Her Lieutenant Protector

“That’s enough,” she said, glaring at Jeff. When he continued to yell, she raised her own voice. “I said, that’s enough!”

Jeff and his friend stared at her, apparently shocked into silence by the temper in her voice. “Calm down, both of you. I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior in my sick bay.”

“But Doc, you can’t let them take us! We didn’t do anything!”

She aimed a level stare at the men, and Jeff squirmed a bit under her regard. “You confessed to using ketamine last night. And when a security officer entered your room to investigate your claims of seeing a body in the walls, he found pills scattered around the room.”

“You can’t search our stuff without a warrant!”

“You gave the man probable cause,” she shot back. She cast a quick look at Everest to verify she was correct, and he nodded subtly. Warmth shone from his eyes and a small smile played at the corners of his mouth as he watched her. He’s enjoying this. The realization made her feel a little self-conscious, but she shook off the sensation and returned her focus to the job at hand.

“C’mon, we were just having a little fun,” Jeff whined. “There’s no need to involve the cops.”

Everest stepped forward. “You’ve both proved to be a danger to yourselves and possibly the other passengers on board. Your cruise ends here. If I were you, I’d go with these officers quietly. Wouldn’t want to add resisting arrest to your list of problems.”

The two policemen stepped forward, one walking to Jeff’s side and the other to his friend. Their voices were low but clear as they arrested the men and recited their rights.

Everest drifted closer, coming to stand near her. Mallory felt herself leaning toward him, pulled as if by some invisible force. “Almost done,” he murmured, nodding at the scene unfolding before them. “Hopefully this is the most exciting thing we’ll have to deal with on this cruise.”

Mallory nodded in agreement. She always had mixed feelings about her job. She loved helping people and taking care of them, but at the same time, she hoped no one would need her services. Her patients were people on their honeymoon or on vacation, enjoying a trip they had planned and anticipated for months, if not longer. No one ever wanted to be sick, but to fall ill or get injured while on a cruise seemed to make things even worse somehow.

“It’s strange,” Everest said conversationally. “I love what I do, but I wake up every morning and wish for a boring day.”

Was the man a mind reader? Or were her thoughts that transparent? “I know exactly what you mean,” she said.

“I have yet to make it through a cruise without some kind of incident. I was hoping this would be the one, but then these two showed up.” He tilted his head in the direction of the men, whom the officers were now helping to stand.

Mallory stepped back to give the procession space to walk to the door. Jeff shot her a nasty glare as he moved past. “This isn’t over,” he warned. “Do you have any idea who my father is?” He lurched forward, and her heart shot into her throat. Logically, she knew he couldn’t do anything with his wrists in cuffs—he was simply trying to intimidate her. Even though her mind refused to cower, her body reacted. She forced herself to stay put, but her legs began to tremble involuntarily.

The next thing she knew, Mallory was staring at a wall of blue. She blinked, taken aback by the sudden change to her vision. Then she realized what had happened—Everest had stepped in front of her, placing his body between her and Jeff. “No one cares about your daddy.” He spoke calmly, but there was a sharp edge to his voice that sent a shiver down Mallory’s spine. She didn’t know the head of security all that well, but it was clear he was not a man to mess with.

She peered around his body to see that apparently, Jeff realized it, too. His eyes widened and a stunned look crossed his face. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Everest’s reaction to his threat. Then he was gone, the officer urging him out the door.

Everest waited until both men had left the room. Once the door shut behind them, he turned and offered her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that,” he said.

Mallory’s heart began to slow, and she shrugged off the young man’s actions. “Not your fault.”

Everest studied her a moment, his bright blue eyes seeming to see right through her. “I’m going to follow the officers, make sure they don’t need me for anything after they escort our guests off the ship. After that, would you like to grab a bite to eat?”

His invitation flustered her, and Mallory’s thoughts jumbled together as she searched for a response. “Um, that sounds nice. But I’m supposed to meet my friends for breakfast. They’re on board, and I’m trying to spend as much time with them as I can.” It was the truth, but it was also a convenient excuse.

Everest nodded, but she caught a glint of what might have been disappointment flash in his eyes. “Sure thing,” he said easily. “Another time, maybe.”

“You could join us,” she blurted. As soon as the words left her mouth, Mallory wondered what she was thinking. She didn’t know this man. And she didn’t strike up friendships with men. She had no business socializing with him.

But there was something about him that made her curious to know more. And really, what could it hurt? Olivia and Avery would be there, along with Logan and Grant. She’d have a table full of buffers to keep Everest from getting too close. Maybe it would be good to learn more about him. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need his help again, but anything was possible.

“Yeah? You don’t think they’d mind?” He sounded a little hopeful, and Mallory was surprised to find she actually wanted him to come. She was happy for her friends and their newfound loves, but having Everest at the table would keep her from feeling like a fifth wheel.

“Not at all,” she assured him. “I’m meeting them in the Yorktown dining room. I’ll save you a seat.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll try not to take too long.”

Mallory watched him leave, her gaze drawn to his legs and the subtle hitch in his gait as he walked away. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt safe around a man. Maybe it was his quiet, calm manner. He seemed to see everything in the room, and she had the sense that no matter what happened, he could handle it.

As evidenced by the way he’d physically intervened to keep Jeff from getting closer to her.

He hadn’t hesitated to act, and looking back on it, Mallory was impressed by how smoothly he’d handled the situation. Everest could have simply ignored Jeff—after all, the man was in handcuffs and being escorted by a police officer. Objectively, he didn’t pose much of a threat to anyone. But rather than let the arresting officer handle the situation, Everest had quickly and calmly placed himself in a position to make sure nothing happened. Mallory had never experienced such a gesture of protection before, and she had to admit, it felt...nice.

“Don’t read anything into it,” she muttered to herself. Everest had likely acted on instinct; he would have done the same thing if Jeff had lunged at one of the nurses, or anyone else, really. His action was simply that of a professional who worked in the security field. It was his job to keep the ship’s passengers and staff safe. That was all.

She glanced at her watch. It was time to head to the dining room so she wouldn’t be late for breakfast. Hopefully she would be able to explain the situation to Avery and Olivia before Everest joined them.

Assuming she was able to figure things out for herself first.

* * *

It didn’t take long to escort the troublemakers off the ship. The Jacksonville officers were quick and competent, and Everest had already emailed the relevant reports to the police department before the ship had docked this morning. All that was left was for him to walk with the group as they made their way down the gangplank and onto shore. Even though the Jacksonville police had already arrested the men, Everest still felt like they were his responsibility as long as they remained on board. Once their feet hit the dock, he could wash his hands of them.

“Thanks for your help today,” he told one of the officers. “It’s appreciated.”

“This isn’t over,” Jeff said. It was clear he wanted to say more, but his jaw snapped shut as the cop escorting him gave his arm a rough-looking tug and pulled him toward the waiting police cruiser.

The other officer rolled his eyes and sent Everest a knowing nod. “Our pleasure. Hope the rest of the voyage is quiet.”

“You and me both.”

He stood there for a moment, not sorry to see them go. He’d dealt with some crazy incidents while working on cruise ships, but for some reason, last night’s shenanigans had worried him more than he was used to. And as much as he hated to admit it, he knew why.

Mallory.

There was something about the ship’s doctor that intrigued him and made him want to get to know her better, both personally and professionally. It was an unfamiliar urge, and the intensity of it was surprising. It had been a few years since he’d had any kind of interest in a woman. His ex-fiancée had done a number on his confidence, and so he’d thrown his efforts into building a career outside the military. There simply hadn’t been time for romantic entanglements. But more important, he hadn’t felt up to dealing with all the rejections.

Leah had tried to be supportive after he’d been shipped home, battered and bruised. But as the weeks had dragged on, it had become apparent to both of them that he was missing more than just part of his leg. The IED had ripped through his group, killing two of his men and shattering any illusion that he’d had about his ability to keep his team safe. He’d been plagued by survivor’s guilt, and the grueling challenge of learning to walk again had very nearly pushed him over the edge. He had changed, and not in a good way.

Looking back, he couldn’t really blame Leah for leaving. Working through his grief and pain had been a long, messy process. And as the days had passed and her smile had grown more forced, he’d felt her slipping away. So he’d released her from her promise.

“You don’t have to stay.” He focused on the end of the bed, on the small bump his one remaining foot made under the thin hospital blanket. Maybe if he stared at it long enough, he’d get used to the visual reminder of his loss.

“I don’t mind,” she said. She pushed a tendril of honey-blond hair behind her ear and shifted in the chair. “Your physical therapy appointment isn’t for another hour.”

Everest winced at the thought of the upcoming torture session. He knew it was for his own good, but the exercises were downright painful. To make matters worse, the physical therapist was an unnaturally cheerful person who seemed to revel in his suffering like a born sadist. He just wanted to be left alone so he could cry in peace, but Scott refused to let him wallow in self-pity. It was annoying, to say the least.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Leah didn’t respond right away. When she spoke, she sounded hesitant, as if she was afraid of saying the wrong thing. “I don’t understand.”

Everest sighed and met her eyes for the first time. “We both know you didn’t sign up for this.” He gestured at the bed, his hand sweeping down to indicate his missing limb. “I can tell you don’t want to be here. Not really. You should go. Find someone whole. Someone who can make you happy.”

“You don’t mean that.” But there was doubt in her voice, along with something else. Hope.

In that moment, he knew he was doing the right thing. Leah was nothing if not loyal. She’d stick with him; that much he knew. But she would hate it. And eventually, she’d grow to resent him for it. He didn’t want that kind of life, that kind of marriage. Better for her to leave now, before the cement of these new circumstances hardened around them.

“I do. I want you to leave.” It was the truth. The war had changed him, and she was no longer the woman for him. It wasn’t her fault—it wasn’t anyone’s fault. In the weeks since he’d been back, he’d tried to find the man he’d used to be inside the man he was now. But that wasn’t going to happen, and it was time to end things so Leah could move on with her life. God knew he wanted to do the same.

She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”

He was going to have to push her, then. Fine. He could do that. “Why? Because you don’t want to be the girl who dumped a cripple?”

She flinched but didn’t respond. Ah, he’d hit the nail on the head.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Just tell everyone I walked out on you. I still have my good leg, after all.”

It was a bad joke, and she didn’t laugh. “Are you sure?” she said softly.

Everest felt a little jolt at the realization she wasn’t going to put up much of a fight. Wasn’t their relationship worth more than a moment’s deliberation? But he quickly pushed the hurt aside. He was giving her an out. He couldn’t be angry with her for taking it, especially when it was what he wanted her to do.

“I’m positive. I want you to be happy.” And he did. He’d once thought they would grow old together, but now he knew their time had ended. It was just as well. He’d rather be alone than be faced with the evidence of her growing unhappiness. And the last thing he wanted was to be a burden to the people in his life.

Leah was never going to look at him the same way again. She tried to hide it, but he could tell that every time she saw him, she compared him with a memory of when he was whole and uninjured. He couldn’t live up to the ghost of his former self, and he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life trying.

“I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears—of happiness? Or was she truly sorry about the way things had worked out? Hopefully the latter. He liked to think the woman he’d planned his life with would at least mourn the death of their future. But maybe she simply felt relieved.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he told her gently. “Goodbye is traditional, but not required.”

“Why are you doing this?” She frowned at him, her features twisting in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

Everest ran a hand over his head, distracted by the feel of his hair against his palm. He hadn’t had a haircut in weeks. One of the perks of being in the hospital, he supposed.

“Do you want to stay?”

Leah blinked at him, as if he’d asked the question in a foreign language. “What?”

“Do you actually want to stay here?” he repeated. “Do you really want to deal with my recovery and all that it entails? It’s going to be a long, drawn-out process. And we both know I’m not the same man I was before, mentally speaking.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “The war changed me, Leah. I’m still figuring out how. I just don’t think we’re the right people for each other anymore.”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping as the breath left her body. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I thought I could handle it...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “But it’s too hard. I don’t think I can do it.”

“You don’t have to.”

“How can you be so nice about it? Why aren’t you angry with me?”

Everest searched his heart for an answer that would make sense, but came up empty. “I don’t think I have the energy for that right now.”

She stared at him, her blue eyes wide as she digested his response. Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”

He tried to smile, but his mouth wouldn’t cooperate. Leah stood and gathered her sweater and purse. She twisted the ring off her finger and held it out to him. He hesitated a moment, then took it from her and placed it in the drawer of his bedside table. “I guess this is goodbye?” she asked.

“Looks like it,” he confirmed.

Leah leaned over his bed and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself?”

Everest felt like he was having an out-of-body experience. This situation was so strange—they were breaking up, and yet he still cared about her and she still cared about him. Maybe this is how adults end things, he mused. All his previous experiences had been full of hurt feelings and a few tears. It was a novelty for him to end a relationship on such a positive note.

“I’ll be fine,” he assured her. He didn’t know if it was the truth, but he knew that’s what she needed to hear right now.

She straightened and tucked her hair behind her ear again. It was a nervous gesture, something she did when she was feeling uncertain or uncomfortable.

She didn’t know how to leave, he realized. And he didn’t know what to tell her to ease the way.

He was saved by the entrance of Scott, his physical therapist. The man charged in wearing a big grin, but stopped short when he saw Leah standing by the bed. “Oh, excuse me,” Scott said, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t,” Everest said. “It’s okay.”

“I was just leaving,” Leah said. She gave Everest a small smile and squeezed his hand. “Have a good session,” she said.

He nodded, and she turned to go, nodding at Scott as she slipped past him and out the door.

Scott was silent for a few seconds after she left. “Please tell me I did not see what I think I just saw.”

“Depends,” Everest said lightly. “What do you think you saw?”

Scott rocked back and forth on his heels, clearly uncomfortable. “I know this is none of my business,” he began, “but did you two just break up?”

“How’d you guess?”

Scott’s face fell. “Oh, man. I’m so sorry.” He walked to the bed and perched on the side of the mattress. “Do you, uh, want to talk about it? I can get a psychologist or something if you don’t want to talk to me.”

Everest shook his head, touched at the other man’s concern. “I’m okay. But thanks.”

Scott looked at him dubiously, clearly doubting his words. “Really. It’s fine,” Everest assured him. “It’s for the best. She wasn’t happy. I wasn’t happy. It was time to end things.”

Scott snorted. “No one is happy to be here.”

“Except you,” Everest said slyly. He appreciated Scott’s efforts to help, but he didn’t want to wallow in the aftermath of Leah’s departure. He’d thought now that he was back in the States the war couldn’t take any more from him. But he was wrong. It was time to move forward, to reclaim some control over his life.

The physical therapist grinned. “Well, yeah. But that’s because I get to give you a hard time.” He stood and placed his hands on his hips. “Do you want to push your session back a bit, in light of what just happened?”

Everest shook his head. “Nope. Let’s get to it.” The pain would be a welcome distraction and would keep him from dwelling on Leah.

“I’ll get your chair,” Scott said. “We can have a light day.”

“No,” Everest said. “Taking a break isn’t going to help me walk again. I can’t stay in this bed forever.”

Scott nodded at him, a glint of respect in his eyes. “That’s the spirit, man. We’ll have you back on your feet in no time.”

“You mean foot.”

Scott arched a brow. “They don’t pay me enough to laugh at your bad jokes.”

“I thought that one was pretty good,” Everest said.

Scott shook his head. “You’ve got a long way to go before you’re funny.”

Everest smiled at the memory of Scott’s words. The image of Leah faded back into the recesses of his mind as he focused fully on the present. It was funny he’d thought of her now, when his mind was so preoccupied by Mallory. The two women were nothing alike, physically speaking. Leah was petite and blonde, her hair always styled, her makeup always perfect. Mallory was tall and had a no-nonsense quality to her appearance he found appealing. Both were beautiful women, but he found himself drawn to Mallory.

She was a study in contrasts, he mused as he headed back into the depths of the ship. Mallory’s looks made her seem very approachable, but she had a do-not-disturb manner about her that he was certain she used to keep people at arm’s length.

“Why is that?” he murmured to himself. What had happened to the good doctor to leave her so skittish around people? She had a story, he was sure of it.

And he wanted to hear it.

Chapter 5

Breakfast was going surprisingly well, all things considered.

Mallory hadn’t known how her friends would react to Everest’s presence. She hadn’t had more than a minute to announce he would be joining them before he walked over to the table, which meant she hadn’t been able to explain her invitation to Olivia and Avery. The women had taken his presence in stride, though, and Logan and Grant had welcomed Everest with enthusiasm. They sat at one end of the table now, talking about football. Or maybe it was basketball. Some kind of sport or team, she thought, smiling a little as the men laughed in unison.

Whatever the topic, it was clear the guys were getting along well. Which created a small degree of privacy for the conversation at Mallory’s end of the table.

And Olivia and Avery weren’t wasting any time.

“Spill,” Avery ordered, her voice low so as not to break the conversational spell the men were under.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Mallory tried, but Olivia shook her head.

“Nice try, but you know what she’s asking. Is there something going on between you and him?” Olivia nodded ever so slightly at Everest, who was currently telling Logan and Grant some kind of story that had the other two men listening quietly. Mallory wondered what he was saying, but she didn’t want to appear to be paying too much attention to the man. It would undermine what she was about to say to her friends.

“We work together,” she said. “That’s all.”

Avery leaned back in her chair. “Sure.” Her voice was heavy with doubt. “If you say so.”

Olivia offered her a small smile. “This is the first time you’ve ever invited a man to join us,” she said. “You can see why we’re curious.”

Her friend made a good point. Avery and Olivia both knew about the assault she’d suffered as a college senior, and in all the time they’d known each other, the two women had never pushed her when it came to men. They had respected her boundaries and supported her as she’d struggled to overcome the aftereffects of the trauma. She felt like she’d made good progress, but there was still work to be done, as evidenced by her recent nightmare.

Given her past history, Mallory had known inviting Everest to breakfast would send a signal to her friends. But she had hoped to have a little more time to figure out how to explain her interest in him.

The problem was, she couldn’t explain it to herself.

She was definitely attracted to him. But it wasn’t just his looks that appealed to her, though they were nice enough to study. No, it was the glimmers of personality she’d seen that made her want to stay close, to get to know him better. She liked the way he carried himself and the way he responded when tensions were running high. He seemed like a dependable man, someone who would be good both in a crisis and in calm times. Exactly the kind of man she would want by her side, if she could handle being so close to him.

Normally, just the idea of being in close physical proximity to a man was enough to make her break out into a sweat. But the thought of being around Everest didn’t bother her. In fact, she found it rather appealing.

Which made her wonder—was she truly attracted to Everest, or did she just like the way he made her feel almost normal again?

“It’s complicated,” she admitted to her friends. “I’m not quite sure what’s going on.”

Avery leaned forward and laid her hand over Mallory’s. “That’s okay. Just take your time. We’re here if you need to talk things out.”

Mallory smiled, tears pricking her eyes. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”

A sudden silence descended over the other end of the table, and Mallory, Avery and Olivia looked down to find the men watching them, the three of them wearing identical expressions of concern.

“Everything all right?” Grant asked.