick, along with his picture.

 There was so much about Rick missing from the pamplet, stuff that only a few people knew: that he’d given his life on foreign soil to rescue a misguided boy; that he’d put food out in the mornings for two feral cats living in the alley behind K2; and that he’d spent his off-hours volunteering at a boys’ club. Rick once asked her to go in and talk about college to a group of his brightest kids.

 According to his biography, he had no brothers or sisters, and only his father still lived. She glanced to the front to see an older man—his head bowed—on the first pew next to Logan and Dani. She hoped he knew his son was a true hero in more ways than just the job he’d died for.

 Her breath caught in her throat when Jake entered, so handsome and somber in a black suit. Her eyes riveted on him, she watched as he walked resolutely down the aisle, a slight limp the only indication he’d been shot in the leg. He stopped next to Rick’s father and leaned close, saying something in his ear. The man nodded and then hugged Jake.