The Peaceful Warrior Read online

  “We’re neighbors?” Pasha missed entirely the joke intended for Cannon. “Yay! Okay, I’ll come over after breakfast. This time I’ll give you some pointers before we play so you can do better.”

  They all stood from the table and Miss Dee left a large tip for Gustav. That had taken some getting used to—Miss Dee covering every expense. It had been months since he’d balked at it, but having Daisy here witnessing their dynamics made him self-conscious about things like that. Cannon brushed it off, thinking about what a great life he had, and they started in to their normal routine to make it back to their sleeper.

  Having Daisy in the mix confused the choreography, even though she did nothing other than stay in the back of the group the whole time. Cannon was used to their routine and it didn’t involve keeping an eye on someone who was still kind of a stranger or holding doors open for her as they went from car to car.

  “Let’s wait here for a sec, Pash. Let Daisy go ahead so we don’t slow her down.”

  She must have picked up on his discomfort because she didn’t argue, saying, “See ya later, little sis,” as she passed. When Cannon’s procession made it to their rooms, Daisy was coming out of her room, holding a toothbrush. She stepped in to one of the common restrooms.

  Pasha and Miss Dee went into their suite to put pajamas on and Cannon got really casual by loosening his tie. He didn’t mind the suit one bit. Compared to the fatigues and gear he’d worn in the Philippines, Somalia, and in the Middle East, this was like wearing sweats. Plus, it gave him places to hide guns and gadgets.

  Without really planning to, Cannon stepped into Daisy’s room and peeked in her purse. She had a small mace canister, but no other weapons. Snooping was not a cool thing to do, but his priority was Pasha and they’d brought Daisy right up close and personal. He needed to have some peace of mind about her. He knew his priorities while he was guarding his sweet little best friend. If someone was trying to hurt her, getting close by becoming a friend or sister would be a genius way to do it.

  Hoping Daisy would take a minute, he lifted the flap of her carry-on and did a quick assessment of the contents. Clothes, including intimates that made him blush, some books, charging cords. No weapons, bombs, spy equipment, poisons. She seemed to be on the up and up. Leaving everything exactly as he’d found it, he stepped out and backed into his own room.

  No sooner had he cleared the threshold of his room, than the restroom door opened and Daisy came out.

  “Goodnight,” said Daisy as she stepped into her room.

  “Goodnight,” he answered automatically, but was embarrassed, so he added, “John-boy.” Goodnight sounded so intimate. Since high school, he’d only ever said goodnight to Pasha. Well maybe his SEAL buddies but only if it was accompanied by something like, “Goodnight, you filthy animals.”

  She looked at him funny, obviously not following.

  “The Waltons?” he explained. “Old TV show?”

  Daisy shook her head, and he felt even stupider. Why was he failing so hard with simple banter?

  “Goodnight,” he said simply, feeling the red rise on his cheeks.

  She pulled her door closed, then the curtains.

  Cannon face-palmed and breathed a sigh of relief. Daisy was great to be around, but having her near definitely didn’t make his job any easier. Did he regret bringing her close? It wouldn’t make the night easy knowing she was right on the other side of the sliding door, just a light knock away, and he felt like he’d been doing his job by asking Felix to set her up in that room. Not only had it been excellent socialization for Pasha, but Miss Dee would take the opportunity to point out Daisy’s sticky situation and highlight the kindness they’d done for their new friend.

  He still had about 24 hours of being near enough to Daisy to reach out and touch her. Did she need help figuring out how to transform the seats into a bed? And would she know that the bedding was on top of the upper bunk?

  She could figure it out. There were printed instructions in her roomette, and she obviously knew how to read, since she was a book editor.

  The door to Pasha’s suite opened, saving him from more agonizing over the irresistible train companion. “Hey, Pash.” She was wearing her Moana PJs so he already knew what movie was on the schedule. “What movie do you want to watch tonight?” As if that wasn’t enough of a hint, Miss Dee was holding the Moana Blu-Ray.

  Pasha gave him a disbelieving look. “Can’t you guess? There are clues all around.”

  “Hm,” said Cannon. “We’re on a train, so maybe it’s Thomas and Friends.”

  “Nope.”

  The curtain to Daisy’s room twitched, and he saw one gorgeous blue eyeball peeking out.

  For half a second, Cannon paused, not wanting to leave Daisy but he caught himself and started leading the group down the corridor and up the stairs, revolving around Pasha as they went. “There’s a train in Planes Fire and Rescue.”

  “It doesn’t have anything with trains,” said Pasha.

  “No trains? Ok, is it Toy Story 3? There are no trains in Toy Story 3.”

  “Yes, Cannon. There’s a train robbing scene with Mr. Potato Head. He’s One Eye Bart, remember?”

  “That’s right,” said Cannon. “Dumbo?”

  “Circus train,” said Pasha.

  “Zootopia?”

  “Train.”

  “Lady and the Tramp?”

  “Train.”

  With fake exasperation, Cannon said, “What movies don’t have trains?”

  “You’re just trying’a get me to tell you the answer.”

  That strategy had worked before, but she was on to him. “Okay, so there are clues all around. Hmmm.”

  Pasha stopped at the next door and spread her arms to show off her pajamas. “Any ideas?”

  “Let’s see,” said Cannon. “Beautiful girl, blonde hair, pajamas … I know! Sleeping Beauty.”

  She giggled. “No, Cannon. Look closer.” She pointed right at the picture of Moana on her PJ top.

  “I got it! Moana!”

  “Phew,” said Pasha, holding up a hand to give him a high five. “I thought you wouldn’t get it until the movie was already over.” They reached the parlour car and took the stairs down to the theater room. Miss Dee set up the movie while Cannon took his place by the aisle in the last row of the theater-style seats at the back of the room.

  He’d seen Moana about a dozen times. Well, he’d been in the room while Moana played about a dozen times. This time, as he kept one eye on the door at the back of the room and one eye on the rest of the room, he hoped the door would open and in would walk a sweet, blonde beauty. If he would have been thinking, he would have suggested Pasha invite her. Instead he was left with a smile on his face and plans to ask her out when they got off the train in Seattle tomorrow night.

  Chapter

  Daisy woke up, in a dark room, lying on a bed that was not her own. The room was … trembling.

  Oh, the train. She’d been up late editing, and since she’d already brushed her teeth, she hadn’t bothered getting up to go to the bathroom when her eyelids started to close. Her phone said it was 3:30. She wouldn’t make it until morning. Not with the train jostling like that.

  There was barely room to stand in the tiny room. As soon as she got her feet under her, she slid her door open and shuffled out into the hallway. Cannon’s room was dark, but his door was open. So either he was out patrolling or he just slept with his door open. She turned toward the restroom.

  “Boo,” said a voice from Cannon’s room.

  “Ee!” said Daisy, spinning and clutching her chest.

  Cannon chuckled as he leaned out into the light.

  “Are you crazy?” she whispered. “Startling someone with a full bladder!”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I know where they keep the mops.” He immediately grimaced and shook his head. “Sorry. That probably wasn’t appropriate.”

  “It’s true,” she said, wishing she was the one in the dark so he could
n’t see what she looked like. “I’ll be right back.” She turned back toward the bathroom and hurried in. Yeah, she looked like she’d slept in a clothes dryer. And there he’d been all GQ in his black suit. Did he just sit there awake all night?

  She could only stay in the bathroom so long, and there was only so much she could do without a brush or any makeup. Not that she wore very much, but anything would help at this hour of the night. Suddenly she wasn’t sleepy at all. Maybe he’d be up for a late-night conversation. She could dream, right? It was worth a shot of getting some one-on-one time with him to risk being seen in her present state.

  When Daisy went back into the hallway, Cannon was gone. Approaching more slowly, she didn’t jump or scream this time when his head and shoulders emerged into the dim light.

  “What are you doing up,” she asked quietly, leaning against the frame of her doorway, hoping she was at least partially in the shadows of her room.

  “Reading,” he said.

  “What book? Maybe I edited it.”

  He got that amused smile on his face. “I doubt it.”

  “Try me,” she said, loving the playful way he smiled like that and really curious now.

  He held up a small Bible, and she imagined it tucked in a soldier’s pocket, saving his life when it caught a bullet for him.

  “What part are you reading?”

  Cannon looked down at it and his eyes lost focus. It seemed like he was trying to decide how much to tell her. Without looking up he said, “You know the woman who touches Jesus’s robe and is healed? That one.”

  For whatever reason, she could tell it was special to him. She stepped forward and knelt to his level. “Why that one?”

  He was still zoned out, which gave her hope that he might open up. “I just wonder if she ever, you know, wondered if she was worthy to do that. It was just the hem of his robe, but …” he shrugged.

  Daisy wanted to go into his roomette, squeeze onto the seat next to him and put an arm around him. But he was so vulnerable and open, she didn’t want to move and break the spell.

  “What do you think?” he asked, bringing his eyes up to meet hers.

  I think you are the most gorgeous, strong, sensitive man on the planet. Somehow she refrained from telling him that. Instead, she reached a hand up to his face and rested it on his cheek. His five-o’clock shadow was rough, and she could feel the hard muscles of his jaw. Maybe he’d kiss her. She looked at his lips and suddenly her mouth was salivating.

  Cannon sighed and closed his eyes, but only for a split second. Clearing his throat, he stood slowly, bringing her up with him. “You, uh, you don’t have to kneel in the hallway. Why don’t you sit in your roomette?”

  Her heart crashed a little at losing the physical contact, but Daisy remembered how horrible she looked and backed into her room and took a seat. That moment had been so tender and memorable, but it was past now. If she wanted to get it back she’d have to ease into it.

  Cannon leaned into her room and put a finger on the nightlight switch. “Do you mind if I turn this on? I really want to be able to see you.”

  Daisy studied him for a moment, taking her time because he was still right there, close enough to reach out and touch. Close enough to pick up that light cologne that reminded her of leather. “Is that a professional question or personal?”

  Cannon studied her right back, only inches away, giving her nice tingles up and down her arms.

  “Both.”

  That wasn’t the exact answer she was looking for, but it still made her happy that he was admitting it was at least partially personal so she nodded and he clicked the light.

  “Why do you ride the train?” she asked as he stepped back into the hallway, leaning against her door, with his back to Pasha’s door. “Wouldn’t flying be faster? Cheaper?”

  Again, he considered. Slowly he said, “Pasha loves riding the train, and daddy can’t tell her no.”

  “Job security for you, I guess,” she said.

  Cannon chuckled. “That’s right.”

  “So you watched Moana?”

  “You were peeking at us,” he replied. “I saw you.”

  “You’re so great with her,” said Daisy. “Do you have kids of your own?” If she was going to get the details on her midnight boyfriend she might as well be bold.

  “No. You?”

  “No. Never been married.” Engaged, though. Was now the time to tell him? No way.

  “But you got plenty of kids at the Christmas Box House.”

  “Yeah,” she said, smiling at the thought of those beautiful, unlucky kiddos. “I’ve had so many blessings in my life. I feel so blessed and I want to share some of that.”

  Cannon was nodding slowly. That was kind of the opposite of his reasoning. He’d been through the pain a lot of the kids suffered and wanted to end it. “They need it. I do a little bit of work with the kids at my church. I want to get more involved.”

  “That’s awesome,” said Daisy. Her heart was overflowing with love and respect for this man. “What’s keeping you from doing it?”

  “It’s not … you can’t just get a job doing it, get trained and go do it. I feel like a ministry like that takes some more time to be … ready for.”

  The way he said ‘ready’ made her wonder what he really meant, so she asked him. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing,” he said, standing a little more at attention. “Just a sec.”

  She expected him to walk away for a minute, but he stayed in place. After a few seconds she heard soft footsteps in the hallway and the restroom door open then close. Since Cannon kept staring intently ahead, Daisy stayed quiet. After a minute, she heard the door again and someone walking away.

  “What were we talking about?” asked Cannon.

  She suspected he was dodging her previous question, but she wasn’t going to push it. “Kids. No wonder you are a bodyguard for a little girl, but who in the world would want to hurt a little angel like her?”

  Cannon studied her like he didn’t understand the question. Daisy knew she was naïve sometimes, but really she couldn’t imagine any real life person wanting to hurt Pasha.

  “That’s what makes you so …” He thought for a long time before he finally said, “Alluring.”

  Ooh, that was good. Daisy suppressed her silly smile. She felt an overwhelming urge to sing.

  “You edit novels, right? Isn’t there violence in your books?”

  “Yeah,” she said, “but that’s fiction. It’s not real life.”

  He raised one eyebrow and just looked at her almost as if he were waiting for her to catch up.

  “So there really are people out there who would hurt that little angel?” The thought made her heart hurt.

  “Unfortunately,” said Cannon, looking out the window into the night. “There’s a lot of darkness in the world. Where I grew up in Oakland, and in the military, I saw so much of it.” He exhaled, thinking for a minute, then said. “Sometimes I wonder how much has stuck to me.”

  Daisy was about to tell him there was nothing dark about him from what she could see, but he looked at her so … adoringly and said, “Then I see you and I just feel like the world is filled with light. I don’t know what your life’s been like, but nothing bad or dark has ever stuck to you.”

  She felt like their souls were connecting. Yeah, she’d lived a sheltered life and avoided a lot of the bad things she read about in books and saw in the media. She’d basically convinced herself that it was all made up and only existed in fiction. To hear him say that she didn’t have any darkness attached to her was one of the sweetest things he could possibly say. It broke her heart what he said about himself, though.

  “I don’t see darkness in you,” she told him. “I can tell you have some … turbulence, but you don’t let it show.”

  They stared at each other for a while, not even needing words to communicate. On an unseen cue, Cannon snapped to attention and watched the hallway. She heard someone scuffing their fe
et, then the bathroom door opened and closed.

  A part of her was glad to be free of the intense spell of his eyes, but deep down, she just wanted more of this amazing man.

  When the bathroom visitor finished and returned to their cabin, Daisy said, “I want to know more about you. About the controlled havoc deep down in there.” She reached forward and touched his chest lightly. His very muscular chest.

  Cannon just breathed for a minute, staring blankly down the hallway. “You can’t walk through mud without it sticking to you. I’ve been through a lot of mud. I try to keep it all jammed down inside where it can’t affect my life, but it’s still there.”

  Suddenly his gaze snapped up to her face, and she jolted at the sharpness of it, all the while loving his penetrating emerald eyes.

  “Things are different around you, Daisy. The darkness isn’t there. All I can see is light and goodness.”

  Daisy had never wanted to kiss someone so badly in her life, and she found herself staring at his well-formed lips.

  Cannon snapped to attention, and a few seconds later she picked up the sounds of someone in the hallway again. It gave her a minute to catch her breath.

  When the coast was clear again, he said, “I don’t know why all of that just spilled out. You’re gonna think I’m crazy and I that I’m going to start saying I can’t live without you or something.” He gave her that knee-weakening amused smile again. “I promise I’m not psycho.”

  Daisy didn’t even have to talk. She could sit here all night, just listening to him. However, she didn’t want him to think she was some kind of stalker or weirdo so she said, “I should turn in.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “Thanks for being my therapist. Send me a bill, huh?”

  Daisy laughed lightly. “See you in a few hours.” She slid her door closed.

  She didn’t just want more of Cannon. She wanted much, much more.

  Chapter

  Daisy stayed in her roomette until the first call for breakfast was made around seven a.m. She didn’t know if she was expected to dine with her new sister and fake boyfriend or if she was on her own for today. It had been less than two hours since she’d gone to sleep but the thought of seeing him again had her up and energized.