By Request Collection April-June 2016. Оливия Гейтс
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look. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. And even if this backfires on me, I’m a big girl. I can accept the consequences, Kate.”
Kate stared at her sister, barely able to believe what she was hearing. “Are you serious?”
Tenley leaned forward and gave her a hug. “I’m completely serious.” Reaching out, she took Kate’s hand between her own. “I know you’re upset that I fired you, but I can’t let you put your life on hold for me any longer.”
Kate shook her head. “I haven’t put my life on hold, Tens.”
“Yes, you have. You think I don’t know what you’ve given up for me? Everything. You left college to take care of me. I know you had dreams of starting your own web-design business, and instead you’ve given that up to take care of me. I love you, but I want to make my own choices, even if they’re not always the right ones. I’m giving you back your life, Kate.” Her gaze flicked to Chase, standing by the Humvee. “Don’t waste it.”
Kate returned her hug, watching Chase over her sister’s shoulder. He had his cell phone pressed to his ear, oblivious to the momentous event that was unfolding at the picnic table.
She dragged her gaze away. “I’m proud of you, Tens, I really am,” she said.
Tenley pulled away and looked at Kate. “I want you to stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine.” Reaching over, she grasped Doug’s fingers. “I have Doug now.”
Kate drew in a deep breath, realizing this was a new beginning for both of them. “Okay,” she said, forcing a smile. “But you know how to reach me if you need me. If you’re sure … I have a plane to catch.”
For just an instant, an expression of doubt and regret flashed across Tenley’s features. Then she looked at Doug and seemed to draw strength from his smile.
“Have a safe flight,” she said to Kate, and hugged her again.
Reluctantly, Kate rose and walked back toward the Humvee. Chase was still talking on his cell phone. As she watched, he snapped it shut and Kate couldn’t help but notice a new determination in his stride as he returned to the vehicle.
He slid into the driver’s seat and turned the key. “Everything go okay?”
“Surprisingly, yes. I mean, Tenley isn’t at all concerned about the publicity, and she seems to actually have a plan.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yes, I think it is. Who was that on the phone? It seemed like a pretty intense conversation.”
Chase thrust the vehicle into Drive and they bounced along the uneven roads of the base, back toward the flight line. “The stand-down order for Special Ops has been lifted. By this time tomorrow, my team and I will be back in the field.”
Kate stared at him and her heart seemed to skip a beat at the thought of him in danger. “So if you’re returning to duty, who will travel with Tenley and the rest of the performers?”
Chase glanced over at her. “You have nothing to worry about, Kate. She’ll be well taken care of.”
She nodded. “I know. I guess some things are just harder to let go of.”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Tell me about it.”
The remainder of the trip was made in silence, and Kate couldn’t help but think that she was going home a very different person than she’d been when she had first arrived, just five days ago. She was leaving Tenley behind. She was leaving Chase behind.
She was leaving her heart behind.
They reached the terminal, and Chase hooked the lead to Charity and let her join them as they made their way through the lounge to the flight line. He waited while Kate checked in, and then walked outside with her. A bus was already there to take them across the tarmac to the plane.
“So I guess this is it,” she said, smiling brightly at him. She had told herself a hundred times that she would not cry.
Chase reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small card. “I want you to keep this close,” he said. “Here is my address and the phone number for my headquarters offices, both here and at Fort Bragg. This is my email address, and on the back, I’ve written my stateside address and phone number. And just in case you can’t reach me, I’ve included my brother’s address.”
Kate took the card and turned it over in her hands. “Thanks. I guess I don’t have to give you my information, right?”
“I have your personal information,” he confirmed, his eyes gleaming. “Do me a favor and let me know when you get home safely, okay?”
Kate nodded. “Okay.”
“Come here,” he said roughly, and hauled her into his arms, uncaring of who might be watching. “You look after yourself. And call me if you need anything, got it?”
Kate nodded, feeling as if something in her chest was about to break. “I’ll call you,” she promised. Not wanting him to see how close to tears she was, she pulled free of his embrace and bent down to hug Charity. “What will happen to her?” she asked, burying her face in the dog’s rough fur.
“I don’t know,” Chase admitted. “I haven’t found anyone willing to sponsor her yet. But I’m not giving up. I still have six months.”
“I’m sure it will all work out,” Kate said, standing up.
Chase looked beyond her to the flight line. “Looks like your bus is boarding,” he said.
With a small sob, Kate flung her arms around him and pressed a hard kiss against his mouth. Then, afraid of what she might do or say, she turned and walked swiftly toward the bus. She felt his eyes watching her the entire way, but she refused to look back. Only when she was on the bus did she finally allow herself to glance back where she had left him.
He was gone.
Six months later
CHASE DIRECTED THE taxi driver along the sandy road that paralleled the beach, his eyes scanning the street until his little beach cottage came into view. Had it really been more than a year since he’d been home? He drew in a deep breath, willing his heart to slow down. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been this nervous and excited all at the same time. Even when they’d finally managed to capture Al-Azir, in a mission that had challenged him on every level, he hadn’t felt the way he did now.
Uncertain.
Optimistic.
Scared as hell.
He had four weeks of leave ahead of him before he needed to report back to Fort Bragg. He could have gone to Texas to spend time with his folks. Instead, he’d come directly from the airport to Beaufort, North Carolina, because that’s where Kate was waiting for him. He hadn’t even changed out of his uniform.
“Pull up here,” he instructed the driver, peeling some bills from his wallet and handing them over.
Grabbing his gear from the trunk, he set everything down at the end of the walkway and took a minute just to look. The cottage was exactly as he remembered, with the overhanging porch and weathered shingles. Only now, flowering pots hung between the pillared supports and someone had put a fresh coat of paint on the door and windows. A small table and two chairs had been placed on the far end of the porch, where the view of the water was unobstructed.
He’d hoped to see Kate waiting for him on the porch, but maybe she was inside. Drawing another deep breath, he picked up his duffel bags and made his way to the door. It opened beneath his fingers, and he stepped into the house, knowing instinctively that he was alone.
Kate