Beyond His Control Read online

  Should have taken her up on her offer. With a groan, he pulled out his cell and called her. Straight to voicemail. He bit off another curse and dug into the food before him. One more try, when he finished his meal, resulted in the same. Voicemail. The closer he got to his family farm, the further south his mood dropped. He stopped off in Atlanta and picked up some things for his mom, then got back on the road.

  Despite his frustration of not getting a hold of Kami, a smile lifted his lips when he turned into the driveway of his childhood home. Leeburg hadn’t changed much at all; it seemed kept back in a time warp, almost. The screen door opened before he even shut off his vehicle shut.

  “Caleb!” A feminine squeal pierced the hot afternoon air.

  The slight smile grew, and he jumped out in time to catch the woman who’d launched herself into his arms.

  “Lalia! It’s so good to see you.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and spun her around before setting her back on her feet. “Let me get a good look at you.”

  His baby sister stared up at him, love abundant in her big black eyes. Her hair had been dyed red and sat up in a ponytail. She wore a white tank top and, he frowned, a pair of his old shorts. He tugged on her hair.

  “This is new.”

  She pouted. “You don’t like it.”

  “Not my hair. Now come on, fill me in on you.”

  Lalia was in full discussion about what was going on in school. He and Lalia had seventeen years between them. She had been a surprise, a welcomed one, but a surprise nonetheless. Lalia meant the world to him and he took his role of big brother very seriously. However, while he listened his attention sort of wandered right up until she mentioned something about a boyfriend.

  “Whoa, back up.”

  “What?” she asked, putting his bag beside his feet.

  “What nothing. Repeat that thing you said about a boy in your life.”

  Lalia took his hand, her eyes wide. “I really, really like him, Caleb. Please.”

  He shook his head, all protective instincts rising. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

  She nodded. “We weren’t doing anything.” He arched a brow at her statement. “Honest, Caleb.”

  Hefting his bags over one shoulder, he gestured for her to precede him into the house. Each step she took he could tell she was becoming increasingly nervous. She jumped when the screen door slammed behind him.

  Honed in immediately on the living room, he dropped his bags with a thump and stared at the young man on the couch. The boy’s eyes grew wide and he pushed to his feet.

  “John, this is my brother, Caleb. Caleb, John Patterson.”

  He ran his tongue over his teeth. John was no wimpy looking boy. He’d bet a football player. Dark blond hair fell to his neck and brown eyes stared back at him. Silent, Caleb scanned him from head to toe.

  “Nice to meet you,” John said, stepping forward, hand extended. “Lalia talks about you a lot. Her brother, the Marine.”

  He ignored the hand for a few seconds before taking it. “That so? I ain’t ever heard about you.” Lalia delivered a sharp jab in his side that he ignored. “So why are you here?”

  “We were working on a school project.”

  Dropping the young man’s hand, he crossed his arms, knowing full well it made him even more intimidating. “School project?” Looking past him to the couch, he sighed heavily. “What project exactly has you on the couch with my sister and no school work in sight?”

  The smile was nervous. John cleared his throat. “I should get going. Football practice starts soon.”

  “Quarterback?” He had a hunch.

  “Yeah…yes.”

  “Well then, run along.” He shifted his feet and arched a brow. “Wouldn’t want you late to slap on that red shirt.”

  The tanned face reddened. “It…it was nice to meet you.” John walked around him. “I’ll see you at school, Lalia.”

  He turned and watched the boy lean in only to back up and leave without the kiss.

  “Damn you, Caleb,” Lalia seethed. “Can’t you ever just…just be nice?”

  “I was nice.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and watched John drive off in the red Camaro. “Do Mom and Dad know about him? And really, Lalia, a school project?”

  She flushed and stomped away, muttering things under her breath that had him chuckling under his. A few hours later, the whole family sat reunited and ate their first family meal in a long time. Even the middle child, his other sister Susanna.

  After, he sat outside with his father, Derek Moser. His fingers curved around the neck of the beer bottle as he rocked in the chair.

  “So you saw Kamden then?”

  He smiled in the night. Of course, his parents would know. “Yes, sir.”

  “And the hotel room?”

  He had to take a swig of beer to cool his body down at the reminder of Kami’s lush physique pressed against his. Moreover, her taste. A perfect blend of cherries and plums. Shifting on the seat in an effort to quell the rapidly rising erection, he shrugged.

  “Nothing to tell. She was out with her friend Missy. I drove them back to the hotel since Missy had been drinking and Kami had a headache. We talked for a little bit and then I left.” Oh yeah, and I shoved my tongue down her throat. Wanted to fuck her until she didn’t know her own name.

  “I see.”

  Therein lay the problem. He had a sinking feeling his father truly did see. Light from the house poured out when the door opened and his mom stepped out.

  “There you two are,” she said, kissing him then sitting an curling up beside her husband. “What are you talking about?”

  He stared at his mom while Dad filled her in. She was still so beautiful to him, the woman who made him want to be a Marine for longer than he could remember. When they left for bed, he pulled out his phone and tried Kami one more time. Her southern drawl made his cock even harder and he longed for it to be her and not the voicemail. He hung up without leaving a message and headed in for a cold shower. The icy pellets did little to calm the heat in his body the mere thought of Kami created within him. When he began stroking himself, he knew the cold shower was a bust. Only one thing would cure his craving.

  And that was Kami.

  He came with a muffled shout before sagging against the shower wall, heart pounding, limbs shaking.

  Chapter 2

  Taiwan

  Kamden sighed and reached for her drink. Four missed calls from Caleb. He never left a single message and for that reason, she’d never called him back. Yeah right, lie to yourself, her subconscious teased. Still she couldn’t get over the way it felt to kiss him.

  It hadn’t mattered he was trying to prove a point. When his lips covered hers, nothing else mattered. She’d never wanted anyone so much in her entire life.

  “Damn you,” she hissed.

  “Damn you, who?” Missy asked, from where she sat on the lounge beside her.

  Forcing Caleb’s memory where it belonged, in the back of her mind, she shook her head. “No one.”

  A dark eyebrow rose. “Really?” Missy leaned close. “Sure it’s not that hottie, Caleb?”

  Eyes wide she met her friends smug gaze. “What on earth are you going on about? Perhaps you should stop drinking those—whatever you’re gulping down like they’se water—mai tai’s is it?”

  “Be as bitchy as you like, Kam, but you talk in your sleep. Have for a long time.” She put the straw between her glossed lips. “I must say, it was nice to finally put a face to the name you moan so passionately.”

  All she could do was stare at her friend. The fact she had called out Caleb’s name mortified her. Her mouth moved but nothing came out.

  “You both look rather serious. Come on, I’m the one working; you two lovelies are on vacation. What gives?”

  Evan’s smooth British voice jostled her and she jumped. Lucky for her, Missy was on it.

  “I was just telling her, she does in fact snore. Loudly.”

  Evan laughed. A
nice comforting sound. “She’s right, hon. You do.” He kissed her and even as she returned it the knowledge Evan’s kiss, while extremely nice, couldn’t hold a candle to Caleb’s surfaced. And it pissed her off.

  She ended the kiss and made room for him beside her. Evan Childress was gorgeous. Typical Hollywood hottie. Lots of women and probably some men would give their left arm to date him. To share his bed. Tall, tanned, black hair, brown eyes and a body made fit from hours at the gym. A perfect smile and to top it off, a British accent.

  “Not polite for you to say I snore.”

  “But Missy can?”

  “Of course.” Her response was immediate.

  “How unfair. Now, dinner tonight. Missy you’re coming as well. I’ll pick you up at the room okay? About seven.”

  “Sounds good,” she said. They shared another kiss. “See you then.”

  Evan trailed a hand down the side of her face. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

  “Me too. Now get to work.”

  He grinned. “Yes ma’am. Bye Missy.”

  Missy waved but remained silent. At least until it once again was just the two of them. Then that mischievous sparkle filled her friend’s gaze and she knew Missy had more to say.

  “He loves you, Kam.”

  Her heart pounded out of control. Opening her mouth to disagree, she clamped it shut again when Missy lifted a plucked brow. As if daring her to deny it. Unable to hold the piercing gaze of her friend, she dropped hers to the drink beside her.

  “I know,” she admitted on a barely audible breath.

  Missy placed her own drink down and sat closer to grab her hands.

  “Kam?” Her voice overly concerned.

  “He asked me to marry him, Missy.”

  “When?”

  “Last night.”

  Missy flipped over her left hand. “Did you say no?”

  “I didn’t say one or the other. I told him I needed to think about it.”

  “Why? You do love him, right?” She paused and Missy drew back, a frown on her face. “Kam? Do you love him?”

  “Yes I do. I don’t hear bells when we kiss, but I do love him.”

  “Bells? You’ve been reading too many romance novels. Who hears bells when they kiss a man?”

  I did when Caleb kissed me. “Yeah, you’re right. Besides, Evan is damn near perfect.”

  It was obvious Missy wasn’t totally buying her giving up, but she dropped it. “Good. Now, let’s go swimming.”

  Getting up from her chair, she executed a swan dive into the pool after Missy. Tonight she’d tell Evan yes.

  Caleb Moser would always be her one true love, but he made it clear he didn’t want her. Evan loved her, it was way past time she felt her fantasy world and entered reality.

  Kamden Childress. Didn’t sound so bad.

  They showered and met Evan and one of his co-stars for dinner. Stephan Picard had charmed Missy completely. They chatted easily together when a reporter came up and flashed some pictures she asked Evan, “Is there anything between you and Ms. Strong?”

  His brown eyes met hers. She nodded and gave him a soft smile.

  “Yes,” Evan said seconds before he kissed her. “Ms. Strong is my fiancée.”

  Five nights later as she walked to her and Missy’s hotel room, she smiled when the lights shone off her ring. She and Missy were going out to where Evan was shooting to say goodbye then they were off to Paris for a sightseeing jaunt. Then she’d head home after that visit. Her own parents had been thrilled when she told them of her engagement.

  Opening the door, she paused at the unmistakable sound of a couple in the throes of passion. Without missing a beat, she left in silence and headed back downstairs to sit at the hotel bar. She drank a cranberry juice before sitting down at the piano in the lounge and beginning to play.

  Time passed as her fingers danced over the ivory. It was almost two hours later when she wound down with her final song. Applause met her ears before the last note faded from the air. She ran a hand through her hair and smiled as she got to her feet.

  “Good night,” she uttered when she finished talking to those standing around.

  This time the room was silent and she found Missy lying in a robe watching a muted show.

  “What are you doing?”

  Missy jumped. “Watching a movie.”

  “No sound?”

  “I don’t speak the language so this way I pick my own dialogue.”

  “Okay.” She let it go. Missy seemed more uptight than normal.

  “Where were you?”

  “Lounge. I played the piano for a while. Guess I lost track of time.”

  “Playing for a room full of adoring fans can do that I guess,” Missy spit out.

  She frowned over the venom in those words. “Missy? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing!” She focused on the television and increased the volume flooding the room with sound.

  Unwilling to let it go, she moved to the box and turned it off. “We’ve been friends for a long time, Missy. What is going on?”

  “I can’t believe you’re marrying Evan.”

  “Why? I thought you liked him.”

  Missy shoved herself to her feet. “I do. That’s the problem. You’re settling for him. He’s your second choice and…and he doesn’t even know it.” Shoving a finger in her chest, Missy sneered at her. “You’re such a bitch. Using him like this, he deserves so much better than you.”

  In shock, Kami stood there while Missy stomped away and slammed the bedroom door behind her. Shaking, she sank down on a chair.

  Was Missy right? Had she settled for Evan? Was the reason she said yes because Caleb made it clear they hadn’t a future? She knew it was and shame flooded her.

  Drawing her knees up, she sat there and rocked through the night until sleep overtook her, waking when the front desk called. She didn’t say anything to Missy and the silence grew awkward as they waited for their ride. Her smile was nervous when Evan jumped out.

  “Evan, what are you doing here?”

  “I came to drive you up.” He kissed her. “You two ready?”

  They climbed in and drove off. If he noticed the strain between her and Missy, he made no mention of it. The visit at the site went well; she watched Missy with Stephen and smiled before returning her attention to Evan as he worked a scene.

  It was dusk when she and Missy climbed back in the older jeep. Evan again at the wheel, they headed back. Missy slept and Kamden took in as much of the scenery as she could. It was so beautiful here.

  “Shit,” Evan swore, grabbing her attention.

  “What?”

  “Tree in the road.” He put the vehicle in neutral before the felled tree. It covered all the narrow road and she jumped out to help him move it. Finally, with Missy’s assistance they got it moved enough so they could keep going.

  Wiping her hands on her shorts, she spun around at Missy’s gasp of horror. Her heart quadrupled in speed and fear exploded throughout her. Sitting and leaning casually on the jeep sat a group of armed men.

  Evan stepped in front of them both when one man moved forward. “Stay behind me,” he ordered. “What do you want?” His directed his question at the men.

  Missy grabbed her hand when the man smashed the butt of his gun into Evan’s skull and he sank faster than a rock in water.

  “Oh my God, Evan!”

  Tearing free of Missy, she lunged to his side and dropped beside him, gathering him close, his blood soaking her shirt. A flurry of words she didn’t understand flew around them. Then she found herself starring up the barrel of a gun. The words unclear, the meaning crystal clear. Swallowing her fear, she shook her head. “Not without him.”

  “Jesus, Kam, just do what they want!” Missy cried.

  In the fading light, she held the angry gaze and repeated herself. “Not without him.”

  A different man put himself in her line of sight. “I could shoot you now,” he growled low, the retreating lig
ht making his scar appear even more menacing.

  Refusing to cower she said, “Then do it. But I’m not leaving him here.”

  They stared at one another before he waved his hand. Seconds later, they yanked Evan’s body from her and tossed it unceremoniously in the jeep. She and Missy were soon in as well and they headed off onto a road she’d not noticed before. With a prayer, she glanced behind her and saw there was also no trace of the tree. The road perfectly clear and passable.

  Oh, shit. We are in some serious crap.

  They pulled up to some rough huts and were ushered into one. Evan had woken and pushed back when one guy shoved him. The darkness inside the shelter split by a muzzle flash and the night torn by the bark of a gun. Missy screamed and pressed tighter to her. Another brought a single lamp inside.

  “Evan!” Kami cried scrambling to where he lay. A red stain spread across his abdomen increasing in size with each passing second. “God damn it, hang in there, Evan.”

  Lifting his shirt, she bit back her cry of dismay. Short of having him up on a table, she wasn’t going to be able to save him. Still, she placed her hand over the wound to try to staunch the blood flow as best she could. Behind her, Missy’s sobs echoed throughout the hut.

  Evan stared at her, his beautiful brown eyes glazed with pain. His mouth moved and he reached to cover her hand and then place it along her cheek.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

  Tears fell. “For what? You can’t let this beat you. We have a wedding to plan.”

  “I wish I could have had a daughter who looks like you.” His voice grew fainter with each word.

  “We’ll work on that for our first anniversary.” She willed him to stay alive. God damn it why can’t I have him in my operating room?

  “Kamden, do something for me.”

  “Anything.”

  “When he comes for you, hold onto him, tight, and don’t let him go.”

  She wiped the sweat from his brow. “What are you going on about? We’re all going home.”

  “Your Marine, Caleb.” She swallowed and shook her head in denial. “I know you love him. I know had he given you the time of day I wouldn’t have stood a chance.” Her tears fell faster. “Missy was right, you do snore, but you also talk in your sleep.”