Anderson ran. This whole fucking thing coming down on his head. Tonight that NCIS bitch and Pete Wilder’s kid had bested him, killing off those ruthless rebels like they were Boy Scouts. It was time to cut his losses. He had a chopper waiting along with the warheads and the other half of the salvaged weapons. He’d still get his payday, talk the Golovkin buyer into a better deal.

After this score, he decided it was time to retire. Maybe a beautiful, tropical location where he could grow coffee. Yeah, maybe it was time to get out while the getting was good.

He knew things, people. He was connected. His twenty-five years with the CIA had given him a network of informants, government officials, criminal bosses, warlords, drug lords and some of the lowest bottom feeders on the planet. When he got clear, he was putting a bounty on both of their heads. Paige Sinclair and Ashe Wilder wouldn’t live past the month.

He also knew assassins.

If Cris and his family had survived, he was going to do that one personal, kill the beautiful wife and children in front of him and let him live. That would be something that would give him great satisfaction while he enjoyed the tropical sun on the veranda of his plantation. Cris had screwed him over in this mess of a deal.

He also had an ace in the hole. His Washington, DC contact.

He had enough dirt on the guy to make sure things happened.

* * *

Paige’s blood was running hot and fast, pumping through her veins as she pursued Anderson, the monster was in her sights. If he thought he was getting away with all this, with murder, he had another think coming.

The night and the jungle slid by her on either side. Ashe called out her name, but she kept on running. She had to finish this.

Behind her there was a burst of gunfire, and when she glanced over her shoulder, she saw Ashe on one knee, taking out pursuing figures. Dark silhouettes were moving toward her, too. The SEALs. In the distance, she could see the chopper. As soon as Anderson broke from the trees in front of her, the rotors started turning.

Anderson turned, and she saw the glint off the pistol he carried. He discharged the weapon, and the bullet missed her. Off to her left, several men came running, opening fire on her. By this time, those dark silhouettes had caught up to them. Kid was almost to her position. The SEALs opened fire as well, and the rebels ignored her and faced the larger threat.

She stumbled, but righted herself. Anderson was almost to the chopper. But she had gained on him. Her breath was labored, the thin air slowing her down, shortness of breath would be expected. But she had acclimated. Maybe it was because she had been running full out.

With a whine and a roar, the chopper took off, and Anderson screamed at the top of his lungs. They had to have seen the SEALs bearing down on them. Most of their troops killed or being systematically taken out, they had cut him loose.

He stopped and set his hands on his knees, knowing he had nowhere to go. She caught up to him, keeping the automatic weapon trained on him, the adrenaline rushing through her in waves. Her heart beating hard, her breathing strenuous.

Anderson turned and scowled at her. “You fucking bitch!” he yelled, then dropped the weapon, raising his hands in the air. With Ashe and the SEALs covering him, she walked up to him. “Bryant Anderson, you are under arrest for the theft of government property, for treason in selling those weapons to the enemy of the United States, and for the murder of Corporal Ronald Miller, Corporal David Hong, and Petty Officer Peter Wilder.”

Her stomach lurched and sweat poured down her face. She felt dizzy, and the right side of her body pulsed with pain, getting worse and worse. She turned and tried to walk. Oh God. She dragged a breath into her lungs—and it hurt, just like everything else.

She took a halting step and gasped, the pain building up in her. The next step felt like when they had taken that leap off the cliff to the river below. Falling…she was falling.

“Paige!”

She hit the ground and tried to push up. If she could just get to her feet, she would be okay. She used Ashe for leverage, dragged her feet beneath her, the whole world was going black and white with every passing second, her attempts to breathe tortuous.

“Ashe, I’m all right.”

“Shh, babe. Shh. I’m here.” His arms came around her, strong but gentle, helping her, sliding behind her back and holding her upright.

“Geezus,” Cowboy said. “She been hit?” He turned and called out. “Blue!”

“Ashe, I—” She wanted to hold on, to hold on to him, to hold on to herself, but she couldn’t.

She was sliding inside, slipping away. She started to tremble—tremble and shake, right down to her veins, right down to her pulse, her heart, and her bones.

“I’ve got you,” he said, tightening his hold before she was gently laid down on the ground, her shirt ripped open and a gorgeous man with gray eyes leaned over her.

“No blood, but this bruise. Was there an explosion?”

“Yes, an RPG, but we were okay. Now she can’t breathe.”

“I think her lung is collapsing. Get the chopper here. She needs to get to a hospital.”

“Paige,” Ashe said, his voice so soft, so anguished. “Stay with me, babe. Don’t go.”

“I-I can’t. I—”

“Fuck can’t, babe,” he growled, “That’s not in our vocabulary. You hang on.”

She couldn’t breathe anymore, her breath trapped, pain twisting inside her.

With the last of her strength, she grabbed Kid’s arm as she saw the Black Hawk hovering above her like a big, black insect. “Tell them I love them.”

“You’re going to tell them yourself.”

She closed her eyes and that beautiful man with the golden blond buzz cut and the clear, pure gray eyes said, “One patient, adult female, semi-conscious. Tension pneumothorax. Code Red.”

* * *

With his head in his hands, Kid sat by her bedside. It had been hours, he’d lost track. Unable to sleep or eat…hell, it felt like he was the one who couldn’t breathe. The blast from the RPG’s shock waves had hit her and caused internal trauma, collapsing her right lung, but thanks to Blue’s amazing medical skills and his needle decompression of Paige’s chest cavity, he’d kept her alive until they got to the closest hospital. She was breathing easily with no permanent damage. They had to insert a chest tube, until her lung healed. Now all she had to do was recover.

A hand curled around his wrist and his head popped up. Paige, her eyes glazed stared at him. “You look like hell, a gorgeous dark angel,” she whispered.

His throat got thick, and he covered her delicate hand. “Paige,” he said softly. He had no idea where she wanted to go from here. He was hoping that she was going to tell him that when they got back to San Diego, they could at least date. He knew this was supposed to be temporary and without being able to help it, he felt the pressure of his job sliding between them. He would have to warn her about his deployments, his absence had caused the two women in his life to leave him, one had given him back his ring and the other had thrown him over for a safe banker.

Kid Chaos wasn’t safe.

He wasn’t easy.

He was in love with her. He’d never knew what it really meant to be in love, not until now, not until her. Fear of losing her to death was now replaced with just simple fear of losing her in his life.

He was a crazy bastard.

But she had made him see that his boldness was just a part of him. He had weathered the information about his father, but before he could fully put that behind him, he had another trip to make, but that could wait.

She drifted, her eyes closing. “Paige? Where do you want to go from here?”

She sighed and her eyes blinked a couple of times, then closed. He thought she’d gone to sleep when she whispered, “Only temporary.”

His heart plummeted, shredded, turned over and tightened in his chest as it shriveled into something hard and aching. She was reminding him they had decided to keep it simple. He’d agreed.

He closed his burning eyes, as they stung, his throat feeling full. “All right,” he said. Just then there was a commotion at the door and a man walked through with three men flanking him.

He rushed over to the bed and grasped her hand as she opened her eyes. Tears welling, he said softly, “Baby. How are you?”

She smiled and said, “Daddy.”

Kid stood and backed away as her family crowded in. Her father, lean and tough, the boys, Leo, Knox, and Atticus each with concern and love shining in their eyes. She’d raised these guys and he couldn’t be prouder of her. But now she was in good hands and he could leave, prolonging the inevitable would only hurt more. Better a clean break.

A hand landed on his shoulder and he turned to find Cowboy. He and the other guys milling around outside had been taking turns checking up on her, but they were more worried about him. Even her boss had been here, a big man with a shock of dark hair.

The NCIS team had been able to waylay the truck carrying the crates of weapons after another firefight with the rebels who had been killed down to the last man. He grimly told Kid that the warheads hadn’t been among the crates.

He was sick that they got away with them, but this wasn’t over and the SEALs would recover what belonged to the United States Navy.

His eyes felt gritty and heavy, but every time he closed them, he saw her on the ground, her plea for him to tell her family that she loved them. He was still adamant that she would tell them herself.

Now she could.

“Hey, man. What are you still doing here? Don’t you have that wedding to get to? Michelle is your favorite cousin. I’m sure you don’t want to miss it.”

“If you need me—”

“I don’t need you and that ragtag bunch out there to wait any longer. I have things to do. So get out of here. Kiss the bride for me.”

Cowboy looked to the bed where Paige had gone back to sleep. The doctor came in and started to talk to her family. They were nodding and taking in the information. He retreated and ended up bumping into Blue. He turned and Blue said, “The prognosis looks good for her. She’ll have to be in the hospital for a few days. I think they’re moving her to the States tomorrow. She’ll have a chest tube for a bit and that’ll work to re-inflate the lung in about a month.”

“Thanks, man, for saving her life.”

He nodded in his modest Blue way. “You and her?”

“It’s over. She just wanted something temporary.”

“Aw, man. I’m sorry. Some things last as long as they last.”

“True that. I’ll see you back in Coronado. I’m heading out.”

“We are, too. I’ll see you back there.”

Kid walked to the nurses’ station and asked for a piece of paper. He wrote Paige a note, keeping it light. He handed it to the nurse and asked her to make sure she got it, then he was in the elevator, then out of the hospital.

He got a ride back to Paige’s place and packed up his belongings, avoiding looking at the bed, then he left her key in the tray on her foyer table, locking the door on his way out.

He took a cab to Cris’s house and after knocking, the door opened.

Ariane didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around him and hugged him hard. Jhosselin yelled, “Ashe with an ‘e’!” and flew like a pink missile to him, latching onto his leg. Riky was more conservative and held up his hand for a knuckle bump. Then Cris materialized out of the kitchen, his face mottled with bruises, stitched gashes and scrapes. But his eyes were shining with happiness and welcome.

“Will you let the man in the house, you three. I think we owe him some breakfast.”

After Ashe ate and was kissed and hugged some more, Ariane shooed the kids away from him and off to school.

“I can never repay you for what you have done for us. My company, my livelihood, and my heart you have given them all back to me. Know that any time you want to mountain bike here, it will be on the house and there is a guest room reserved for you and the lovely Paige. I hope that you and she will be very happy.”

His heart heavy, Ashe just nodded. He couldn’t talk about Paige, not even to Cris. He was still raw from leaving her. At the door, he went to shake Cris’s hand, but the older man pulled him into an embrace. God bless you, Ashe, your country, and your warriors. I am forever grateful.”

He took a cab to the airport and booked a flight to DC. He slept all the way, his dreams filled with Paige. When he woke, he made his way to the Pentagon, then to Lieutenant Colonel Tom Davis’s office. When he reached the aide’s desk, the man said, “Do you have an appointment?”

Kid shook his head. “Tell him it’s Pete Wilder’s son.”

The man relayed the information and the door immediately opened. “Ashe, what a surprise! Come in.”

Ashe followed Tom into his office and closed the door. They made small talk about his mom and his sister and nieces. Finally, Tom said, “I get the feeling this isn’t about catching up.”

“No, it’s about my dad.” Kid outlined briefly what had happened and who he had met.

Tom’s lips thinned. “I don’t know if what Anderson says is true, Ashe. But, I commanded your father’s unit, and I can vouch for his character just as I did when I talked to the Medal of Honor Committee. He embodied values that can’t be taught. He was selfless, fearless, and a damn fine SEAL. Brave to a fault. I personally can’t believe he was ever involved with anything illegal or dishonorable.”

Ashe swallowed hard. He realized that he was going to have to go on faith here. Decide that his father was a good man who gave his life for those family members, just as Ashe would have done for Cris’s family. “In my opinion, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” Tom smiled. “You’re a lot like him, Ashe, a large, loud personality who makes everyone laugh. But when it comes time to get down to business, you are a consummate professional. Hold that tight in your heart for your dad, and I know that he’s looking down, and is so damn proud of the man and the SEAL you’ve become.”

He rose and held out his hand, and Tom shook it. Then Ashe saluted him, turned and left. He walked to the subway and traveled to Virginia where he caught a cab and was soon on his mom’s doorstep.

He knocked and when she opened the door, she wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Ashe, it’s so good to have you home.”

She brought him inside and Emma, his sister rushed to him, throwing her arms around him, his nieces, Sofia and Grace each wrapped their arms around his legs. “Wow,” he said, looking into Jay Marlowe’s eyes. “There’s a lot of estrogen going on here? Save me, man.”

His brother-in-law laughed and shook his head. “Come between you and your admirers? No way, man. You’re on your own.”

Hours later, after his gifts had been handed out, his mom had examined the cuts to his face and his sister’s worried eyes had made him feel guilty about upsetting them both. He’d retired to the back porch and the sultry summer night. His mom came out with a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top and handed it to him.

“How are you, Ashe?”

“I’m doing good, Mom.”

“And your vacation riding a mountain bike down a death road. Was that fun and exciting?”

“It was,” his tone was subdued. He freaking missed Paige so much he thought his heart was going to collapse.

“Doesn’t sound like it.” His mom gave him a skeptical look.

After a moment, he gave her just the briefest information about meeting Bryant Anderson and what he’d said about his dad.

Her eyes flashed. “I don’t care what he said,” she snapped. “He obviously never knew Pete. He was a wonderful man, faultless to a T. You can be assured that he would never betray his country. That would be like betraying us, and that is something that would never happen. He was dedicated to the Navy, the SEALs, and us. I swear, Ashe. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“I know that, Mom.” He set down the plate and wrapped his arms around her quivering body. She was so angry, he could feel the waves washing over him.

After he let her go, she cupped his face. “What else happened in the highest capital city in the world? There’s a sadness to your eyes I recognize that often has to do with the opposite sex.”

He heaved a sigh and picked up the plate taking a bite of the cinnamony apples and ice cream. “I met a woman a strong, amazing woman, and she turned my life around, but relationships between a SEAL and an NCIS agent can be complicated. So, I’m here and she’s there.”

“I’m sorry. I do want you to be happy.”

He nodded. “I know. It’s all fine. Things work out the way they’re supposed to.” He took another bite, the crickets loud in the silence, the moon bright in the sky. “Mom? How did you really feel when I told you I wanted to be a Navy SEAL like dad?”

“I was proud and freaking terrified. But I knew you. I knew you had to do what was important to you, regardless of anyone else’s feelings. Your dad would be proud of you whatever you chose to do. You didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, Medal of Honor or not. It was nothing but a hunk of metal and the honor didn’t come from bestowing the medal, but from your dad’s sacrifice.” She pulled a box out of her shorts pocket and pressed it into his hand. Ashe opened it and stared at the medal nestled in blue velvet. She curled her hands around his and squeezed. “Never forget that. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

She smiled, kissed his cheek and left him with his pie and his dad’s medal.

Two weeks later, he was deep in Mexico rescuing a high-level banker and his wife from a bunch of kidnappers. They were in the back country and the LZ was miles away.

“Kid! For the love of God! Donkeys?” Ruckus shouted.

The first in the string hee-hawed like he was offended. Kid rubbed his forehead and said, “Hey, he didn’t mean it. He doesn’t know you like I do.” He heard Ruckus growl. He faced his LT. “They’re fast and they’re sturdy. You said to find some transportation.” He looked as innocent as a child.

Scarecrow laughed, doubling over. Hollywood dissolved against one of the donkey’s flanks. It was just the four of them this time out. But it had been enough to free the married couple and take care of the pathetic kidnappers. Well, that was until they stumbled on some drug runners, then all hell had broken loose. But with his rifle and scope Kid had done his job.

Long story short, they had subdued the bad guys, and Kid had found their donkeys. No Jeep in sight.

Scarecrow, wiping his eyes, said. “You did tell him to find transportation, LT. Beggars can’t be choosers. This is transportation, just the four-legged kind.”

Ruckus ran his hand over his face, working hard not to crack a smile and lose some of his hard-ass reputation. “Dana is going to love this newest Kid story.”

Kid grinned. “I’m working up a whole repertoire. I’m a legend, LT.”

“You’re something all right,” he said under his breath. “Jackass comes to mind.”

Hollywood wheezed, “He should fit right in.”

Ruckus looked at the donkeys, the exhausted and bewildered civilians begging him for a reprieve. He sighed. “All right, mount up. We’re getting out of here.”

Kid rubbed the donkey’s soft nose. “See, I told you he’d come around.”

Hollywood couldn’t stop laughing all the way down the trail.

Scarecrow leaned over and said, “Man, you always have us covered. You’re the bomb.” He tapped fists with Kid.

“High ho, Silver,” Kid called out and tapped his steed with his heels and held on when the placid animal took off like a shot.

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Those words flowed through his mind, mimicking his mom’s and his dad’s commanding officer’s. Tom and Mom were right. He would hold the memory of his dad as he always had. Finally getting it that he was worthy of not only his father, but strong enough to step out of his shadow and walk his own path, knowing that being a Navy SEAL was all he’d ever want. His commitment to his team was solid, his commitment to the Navy was strong and his commitment to himself was unbreakable.

Now if only he could get Paige back. His life would be complete.

* * *

Cowboy stood at the curb and watched his cousin drive off with her husband. He was tired and rubbed the back of his neck. His sister came up alongside him. “I truly didn’t think you’d show up for the wedding.”

“I almost didn’t, Erin,” he said.

“It was a long time ago, Wes. Can’t you forgive him and let it go? Mom and I miss you so much.” She clasped his arm, and he turned to look into her blue eyes. “No, I can’t. He betrayed us.” He clenched his jaw. He ruined everything! He ruined my reputation and took away everything I wanted!

“Are you going to at least stay for a few days?”

“No,” he said flatly. “My plane leaves in three hours.”

She sighed, her voice teary, and he clenched his jaw even harder. “Darlin’, don’t.”

He pulled her against him, his arms wrapping around her as she pressed her face into his chest. “Your high school reunion is in a few months. Why don’t you come home then? Stay for a while and attend.”

He thought immediately of Kia and the temptation to find out what was up with her was overwhelming, but where could that possibly lead? He lived in San Diego and she lived here in this community where he would always be known as ‘that coward’s kid.’ He wondered what she thought about him.

There was nothing he could do about what people gossiped about. It had been ten years, and he missed his family. “Please, Wes. You barely know your niece and nephew. They ask about you all the time. Mom is not getting any younger. The reunion if over a weekend, a few days.”

He gritted his teeth, hating that he had disappointed his family and hurt them. Her tears were tearing him up inside. She looked up at him, more tears welling. He swore softly. “All right a few days,” he said gruffly. It would give him a chance to put this Kia business behind him. He’d find out she was married and off limits, or the fantasy of the past years didn’t hold up in the light of day.

“All right. I’ll come back for the reunion. I can’t say how long I’ll stay,” he said without committing.

On his way out of town after leaving his teary family, Cowboy couldn’t help himself as he drove where his heart resided. Parking at the ranch gate, a pole arch with Sweetwater carved into the crossbar was now a fancy sign with flowing, wavy lines underneath iron black letters. Those wavy lines had been their brand, the ranch that should have been his birthright, that he had planned to take over and run when he’d finished college. His throat tightened when he saw the sunflowers swaying against the wooden fence posts, they were particular favorites of his mom—“a dollop of sunshine,” she’d always said.

He remembered planting them so long ago with his dad, who made sure she had some every day to place in a watering can she set on the hand-hewn kitchen table where both the hired hands and the family took their meals. The memory hurt so much he turned away from them.

He vaulted the fence with ease, not much stood in his six-five way. He walked, knowing he was trespassing, but unable to help himself. This walk down memory lane would only open up old wounds that had never really healed up like they were supposed to. He saw a group of buildings off to the right and gazed at the spread that used to be his playground. Everything was so familiar, his throat closed and his breath hitched. Nothing…not a thing had changed.

The lane curved down into an open area, branching of to the big white arena where he’d trained horses. He felt a rush of warmth as the house and other buildings filled his view. The huge old-fashioned house, which faced the gravel driveway looked recently painted, it’s green trim—their colors—standing out sharply from sparkling white. A veranda stretched across the front, old rockers that had been crafted by his grandfather still sat as if beckoning him for a rock and beer that had been his routine at the end of the day.

He’d been born there, and he’d spent all his young life there, rooted in this ranching country. In fact, the McGraws had been one of the original settlers in these parts, one of the American families who had been given huge land rights when the nation had been new. His ancestors had been running huge herds of cattle when this part of Galveston was still a territory. But that had ended in the study on the east side of the house.

Ended their roots, ended their legacy, robbed him of his birthright, destroyed their honor. His chest filled with a volatile mix of regret, anger, and sorrow.

It had been his dad’s responsibility to all those gone before him to keep it running. But he’d failed his ancestors, his family, and his son.

He looked down and kicked a clod of dirt. Then raised his head again. Off to the right were the barns and corrals filled with horses. The cattle—Brangus and UltraBlack, their glossy coats glinting against the rays of the sun—were grazing off in the distant pastureland, and beyond he could see the ocean sparkling beneath the stark blue sky.

He saw a man trotting on a palomino, it’s glowing coat like liquid gold, his white mane long and thick on his neck, and his tail swishing. He wondered fleetingly if it was Sunshine, his horse, but he would be too old to work the ranch now and must have either been sold, passed, or had been put out to pasture.

The man spied him, and Cowboy withdrew, heading back to his vehicle, putting it in gear. He’d better skedaddle, or he was going to miss his flight. His cell rang, Kid on the other end of the line. He started to talk, and Cowboy’s heart sank. He’d had high hopes for him and Paige. It seemed like Kid had finally realized that he was picking the wrong women. He said nothing and listened.

After he hung up, he regretted promising his sister that he would come back. He would most likely be as disappointed as Kid was. In a few months, he’d have to endure the gossip and the condemning looks. Conversations held behind hands and in whispers.

That’s Jack McGraw’s son. He took the coward’s way out when he committed suicide ten years ago and his family lost everything…including their dignity, pride, and honor. How can you ever recover from that?

* * *

Paige sat on the patio and wanted to scream. For the last thirty minutes, she had four grown men at her beck and call. They had just removed the tube from her chest, and it was good to get the damn thing out, to breathe normally. But she felt she hadn’t done that since Ashe had left the hospital, nothing but a lame-ass note to explain his absence. It’s been fun, babe. Later.

Fun? It was more than that, and she knew it. He knew it, too. So, his sudden disappearance had to do more with him than with her. Because she had wanted more, wanted to talk to him about taking their new relationship further. She’d wasted so much time already.

“Can I get you anything?” Atticus asked.

“No! God, you all are driving me crazy.”

Atticus frowned, looking a bit confused. Her baby brother had grown into a handsome man, dirty blond hair, a strong, maturing face with sultry brown eyes many young girls noticed first about him. He was lean and muscular in that transitioning way from teenager to adult. “I just wanted to help. We were worried about you, Paige. Geez.”

She took a breath, trying to tamp down her irritation. It wasn’t Atticus’s fault or any of them, really. She was just mad at the world right now.

“Why don’t you get to one of them video games, boy?” her father said.

He nodded and left after Paige gave him an apologetic smile.

“What’s up, baby?”

“Nothing.”

“Uh-huh. Spill chickadee.”

She told her dad, the whole thing pouring out of her. “I love him,” she blurted.

His father’s brows rose. “I remember a pretty devastated young guy, dark hair sitting by your bedside. He didn’t look that happy-go-lucky.”

“He didn’t?”

“No, sweetie. If you want something, what do you have to do?”

“Ask for it.”

“Exactly.”

He was right. She was not one to mope around, but said what she thought, and damn the consequences.

“Daddy, you love me for who I am, don’t you?”

His brows rose again, and he laughed softly. “My girl, that’s a given. You’ve been my right-hand gal for so long, it makes me almost nervous to think about you not here. But I wouldn’t want you to put us first anymore. The boys are grown, and we handle ourselves now, thanks to you. I’m seeing myself a pretty little thing I met when I was bowling the other night. Don’t worry about us anymore.”

“It just seemed that you only noticed me when I was working hard, and I got it in my head that the only way to get your attention and affection was working hard. I kind of carried that with me into my job at NCIS.”

He sat forward and took her hands enfolding them in his big ones. “Did I? Dammit, Paige. I’m sorry. That’s not true. I love you more than anything, honey. Whatever you do. Throw away that notion and get on with your life. Don’t do what I’ve done all this time, bury yourself in work and loneliness. It’s no way to live.”

“You’re right.” She stood up and headed for the house.

“Where are you going?”

She turned and smiled at him over her shoulder. “To get on with it. I have a man to see about some fun.”

She grabbed her keys, purse, and headed for her car. She drove to Camp Pendleton and walked into the NCIS office. Her co-workers greeted her warmly. She stopped at Mike’s desk and he said, “Sinclair, I told you I didn’t want to see your sorry backside until six weeks was up.”

“Yes, sir.” She couldn’t help smiling at his clipped tone. This was Mike at his caring best.

“Are the six weeks up?”

“No, sir.”

“He looked up, his face stern, but with a twinkle in his eyes. “Then why are you here?”

“I need to access my computer. It’ll only take a couple of minutes.”

“Is this personal?”

“Yes. I—”

He held up his hand. “I don’t want to know about it.” He folded his fingers and indicated with his thumb as he jabbed it toward her desk. “Carry on. Then get the hell out of here.”

She smiled softly, went to her desk and pulled up Ashe’s record and carefully transferred his address to her phone. She shut the file. “Mike?”

“Yeah,” he said, looking over at her.

“About that promotion?” He straightened and nodded. “I think I’ll pass?”

His brows went up and he smiled. “I can’t say I’m sorry about that, but are you sure? You deserve your own team.”

Her co-workers whooped and fist bumped each other, and she laughed.

“Thank you for the opportunity, but I want to stay put. I need a better balance.”

“You got it, Sinclair. Now get out of here.”

It took no time at all to get to Ashe’s townhouse. But when she knocked, there was no answer. Disappointment and a healthy dose of anger twisted in her gut. She’d woken up at the hospital in San Diego where her father had her transferred for better treatment on home ground. Now two more weeks had passed, and she didn’t want to wait another day to talk to him. Then she heard the loud male banter coming from behind the complex. She followed the voices and noticed a bunch of men down the hill on a basketball court. Then, one of them, going for a layup against some pretty big odds caught her attention. He was lean, muscular, a shock of black hair with heavy bangs and batshit crazy. Her heart soared.

“Ashe,” she shouted. All of them froze, and she took off at a run. When she got close enough to see his shell-shocked face, she yelled again, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Paige?” His voice squeaked.

She marched across the ground, eating up the space between them, then onto the court and past all these huge guys. In front of his team members, she grabbed his sweaty T-shirt, breathing the scent of him in and propelled him against the chain link. “You left me unconscious in a hospital bed, and when I woke up, you were gone with the sorriest excuse for a note. Who are you kidding, Ashe? Fun, my ass. We have more than that! Way more.” Several of the men laughed, riveted to her chewing him out. “So, I repeat, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

He took a breath, his expression going defensive. “Trying to save my heart from being torn out again. You said this was fun, too!”

“I was trying to be cautious around you, you idiot. But let’s be clear. I want you in my life. Do you want me in yours?”

She shook him and the tall dude next to him said, “Ashe, you better come up with a good answer, or I think she’s going to kick your ass. I’ll help her.”

“Shut up, Cowboy.”

“He’s right. I will kick your ass.”

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then they popped open. “Fuck, yeah I want you in my life, but you said—”

She cut him off and planted one on him. That mouth, that gorgeous, smart mouth that she couldn’t get enough of, would never get enough of. When she came up for air, she said, “I’m in this forever, Ashe “Kid Chaos” Wilder. F-o-r-e-v-e-r. Tattoo that on your ass. Because it’s permanent.”

Several of the guys clapped and several intoned deep, “Hoo-yahs!”

Ashe gave them intimidating looks, but none of them budged. One leaned against the fence, another folded his arms while another one leaned on his shoulder. Ashe shrugged him off. “So help me, Cowboy…” He turned his attention back to her, cupping her face. “I need to know you can go the distance with me, Paige. I can’t…go through…I thought I loved Mia, but I had no fucking clue. I’m batshit crazy about you, and if you take my heart, hell, who am I kidding, you already have it. If you keep it, I have to know.”

“Through thick and thin, come hell or high water, I’m all in.”

“Are you sure? Because it’s hard to be with a SEAL. We demand so much and that’s a lot to ask of anyone. Look what it’s done to countless relationships, mine included. Right now, all this is a new challenge for you, but what happens when the novelty wears off and the never-ending work and responsibility turn into a never-ending grind? What then?”

Her gaze was unwavering, and her voice was steady as she answered softly, “I would never pack up and leave, Ashe. I’m not made that way. You’ll never come home to emptiness or a returned ring. My arms, my heart, and my soul will belong to you.” She gently took his face between her palms. “I’ll love you for the long haul.”

The muscle in his jaw twitched, and he abruptly looked away, his expression open. She got it. The collapse of his two relationships, especially the one with Caitlin, had left some scars. Maybe the wounds had healed as he said, but he had been badly hurt, not once, but twice. That had to weigh heavily on his mind. She watched him, compassion stirring. He slipped his hand into her hair, cradling her head against his shoulder. Enfolding her in a close embrace, he nestled his cheek against her hair. “We haven’t much time left,” he whispered, his voice low and uneven. “And I don’t want to waste time talking about something that’s old news.” He kissed her, passionately, showing her how much he’d missed her. When they parted, he said, “I love you, too, babe. More than I can say.”

“I think you said it pretty darn good.”

“Well, my house is just right over there. Let’s make up for lost time before I have to leave on an op.”

She turned around and was immediately faced with some happy guys. They high-fived Ashe as he moved through them. She stopped at the last guy, recognizing him instantly. “Blue.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him full on the mouth. “Thank you for saving my life.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his cheeks coloring while Ashe looked daggers at him.

She grabbed his arm laughing. “Let’s go.”

Once inside Ashe’s house, her phone rang. It was her brother Leo. “Let me soothe one of my brothers that I’m not dead in a ditch. If I don’t answer, he’ll just keep calling.”

Ashe nodded and went upstairs.

She took a few minutes to assure Leo that she was fine.

“Hey, woman,” he shouted from upstairs. “Get up here so I can get my dick so deep inside you, you’ll scream out my name.”

“Don’t tell me what to do unless you’re naked!” she yelled back.

“Oh, babe. I’m naked all right.”

She took a much-needed breath and headed for the stairs, muttering under her breath, “This living together thing will sure beat loneliness hands down.”

She’d take Kid Chaos naked, dressed, mad, passionate—any way she could get him. All the time, all the way. For forever.