Page 4 of Love and Other Trials
The ominous tone was clear. Something had happened. Poor guy. He was only a good-natured best man trying to do his best by his fellow pilot and former college roommate from the Naval Academy. Rob Abrams was clearly the fiery one in their brotherhood. When she’d met him at Thanksgiving, she’d found him to be exactly the sort of magnetic, rugged male Tiffany usually went for. They’d gotten along fine, sticking to work talk, but Ariel could tell Rob had some baggage from childhood. Tiffany had plenty of her own baggage, so Ariel was hoping the discipline Rob had learned in the military would help them create a more stable foundation for their lives. Because Tiffany needed it—and so did her son, Marshall, from her first marriage.
Suddenly she wondered if Dax was upset because he’d seen a few other sides of her sister and was worried about his friend. That was only natural. Except it seemed like something bigger had happened, she decided.
A flash of lightning had him looking off toward the windows as the first plops of rain sounded on the roof. “But how are you? You must be pissed they forgot you.”
She stood up, feeling like a shrimp compared to his tall frame as a crack of thunder boomed outside. “I’m used to it. Two weddings ago, I started bringing my own flask.”
When she waggled it, he rolled those gorgeous green eyes dramatically. “That’s both sad and ingenious. I’ve been here a day, and I’m already feeling like I’m in a parallel universe. I’m only saying that since you suggested the garlic. Here, let me get your bag. Also, what are my rules of engagement with Sherlock? I know search and rescue dogs don’t like people getting up in their business.”
Impressed, she straightened Sherlock’s drool bib hanging over his vest. “That’s correct. Put your hand out and let him get your scent. After that, it’s up to him. Oh, and I can get my own bag.”
“Please. I have to keep up my reputation as Captain Hotpants.” His flirtatious wink had her wanting to do a cartwheel as he held out his hand to her dog. “Besides, I need to lift things. You’re doing me a favor.”
Okay, that had her mouth twitching. Especially since her luggage had wheels. “My sisters tell me you’re known for having the best buns this side of Biloxi.” That had not been on his social media account.
The winning smile he shot her as he cocked his very taut butt playfully to the side was as welcome to her eyes as summer sun on a windy beach. “The other side of Biloxi was already taken.”
Goodness, he was too good-looking for words. And that cute little tush...
Seeing that every day would be no hardship. Captain Hotpants was going to be her one pleasure this week, helping her make this wedding come off.
“I find that hard to believe, seeing it in real life,” she flirted back.
He flashed anothertake your breath awaysmile. “No, really, it’s a longstanding joke between me and Rob. You can’t take us too seriously sometimes. Working as a pilot, you get a sick sense of humor because of the risks you navigate. But you know what I mean, going into disaster sites, looking for people.”
“I do.”
She knew Rob had grown up as a single child, not really knowing his father, and he’d chosen the Navy as much for its adventure as to make something of his life. He must be an adrenaline junkie, the kind of person who chased storms. Her job had its share of adrenaline, but she didn’t feed on it. Not like Rob seemed to as a fighter pilot. He’d loved telling her how fast he’d gone and some of the dangerous maneuvers he’d pulled. Now his personal life was going to be filled with the same kind of turbulence. That was Tiffany—and her other two sisters.
Mesmerizing. Chaotic. Destructive.
Most of the men who’d hooked up with her mother’s side were like that, but none of the marriages had lasted.
“Whatever the reason for the joke, Captain Hotpants, it sounds like a good story.”
He gave a heartfelt wince. “You could say that. We came down this way for spring break back in college, and I got to talking up a girl, which led to her coining the phrase one night over Jack and Coke. My call sign—Hercules—didn’t stick in the Navy because Rob is an asshole.”
Ariel laughed, knowing he said it like guys do. She hung out with guys so much for her job she was used to being treated like one of them. “Let’s hope he’s an endearing asshole, if he’s marrying my sister.”
Something hard flashed in his eyes. She noted it as Sherlock nudged her hand. Yeah, her dog had sensed there was a problem too.
“Something like that.” He inclined his head to the exit. “We should head out before it really starts to pour. I’m glad I left the hard top on coming down here.”
The rain was falling in giant plops, but so far it wasn’t a raging thunderstorm despite the ominous lightning and thunder. She followed Dax out to the curb, feeling the large drops hit her hair. She was touched when he opened her door first and then the back passenger side for Sherlock. After seeing them to safety, he ran around the front of the car and climbed inside himself as a white flash lit the sky. Raindrops had wet his face, highlighting his strong brows and rock-hard jaw. My, oh my, was he one tall drink of water, as Grandma had liked to say.
“Everybody good?” he asked as he buckled up.
A boomer shook the car, making Sherlock bark in response. “You’re all right, buddy,” she reassured him. “We’re good, Dax. But I’m starving. Do you mind if we hit the Waffle House nearby for burgers or something?”
He turned the engine on. “You bet. I can always eat. Just show me the way. I’d heard you love it here. But I didn’t know you were moving here from Charlotte until Rob mentioned it.”
She’d made those plans on the contingency of getting Grandma’s house, but she wasn’t going to say anything about the blackmail. She grabbed her phone and brought up the directions for the Waffle House she had in mind, planting it on the console where he could see it.
“Charlotte isn’t a place I’ve ever felt I could plant roots. My grandma lived here, so we used to come as kids for the summer. Later I came when I wasn’t working. She recently passed.”
“I heard,” he said gravely, “and I’m sorry.”
Ariel felt her throat tighten. “Thank you. It’s still weird, having her gone. But she has a beautiful house on Folly Beach I’m hoping to move into. I know it might sound like a funny place to move, coming from someone who’s done disaster recovery after a hurricane, but every place has its dangers, I personally think. And this place is special. The kind where you can put all your troubles aside, dig your toes into the sand, and just be.”
