Page 24 of An Epic Voyage
As if reading her mind, Griffin said, “You can order room service.There’s a menu by the phone.”
“Thanks.”
“Well, I’ll let you get to bed.Goodnight, Indigo.”
She walked with him to the door.“Goodnight, Griffin.”
With a smile and a nod, he was gone.Indy locked the door behind him.She had planned on changing clothes and going back out to examine particular areas of the yacht, but the cameras put the kibosh on that excursion.
Instead, she headed for the shower.
#
Evangeline was nearby.Jackson could sense her.It was as if the air was charged.Pheromones floated about.It’d been that way since the day he’d met her.
His mind rewound ten years.He’d been a Navy SEAL, recruited to work for the Secret Service.He’d completed basic police training at the top of his class from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and had moved on to the James J.Rowley Training Center near Washington, D.C., for specialized preparation.Evangeline had completed her FLETC training in Artesia, New Mexico, and was also at the top of her class.
When he walked into the training room the first day, he felt as if a block of C-4 exploded inside his chest when he spotted her.Her long, pale-blonde hair was secured in a high ponytail.Her light-blue eyes glittered with intelligence.The Ice Queen, as her classmates called her.All Jackson saw was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.
Though he was interested, to put it mildly, Jackson decided not to pursue her.He needed to keep his mind focused on his new career.To his surprise, she invited him out for a drink.No way he’d pass up the opportunity.One drink led to two, and they ended up in her hotel room for a weekend of the most incredible, mind-blowing sex and stimulating conversation.
With him, her frosty demeanor melted.She was brilliant, charming, and so damn funny.They laughed and made love, and Jackson fell head over heels in love with her.Their red-hot affair lasted for six glorious months.He prepared to propose, and even purchased a ring.
They were both assigned to the detail of a prominent senator who would later become the president.One day, a gunman opened fire at a press event.Evangeline covered the senator while he tackled the shooter, taking a bullet in the process.
Evangeline stayed by his side as he recovered.When he was released from the hospital, she followed suit, releasing him from their relationship.
Jackson was blindsided.He’d planned to ask her to marry him.All the while, she’d plotted a life without him.He was a wreck.He thought she was the one, but she hadn’t felt the same way.
Seeing her at work was torture.He was planning on tendering his resignation when the senator was elected president and talked him into a different venture.She needed a group of secret agents to tackle problems she didn’t want made public.It sounded perfect ...until he found out she was appointing Evangeline as well.
He thought about declining the promotion.Was seriously considering it.Then, anger took over.Why should he derail his career over a woman who thought so little of him that she wouldn’t even return his calls or texts to explain what had gone wrong with their relationship?
It took time, but he started dating again since Evangeline had made it clear that they were over.One day, he met Celine Cortez at the gym.She taught Pilates, yoga, and spin classes.Like Evie, she was bright, beautiful, and caring.Unlike Evie, her long hair was black, her eyes a light shade of amber, and she was a good five inches shorter.
Jackson enjoyed spending time with Celine.She was active like him, so their dates often involved hiking, biking, or some other type of exercise.He was stunned when Celine told him she was pregnant.They used protection religiously.He hadn’t planned on spending his life with anyone but Evie, but Celine was carrying his baby.Soon after the news, he married her.Though it wasn’t a love match on his part, he did care for her.Celine told him daily how much she loved him, and she didn’t seem to get too upset when he couldn’t say it back.
Jackson was working overtime to get Epic up and running.They hired Indigo, Piper, and Chelsea and trained them in all forms of weaponry and self-defense.
When Celine had a doctor’s appointment one day, he was too busy to take her.She called him after, so excited to discover they were having a girl.
Five minutes later, a carjacker evading police slammed into her, killing her and his baby girl instantly.
Jackson thought losing Evangeline had been excruciating.Grieving a daughter he would never know was hell on earth.It damn near brought him to his knees.If not for a couple of his SEAL teammates who flew in to be with him, he might not have made it.Indigo, Piper, and Chelsea were rocks for him too.Evie offered her condolences but stayed away.
Through it all, guilt assailed him that he wasn’t more upset over losing Celine.
“Have you been watching the storm?”
Evangeline’s voice jarred him from his memories, and he shook his head.She’d snuck up on him, something that was next to impossible to do.He looked at her and felt that same gut punch that happened every time he saw her, even so many years later.
Gorgeous, intelligent Evangeline had never married.She might have dated, but he didn’t keep tabs on her.It was too hard on him, even when he’d been married.
His union with Celine had driven a significant rift between them.Their relationship had been distant but civil since then.Strictly business.They worked well together and had excelled with Epic.So many times, he’d wanted to run something by her or repeat a funny story he’d heard, but he always refrained.Getting close to her again wasn’t something he planned on doing.He had no interest in having his heart broken one more time.His ticker might not survive another direct hit.
Jackson cleared his throat and pointed to the television, currently tuned to the weather.“My gut’s telling me it’s going to turn left.”
“Mine too,” Evie agreed.“I spoke with Indigo.She’s aware of it.”
