The Diehard Warrior

  The Diehard Warrior

  Jennifer Youngblood

  Contents

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  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

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  Prologue

  Maddox clutched the bundle of flowers as he willed his feet to move forward. Interesting that he’d gone on scores of SEAL missions and none of them made him as nervous as he was right now. His throat tightened as he swallowed. Maybe it was a mistake to come here. He looked at the large double doors of the resort, forcing himself to relax. For all he knew, Addie might not even be here. She didn’t know he was coming, probably thought he was still overseas. He pushed a hand through his hair. What would she think of his ragged appearance? He’d lost a good thirty pounds due to his imprisonment in Syria. His clothes hung on him but he refused to buy more, vowing that he’d gain weight and rebuild his muscle. If it was the last thing he did, he’d take back his life.

  What he wanted more than anything was Addie. An image of her flashed through his head, his favorite memory, the one he’d lived by when he was stuck in a filthy cell in Syria. He saw her deep-brown curls blowing in the wind, the tenderness in her smile as she looked at him with fiery green eyes.

  He stepped inside the foyer and looked around. There was a woman at the front desk, helping an older couple. He didn’t want to ask for Addie and draw attention to himself. Better to see if he could find her. He walked toward her office, stopping in his tracks when he spotted her from a distance. His breath froze in his throat. She was a vision—part fairy, part angel, part vixen—the silky fabric of her emerald dress hugging her curves. It occurred to him that she was overdressed for work. Then he saw a guy in a sport coat and slacks striding toward her, carrying a bundle of red roses. His posture was erect, a confident grin plastered over his face.

  Maddox’s heart dropped when the guy leaned in and said something as he handed her the roses.

  Addie tipped her head back and laughed, gazing adoringly into his eyes.

  Nausea rolled in Maddox’s gut, and he had the urge to charge forward and punch the guy’s lights out. He’d make the guy bleed, make him wish he’d never laid eyes on Addie.

  He clutched the flowers. No, he wouldn’t do that. Maddox was no longer a prisoner in Syria. Heck, he wasn’t even a SEAL anymore. He was a member of polite society—the place where people buried their wounded hearts under polite trivialities and wooden smiles.

  His heart thudded dully in his ears as the foolishness of this endeavor flooded through him. Addie didn’t want to see him. She’d ended their relationship before he even went to Syria. She was probably glad when she thought he was dead.

  No doubt. Maddox was dead to her now.

  He dropped the flowers on the floor and turned on his heel, walking swiftly away, before the raging part of him succumbed to the temptation to rip the guy’s head off.

  * * *

  Addie’s skin prickled with the sensation of being watched as she pulled her attention away from her date. She looked toward the foyer, scanning the faces of the people surrounding her. Crazy. For an instant, she’d felt Maddox’s presence.

  She forced a smile. “Would you please excuse me for a minute? Oh, and can you hold these?” She handed him the roses.

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  Even as she walked in the direction of the foyer, she laughed at herself.

  She’d lost count of the number of times she mistakenly thought she’d spotted Maddox in a crowd. Her heart clutched, the longing for him nearly unbearable. She’d thought he was dead. Two days ago, the news came that he was still alive. She’d been waiting on pins and needles, hoping he’d contact her. So far, nothing.

  A few paces ahead, she saw a bundle of yellow calla lilies on the floor, wrapped in green ribbon. She hurried forward, picking them up.

  Her heart began to pound.

  No one except for Maddox knew those were her favorite.

  1

  Six weeks later …

  Addie gritted her teeth as she tightened her hold on the phone, fighting to keep her voice even. “I wish I could just drop everything and leave for San Diego this minute, but I can’t. This afternoon a trove of executives from Watermill, Inc. are due to arrive for their conference.”

  “Are you talking about those water filter guys?”

  “Yep,” she snipped. “It’s the conference I’ve been planning for six months.” She hoped adding that tidbit drove her point home. She couldn’t just up and leave. Sure, she was excited about the baby, but she had responsibilities.

  Pops let out a long sigh. It had the same effect on Addie’s nerves as a pick axe scratching metal. “Isn’t there someone else who can fill in for you?”

  Addie barked out a laugh. “No, there isn’t.” Technically, Pops was her grandfather, but he was more like a father. He and his late wife Lou Ella raised Addie and Corbin, her older brother, when their parents were killed. She loved Pops more than anything, but he was the most stubborn man on the planet. This conversation was irritating the heck out of her, especially with everything else she’d dealt with this morning.

  “It would be nice if you could be here to support your brother and Delaney.” Pops lowered his voice. “Corbin’s putting on a good face, but I can tell he’s worried about the pre-eclampsia.”

  Addie pushed a curl away from her eye. Arguing with Pops was as futile as having a shouting match with a fence post. “I thought Delaney was doing better.”

  “Her spirits are good, but she’s really swollen. The doctor’s got her on some medicine to stabilize her blood pressure in the hope that she can carry the baby until at least thirty-five weeks.”

  “That’s two more weeks, right?” They’d all been super worried about Delaney. She and Corbin had been through the wringer. They deserved some happiness in their lives. Please let Delaney and the baby be okay, Addie prayed silently.

  “Yes.”

  No way could Addie take off work right now. As much as she wanted to be there, it was smarter to wait until the baby was born and then go and visit for a few days. After this week’s conference, there was a lull of about two weeks before the next rush was scheduled to begin. Addie planned to go to San Diego then. The baby and Delaney would be okay. They had to be!

  She pulled the phone away from her ear when she saw her assistant Sadie rushing towards her. The look of panic on Sadie’s face caused Addie’s chest to tighten. What was it now? It had been one of those mornings where everything had gone wrong. Half the staff had called in sick. The drain in the sink of the main kitchen was clogged, and it took forever to get a plumber to come out. There was a mix-up with the shuttle service picking the water filter executives up from the airport. Addie called to confirm the appointment, but the office manager had no
record of it. The woman went on to add in a snippy, condescending tone that all of her shuttles were booked. It had taken Addie two, long hours of frantic calling to find replacements. When she finally got all the fires put out and had a minute to take a breather, Pops called, hounding her about going to San Diego.

  “The caterers are here. They’re setting up in the Alpine room,” Sadie said breathlessly.

  Addie groaned. “No, that’s not right. They’re supposed to be in the Skyline room. We’ve already set up the computer equipment for the presentations in the Alpine room.” It had taken several hours and a carload of computer geeks to get everything working correctly. No way were they going to tempt fate by switching rooms.

  “Who’s supposed to be where?” Pops questioned.

  “That wasn’t meant for you. I was talking to Sadie,” Addie explained. She felt like a ping-pong ball zigzagging between two different conversations.

  “How’s Sadie doing?” Pops asked. “I saw her mother at the grocery store the other day. She said Sadie had just gotten engaged to Buddy Franklin.”

  Seriously? Pops wanted to talk about that right now? Addie huffed a breath. “Yeah, Sadie’s doing great.”

  “No, I’m not,” Sadie countered, wide-eyed. “We have to get the caterers squared away.”

  “Did you tell them to set up in the Skyline room instead?”

  “Yes, but the woman in charge of the catering insists on being in the Alpine room because it’s closer to the kitchen.” Sadie rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

  Addie fought the urge to scream. Sometimes running a resort was like refereeing a bunch of children with sulky attitudes. She gritted her teeth. “The caterers will set up where we want them to. End of story.”

  Sadie grimaced. “All right. I’ll let you tell her that. She’s kind of intimidating.”

  “Intimidating my foot,” Addie muttered, her blood running hotter.

  “What’s going on with your foot? Speak up. It’s hard to hear you.” Pops’ voice was laced with irritation.

  Addie rubbed her forehead, thinking how she should’ve just stayed in bed this morning. “Sorry, Pops. Things are nonstop here right now. I’m gonna have to call you back later.” She looked at Sadie. “I’ll be right there.”

  Sadie threw her hands in the air.

  Addie held up a finger, her voice ringing with authority. “Tell them to wait for me,” she ordered.

  Sadie nodded and hurried away.

  “I love you, Pops. Bye.”

  “Wait a minute!”

  “Yeah?”

  “I thought you’d like to know that Maddox stopped by yesterday to check on Corbin and Delaney.”

  The air left Addie’s lungs as her pulse ratcheted up several notches. It was crazy how the very mention of Maddox’s name sent her heart racing.

  “He asked about you.”

  Her mind whirled. “Really?” she sputtered and was instantly frustrated with herself for getting into such a tizzy. She swallowed, sucking in a breath. He asked about me! What does that mean? That he still cares? No, he was probably just being polite. If Maddox truly cared, he would’ve contacted me by now. “How’s he doing?” The question left her mouth before she could call it back. She clenched her hand, awaiting the answer.

  Pops let out a throaty chuckle. “Pretty good for a dead guy.”

  Addie’s forehead furrowed. “That’s not funny, Pops.” Her world had come crashing down when she got the news that Maddox and his fellow SEAL members had gone missing while on a mission in Syria. A few weeks later, they were presumed dead. It was her greatest fear coming to pass. She attended his funeral, mourned his death, beat herself up for breaking up with him. Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the news came that Maddox was still alive. Oh, how she’d wanted to run to him then. To tell him that breaking up with him was the biggest mistake of her life. She assumed he’d reach out to her, but she’d heard nothing from him. He’d been back in the states six long weeks and nothing.

  She’d learned from Corbin, her older brother, that Maddox had retired from the SEALs and now worked for the same private security company as Corbin. That news didn’t come as a surprise. Corbin and Maddox were as tight as brothers. In fact, it was through Corbin that she’d met Maddox. An unbidden image of Maddox Easton flashed before her eyes. Unruly hair, almost as curly as hers, deep blue eyes that held a mischievous twinkle, prominent dimples, and his larger-than-life smile. The captivating Southern twang that made her go weak in the knees. She appreciated Maddox’s zest for life and how he never took himself too seriously. The longing for Maddox was so strong, she could taste it. Her throat was drier than sandpaper as she swallowed, trying to clear her brain. It was over between her and Maddox. She’d made sure of that. The all-too-familiar regret pinged through her as she sighed heavily. Yeah, she was an idiot!

  “If you were here, you could see Maddox yourself.”

  A surprise laugh tickled her throat. “Okay, now I’m connecting the dots. You don’t want me there because of Corbin and Delaney, you’re trying to get me back together with Maddox.” The thought sent traitorous tingles circling through her. Instantly, she was irritated at herself. Curse her treacherous body! She’d always been super attracted to Maddox. It was better that it was over between them. She couldn’t live in constant fear that something might happen to Maddox. Sure, he’d made it out of Syria alive, but that didn’t mean he’d make it out of future scenarios. She wasn’t brave enough to love a man like that. She needed stability—a guy she could count on to be there. Not some foolhardy ex-Navy SEAL off chasing danger, so he could delude himself that he was making the world a better place.

  She’d made the only decision she could, and she had to stand by that. No matter how much it hurt.

  “You miss him, Addie. You’re just too dang stubborn to admit it.”

  She was surprised at the mist that rose in her eyes as she flexed her jaw. “I don’t have time to talk about this right now.”

  Pops’ voice grew intense. “Then I suggest you reexamine your priorities and make time. Nothing in this life is guaranteed, Addie. It could all be over tomorrow. Look at poor Delaney, hoping and praying that all will be well with her and the baby. You have to let the people in your life know you love them. Life can change on a dime.” His voice quivered as the words lost their air.

  Addie knew Pops was talking about Lou Ella, his late wife and Addie’s grandmother, who’d spent the last few years of her life in a care center battling Alzheimer’s and then, in a cruel twist of fate, died of brain cancer. Gram’s death had left a Grand Canyon-sized hole in all their hearts, but that had nothing to do with Maddox. “I’ve gotta let you go, Pops.”

  “I’m not done talking—”

  “Bye. Love you,” she squeaked, ending the call.

  With a heavy sigh, Addie shoved her phone in her pocket and rubbed her sweaty palms against her slacks. Would she run into Maddox when she went to San Diego? The thought rattled her to the core and excited her more than she cared to admit. Enough thinking about Maddox! Geez. She was getting all worked up at the mere mention of his name. Not good! She couldn’t go down that rabbit hole again. Supposedly time was the cure-all and would help ease the hurt. She grunted. Yeah, that was probably true. In about thirty years or so, she’d be completely over Maddox.

  Okay, time to focus on the task at hand. She straightened her shoulders and walked briskly towards the Alpine room. The catering lady had better watch out because Addie wasn’t taking any prisoners today!

  An hour later, Addie was rushing across the foyer of the Bear Claw Ski Resort. She was headed to a local printing shop to pick up the name tags and lanyards for the water filter execs. Sadie had offered to go, but Addie needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the lodge. Just as she reached the double doors at the entrance, a man called her name. She stopped and turned. “Jordan? What’re you doing here? I thought you’d be getting ready for your cruise to the Bahamas. Aren’t you flying to Florida tomorrow?�
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  Jordan Phelps crossed the distance between them with a few long steps and embraced her in a quick hug. “Yes, I’m headed back to New Jersey in a few hours and then Piper and I will leave in the morning.”

  She looked behind him. “Is Piper with you?”

  “No.”

  He glanced around. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

  Addie groaned inwardly. Of all the days for Jordan to show up unannounced. The executives were due to arrive in less than two hours. It was tempting to tell Jordan that she didn’t have time to talk right now, but the words died on her lips. She and Jordan had a long history together. In fact, Addie had been the one who introduced him to his wife. Piper and Addie had been close friends ever since they met several years ago at a support group for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients.

  It wasn’t in Addie’s DNA to turn her back on a friend. She forced a smile. “Sure. Are you hungry?” Her stomach growled as she asked the question. She’d planned to grab something to eat while she was out. Now, there’d be no time for that.

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Okay, let’s go out on the terrace. You can get a drink from the café and I’ll grab a sandwich to eat, while we talk. I’m starving.”

  He nodded.

  “I was headed out to grab some things for a conference,” she explained. “Let me call my assistant and ask her to pick up the items for me.”

  “I don’t mean to intrude on your day,” Jordan protested.