Hearths of Fire by Kennedy Layne Read Free Book Online

that’s when Catori realized that he thought she was some jilted lover. “He’s too hung up on that Charlotte. Shame she left him the way she did.”
    Catori lifted her eyebrow in question but the fisherman didn’t continue. She wasn’t the type of person to invade another’s privacy. Her pointed look was in the fact that this man was freely giving information to a stranger. He was old enough to know better, but it wasn’t her place to chastise him. He’d lived a lot longer than her and he wasn’t about to change now.
    “Fred, everything all right?” Doc had worked his way up the dirt path to the open area where Catori, and who she now knew was Fred, waited. Doc eyed her red convertible, but not only ignored it afterward but her as well. “Storm is rolling in. You need a lift to Myrna’s?”
    “No, no,” Fred replied, shaking his head. He reached into his back pocket for a rag and wiped the sweat off of his brow. His gnarled fingers had trouble keeping hold of the fabric and Catori had to wonder how he baited a hook. She winced at what she knew must be bad arthritis and didn’t envy the daily pain he must live with. “I was just keeping the young lady company.”
    Young lady? Catori bit her lip to keep from replying that she was fifteen years Doc’s senior, but she knew it wouldn’t change Fred’s perception on age. He had to be entering into his eighties, so to him she was young. Mentally she was anything but. She was still leaning against her car, but she wanted this introduction over so that she could have her say and move on to the next recruit. Holding out her hand, Catori waited for Doc to take it.
    “Whatever it is, the answer is no.”
    “Ha, told ya,” Fred said, pulling his lips in, scrunching his face and shaking his head in commiseration.
    “Fred, it was a pleasure to meet you.” Catori couldn’t take any more of the commentary. She let her arm fall back to her side. She needed Doc’s full attention, and from the sound of the thunder the storm was almost upon them. “Doc, my name is Catori Starr and I have a proposition for you.”
    “I already told you the answer’s no.”
    Fred seemed to take the hint, and with a touch to the brim of his hat he slowly meandered on through the lot to his destination. Doc studied her for a moment before turning on his heel, fishing gear in one hand and a pole in the other. Catori did love a challenge. She leaned back against the car and waited until he was about thirty yards out.
    “Two thousand and ten. Afghanistan.” The year and country brought Doc to a standstill, although he didn’t turn around. Catori finally had his attention. He slowly faced her, his green eyes staring at her intently. “Your team lost communication with higher headquarters and was basically on their own to face some serious opposition. You knew friendly fire was about to come from the other side and you managed to get the comms system up and running using only a field expedient NVIS antenna and a reflector you fabricated from the shit laying around your position. You thought outside the box and saved countless lives—which had nothing to do with your medical training, I might add. I need someone with your talent on my team.”
    “It looks like you’re out of luck then. I’m no longer in the service.” Doc glanced up at the clouds rolling in. He looked pointedly back at her car. “I’d get the roof up if I were you.”
    “Red Starr HRT is looking for a comms tech with your skillset. Your additional medical training is a bonus—one I’m willing to pay extra for.” Catori maintained eye contact and baited her trap with his dream. “Your wish of sailing on the ocean with a forty-six foot Perini Navi during retirement could be less than ten years away if you come work for me—although why you would want to retire at such a young age is beyond me.”
    Catori had sparked his interest now and it was up to her to close the deal before the skies opened up within the