Master of the Abyss

slipped off a trail and belly flopped onto a slab of granite. She took two steps toward the door and stopped.

Nothing she could do would keep Virgil from trying to protect her. And Jake would go his own way no matter what Virgil said. Having lived with a bunch of obstinate men, she knew that intervening only made things worse.

Unable to watch, she abandoned the pie. Heading down to the creek, she was intercepted. Gina grabbed one arm, Serena the other, veering her off to one side.

Hands on hips, Serena gave her a spill-it look. “Okay, girlfriend, it’s confession time.”

Oh, hell. “Well…”

“I’ve never seen Jake come on to someone so blatantly,” Gina said. “Not since his girlfriend died. He’ll buy someone a drink at the tavern and take her home, and that’s about it. He doesn’t attend parties or anything.”

“Died? His girlfriend died?”

“Yeah. Don’t you remember the big deal…? No, you were still in Alaska,” Serena said. “Anyway, when did you start dating Jake?”

“Uh, I’m not sure dating is the right term.” Kallie grimaced. “I got the ‘one night only’ lecture, after all.”

Gina tilted her head at the sun, half-hidden by the western mountains. “Seems like daytime to me.”

“Let’s just say he wants to take it one…um, interaction…at a time.”

“Oh. Gotcha.” Serena snickered. “That was a really nice interaction you had going on there on the deck.”

Kallie tried to glare, but witnessed or not, the memory was sweet. “Yeah, it was.”

“Well, be careful, okay?” Gina clasped Kallie’s hands. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Kallie glanced up the slope. Jake had joined the older men. As he threw a horseshoe, the muscles under his shirt flexed in a way that made her mouth water. “It’ll be worth the pain.” Her gaze shifted to the deck. Wyatt stared down at her, then shifted his attention to Jake. “Maybe.”

“By the way…” Serena’s gaze ran over Kallie. “You look fantastic.”

“Way fantastic. If Jake hadn’t branded you, the other guys would be following you around, wagging their tails for attention.” Gina frowned. “I think Serena and I should have pushed harder to fancy you up. Then again, maybe it took a different kind of incentive to get you in girl clothes.”

Kallie laughed, her face heating. “You have the ugliest underwear I’ve ever seen.” Interesting type of incentive. But it felt…nice…to know she looked good.

“Kallie,” one of the children yelled from the deck. “The sun’s going down. Morgan said to ask you if we could play now.”

As the little boy jumped up and down in anticipation, Kallie laughed and did a quick visual of the party. In the dimming light, people started to pack up the board and card games. The air had cooled, and the wading pool had emptied of toddlers-it would now become the loading area for weapons. The war would begin as the twilight deepened.

“Morgan, break out the vests and guns,” she yelled. “It’s time to win our independence from England!”

All the potential soldiers cheered. A second later, twinkle lights flashed on around the property, designating the boundaries of the battlefield, as well as giving light to the seating areas and the deck.

From the deck, Morgan tossed vests to the combatants: red for the English, blue for the patriots. Cheers and complaints came from the recipients. Meantime, Virgil and Wyatt cleared the battlefield of tables and chairs and other obstacles.

As Kallie reached the deck, Jake appeared, tucking his fingers under her waistband to stop her. “What’s going on?”

“Water tag-or should I say, the American Revolution fought on the Masterson battlefield with water for bullets. Want to play?”

Jake stared at the soldiers suiting up-donning vests-and choosing their weapons from a variety of water pistols, and he had to laugh. The Mastersons were definitely insane. He grinned. “Damn right.”

Kallie patted his chest and shook her head. “You are such a boy.”

“True. Very true.” He pulled her forward, keeping his eyes on hers. Seeing the heat spark to life. He leaned down to brush her lips with his. “You’d best be careful, soldier. If I capture you, I’ll be forced to conduct an interrogation,” he whispered. “There are many, many ways to make an enemy talk, and I know them all.”

Even in the dim light, he saw a flush darken her cheeks and the way her nipples peaked inside her tight shirt. Her laugh came out husky and low. “Well. You’ll have to capture me first, won’t you?” She raised her chin in a definite challenge. “By the way, beware of the artillery and their bombs.”

“What?”

She nodded at a group of older guests lined up behind the deck railing. Tubs filled with red and blue water balloons waited at their feet. “Bombs.”

“You people are amazing. Bombs, huh?” His laugh broke off as the word registered. Bombs. War. Where was Logan? He spotted his brother standing inside the kitchen, oblivious to the game starting up outside. Hell.

“Jake, are you all right?”

“Where’s Becca?”

Kallie turned and pointed. “Down by the creek with Serena.”

“Thanks.” He jogged across the grass, not slowing when he realized Kallie trotted beside him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Not taking time to answer, he stopped by Logan’s woman. “Becca,” he said sharply enough to have her spinning around. “There’s going to be water tag, and it’s set up to simulate a war. Guns. And bombs.”

Her face paled.

“Dammit, Jake.” Kallie slugged his arm to get his attention.

Bad little sub, he thought, then explained. “When we were overseas, Logan and his team were sliced to bits by an IUD. He’s the only one who survived, and still has nightmares.”

“Hellfire,” Kallie muttered. “Being a macho idiot like you, he won’t leave the party either, right?”

Becca shook her head. “Probably not.”

“Men. Okay then, coax him into the living room. Seems like there should be a game on-the World Cup for soccer?”

“That’ll work. Thanks,” Becca said and sprinted up the lawn toward the house.

“Nightmares?” Kallie asked Jake.

“Better now, but they were pretty ugly for years. After counseling, he managed all right during the day, but any noise might set him off at night, and he’s a hell of a fighter, especially when he doesn’t realize he’s not back in battle. That’s why I got him out here, why we started up the lodge-to get away from city noises and sirens.” He frowned at the creek, unconsciously rubbing the scar on his forehead.

Her eyes narrowed. “Did he attack you?”

His hand dropped, and after a second, he nodded. “On the ranch one night, I heard something getting at the calves, so I yelled at him to get his ass up. He got up…but he wasn’t awake.” He shrugged. “Scared us both a tad.”