When I arrived home from work, Paloma had not made my lunch. I didn’t mind at all. She didn’t have to cook for me. But it struck me as odd.

“Why don’t we pick up your sisters and go to lunch?”

She shook her head. “I hope you don’t mind, but today I want to walk alone and pick up my sisters.”

Great. Something was definitely wrong. “Are you okay?”

“Yup. Never better. I just need some fresh air. I’ll be back later.”

I leaned over to kiss her, and she turned her cheek. What the hell? What did I do wrong?

I wasn’t the type of man to let her walk away without a fight. I grabbed her by the wrist. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Paloma, don’t. You are upset, and I care. Tell me what happened.”

She reached into her purse and took out an old picture of a Blue Angel pilot holding a baby at an air show. Standing next to a woman who resembled Paloma.

Holy shit. Was that her mother? And was the baby here?

I took a closer look and noticed that the little girl had dark hair and green eyes, just like Paloma, and the Angel’s eyes were the same color.

Dammit.

Her lip trembled. “My mom stopped by today. I don’t know how she found me, but it doesn’t matter. She won’t come back. She gave me this. She says he was my father. And even worse, I actually believe her.”

Her voice was breaking. I pulled her to me and kissed her forehead as she cried. 

“She said he was an Angel. And he didn’t want anything to do with my mom. Or with me. Do you know how many times I cried out for a father to save me from this life? How many nights I went to bed hungry? How many times I walked to school with shoes that had no soles?”

“There, baby, there.” What an asshole. I would hunt her father down and deal with him myself. No pilot, especially a Blue Angel bestowed with this privilege should ever abuse his power. And abandoning his own child and leaving her to live a life of poverty is inexcusable.

And then it hit me. She was crying over her father for sure, but she also probably feared I would do the same thing. 

But I never would.

I needed to soothe her fears.

“Hey, I have an idea. Your sisters don’t get out of school for another hour. Let me take you to the officers’ club to lunch. You can meet all the other officer's wives.”

I thought my offer would cause her to smile, but instead, she burst into even more tears. 

Man, I really didn’t understand women.

“I’m confused, babe. Help me out. You don’t want to go with me? That’s fine if you don’t. We can stay here. I can take you to pick up your sisters, and we can get takeout. Or I can cook. I just want you to be happy.”

“No, I do. It’s just that you are so amazing. You never disappoint me. But you are too good to be true. You have to have a fatal flaw. No one can be as perfect as you. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m so damaged. You can do so much better than me. You can find a rich, educated girl who knows how to act at the officers’ club. Like Laurel. I’ll probably use the wrong fork and embarrass you.”

“You could never embarrass me. And you are better than all these women. You have fought so hard to survive. Just because I was born into privilege doesn’t make me better than you. I always knew that I was going to college. My parents sent me extra money and bought me a car. I still worked my ass off in school and when I graduated to be a pilot. I admire your grit. And I’m not embarrassed by you. I don’t want Laurel. I want you.” 

She finally smiled, and I wiped her tears away. “Let’s go. I’ve always wanted to go to the officers’ club. I never thought you’d ask.”

I gathered Sky’s baby bag, and we left to walk to the officers’ club. The weather was sunny and crisp, and I proudly escorted Paloma inside.

Paloma’s eyes widened when she saw the décor, but I cringed in embarrassment.

We were immediately seated at a window table, and the staff attended to us. After our waitress read off the specials, Paloma ordered fresh salmon, and I had a New York strip steak. I ordered a side dish of bananas for Sky.

“Wow, this place is gorgeous. Thank you for taking me here. It means a lot to me that you aren’t trying to hide me.”

I reached across the table and took her hand. “Hide you, not a chance. I want to show you off.”

She blushed. But even so, I could still see the pain in her eyes. I vowed not to add to her misery. Only to her happiness.

My commanding officer walked over to our table. “Lt. Daly. Who is the lovely lady?”

“Sir, this is my girlfriend, Paloma Pérez.