Twelve

Scarlett

Johnny mentioned something to me at lunch about some of his military friends and their families coming to visit the ranch for New Years on their way to Mexico for “work”. He did not specify that an entire platoon, or whatever you called it, of big, bad Marines and Navy SEALs, their wives, and a boatload of children would be taking over the old bunkhouse and filling the place with their equipment and more energy than the ranch had seen in years.

But the most spectacular sight of all?

The way Johnny, or Bubba, as I learned his friends called him, came to life when he was back in his element. He was clearly most at home with these people, and they had a history I would never be a part of, which made me inexplicably jealous. Still, it made warmth unfurl in my chest when he put his arm around me and introduced me to everyone, though I would probably never remember everyone’s names.

“So, you’ve lived here your whole life?” one of the women, Caroline, asked as her husband, Wolf, unloaded more gear.

I watched as Nathan and Daniel ran around with several of the new children as if they were old friends. “Basically.” I turned back to her as a couple more of the women joined us. “I went away to school for a while, but I moved back with my, uh . . . my husband.”

Caroline’s eyes clouded and flitted to Johnny then back to me, full of questions and a bit of protectiveness, which I appreciated, but was totally unwarranted.

“He passed away a couple of years ago.”

Johnny squeezed my waist as Caroline’s face softened. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

I leaned into Johnny a fraction. “Thank you.”

A group of kids squealed and ran by with a couple of the other women following behind. “It’s beautiful here,” the one I remembered as Tex’s wife, Melody, said. “Thank you for inviting us.”

Johnny smiled wider. “My pleasure. Mom’s thrilled to meet the people she’s been hearing so much about.”

The tall, good-looking black man that Johnny introduced as his team leader, Tito, clapped him on the shoulder as he loped up the steps. “And we’re thrilled to eat some of that home cooking we’ve heard so much about.”

“You won’t be disappointed,” I said with a grin. “Mrs. Ray is a fantastic cook.”

More big, hot military men filled the place with more testosterone than I’d ever been witness to, but it was obvious they were all good men. The way they spoke and kept subtle but tender eyes on their wives and children were testament to that. It was such a stark contrast to anything I’d ever experienced before with Todd, it made me shiver. How many times had he hurt me? How many times could he have done so much worse? Killed me? Done something to the boys? I’m sure it was only a matter of time before that would’ve happened.

I swallowed the lump of regret from my throat and dropped my head to hide the tears that threatened, but Johnny, ever attuned to me, sensed my mood. “You okay, baby?” he whispered for my ears only.

I nodded. “Fine. Just tired,” I lied. “Someone I know kept me up late last night.” I smiled up at him, trying for lighthearted.

He studied my eyes, searching for the truth. “I’ll let you rest tonight.”

“I hope not.”

His pupils flared, but before he could reply, he was bumped from behind by one of his teammates. “Come on, Bubba. Tito wants us inside to go over the op.”

“Coming, Mav,” he said, his gaze never wavering from mine.

“Op?” I asked, suddenly nervous. I should’ve known. Johnny and his team didn’t just “work”. They went on dangerous missions that got them shot and nearly killed.

“I can’t talk about it right now,” he murmured. “I’m sorry, baby.”

I nodded, my stomach suddenly churning. Did this mean he was leaving soon? What did this mean?

“I’ll explain later,” he promised. “I’ve gotta go right now.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“I’ll come find you as soon as we’re done here.”

“Okay,” I said again, feeling anything but okay.

He slid his hand into my pocket with mine, where he knew I had his Marine girlfriend keychain, and cupped both our fingers around it. “You have nothing to be scared of, baby. I swear I’ll protect you.”

My eyes sought his, seeking the truth of his words, begging for his promise. “I know you will,” I said, my words tasting false and empty.

Yes, he could and would protect me from the world and its threats . . . but I still had everything to be scared of when he took my heart with him when he left.

~ ~

Dinner was a crazy affair. Somehow, they managed to fit an additional seven Navy SEALs, six Marines, nine women, and ten children into the Ray household, and we gorged ourselves on Mrs. Ray’s world-famous beef stew and homemade cornbread then pecan pie for dessert. How she managed to throw together enough to feed that many people was a mystery, but she’d always been a special woman.

“Can someone please explain to me why Bubba left this place and joined the Marines?” his friend, Lucky, asked with a grin as he settled back in his chair with a satisfied sigh.

Johnny wadded up a napkin and threw it at his head. “So I could hang out with you in dirty foxholes and listen to you wax poetic about your latest female conquests.”

“Better than hearing about the latest piece of British lit crap you’d read.”

The men laughed, and I’d swear Mr. Ray’s eyes held a hint of nostalgia.

I turned to Johnny. “You read British literature?”

The rest of his team began to guffaw, and I’d swear he flushed, but he diverted behind his water glass and a shrug. “I’ve read a few.”

“Huh.” I filed that tidbit away and let the conversation move to other things, but I didn’t miss the way the men became shifty as the night wore on, obviously ready to leave and finish their discussion from earlier. The one Johnny never explained to me.

I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it one bit.

But, eventually, we cleaned up the dishes and everyone trickled out. The women took the younger kids to get them bathed and ready for bed and I lingered behind to chat with some of others while the guys moved off to the locked den to talk quietly.

“So, have you and Bubba, I mean Johnny, dated long?”

I turned to the cute, petite blonde, trying to recall her name.

She took pity on me and held out her hand. “Rebekah Keegan. Tex is my cousin and Johnny’s friend, Maverick, is my boyfriend.”

I took her hand. “Right. Nice to meet you. And, no, we haven’t been together long, though I’ve known him for years.” I glanced around at the chaos. “So . . . you’re used to all of this?”

Her laugh was light and airy. “I’m getting there.” Big blue eyes met mine with something akin to sisterhood. “And you will, too. Don’t worry.”

I wanted to ask her what she could possibly mean by that, but Daniel raced up and grabbed me around the waist. “Can we show the kids the horseys, Mommy?”

I glanced around for Nathan. If anyone would want to see the horses, it would be my oldest son. “Where’s your brother?”

“He’s playing down by the creek with the big kids and Miss Jessyka.”

“Of course, he is.” I smiled back at Rebekah. “Well . . . go ask him if he wants to feed Nugget, and I’ll walk with you guys and anyone else who wants to see the horses.”

“Okay!” He bolted off.

“Want to see the horses?” I asked Rebekah.

She shook her head. “I’m good. Thanks. I think I’ll go lie down for a bit. I’m a little tired after the trip out here.”

“Okay.” I waved and made my way down the steps, where I collected my boys and a few of the women and children who were interested in the horses.

I showed them around the pens and we fed Nugget and some of the others, and I made promises that we could saddle up some of the gentler mares for some rides before they left, which made the kids very happy.

I have to admit, Mr. and Mrs. Ray seemed tickled pink to have all these people around. Mr. Ray really loved talking military stuff with the guys at dinner and Mrs. Ray was enjoying the children as they gravitated toward her now.

“She’s a natural born grandmother.”

I startled when Johnny’s voice came up behind me as he eyed his mom with the horde of kids around her.

“Yes, I think she is.” I snuggled into his side. “You guys done for the night?”

“Mostly.” His eyes flashed concern. “At least my part since I’m not going with them to Mexico.”

Something clicked in my mind. “Does this have to do with the cartel that shot you?”

He nodded once, but didn’t say more. It was obvious he didn’t want to scare me.

“When are they going?”

“Day after tomorrow. The guys promised their women they would stay through New Year’s Eve.”

“Are you sorry you’re not going?”

His gaze tracked to mine. “This feels like a trick question.”

“It’s not. I know you miss your team.” I’m sure there was also a part of him that wanted to take down the person who’d nearly killed him. Hell, I did, too.

“I do.” He turned back to the kids. “But I’ll never regret my time here with you and the boys, Scarlett.”

Why did that feel like a goodbye? Why couldn’t I just open my mouth and ask him what was next for us?

Because I was scared of the answer.

I think we both were.

Instead of addressing the bull in the pasture, we finished up in the barn, got everyone tucked in for the night, then made our way back to my house. Alone at last, I couldn’t help but feel a selfish little thrill that I had him all to myself again, at least for tonight. There was no telling what was coming around the bend, especially over the next few days, but I had tonight, and I wasn’t about to waste it.

Silently, with the moon shining down on our skin through my cracked blinds, I undressed us both. He let me take my time, as if he sensed my need in this moment. He touched me after I touched him first. He kissed me after I kissed him first. It was an exquisite give and take, and even though I held back those three little words that sat as heavy as a thundercloud on the tip of my tongue, I knew he felt my love, and he showered me with his in return. And I cried for it. I ached for it. I soaked it up like it was all I’d ever wanted or needed, because it was. He was.

When we were flesh to flesh, his body poised above mine, he met my gaze. Still, he didn’t speak, but he shouted a thousand love words all the same. I heard them. I felt them. I knew them by heart.

I lifted my head and met his mouth just as he thrust his hips forward. We began to move together. Slowly at first. Gentle, like the rain. No rush as the heat poured through our bodies in a lazy wave.

He groaned and bit my lip in a nibble when I began to pick up the pace beneath him, the wave becoming a river, the rush of the water demanding I move. I raked my nails down his back, gripping his backside, urging him on. Faster. Harder. I pleaded.

He gave in to my cries, moving with me like an unleashed animal, but I thrived on it. I reveled in it. I held on and enjoyed the ride.

“Johnny,” I moaned his name, grinding into his sweat-slicked body harder, writhing beneath him. “Please . . .”

He shifted my thighs wider, grabbed the headboard with both hands and thrust his rock-hard body into mine like his life depended on it.

I bit my lip to try to contain the mewling cry that burst from my lips as a flaming hot orgasm began to blaze through my body. “OhGodOhGod . . .” I began to chant, but suddenly, his lips were on mine, shushing me.

“This one’s mine, baby.” He pumped harder, rolling his hips over mine like magic. “Nobody on this ranch gets to hear you come tonight but me.”

Another cry ripped from me, but he swallowed it down with a kiss then fed me his own deep-throated growl as he thrust two more times then froze, his sweat dripping onto my temple as he shook violently with his own orgasm.

A minute later, he rolled away, tucking me into the crook of his arm.

As the night air cooled our skin and his breathing slowed toward sleep, I let my nagging worries overtake me. This was so perfect, and I guess the realist in me needed to prepare for the inevitable. I propped my chin on his chest and faced the truth head-on. “So . . . when will you be leaving to go back with them?”

Sleepy, sated, dark eyes slid open to meet mine and I saw my answer.

Entirely too soon.