Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

Jagger hadno idea how to get through to Belinda. How could they kiss so beautifully, her proclaiming he was her hero, and for one moment he thought he had everything he ever wanted in his arms … and then she got angry with him again?

Wolf in sheep's clothing? He was a wolf, but he made no effort to hide it. At least it was better than being called Satan.

Focusing on what needed to be done, he and Paul organized the campers. They talked to the police and Hays on his satellite phone. Hays was close. The four policemen who'd started the Na Pali trail after Hays were only about halfway. Jagger and Paul told them they had it under control, to turn around and not risk crossing that dangerous trail in the rain and soon-to-be-dark. Thankfully they listened.

They hunkered down and waited to get through a miserable night, taking turns watching for the convict who'd escaped. All the campers and Belinda had tents to go into. That was good. He wouldn't have to watch her and long for her while she threw daggers at him with her eyes. ‘Ever returning for your lady fair'? Did she have any idea how many times he'd wanted to return to her? But he'd promised her snake of a father he wouldn't.

It hit him that she'd hurt just as much or more than he had. She didn't know the truth; she'd waited and ‘pined' for him and cried. That hurt him down deep, but he had no way to fix it, especially if she wouldn't forgive him or even listen to him.

Paul was upset at himself for not tagging the sixth guy. Jagger wouldn't let him go there. Without Paul protecting Belinda, risking his own life and fighting incredibly, she might have been raped or killed. Paul had taken out two of the convicts, one with only a knife in hand while the guy had a pistol on him, and chased off the third. He was every bit as accomplished as one of Aiden Porter's men would be expected to be. Jagger would never stop being grateful to Paul for being there for Belinda.

They'd kept everyone here safe, Jagger's half-hearted prayers as he'd sprinted here had been answered, and he now counted Paul as a teammate.

Hays made it to their camp later that evening. It was comforting to have his best friend close and great to have the help watching. Not that Jagger could've slept anyway, but at least he took a turn curled in the one-man tent, off his feet and out of the rain for a moment.

Unfortunately, his prayers that he and Bee would finally be together weren't working out well. He should've known. God could help him protect others and even stay safe himself, but his Bee was a dream and a goal he'd never have in his life. Belinda would never believe him over her parents, and he couldn't see a reason for her parents to own up to the truth now. That was sadly all he could think about as he tried for sleep and then gave up and kept a lookout while Hays and Paul each lay down for a bit.

The next morning, the rain and wind calmed enough that police helicopters were able to arrive and fly the wounded and dead criminals out. They thanked Jagger and Paul repeatedly, appreciative they'd rescued the hostages and that Jagger had kept the convicts' leader Abe Sanderson alive for questioning.

The campers all opted to pack up and hike out with Jagger, Hays, Paul, and Belinda. Nobody wanted to stay. Jagger couldn't say he blamed them. For a civilian, being a hostage of hardened escaped convicts and then seeing their captors killed would no doubt traumatize them for a while to come. Was Belinda okay emotionally? He wished he could help her, but she only got stirred up and angry whenever he tried to speak to her.

They packed up and started moving. Jagger was grateful the group was in good shape and nobody complained or lagged behind. Thankfully, some of the men in the group had given him, Paul, and Hays dry socks so they wouldn't have blisters wearing wet socks the eleven-mile hike out. Belinda had dry socks and had changed into dry clothing. Hays insisted on carrying her larger backpack and she thankfully let him take it.

Hays led the group, Paul stayed in the middle, and Jagger took up the rear. They were all on the lookout for the missing convict but had seen nothing so far. As lush and thick as this jungle was, the guy could hide out for some time. Paul told the police that Abe Sanderson had said friends had helped them stash food, weapons, and gear. They planned to search through everyone the prisoners had contacted in the past year and question Abe. Jagger had chosen to tackle and fight him instead of shooting him so the police could have a witness to question. Hopefully it would lead to some information that could help them find who might be hiding the escaped convict.

Around nine o'clock, they stopped for a break. Belinda sassily told Hays that Jagger had tagged her with the laser gun last night and he might as well take her life today because as soon as they got back to the house, she was taking a nap and forgetting this ‘nightmarish experience.' Then of course she quoted some scripture he'd never heard: "‘Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.'"

Jagger loved her sass. He even loved her quoting scripture. He wished he could hold her while she napped, comfort her about this ordeal, talk to her about so many things, have hope that ‘things which are before' could come for them.

But wishing wouldn't make it happen.

Hays shot the dirty shirt she'd stored in her backpack with the laser gun so thankfully Jagger didn't have to. He shouldn't have tagged her last night. This game would be over; she could go back to feeding and helping children and families in need and he could go back to rescuing them. He used to live for his SEAL assignments. Looking forward, even the most thrilling or demanding mission sounded lackluster if he couldn't come home to Belinda.

Jagger kept hearing Belinda's beautiful voice as two of the young men from the group chatted with her through mile after mile after mile. They wanted to know all about the reality show and then about her charity. She asked about them; they were both college students from Missouri, lacrosse players who'd just finished their season and their semester. She made them explain lacrosse, each of their positions, and then talk through their favorite games of their careers and their most ‘heroic and unselfish' plays.

It went from chatting to flirting quick in his mind. He honestly didn't know that he could claim Belinda was flirting. She was simply so naturally engaging, fun, caring, and appealing that the young men took it as a green flag. Everyone was drawn to his Bee. The young men had to be almost ten years younger than her, but they didn't seem to care.

When the group reached Hanakapi'ai Beach, there was a decent crowd of day hikers. Jagger doubted the convict would dare come toward this busier spot. Some people they passed gave them interested looks. They did look pretty beat up. Especially him and Paul.

He noticed Belinda was limping as they ascended the steep incline to the view and the one mile remaining point.

"Pardon me," he said to a few hikers as he went around them until he was right behind her.

"What do you want?" she demanded, glaring over her shoulder.

Sting like a bee. What did he expect?

He pointed down at her heel. "You're limping."

"I'm fine." She turned back to her college buddies and kept climbing, but as her shoe moved with a step, Jagger saw blood staining the back of her sock.

"Bee," he growled, then pushed between her and one of the boys and swept her off her feet and against his chest.

Paul glanced back at them and smiled.

Jagger stopped and let the rest of the group go around them. Belinda's college boys looked disappointed but kept walking after Jagger's warning look.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and cuddled into him.

"I'm going to carry you so you don't hurt yourself worse. Then you can run away from me tomorrow." He managed to force a smile.

Belinda glowered at him. "It's just a blister. I'll be fine."

"I'm carrying you; don't fight me on it." To prove his point, he started moving, easily scaling the rest of the incline. Not pausing for the world-class view, he started down the decline and last mile.

"I always fight you," she snipped at him, her breath warm and tingly on his neck. She looked up at him from beneath her thick lashes and Jagger almost tripped on a rock.

"True," he said.

Neither of them said anything for a few minutes as he navigated the steep decline. It was always slightly muddy because of natural springs, but it was worse today after all the rain.

Hikers smiled at them as they passed. They looked like they were in love. If only. He loved Belinda, but he doubted she'd ever let down her guard again and love him back.

As if she could sense his thoughts, she stiffened in his arms. "Don't think this means I'm forgiving or believing you."

"I could never think that." He rolled his eyes. Why couldn't she listen to reason or realize her dad was a fraud?

"Good." She relaxed into him again. "I'm not too heavy?"

He shook his head. "I wear backpacks heavier than you."

"I'm not too small," she said with all that Southern and Bee sass that he loved.

"No," he admitted. "I love your size."

She smiled hesitantly up at him. "I love yours."

He smiled hesitantly back. Was she letting down her guard?

Closing her eyes, she gave a soft moan that had him afraid he'd stumble and fall down the trail.

"At the risk of inflating your already huge ego, I have to admit that your chest is dreamy," she said, laying her head on it.

Jagger was stirred up and drawn to her and sort of annoyed. She used to love to tease him about his ego and now she was telling him his chest was ‘dreamy.' How could she say things like that when she didn't trust him or love him and had berated him last night?

"Glad you like it," he managed.

"Your entire body is insanely impressive," she said, sounding out of breath.

Jagger's stomach gave a happy lurch at those words. He had to navigate a few slick steps before he could glance down at her. Her blue eyes were full of him. Her compliment was genuine. He had a moment where he thought if he stopped and bent down, she'd kiss him.

"Remember how skinny you were?" she asked.

Jagger was surprised she could tease with how upset she was with him. Was she breaking down her walls?

No. Just a moment ago, she'd reminded him that she couldn't trust or believe him. He couldn't forget that.

They were getting closer to the parking lot now. He'd have to set her down soon. His arms tightened reflexively around her at the thought.

"I wasn't skinny," he managed to reply. "I just hadn't filled out yet."

"Scrawny," she teased, giggling.

"Well, you're still scrawny," he teased back, even though he'd just admitted he loved her size.

"I thought I'd gained some curves." She blinked up at him, so appealing, so Bee, so his …

No. Not his. Not anymore.

"I hadn't noticed."

"I've seen you checking me out. Don't deny it."

Jagger couldn't deny it, especially as he had her in his arms and she felt not only desirable but perfect to him. "Okay. You got me."

She ran one hand over his shoulder. "Your build is incredible." His muscles tightened in response to her touch. "Thank you for using your muscles to protect and carry me."

Jagger could barely nod. What was she doing to him?

"Jag … do you still think I'm pretty?"

Jagger stopped walking then. They only had about twenty feet to go. Some hikers walked around him. He stared into Belinda's blue eyes. Was she letting down her walls and ready to give him sweet honey, or was she tricking him? She had to be exhausted and overwrought, but this felt like a genuine question, as if she hadn't been complimented in the past fourteen years, or maybe she doubted she was still attractive to him. He had to tell her the truth.

"Bee, you are the most beautiful and mesmerizing woman in the world to me."

She smiled up at him. He had to kiss her. Right now. He should be suspicious of why she was letting her guard down, but he only cared that she was.

He bent down and tenderly claimed her lips. The kiss started out sweet and aching, but then Belinda arched up into him, wrapped her arms more firmly around his neck, and kissed him with all the passion and fire that typified his Bee. Sweet, sweet honey. The world and every pain of the past fourteen years fell away. Bee's lips eradicated everything but his need for her. He could never get enough of her.

Jagger cradled her closer, heat building in his chest, savoring these moments, returning kiss for intense kiss and not caring who was watching or how soon she might slug or slap him. Her sting was nothing compared to moments like this. They were in their own world.

"Come on," an irritated voice said. "Keep moving. Joe. Mary. Isaac. Stop staring. Let's go. Dude, I've got little kids here."

Jagger pulled back, surprised he and Belinda hadn't lifted off to another planet. He glanced around at a dad with a backpack full of a squirming and laughing toddler, a pregnant wife carrying a smaller backpack, and three little children the parents were trying to tug up the trail. The little ones all had their heads tilted up and stared at him and Belinda like they were a PG-13 rated movie.

"They're kissing," the little girl squealed.

"Pardon us," Jagger managed. He hurried down the trail to avoid looking at the family.

"Thank you," the dad muttered.

Belinda giggled quietly, and he couldn't help but smile.

They reached level ground, and he was able to stop and focus on Belinda again. He smiled. "Let's say goodbye to your new friends, go back to the house, and continue—without our preschool audience this time."

She looked for a half a beat like she agreed, but then suddenly she stiffened and squirmed to be free of his arms.

Jagger didn't need to imagine what was coming. He was in for a tongue lashing.

Surprisingly, instead of his Bee stinging, she murmured quietly, studying the steep trail behind him, "I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'm exhausted and confused and … everything that happened last night and this morning. Thank you for rescuing me, carrying me, and ..." She broke off, still refusing to look at him.

Then she limped away from him to say goodbye to her college buddies, who were eagerly waiting for her.

Jagger would've rather had her punch him, slap him, or tell him off. Her being sorry felt like he wasn't the man who brought out her sugar and her spice.

The apology made him feel like he was a mistake and they'd never have a chance.

His gut churned as Hays approached. His friend's dark eyes were full of questions. Jagger wished he had any kind of answers.