shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “But…that doesn’t make any sense.”
In fact, the very idea was absurd.
Captain Wolfson rolled his shoulders, his gaze never fully releasing hers. “He was adamant.”
“You must have misunderstood. My becoming a missionary was Clay’s idea.”
“Not in the end.” He spoke the words in a hard, ruthless tone while his eyes—those sad, grief-stricken eyes—flared with raw emotion.
Hailey wished she didn’t see the misery in him, didn’t understand it and want to soothe it away. So she focused on what she knew for certain. “You’re mistaken. Clay’s e-mails said otherwise. I saved them all, including the one where he first encouraged me to start the application process.”
“Yeah, well, he changed his mind.” Wolf’s tone hardened even more than before. “When he was bleeding out on the desert floor.”
Hailey recoiled. “How can you say something so awful, so…graphic?”
“Because you’re not listening to me.” He rose abruptly, towering over her with his massive size. He looked every bit the warrior now, a man who had seen and done awful things.
Odd, but she wasn’t afraid of him. Only confused. His words and attitude didn’t match any of what Clay had said to her. “It’s… I mean, I…”
“Hailey. Listen to me.” His voice shook as he dropped to one knee. The gesture brought his gaze at eye level with hers. “Clay was right to send me. You can’t travel to the Middle East right now.”
“But—”
“Listen to me. It’s not safe. Your brother didn’t want you in danger.”
She heard the plea in his voice, saw the conviction in his bunched shoulders. “But, Captain Wolfson, mission work is dangerous. Clay knew that. I know it, too.”
“I don’t care how prepared you think you are, you can’t go in there alone.”
She touched his shoulder, surprised at the tension she felt under her hand. “I won’t be alone. I’ll have others with me. And, of course, I’ll have God.”
“God?” His shocked gaze locked with hers. “The Lord can’t protect you from IEDs.”
She sighed at his vehemence, not to mention his very real anger at God. She had to make him understand the Truth. “If it’s His will, He can. Besides, you’re missing the point.”
“No. You are.”
Looking into Wolf’s angry expression, Hailey knew words wouldn’t get through to him now. But maybe a firsthand account would.
“Come to church with me this afternoon,” she said.
He looked at her as if she’d gone insane.
“We’re having a reception for some visiting missionaries,” she explained quickly. “Including a couple who are permanently based in the Middle East.”
He opened his mouth, probably to protest, but she raised her hand to stop him from interrupting her. “No. Wait. Don’t say anything yet. I want to make a deal with you first.”
His eyes narrowed. “What sort of deal?”
“If you promise to listen to the Mulligans’ story without judgment, then I’ll promise to listen to your arguments with the same mind-set.”
He looked at her for an endless moment. As each second passed, frustration filled his gaze. But then he shook his head at her and said, “You’re not going to listen to another word I say unless I agree to this, are you?”
“Nope.”
“You are one hardheaded woman, Hailey O’Brien.” His tone held a hint of admiration.
“So I’ve been told, Captain Wolfson.”
A moment of solidarity passed between them. And something else. Something pleasant, but not altogether comfortable. “So you’ll come with me today?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not if you want me to listen to the rest of your arguments.”
He smiled at her then, with the kind of stomach-twisting grin that turned his blue, blue eyes to a deep midnight. He no longer reminded her of Clay. In fact, the man was far too handsome for his own good. Hailey had to remind herself why he was here. He wanted to stop her from going to the Middle East.
“All right. You win this round, Hailey. For the next, let’s say, two hours.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m all yours.”
I’m all yours. Hailey’s heart kicked hard against her ribs. I’m. All. Yours.
Three simple words, spoken in such a matter-of-fact tone. But Hailey knew the battle was far from over.
Captain Wolfson had made a promise to her dying brother. He didn’t seem like a man who would relent easily.
Of course, what he didn’t know was that she’d made her own promise. To the Lord.
Chapter Two
Hailey stepped onto the front porch ahead of Captain Wolfson. Although she could feel his intense gaze on her, she managed to click the lock in place on the first try.
Gathering her composure, she turned to face him directly.
Their gazes locked, held. And held some more.
Her pulse did a little cha-cha before settling into a heavy, thick thump…thump…thump.
Something deep inside her, the part she’d ignored since Clay’s death, recognized this man as a kindred spirit. Was it solidarity from a mutual loss? Or something more disturbing?
Either way, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. She wasn’t supposed to be emotionally involved with a man after only a half-hour acquaintance.
Yet, here she stood, blinking at him without a word coming to mind. As the silence lengthened, the cold, wet air encircled them, creating an illusion that they were the only two people left in the world.
She wasn’t attracted to the man. Was she? No. He wasn’t her type. She preferred artistic intellectuals who wore wire-framed glasses. Not big, strong, elemental warriors.
“Where are you parked?” she asked, pleased at her even tone. If her mother was still alive she’d be proud of Hailey. After all, O’Brien women always kept control of a situation, no matter how unusual, unexpected or emotionally charged.
“I’m three blocks that way.” He angled his head to her left.
She lifted her eyebrows, fully aware that the city’s layout didn’t afford adequate parking. “You actually found an open spot on the street?”
“Yeah.
