Page 8 of Her Steadfast Hero

Chapter Three

Sarah Kyle. The ash blonde hair with streaks of gold had been a kick in the guts. God just seeing her for five minutes at the airport, and almost five years had been stripped away.

Four years, five months and sixteen days.

What?

Shit, had he been counting?

He hadn’t even realized he remembered the date of their last night together, but he did. April seventeenth.

David shoved out of the shower stall and dried himself off. He braced himself on the sink as he examined his thigh. He grinned. This bruise was the winner. Even beat the one he’d had when he fell off his cousin’s motorcycle.

He yawned, and went to the bed where he had upended his duffel bag, which contained all of his miracle gear. It still amazed him that it had been totally untouched by falling debris in the earthquake. He snagged his shaving kit and went back into the bathroom so he could brush his teeth and shave. Maybe he would feel human enough to get some sleep.

Since there had been two significant aftershocks, David decided to sleep in sweats instead of naked, in case he needed to get out of bed quick. Same reason his gun belt was on the nightstand. He yawned again. He set his phone for four a.m. His stomach growled as he yawned for the third time. Well, his stomach would just have to damn well wait, now wouldn’t it?

He groaned with pleasure as his head hit the pillow. The sheets even smelled good. April seventeenth. It was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep. To dream.

* * *

Four years earlier…

Damn, he was supposed to have four months.

“Face it, Sloane, you’re a hot commodity. They’re always going to move your ass once you have something slightly under control.” Rick loved being right, he’d called it yesterday, and his grin was huge.

“But we don’t know if the case is actually going to be closed like I said it would be,” David protested to his friend and current partner as they walked down the hallway to the exit.

Rick laughed.

“Quit your damn laughing. How were you so sure yesterday? Why are you laughing anyway?” David demanded as he opened the door, and then grimaced at the rain. It was constant at Fort Lewis. Washington State sure was different than Georgia. At Fort Benning it came down in torrents, this was like being under an actual warm shower. Sarah said it was Mount Rainier giving you a hug.

“I’m laughing because you still don’t see yourself clearly. You’re good, Sloane, and the brass knows it. When you say a case is coming together, they know it’s in the bag.”

“Come on, Rick, it’s both of us. You’re my partner.”

Rick snorted. “I’m just along for the ride, and I know it. I’m learning a lot. I don’t mind. It’s David Sloane and his partner what’s his name.”

“That’s not true,” David jumped in.

Rick gave him the side eye.

David sighed.

“David, I was the one who asked to be partnered with you. This last year working with you has been like four normal years on the job. If I have to be in your shadow, it’s a small price to pay. So let me continue oh exalted one. You told them the case was almost cleared, so you’re on to another assignment.”

“It’s not even close to being done,” David protested.

“Yes, it is. We know Allen is our perp. We know who we have to squeeze. This is something I can finish up. Your part is done,” Rick called out as they went to their respective cars.

Fuck!

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Sloane.” David watched as Rick got into his car. He checked his watch. He had an hour before he was supposed to meet Sarah for dinner, and it was now going to be their last date, instead of their fourth.

Fuck!

* * *