Adam (18 page)

Adam eyed the room. The clinic looked ridiculous. Red, green, gold and blue lights twinkled, sending muted colors around the interior. About a week ago, Keelee had wound strings of Christmas lights around every IV stand in the building and then hung surgical clamps wrapped in garland from the arms of the stands. Ornaments hung from the finger holes of the very expensive medical instruments. Sterilizing the implements she used would take at least a full day, but he’d spend a week cleaning up the mess as long as his woman was happy.

However, tonight he was paying for that particular weakness. Adam was being ribbed unmercifully by all five of the King Brothers, the Wonder Twins, and Chief.

“So your inner diva finally erupted.” Joseph’s growl set off an explosion of laughter.

“Erupted like Vesuvius!” Dixon chortled.

“Or a Christmas themed orgasm!” That was Drake. And Doc knew they were just getting started. Awesome.

Doc lowered his head, shaking it. He was smiling like a loon. He deserved the guys’ harassment; after all, he
was
whipped. But damn it, to see Keelee so happy she almost glowed, he’d take it.

Jacob walked up and threw his heavy arm across Doc’s shoulders. “Aww… ain’t that cute! Big strapping man is blushing!”

Chief snorted, “How can you tell?” He lifted his hands at the blinking lights casting a merry glow throughout the room.

“It’s a team leader thing.” Jacob tightened his arm around Doc’s neck and pulled him in for a hug. A quiet, “She’s good for you, man,” almost had Doc showing the emotion he keep squirreled away. Tonight those feelings were at the surface and he was nervous as a cat in a dog pound.

It was the night before Christmas Eve.
Twenty-three hours before he planned to ask Keelee to marry him. Damn. Talk about a life changer.
A loud laugh pulled Adam’s wandering mind back to the impromptu male bonding session.

“Absolutely not! No way! I’m definitely throwing the bullshit flag on that. Ain’t no fucking way that hot, slinky piece of female took Masterson
and
Cable down. I mean, holy shit man, she’s what? A buck forty soaking wet?” Dixon’s words set off another round of laughter.

“Hey! That slinky piece of female is our sister, so watch your mouth. And for your information, yes, Jade did take them both down
and
broke Cable’s nose in the process.” Jared elbowed his brother Joseph as he spoke.

Joseph nodded. “She’s dangerous, maybe more dangerous than I am.”

Joseph delivered the unbelievable line flawlessly. Dixon and Drake gaped at the assassin in their midst. The absurdity of anyone being more dangerous than Joseph stunned the two men. Adam chuckled to himself. Then, as if signaled by some inner timer only the twins had access to, they burst out laughing. Drake fell off his chair rolling on the floor of the clinic.

Adam grabbed the almost empty bottle of whiskey and lifted it. The scant half inch of amber liquor sloshed noisily. “Who was supposed to bring enough alcohol?”

Jared sniggered. “Hey, no criticism allowed. That was all that was out and the cabinet was locked. Maybe one of these married men can get his woman to bring some more.”

Joseph tossed back the last of his whiskey. “Gentlemen, I may be newly married, but I am not insane. I like sex with my wife and I’m not jeopardizing it by suggesting she bring us more alcohol.”

Justin bust out with a deep belly laugh. “Joseph? You’re afraid of your woman?”

Joseph shook his head. “Nope, I’m just not stupid enough to piss her off. That red hair isn’t for decoration. It’s a warning and I heed it. You should too.” He leaned back on the floor, resting on both elbows. “Although the idea of angry sex does have its merits.”

Jacob snorted, lifted a hand and produced his cell phone with an overly dramatic flair. “Dude, you have to learn how to ask so they
want
to help you.
I
have the necessary experience and qualifications for this mission. Gentlemen, watch, listen and learn.” He tapped the face of the phone and held it to his ear.

In a sing-song voice, he crooned, “Hey, baby, will you do me a favor?” Riotous laughter from every man filled the room.

“Shhh… Hey, hey! I got to listen to this!” Justin’s voice calmed some of the uproar and Jacob smiled widely before he continued.

“Tori, baby, it seems we have a little bit of a problem.” Jacob’s eyebrow’s lifted as he listened.

“Yes,
we
have a problem, darlin’. Currently,
we
have…” Jacob pointed at each man as he counted. “…four, five, six, seven, eight… nine very thirsty men who are in desperate need of at least two more bottles of whiskey.”

Jacob nodded as he listened. “We’re at the clinic. What? Uh huh. I know, baby, and I
will
make it up to you. And I promise you’ll like it when I do.” Dark eyebrows danced as his face lit up with a lecherous grin. This time Justin said nothing to quiet the raucous laughter.

Adam noticed that Jared took advantage of the distraction and poured the last of the bottle into his glass. Which was interesting; Jared rarely drank more than one drink.

“Well, did it work? Is she bringing more?” The mountain of muscle a/k/a Jason asked his little brother.

“She said she would ensure we got the whiskey, but I’m not quite sure who is bringing it because Talon was fussing in the background. If she sends Jade… she better pack three bottles ‘cause damned if that girl can’t drink all of us under the table.”

The twins’ eyes traveled from brother to brother, expecting someone to refute the claim. Chief chuckled when Joseph clarified, “She drank Franklin under the table at the Tavern in England. Dude still won’t drink Irish whiskey.”

Jared shook his head before he finished his quickly disappearing drink. “Nah, she’s probably pouting. I’m sending her out right after Christmas. She has a quick mission overseas for Jacob and then she’s heading to D.C. to testify. Then, unfortunately, she’s in the queue for an assignment she isn’t going to like.”

“She ever liked a job?” Chief raised his glass in a silent salute. “To Jade, the only woman I know who can kick your ass, drink you under the table and still make you wonder how these thugs can be related to something that beautiful.”

Justin raised his glass, “Here, here! To impeccable breeding.”

The toast led to more of dubious worth containing limericks about tigers and several more ridiculous stories before the clinic door opened.

Christian Koehler pushed the door open, struggling to keep hold of an enormous tray of food with his one good arm. In addition to the platter, he had a bulging canvas tote hanging over his shoulder. “Tori said there was a bunch of old reprobates up here who wanted more whiskey. Miss Amanda insisted if I was going to bring you more alcohol you’d need food too. She and Miss Betty built you a spread.” Dixon took the massive tray loaded with sandwiches and carried it to the table.

Pleasantly buzzed but not really willing to admit it to anyone, Adam watched as his new friend-slash-project-slash-patient Christian shrugged the bag from around his shoulder and lifted it onto the clinic counter. He pulled two bottles of whiskey out. A loud chorus of cheers and accolades met the revelation. His face lit up. His smile radiated with happiness. Happiness was an emotion Adam hadn’t seen on the young man’s face in the three weeks he’d been at the ranch. The bottles were opened and passed around while men attacked the huge tray of sandwiches. Christian unloaded the canvas tote and added four huge water bottles and a liter jug of soda onto the table.

“I know my mom made you bring Coke for me, right?” Jason gave Christian a pat on the back and sent the young man staggering forward a few steps. “Sorry, dude. Maybe you need to work on your balance.” With a chuckle the giant picked up the plastic jug of soda and walked away.

Adam yelled after the walking piece of granite, “Jason, you know Christian isn’t twenty-one yet. If he’s staying, that’s his drink too.”

Jason raised the liter jug to his lips and took a drink. “Let the boy have a real drink. This is mine.”

Justin and Jared ambled toward Christian. Justin handed the young man a tumbler of amber liquid. “He’s staying. Our philosophy is if you’re old enough to go to war, you’re old enough to have a small drink with friends.”

Christian smiled and took the glass. Justin had poured a slight amount into the glass, but the young man didn’t seem to mind. Inclusion and acceptance were what was necessary for the boy, and Adam thanked God his brothers got it.

Jared shifted his attention from Chief and Jacob’s conversation and gazed toward Christian. He smiled at Justin’s overture. Christian and Jared’s eyes met and held. Although it was brief, the moment they exchanged was intense. Adam glanced around the room. The only other person who noticed the interaction was Jason. The big man smiled briefly at Adam and poured himself some more soda.

“A toast!” Jason’s voice roared above the din of conversation. The men stopped and held their whiskey glasses. “To Doc, the best combat medic on the face of the earth and to his happiness. Which damn well better include Keelee or we’ll all kick his fucking ass!”

“Hear, hear!” The chorus rattled the stainless steel trays on the counter.

Another inch of whiskey filled the glasses before Jacob lifted his glass. “To Christmas, with friends and family!”

Adam drank with the rest of the men. It had been a very long time since he’d gotten shitfaced.
The fact he was choosing to do so now had nothing to do with that question he was going to ask tomorrow. Nope, not a thing.
Adam tossed back the remainder of his drink and held out his glass. Jacob leaned forward and splashed a good inch of liquor into his glass. Who the hell was he kidding? If liquid courage could pull him through the massive case of nerves he had tonight, he’d be okay with it. Thirty missions under his belt and the simple act of dropping to one knee scared the shit out of him. Justin raised his glass for another toast. Adam lifted his in unison and went all in. He was with trusted friends, in love and for once in his life was on course.

Another toast. This time it paid tribute to an ode to tinsel from the Wonder Twins. He emptied his tumbler on that toast.
Dear Lord in heaven, your liver is going to hate you, fool.

Joseph stood in the center of the room and lifted his glass. Somehow, Adam’s glass had magically refilled. He snorted into his glass, laughing for no particular reason at whatever Justin, no, Jared… ahh… nope, that was Jacob… had said. There were too many fucking J-men to keep track of when you were drunk. A damn good thing the clinic had beds. They definitely weren’t making it back to the big house tonight.

Keelee drew a deep breath of the clear night air. The moon and stars lit not only the vast expanse of the heavens but also her path to the barn. The day had been filled with fun and laughter. Her nephew Talon added the wonder and delight of a child to Christmas this year. Yet the sheer volume of people congregating in the house had become overpowering and oppressive. Stomping her boots at the door of the barn, Keelee entered her peaceful place, her sanctuary. The outside dogs lifted their well-fed heads from the straw bedding, tails thumping madly. Keelee walked into the stall that housed the happy animals and dropped into the soft, warm straw bedding. She allowed them to maul her with tongues and tails, giving each of the animals scratches and pats. After an animated and frantic greeting, the dogs settled down and curled up next to her.

Keelee lay back against several hay bales that insulated the stall and breathed in deeply. So much had happened in the last month and she was blissfully thankful. Yet sometimes she felt overwhelmed. The pure adoration of her animals helped to calm the swirling mental images that still sent terrifying tremors through her. She’d seen the psychiatrist Adam had asked her to talk to. He’d been kind and supportive. Keelee could tell Adam and the doctor had a good relationship, but for her, coming to terms with the way Clint had ripped her sense of safety away wasn’t going to be fixed by talking to a stranger.

She heard the sound of the latch on the side door snicking open. The metallic click froze her in mid-stroke of her collie’s coat. The dog lifted its head, sensing her fear. A low, menacing growl emanated from the animal. “Get too much for you up there?” Her father’s voice stilled the animal’s warning immediately. Keelee shrugged as Frank strode into the stall and took a seat beside her in the straw.

“I hate to admit it, but yeah.” She blew out the response in a long sigh.

“You okay?”

Keelee lifted a shoulder in a halfhearted effort. “I guess I expected all this… whatever this feeling is inside me… to, I don’t know… leave?”

“Caught you prowling the house in the middle of the night too often these past couple weeks. What happened on the mountain still haunts you.”

“Yes and no. I wake up sometimes. Scared.” Scared Adam would leave. Scared Clint would come back.

“And because your man is sleeping in the clinic it’s worse.”

Keelee nodded and lifted her shoulder again in that weak shrug. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Yeah, you’re tough. I can’t believe I’m saying this, and your mom is probably groaning from heaven, but tell him to sleep at the house with you. I know you meet up to be with him. Maybe then you can get some sleep and that’ll let me get some rest.”

A soft chuckle escaped. “You know I love him, right?”

“Yeah. A person would have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to see that.”

“He’s been all growly and protective since… Made me promise not to leave the ranch without him.” Keelee gave a rough chuckle. “I don’t think he realized if Clint wanted to get to me, he’d ride in or catch me in the pastures.”

“Not gonna happen. With Clint? Legally, Guardian’s hands are tied, so your man called in favors to keep eyes out for him. Guardian is doing a ramp up here and that means more people, more eyes. Listen to Adam. Do as he asks.”

“But why didn’t he tell me?”

Frank gave his ‘well, that was a stupid question’ grunt.

Keelee laughed softly. “Right. That’s what men do.” She bumped her dad with her shoulder. “He’s a good guy, daddy.”

Another grunt in agreement. Keelee chuckled quietly. Frank Marshall, the most eloquent man on the face of the planet.

Frank rubbed his dog’s ears, his calloused hands remarkably gentle. “Everyone is getting ready to exchange gifts.”

“Yeah, I know, but I thought I’d come down for a minute and reconnect with what I know, who I am. Adam hasn’t let me do chores or anything strenuous for the last three weeks. I think I may be going through withdrawal.”

“Huh. Guess that’s not a good omen.” Frank allowed his German Shepherd to drape himself over his leg. The dog and the man were nearly inseparable when Frank was outside.

“What do you mean, Daddy?” Keelee leaned in and put her head on his shoulder. This was their special place. They’d spent hours in this very spot talking about her mom, Victoria, the ranch, or just sitting quietly enjoying each other’s company free from the demands of a busy ranch.

Frank did a quick glance around the barn. “All this? It’s yours, and Tori’s, but mostly yours. You’ve put your entire life into this place. Spent your youth doing things no young lady should have to do. You didn’t go to college, never been overseas, never been to a real fancy restaurant or, for that matter, had the clothes to go to one. I’ve done poorly by you.”

Keelee bolted upright, bringing the dogs to their feet. Grabbing her father’s arm, she made him focus on her. “What? Dad! When have I ever said I wanted any of those things? I’m not Tori or mom. I’m happiest when I’m working on the ranch. It’s what I know.”

Frank nodded but dropped his eyes, not meeting hers. “Yeah, it’s what you know, but it’s not all you should know.” He cleared his throat and nodded towards the house. “You got yourself a young man that loves you. I finally got me a good woman who is willing to take me on. Can’t quite figure either one of them out, but damn it… somehow we lucked into some pretty good fixin’s.”

The words registered, but they didn’t make sense. “Okay. So we’re lucky. What’s the bad omen?”

“I’ve bought you and your beau’s Christmas present. Had to work a deal with Gabriel to make sure it would work for Adam, but I think I can live with it. Hell, I may be getting the better of the deal, actually.”

Keelee sat forward, frustrated by the cryptic conversation. She nailed her dad with a hard stare. “Would you quit dancing around what you’re trying to tell me and just say it?”

“Well, hell. Here it goes. For your Christmas present, I bought you and your man a cruise.” He lifted his hand off the Shepherd’s head and circled his finger. “An around the world cruise. You’ll be gone for almost a month.”

Keelee flopped back onto the straw, her mind—blown.
Around the world
.
Cruise. A month? A boat?
She bolted upright. “Wait, I can’t go. We have a ranch to run.”

“That’s another thing. I’m breaking in a new foreman. That was the agreement I struck with Gabriel. He comes highly recommended and by all accounts is a damned good man.”

“Hiring a… sending me on a… What the
hell
, Daddy?”

“Don’t cuss. You sound like a ranch hand.”

Keelee groaned at the automatic reprimand. “Really? You decide to replace me and I get fussed at for cussing? Why, Daddy?”

“You and that man need to start a life together. I want to slow down. I’ve got other priorities now, too. If I bring in a foreman, you can have time to be a wife, maybe a mother.”

“Well, that is really presumptuous, isn’t it? I mean, Adam hasn’t even hinted at anything permanent. And if being with him meant leaving the ranch? I don’t know Dad. I just don’t know.”

“Counting those damn chickens before they hatch again and also worrying about feeding, sheltering and butchering them, ain’t you?”

Keelee shrugged. “Can’t help but wonder what the future will or won’t hold.”

“Human nature, I expect. I want you to be able to leave the toting and hefting to someone else. You’ll still be the boss. I’m here if you need me, but I’m turning the reins over to you. We’ll play it as it is now. I’ll bring on the foreman and I’m hiring Gregg to work full time with Danny. If the foreman needs more help, we’ll hire more men full time. With Gerald and Clint out of the picture, we have to make some changes.”

“Are they out of the picture, Dad? Is Clint really gone?” Her voiced cracked with fear, but she didn’t try to hide it from her dad.

“He’s dropped off the face of the Earth.”

“So we go ahead with our lives like he’s not out there?”

“Exactly right. Don’t let him hurt you more than he already has. For now, we’ll spend Christmas and New Year’s with our super-sized family. Then we’ll pull in that foreman. He’ll work with both of us. When you get back from your trip, we’ll work you into taking my responsibilities. Your ranch, your call, just letting someone else do the hard stuff.”

Keelee dropped back against the straw again and considered her dad’s words. The idea wasn’t repulsive. As a matter of fact, it was rather freeing. She’d still work the ranch, but not all day every day. A small sigh of relief escaped.

“We’ve talked about this before. When Ember left, you said you wanted to be able to go visit her and Tori. You were the one who put the idea in my head.”

“I know and I could get used to the idea, but, Dad, who are you going to get to handle things?”

“You leave that to me. Gabriel gave me the man and I have a plan.”

“A plan, huh? Care to share?”

“Nope. Not in the slightest. Now let’s get back inside. Act surprised when you open that present, you hear?”

*

Adam paced in front of the kitchen window waiting for Frank to bring Keelee back to the main house. He’d used the time to get everyone he hadn’t talked to earlier on the same page. Suffering a damn hangover from hell this morning had pushed his timeline way off track, but he implemented basic mission protocols to prevent too much stress. He acknowledged the setback, adapted his timeline and overcame the obstacles.
Overcame the worst hangover he’d ever had. Stupid of him not to keep hydrated.
Holy shit, with the amount of alcohol he’d consumed last night there was a real possibility he could still be drunk.

He paced past the window and slapped his thigh lightly. If the universe would just give him a break, he might be able to pull off this proposal. He paced back and caught the side door to the barn opening out of the corner of his eye. Game time. Adam bolted from the kitchen into the two-story family room and hit the light switch. The massive Christmas tree lit the dark room with a beautiful golden glow. Keelee had kept her mom’s tradition of lighting the twenty-foot spruce with tiny, white, blinking lights and gold ornaments. Adam glanced at the entryway and patted his pocket. He pulled the ring case out of his jeans and took a deep breath.
Please God, let her say yes.

Allowing himself a quick reassurance the ring was still in the box, he popped the lid. He had to admit the jeweler Jacob recommended in Georgetown had reworked the ring beautifully. He hoped Keelee felt the same way. At the sound of her voice in the kitchen, Adam flipped the case closed and hid it in his palm as he waited beside the tree.

“I don’t know how you can drink coffee this late.” Keelee’s laughing taunt halted when she entered the darkened room. Her stride slowed and then stopped. Her eyes danced around the room before she stopped midway inside. “Where is everyone?”

At her question, the sound of a soft sigh floated down from the second-floor banister. Adam peered up with Keelee. The entire King family and his brothers from Alpha Team stood at the rail. Keelee’s puzzled expression drifted from the banister to Adam, silently questioning the quiet staging of the room.

Adam walked to Keelee. Damn, his legs were shaking. He almost didn’t make it the three feet it took to close the gap between them.

Adam slowly dropped to one knee in front of her and had to smile. A single tear welled at the bottom lash of one of her lovely blue eyes and trickled down her blushing cheek. Her radiant smile sent his heart soaring.

He took her hand in his, turned it and kissed her palm before he spoke. “Cleopatra Elizabeth Marshall, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me. I want to protect you from the world, wrap you in my love, and give you my heart. Because it’s yours, forever.” He lifted the small black leather box and opened it. “This used to be your mom’s ring. I added my love to it.”

He lowered his voice so only she could hear him, “Keelee, baby, please make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”

She bent down and kissed him, her hands cupping his face. When she lifted, she nodded and whispered, “I love you. Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Adam had her in his arms and kissed her hard and deep before the hoard of people held at bay upstairs could descend upon them. Why he ever believed they’d be allowed to enjoy their moment alone, he’d never know.

*

Christmas wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons littered the floor. Jacob had his son on his shoulder. The little guy had lost his bid to stay awake about halfway through the night. A very pregnant Tori leaned into her husband. The small, happy family was exactly what Adam wanted with Keelee.

The happiness of Christmas Eve and Keelee accepting his proposal couldn’t extinguish the pain that flared at the sight of his best friend, his wife and their child. His heart ached for the son that should be with him tonight. He couldn’t help wondering if he would ever be able to put to rest the haunting nightmare Bianca had forced upon him.

Keelee’s arms snuck around him as she leaned into his back. Her soft warmth helped to evaporate his melancholy. “They are a beautiful family. That will be us someday. I know it won’t make the pain of your loss any easier. I love you. I’m here if you need me.” Her words were whispered in his ear.