A Favor

Prologue

I don’t think this is a good idea. I get that you want to help out Sam and even why, but what about Zoe? What if this isn’t good for her? She has made it very clear she doesn’t want to get involved with anyone again. Even if we don’t agree or understand, why shouldn’t you honor her wishes?

Sweetie, why are you jumping to conclusions of something happening between them?

Because I know you, and the way you think. You wouldn’t even be sending her if you didn’t think something could come of it. What did he do that made you think this will work?

Fine, she called when I was there about the plumbing repair and he saw her picture on my phone. He didn’t stop staring at it until it disappeared, I guess it sounded more domestic than work and he assumed she was you. When I hung up he said something about me doing well for myself. Since it was the first time he’d actually stopped looking bored, I decided to mess with him a little. Did the whole ‘yeah the first time I met her I fell hard.’ Ouch, my lovely wife, I told you it was just to mess with him, but we’ve already gone over this. Yes, I thought I was in love with Zoe but I got over that, and I know it’s just you, and do you want to hear why I think he’ll be good for her or not?

Yes, sorry, I keep forgetting I don’t get jealous until you talk about Zoe. Tell me.

"So I said, yeah, I had talked her into coming to work for me as a secretary and graphic artist when needed. His head came up when he heard she worked for me, but then he sighed and I told him it was to get her close to me so she could fall in love with me, but it didn’t work. She ended up introducing me to you, so I didn’t get her as a wife but she’s a good secretary and artist. I’m pretty sure he stopped breathing on me for a minute, but then he ran his hand over those damn scars of his and said no again. Basically, shoved me out the door after that.

I’m telling you, he’s interested, very interested, but maybe the scars will hold him back. I’m not sure. Maybe he’s still unhappy over the way his stint in the Rangers came to an end. You know the scars won’t matter to Zoe, and we both know Zoe needs someone strong enough to take her on and pull her out from hiding. He won’t let her hide; he’s damn relentless when he wants something. I would almost feel guilty about setting Sam on her if she didn’t need it so badly. Sam is a good man; you really don’t want to know how I know that as far as a woman goes, he’ll take care of her. Please trust me on this, he’s the kind of man she needs. Don’t look like that. Now that we both know what it’s finally like to love completely and get it back, don’t you think, after all she has done for us, if we can help her find that, we should?

Fine, yes, you’re right. But you’ll watch out for her, right? You won’t let her get hurt?

As much as I can and she’ll let me. You’ll help me out and support me on this with her?

Yes, but this better go the right way. If it goes bad she might not ever forgive us, and I would hate for that to happen.

It will, you just have to be positive. Don’t focus on the bad, think of how good it could be for the both of them.

Chapter One

A sigh of pleasure escapes me as I finish the last spoonful of chocolate mousse. I know I’ll pay for this later, but I don’t care, it is so good and completely worth it. Setting down the small dish, I hear a curse exhale from my boss sitting across me. He’s reading through his emails on his cell phone, and I know I’m about to pay for this wonderful meal. Taylor Hunt is a great boss who is nice and easy to work with, and has often taken me out for lunch in the past.

It never crossed my mind he was working toward getting me to look at him as a romantic interest, and thank god I introduced him to my best friend and he fell hard for her within minutes. Not until Christine and Taylor were safely married did Christine admit to Taylor’s feelings. After my initial embarrassment of how blind I was at the situation, I had been simply relieved I hadn’t had to turn him down. Because I just couldn’t see us together in the slightest. Taylor is handsome in the blond-haired, blued-eyed, slim way most women find appealing, but I just didn’t feel anything for him in that way. Thankfully, we became friends and had enough respect for each other that it hasn’t been a big deal to continue to work for him.

Since he and Christine married, he’s taken me out to lunch or even brought me back something, but usually from a place where I know lunch would cost more than my whole grocery bill for the week. I know Taylor well enough to know there’s another motive behind this lunch. Of course I’ll give in, after pretending like I won’t, just to fuck with him a little. Taylor’s so buttoned up and straight I enjoy the few times I get to fuck with his composure. Seeming to feel my eyes on him, he looks up and his blue eyes flicker in surprise, as if he had forgotten I was there. When Taylor is in work mode it happens often, and I’m not insulted.

Sorry, just checking in and hoping I’d heard back from Tim, but nothing. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about today. I need your help. We can call it a favor, because I would really owe you if you came through for me.

I’m confused, a favor? Taylor doesn’t do favors. He hates to owe anyone anything. It’s usually the reverse, he loves it when people owe him something. What is it?

I need you to go get me Hank’s replacement. An old friend from Harvard is perfect for the job, but he’s digging in his heels. He was the guy I went to see yesterday. I wasted my Monday on the road and now it’s your turn. You go out to him and bring him to Austin and let me do the rest. Once he’s here and sees everything, I know I can lock him in.

Why me? Confusion deeper than before, a former Harvard graduate is really supposed to fill Hank’s position? Hank weighs almost three hundred pounds, and at six foot five it’s all muscle, despite that, he moves through the water like he’s a weightless dancer. Hank is former Special Forces, a SEAL. I can’t see it. I’m also having a hard time seeing someone turn down Taylor. I’ve never seen it happen before. Taylor is the consummate charmer moving fluidly from one persona to another to fit the moment. I know his father sent him off to Harvard from tiny Tyler, Texas in the hopes of Congress or even higher, but Taylor disappointed his father on that end. He is, however, the head of a company that often does security for some heads of state.

Honey trap, he saw your picture when you called me yesterday. He liked what he saw, and for three whole minutes I had his attention. Don’t look surprised, you know you’re attractive. I’m not asking you to do anything with him. Just, you know, smile a little and turn on the charm.

I can feel the blush, and hate it. Taylor, seriously?

"Cards on the table, Zoe, we badly need Sam. With Dean leaving last year and Hank leaving in a week, we will be in a deep fucking hole. We are seriously understaffed on trainers and it is about to become a very big problem. I’ll take complete responsibility for that, I got caught up with Christine and the wedding and wasn’t focused on my team. I had no idea Hank was already unhappy putting in overtime to make up for Dean. Which was why when his wife mentioned maybe going to Maryland to be near family, he jumped at it.

Yes, I do think Dean will be back. What the fuck is he thinking going to Dallas with that gold-digging slut? He’ll be back, but for now I have taken on contracts but not taken on new trainers to cover for that. Even before Dean left, apparently, Robert wanted to talk to me about taking on at least two new trainers but didn’t want to seem like he was complaining. Robert has someone in mind and he’s coming in from Virginia next Monday, but even if he works out, I’ll still need Sam.

Sam is perfect. He graduated at the top of our class at Harvard. We weren’t best buddies at Harvard. We had a few classes together until the last two years, where we didn’t have any, but still saw each other on campus. Both of us being from Texas and the same year, people enjoyed teasing us about our accents. A few times we would meet up and commiserate on how different Boston was from Texas. From that time I know his character and was impressed by his intelligence and how well he handles people.

In looking for someone new his name comes up over and again as a recommendation. I’ve managed to get the full picture on him from his time in the Rangers, and he is a fucking dream come true. Everyone I talked to regrets he’s out. Hell, the only reason he’s out is because he saved four men pinned down along the wrong side of the border in Pakistan. Brass refused to give the okay to go in and retrieve them, because it would have drawn attention that they were where they shouldn’t have been. Sam’s Rangers unit, stationed four klicks away on the right side in Afghanistan, hear the chatter over their radio and Sam says fuck ’em. He and two others from the unit go in. He carried one guy almost the whole way back. They were almost home when they came across an IED and he took fire to chest and face, very literally, his burns were pretty bad. The only reason he didn’t lose an eye is because of his eye gear and he didn’t panic. He came out with a Purple Heart and more scars than he’ll let anyone see, I’m sure.

Help me out here. He’s wasting away in Sweeney. He’s been all over the country, California, Florida, Chicago, and then he went home. From what I’ve heard he’s barely left the house for anything other than to get a six-pack."

I’m not surprised about the training situation, I told Taylor we needed to fill the gap when Dean left, but it had gone in one ear and out the other. I force back the thought of reminding Taylor of that. It wouldn’t help the situation we’re in now. Sam sounds perfect for the job, though I can understand and sympathize with his desire to curl up into a safe place. I also know it’s the worst thing he could do. Okay, so I’m avoiding men, but that’s men, not life. Taylor takes my silence as a refusal and lets out a heavy sigh.

Fine, let’s make a deal here. There are only five months more left on the note on the house. I told you before, the rent you’ve been paying for the last year and a half has paid the monthly mortgage. You get Sam down here, and when you pay it off in five months, you get the house. I’ll sign it over to you free and clear.

Are you serious?

You should know me by now. I don’t say what I don’t mean. You still have to be all right with guys from the company staying there, but when the five months are up you can kick everyone out and it’s yours. Talent like this company demands means I can’t hire just any ex-soldier off the street. I need the best, and Sam’s one of the best.

Swallowing hard, I nod. I’ll do it.

Good, you can drop me off at the office and you’ll drive my truck down there. I know you’re in love with your car, but I don’t trust it to get you there and back.

Now, right now?

Yes, now. You bring him back tonight and I’ll be over to see him and pick up the truck tomorrow, if he won’t come into work with you.

Over to see him?

Well, of course he’ll need a place to stay, and he’ll stay at the house like other new recruits in from out of town. Then once he settles in he’ll find his own place, I’m sure.

I follow Taylor out of the restaurant and refuse to listen to the little niggles of concern about Sam staying at the house. It isn’t a big deal, in the last year there had been nine or ten men in and out of the place. Then again, Christine mentioned Taylor had made it clear I was spoken for before the men had set foot in the house. Except now Taylor wants someone to stay in the house who has already taken an interest in me from my picture.

When I drop off Taylor back at the office, he makes sure I have the company card on me to pay for gas. He keys in the address for Sam into the navigation system on the dashboard and my phone, just in case, and I’m on my way.

Taking 71 east toward Houston, I push down my fears. Without vanity, I know I’m attractive enough that I shouldn’t be freaked out Sam took notice of my picture on Taylor’s phone. I’m not stunning or beautiful, though I’ve heard the word pretty often enough I appreciate it without letting it go to my head. I have a heart-shaped face with a wide smile that guys trying to hit on me always mention first. They talk about my smile, but I