Explosive Reunion

He put away his pad and promised to contact her with the fire department’s investigation results, which he warned would take several days. The tow truck was departing when she felt the first raindrops on her exposed skin.

Cade squinted toward the sky. “You have anything to cover that window?”

Tori’s hesitation vanished at the peal of thunder. “Maybe in the garage.”

In the month since she’d returned, she’d split her time between unpacking and manning the shop, so she hadn’t had time to check out the garage. They quickly rifled through the contents and discovered a couple of sheets of plywood against the rear wall. He also located an electric drill.

In her bedroom once again, they worked together to clear the glass and debris. Wind whistled through the gap. Rain splattered the sill.

While Tori supported the plywood, he drilled the screws along the edges. “Feels like old times. Us doing chores,” he said, his attention on his task. “You gonna pay me in Popsicles like your mom used to do?”

“Sorry. I’m fresh out.”

He grunted and continued working.

She studied his profile, the proud line of his forehead and the jut of his cheekbones. His features had been branded on her mind years ago. Granted, he was even more handsome now than he’d been at eighteen.

He’d once been her closest confidante. When her feelings for him had shifted to something more, she’d kept them hidden for fear of losing his friendship. Remaining silent while he dated other girls was one of the hardest things she’d had to do. Then, on the night of their senior prom, Cade’s kiss had changed everything. That summer, they’d whiled away the days playing in the surf, crabbing in the river and counting stars from her front-porch swing. She’d begun to think of the future in terms of her and Cade as a couple. Instead of heading to a prestigious university as her mother expected, she enrolled in the community college. Cade was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps and assume the family fishing business. He hadn’t questioned his path, so neither had she.

His proposal had come earlier than expected, but that hadn’t stopped her from saying yes. Cade was her soul mate. Her best friend. Her heart was safe with him.

Or so she’d believed, until the day he’d found her in the college library and delivered the earth-shattering news that he’d enlisted. Signed a four-year contract to serve their country and be at the Marine Corps’ beck and call.

With that day fresh in her mind, her heart throbbed with remembered betrayal.

She wouldn’t be that vulnerable again.

Cade lowered the drill and inspected his work. “Should hold until we can get you a new window.”

“I appreciate your help.”

“Is there someone who can take you to the hardware store?”

Jason worked night shifts at a local factory, and she didn’t want to burden her mom. Barbara needed to rest and focus on managing her illness. Tori’s close friend, Angela Reagan, was probably pulling a twelve-hour shift at the hospital.

“I could contact someone from my church.”

“Or you could let me give you a ride,” he said casually. “My Jeep’s parked at the bank down the street.”

More time in Cade’s company. Great. “Let me get the deposit ready.” She sighed.

Cade began cleaning up the glass. As Tori descended the stairs, a sharp clap of thunder reverberated through the house. The lights flickered out. Startled, her foot slipped, and she grabbed the railing to keep from tumbling down the steep flight.

She reached the bottom tread and sucked in a steadying breath. Shadows draped the foyer and hallway leading to the rear of the house. Weak light slanted into the parlor across from her, the first room customers encountered and the largest on this floor. Tori skirted the large round table in the middle boasting individual dog treats of every shape and color to get to the counter and her register.

A sudden gust of rain pelted the window behind her. She clapped a hand over her mouth.

She was being silly. There was no reason to be on edge.

The leather pouch she used to transport her daily earnings wasn’t in its usual spot. Tori must’ve left it in the office that morning. She walked through the archway connecting the parlor to what used to be the formal dining room. Flashes of lightning illuminated the shelves and collections of leashes and collars. It wasn’t yet seven o’clock, but gloom had descended along with the storm. Hopefully the power outage wouldn’t last too long. Already, the air was growing heavy with humidity.

She entered the former-kitchen-turned-office and immediately the hairs on her nape stood to attention. She reached for the light switch before catching herself. No electricity.

Outside, the storm unleashed its fury. The oaks’ branches thrashed the sides of the house. A crash sent adrenaline spiraling through her system. Calling herself a fool, she marched to the door and, ripping it open, emerged onto the screened porch. Wind tunneled through the screens, twisting her dress hem about her knees. Rain gushed through the gutters and onto the pavers.

A faint scuffling sound registered near the left side of the house. Tori pivoted that direction and caught sight of a hunched figure dashing behind her garage.

Cade carried the box of discarded glass downstairs. The silence inside the house was at complete odds with the fury beyond the walls. Good thing they’d gotten the plywood in place in time.

“Tori?”

He walked through the rooms, fond memories of his teenage years washing over him. This place was linked to the James women. Thanks to Tori’s selflessness, Barbara wouldn’t have to worry about her shop.

In the kitchen, he set the box on a counter lined with matching file organizers. The door to the porch stood wide-open. Strange.

Cade stepped through to the porch and found Tori about to brave the elements.

“You’ll need a raincoat and boots.”

Snatching her hand back, she spun and pressed her hand to her throat. Her skin was leached of color.

“What’s wrong?”

“I heard something, so I came to investigate and saw someone out there.” She pointed to the detached garage and the profuse bushes marching behind it and linking to Kenneth the tax man’s property. “At least, I thought I did.”

“Could it have been Kenneth?” He didn’t like that the man had studied Tori’s movements. “Does he have a pet that might’ve escaped?”

He moved closer to her and looked through the screens. The view was obstructed by the relentless downpour.

“He has a cat, but I don’t think he’d be inclined to pursue her through this.”

“I’ll check it out.”

She sidestepped to block the door. “You don’t have to do that. I’m more rattled than I realized, and my mind’s probably playing tricks. It could’ve been a large dog. There’s a black lab that roams the neighborhood every time his owners forget to latch the fence.”

“Can I borrow an umbrella?”

She arched a brow. “Still stubborn, I see.”

“We’ll both feel better if I do this.”

“Fine.” She disappeared into the house and returned a minute later. He examined the oversize dog faces printed on the material.

He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Let’s hope none of my buddies happen by.”

Wind and rain battered his lower body. And it hindered his ability to look for clues. There weren’t any discernible footprints. Nor was anyone lurking behind the structure. A stand of trees separated Tori’s lot from the one behind hers. He couldn’t detect movement in that person’s yard. The garage itself was locked, the lone window intact.

Back inside, he wiped the mud from his shoes. “I didn’t see anything or anyone suspicious.”

“Good.” A furrow dug between her brows, advertising her continued disquiet.

“Has Kenneth ever done anything to make you uncomfortable?”

She shook her head. “He’s a little frazzled and absentminded, but he’s harmless.”

“You don’t find it odd that he knows your schedule?”

“Having nosy neighbors can actually be a good thing. Crime deterrents. Besides, I have an alarm system. We had one installed several years ago.”

Cade propped the umbrella in the corner. “Do you know if sensors were installed in the windows?”

“On this level, they were.”

Outside, there was a second set of stairs leading to the upper-level deck, which stretched the rear facade of the house—easy access to the entrance door and windows.

“You might want to consider installing them on the second floor, just to be safe.”

She studied his face more closely. “You’re worried. Why? Deputy Claxton wasn’t.”

“Maybe because I’ve experienced my fair share of violence.”

“That’s your world, not mine.”

“Nothing wrong with staying proactive.”

“That word again,” she groaned. “The Marines’ way of saying an ounce of caution is worth a pound of cure.”

“Served me well over the years.”

“There’s a rational explanation for the car. I’m sure of it.”

Inside the kitchen, Tori locked the door and checked it twice, a sign she wasn’t as confident as she’d like him to think.

He noticed she held her wrist flush against her middle. “Did I do that?”

He’d shoved her to the ground with scarcely a thought to where she landed. He inched closer, curved his fingers around her arm and gingerly inspected it. “Looks swollen.”

“It’s a little sore,” she murmured, easing free of his touch. “Nothing serious.”

“I’m sorry. I reacted without thinking.”

“You were trying to protect me.”

“And wound up hurting you.”

Her eyes darkened with unpleasant memories. That last scene in the local college library was seared into his mind. Cade hadn’t known he could inflict such pain.

“Tori—”

“Here’s the deposit bag,” she exclaimed, snatching it from the dining table and heading for the front. “We should get going.”

Cade followed at a more sedate pace. She wasn’t ready to hear his apology. He’d been naive, thinking that one conversation could mend the rift between them. Friendship with Tori was probably out of reach, but he’d thought they could at least put the past to rest and be friendly acquaintances.

Tori insisted on walking with him to the bank at the end of the street, a brief distance made miserable by the continuing onslaught. But by the time they’d dropped off her deposit and completed their business at the hardware store, the rain had stopped and the gray clouds were starting to disperse. Tori’s stomach growled as he was loading the new window.

“I heard that,” he told her. “Why don’t we stop at Red’s on the way?”

She placed a bag of tools in the back seat. “I don’t know.”

“Surely you can’t turn down a cheeseburger and fries.” He came around to her side. “I’ll throw in that ice cream cone I promised earlier.”

“Spending time with you...pretending we’re fine...” She bit her lip and took her time examining the parking lot.

His heart squeezed. “I get it.”

“This can’t be easy for you, either.”

“I’ve come to accept that most things worth doing aren’t easy.” He gestured to the vehicle. “It’s just a casual dinner.”

The look she gave him indicated there wasn’t anything casual about it. “We’re both reasonable adults,” she said at last. “No reason why we can’t share a meal, I suppose.”

“Exactly.”

“But no personal talk and no stealing my fries.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” he quipped, thinking of past visits to the diner.

His conscience pricked him. Hadn’t he promised to be there for her? To love and support her? To put her needs above his own?

Those were some of the most important promises a man could make to a woman, and he hadn’t kept a single one.

God, please help me not to hurt her again. More than anything, I want to make amends. I want Tori’s forgiveness.

Only then could they move beyond past mistakes and live in the same town with any sense of normalcy.

THREE

How had a normal, routine day turned into something out of a strange dream?

First her car went up in flames, then her apartment was damaged and now she was being yanked down memory lane against her will. When she’d agreed to eat with Cade, she hadn’t factored in the power of nostalgia.

Here she was in what used to be their favorite booth, seated across a narrow stretch of silver-flecked Formica, with 1950s’ songs belting from the jukebox. Nothing about this place had changed. Pictures of Elvis still hung on the walls. Cherry-red padded bar stools lined the bar. The smell of grease, fries and burgers mingled with chocolate malt.

She shouldn’t have agreed to this.

I’m in trouble, Lord. I can’t pretend my heart doesn’t ache for the days when I could tell Cade anything. He was my closest, dearest friend. I’ve missed him.

She managed to order without sounding as if this blast of sentimentality was filling her with sadness. At least the young waitress was a new face, someone unfamiliar with their history. Because Sneads Ferry was situated right outside Camp Lejeune’s back gate, it was a popular spot for military personnel to live. People were continually moving in and out of the area.

“When are you going to tell your mom?”

“I don’t know.” She wished she could avoid it. “I’d like to wait until after the party.”

“I saw her last week at my parents’ fish fry. She looks better. Not having to worry about the day-to-day responsibilities of the shop has helped, but I get the feeling she misses her customers.”

“They miss her, too. Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask about her.”

“She’ll be ready to return eventually. Once that happens, will you look for a position at a local library or return to Tennessee?”

She shrugged. “I don’t want to rush Mom. And now that I’m here, I’m realizing how disconnected Jason and I have become. I’d like to rebuild our relationship, but he’s resisting.”

Tori couldn’t determine if his aloofness was because he was a teenager and it wasn’t cool to hang out with his older sister or if her absence had driven a wedge between them.

“Give him time,” Cade said. “He’ll get used to having you around.”

Not if he enlisted, he wouldn’t. She held her tongue. Hadn’t she implied they were capable of a peaceful dinner?

“Blue Suede Shoes” belted from the jukebox. The short-order cook called out to one of the waitresses. Through the plateglass window, she watched a happy couple strolling hand in hand into the riverfront park. As they passed, Tori spotted a man in a black baseball cap, tattered jeans and boots, with a tattoo curled around his biceps and forearm. A snake, maybe? His cap pulled low over his sunglasses, he was standing beside a blue mail receptacle and staring straight at them. The moment he realized she’d seen him, he pivoted and cut a diagonal path through the park.

Tori dragged her gaze from the retreating stranger. Her imagination was leaping to irrational conclusions.

A plate of seasoned fries and a cheeseburger was set before her. The aroma of seared meat and smoky bacon teased her nose. Although Cade had ordered the same, he snagged one of her fries and popped it in his mouth, a boyish smile flashing.

“Try that again, Staff Sergeant, and you’ll regret it.” She made a show of pulling the plate closer to her.

At her use of his title, his brows shot up in silent question.

“It’s on your collar.” She brandished a fry toward the metal pins affixed to the sturdy material. “It should come as no surprise that my mom has kept me informed of your ascent through the ranks. I know that you’re in charge of thirty-nine Marines and that you were hailed a hero during your last deployment.”

Six months ago, her mom told her that Cade had been involved in an ambush and had saved someone. Tori had experienced nightmares for weeks afterward. Off and on through the years, she’d considered telling her mom to cease with the updates. They weren’t a couple anymore. They didn’t text or email. Didn’t follow each other on social media. But she hadn’t been able to cut off the flow of information. Because no matter how much time passed, she needed to know he was all right.

Cade fiddled with the straw in his milkshake, his mouth grim. “Kind of difficult to think of myself that way when we lost someone. I may have helped Corporal Faulkner, but I wasn’t able to do anything to save William Poole. He was an outstanding Marine.” The haunted look about his eyes troubled her. His fingers pressed into the beveled glass.

“Surely you don’t blame yourself.”

“Did I do what I thought was right at the time? Yes. I relied on my training and sheer instinct. Not everyone was satisfied with my performance, however. Two Marines in my platoon lodged complaints with our command, which led to an informal investigation into my actions.”

“But you weren’t found to be at fault.”

“No.”

Tori wanted to reach across and squeeze his hand. Offering him comfort used to be second nature.

“I thought we’d agreed to keep the conversation shallow and meaningless,” she lightly chided.

“You’re too easy to talk to. That hasn’t changed.”

Whatever else he might’ve said was lost by a foreign sound. A high-pitched ping. Glass splintering. A heavy thwack.

Then, for the second time in the span of a few hours, Cade was diving for her.

Screams rent the air. Another round whizzed into the diner.

Cade’s focus narrowed to one thing—keeping Tori safe.

Familiar with the hail of gunfire, he’d tugged her to the space beneath the table and ordered the others to hunker down. Somewhere in the room, a woman sobbed. A baby’s helpless cries prompted him to action.

He gripped her shoulders. “Stay here.”

“Where are you going?” Her eyes were huge pools of dread.

“To see if I can spot the shooter before he decides to come inside.”

“Are you armed?”

In answer, he lifted his pant leg and removed his Beretta Jetfire from the ankle holster. His larger weapon was at home in the safe, more suited to long-range targets. This one would have to do.

He twisted toward the kitchen area and hoped some of the employees had escaped through the rear exit. There was no evidence of blood, no anguished moans that typically accompanied wounds. Lord Jesus, let us all survive this.

Tori gasped. “Cade, your arm’s bleeding.”

The light was dim in the space beneath the table. He prodded the area and came away with bloodstained fingers. A needle-sharp sting registered through the rush of adrenaline. “Feels superficial.”

Another bullet pierced the glass above them.

“I have to go.”

Jaw locked, she gave a tight nod.

Cade inched farther onto the tiles and scanned the crowd. “Anyone hit?”

Those trapped beneath the tables in the middle stared at him in shock. In the far corner, an older man with a high-and-tight haircut—likely a retired Marine—lifted his shirt to reveal a pistol. “We’re okay on this side.”

Satisfied there were no wounds to tend, Cade darted toward the side door that led to an alley and trash dumpsters. If he could reach those dumpsters, he could use them as a buffer while searching for their assailant. Crouching low, he rushed outside. Oppressive heat mixed with eerie silence. The gravel beneath his shoes crunched. Blood singing through his veins brought back memories of Afghanistan and the kill-or-be-killed mindset. Instead of Marines, he was protecting a diner full of civilians. And Tori.

Weapon drawn, he wedged into a slim crevice between the metal dumpster and brick building. The rain-dampened sidewalks were empty. Water droplets coating the playground equipment glittered in the waning sunlight. He squinted at the storefronts farther down, but the angle wasn’t right.

Where are you?

Who are you?

Cade braced for further assault and prayed that Tori would stay put.

Was this a random act? Maybe a disgruntled former employee with an ax to grind?

An employee trained in sniper-like kills?

Doubtful.

In the back of his mind, he kept connecting this to the explosion earlier that day. He didn’t want to. Tried to reject it. But he’d lived in Sneads Ferry all his life and couldn’t remember a single incident like this one.

Sirens announced the approach of law enforcement. The gunman must’ve heard it, too, because there were no more shots fired. The first officer to arrive was an acquaintance of Cade’s, sparing him the need to get on the ground until they figured out he wasn’t involved. Cade sprinted over and, crouching behind the patrol car, told him everything he knew. Tori rushed into the street before they’d given the all clear.

Ignoring the officers’ protests, she hurried to join Cade. He seized her hand and tugged her down. “You’re not supposed to be out here,” he growled.

“I remembered something. While we were waiting for our order, I saw a man. He was watching us.”

The gut feeling he’d had solidified. Over her shoulder, he studied the diner’s facade. Tori turned to see what he was looking at. What scant color there was left in her face drained, and she lifted a trembling hand to clutch her neck.

“Cade...”

Only one of the plateglass windows had been blown out. Theirs.

“My car. It wasn’t an accident, was it?” Her gaze swerved to his, begging him to refute her claim.

“We can’t know that for sure—”

“Someone shot at us.” She had to work to drag in air. “You told me not to ignore my instincts. I should’ve heeded your advice. Someone has been watching me since I returned. Waiting for an opportunity to...”

She didn’t finish the sentence. Didn’t have to.

They both knew that, had the timing of the car explosion been different, had the shooter’s aim been a little more accurate, Tori would be dead already.

FOUR

“Why would someone target you?” Cade demanded. “Did something happen in Tennessee? Something you’re afraid to share?”

His words doused her in cold shock.

Secrets were her former boyfriend’s specialty. Patrick, with whom she’d shared a fun, low-key relationship, had turned out to be a white-collar criminal. His arrest and conviction hadn’t shattered her heart so much as shaken her confidence in her ability to discern a person’s true character.

Not about to share her humiliation with Cade, she said, “My life is ordinary.”

His head sagged against the bumper. “Nothing about this is ordinary, Tori.” He sighed.

Beneath his tattered sleeve, blood trickled down his biceps. She sidled closer, the hot pavement searing her bare knees, and reached for his wounded arm. “You need medical attention.”

He shifted away. “It’ll keep a while longer.”

“I won’t pass out.” At his disbelieving stare, she said, “I’m not as squeamish as I used to be.”

“You aren’t going to swoon in my arms like a Jane Austen heroine?”

She was unable to banish the memory of her seventeenth birthday and the incident involving a rusty nail in her foot. He’d carried her half a mile to the nearest residence, called for an ambulance and refused to leave her side. He’d been her own personal hero. Well, she was older and wiser. More cynical? Or was it that her heart had been broken at eighteen and never fully repaired? Whatever the case, she didn’t believe in heroes anymore. Exceptional romance belonged on library shelves.

Cade didn’t seem inclined to reminisce further. His gun clutched in one hand, he scrutinized the area around the diner. She could picture him on the battlefield...focused, in command, lethal. Above all, willing to sacrifice his life for his men and his country. Hadn’t she witnessed his bravery twice already? He’d put her safety first both times a threat arose. Tori’s gaze sought out his injury, and her mind played out a deadlier scenario. If he’d been sitting in a different spot, if the bullet had drifted a few inches to the left, she wouldn’t be here talking to him.