TWO MONTHS LATER

Kid stood at the Sinclair pool with a stop watch. “Come on, Atty, you can do it,” he said. Paige came out on the patio and looked around. She frowned. “Where is Atticus? He still has homework to finish. You know it’s his senior year and he can’t slack.”

“He’s…ah…training.”

“Again?” She marched over to him and said, “If he doesn’t finish high school, he can’t go into the SEALs.”

“He’s not going into the SEALs after high school. He’s going to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He’s already applied. Then he’s going in as an officer. I’m telling you, babe, he’s the real deal. I’ve never seen anyone handle himself like your kid brother.”

“What? You’re making him go to college? My brother loves academics, but he loves English the best. His favorite writer is Hemingway. He’s won prizes for his writing. What the heck is he going to major in?”

“Whatever he wants.” Kid shrugged. “What’s wrong with English? SEALs come from all over with different backgrounds, even Rhode Scholars.”

She glanced into the pool and her face blanched. She looked at him and sputtered. “Oh my God! Ashe, you didn’t.” She went to jump in and help her brother who was resting at the bottom of the pool, holding his breath like a boss.

He grabbed her around the waist and held her. She struggled, but he wouldn’t let her go. “He needs to be drown-proofed.”

“You tied his hands and feet!” She tried to push away from him, but it was useless.

“Yeah,” he said like she was dense, “that’s required. I’m simulating the test exactly how he has to do it in BUD/S.” He clicked the stopwatch. “Okay, it’s time. He’s got to get the oxygen mask at the bottom and come to the top. Then he can get out.”

Sure enough as they watched, her baby brother used his whole body to swim down to the mask, get it between his teeth, then head for the surface, Ashe said, “C’mon, man, you can do it.”

Caught up in Atticus’s struggle, Paige said under her breath, “C’mon,” then louder, “oh, God, he’s doing it!”

When Atty broke the surface, Kid dropped his stopwatch, jumped in. Grabbing him and dragging him over to the lip of the pool, he released his bonds. Paige who was now on her knees, ruffled his hair. “That’s my baby brother.”

“Paige,” he said caught between laughter and pride. “Stop.”

After they were out and Atticus had the towel draped over his shoulders. Kid said, “Way to go, Hemingway.”

“Hemingway?”

“Yeah, it’s a good call name, don’t you think?”

A big grin split his face. “I guess it is.” He sobered and looked at Ashe. “You’re a great teacher.” Then he got this level, grown up look on his face. Atticus glanced over at Paige. “When you going to ask my sister to marry you?”

Just at that moment, she looked over at them and smiled and his heart felt as if he’d gotten nailed by a ten-ton truck. He had given a girl a ring once and she’d returned it to him, his future with her over. He was determined that when he asked Paige to be his wife, she would be the last woman he ever asked. “None of your damn business, kid.”

“Well, when you do and you need to consider a best man, I’m available.”

Kid chuckled and ruffled his hair, laughing. “Good to know.”

He got up and said, “I’d better get to my homework. See you later, Ashe. Thanks for helping me.”

“That was part of the deal. You go to the academy, I help you get into SEAL shape and ready for BUD/S.”

* * *

She rolled her sore shoulders against the soft cushions. They’d eaten dinner sitting on the floor in his living room area with the city lights glowing soft and indistinct in the darkness comfortable and warm in Ashe’s arms. The food had been good, but the company she kept was better. They had laughed themselves silly when Kid had told her about the Mexico op and the donkeys. She’d had an opportunity to meet the whole team and, wowza, what a bunch of intimidating, gorgeous hunks. So, she could imagine the look on Ruckus’s face when Kid had shown up with those animals.

After that, they had held each other in companionable silence, and they must have drifted off.

Her Navy SEAL, combat ready, combat trained, special operator in more ways than one. His place had turned into hers when he’d asked her to move in with him. It was the next step in their relationship, and it felt good. Her brother and dad had helped pack her up and move her. It had been a family affair.

Now she wished she’d taken some painkiller with her meal. She was galvanizing herself for him leaving tomorrow to deploy to someplace she didn’t know. But now that she’d met his team, she felt a little better to know he was in good hands.

He’d known while they were eating that she was dreading tomorrow, and he tried to be upbeat with the donkey story, but she couldn’t help it. She’d miss him like crazy.

Feeling the need to be close to him, she kissed him on the cheek, very carefully so as to not disturb him. But, Ashe was a light sleeper, and she had to admit that she knew that, too. He stirred and snagged her waist, dragging her closer, wrapping her in his arms. She smiled as he nuzzled her neck. “Hey, babe,” he whispered, then dropped off again for a bit.

Cohabitating with him was going to be so good, but again not easy. Surrounded by Ashe’s life here in his home, she had plans to make it more livable. Like curtains and art and some comfortable furniture. Things he hadn’t handled, well, because he was always on the move and rarely home.

That sent a pang to her midriff, but she took a deep breath. She would make it into a home with home-cooked meals, clean sheets, and a managed life while he was off fighting for his country. She wanted to support him through it all and she would.

She kissed his mouth, deepening it to get a rise out of him. She felt his grin beneath her lips. “You trying to get me naked so you can tell me what to do?”

She chuckled, and when he rolled on top of her, she looked up into his wonderful face. “What if I am?”

“Hmmm.” He nuzzled her neck again. “I think we’ll have to have a race to see who can get naked faster. Go.”

She started to unbutton her shirt, and he didn’t move a muscle. She looked up at him. “Are you cheating?”

“What?”

“You’re not even trying to beat me.”

“I’m no dummy,” he said softly. “I can’t get enough of seeing you naked and I like it when you tell me what to do when you’re naked.”

“You are—”

“Amazing.”

She closed her mouth. “Yeah, that, too.”

“Haha,” he said and captured her mouth, kissing her for real now, dragging her deeper under his spell. Before she knew it, they were both naked and neither one of them cared who was doing the ordering. Pressing her down on the rug, his hands were as hard and demanding as his mouth, and his shaft as he came up between her legs, nudging her legs apart. “Getting to the good stuff,” he said on a gasp as he seated himself deep inside her.

She’d never get enough of Ashe, and she could only thank fate that had sent him on a bike trip to Bolivia, sent him to Going Down Wilderness Excursions and right into his orbit where she was now, them revolving around each other, their special gravity called love gluing them together.

Her family loved him, and she loved him beyond measure.

Then before she knew it, it was morning and Ashe was carrying her to their bed. He was fully dressed in camouflage with his duffel packed. “I’ve got to go, babe. We have debriefing, then we’re shipping out this afternoon.”

She caressed his beautiful face. “I love you, Ashe. Stay safe.”

“I love you, too, Paige. I’ll be back. I promise.”

She nodded. He shouldered his pack and then he was gone.

An hour later, she got up and did her run, showered, and dressed for the office. Once at work, she got down to business.

About an hour later, Mike’s phone rang and after answering,he sat up straight, frowning, his eyes glittering. Uh-oh.

“When?” The grim lines on his face deepened. “Are you sure?” He leaned back and let out a breath. “Dammit!” Her co-worker’s heads came up and rightly so. They exchanged looks. That tone wasn’t good.

He slammed the phone down. “What is it?” Paige asked.

“Anderson is dead.”

She sucked in a shocked breath. “What? How?”

“Hit when he was being transferred. Some bold shooter took him out. Sniper round to the head. We’ve got nothing on those warheads and weapons! He died before revealing his contact in DC. Son of a bitch!” I’m heading up to TacOps.” He was going to talk to the director at headquarters in DC from their specialized, secure area with a big screen on the far wall, and equipment and computers to the left.

She watched his retreating tight shoulders and sighed. If only… Finding those weapons was not only an NCIS priority, but a Navy priority as well. She was sure they wouldn’t hear the last of this. Her gut clenched. Six ballistic warheads. God.

As mid-morning rolled around, she heard the strumming of a guitar, and then Ashe’s rich, deep voice singing behind her “The Power of Love.” She stood up and turned around, saw Cowboy, Kid’s best friend walking behind him, both of them in their uniforms. People in the cubicles were standing up, watching him slowly walk toward her.

The lyrics brought tears to her eyes, and he stopped in front of her. Cowboy’s knowing smile reaching all the way to his attractive whiskey eyes. She laughed out loud when he still sang the ‘lady and man’ lyrics wrong.

He finished out the song his voice rising with the notes. People were clapping and smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You are unbelievable,” she whispered. “I’m so in love with you.”

“You’re beautiful, so beautiful.” He kissed her.

“I thought you had to leave.”

“We finished the debrief early, and I wanted to say I love you one more time before I go.” He took a breath and met her eyes, his so warm and filled with the love he’d just declared. “Paige, I was going to wait until I got back home, take you out for dinner and ask you this by the water at that place we love on the docks.”

“Ask me?” Her heart was feeling so tight in her chest, just like when her lung had collapsed, only with a lot more anticipation and no pain. “Ask me what?”

He got down on one knee and looked up at her. “Will you marry me?”

He offered her the velvet black box and when she opened it, the ring nestled inside. And she thought about Caitlin and how much she had hurt him, how she wasn’t able to handle this man and his absences, but Paige had no doubts in her heart or mind.

“Oh, God, so many yeses.”

Cowboy laughed and pumped his fist. “Hoo-yah!” he said, and Ashe stood up and took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. “We’ll celebrate when I get back. Start planning the wedding. I don’t want to wait too long.” He turned away, and Cowboy smacked him on the back of the head. “Oh,” he handed her a piece of paper. Here’s my mom’s number and address, and my sister, Emma’s. Call them and go meet them.”

“Without you?”

“Yeah, it won’t matter. They’ll love you, too.” Cowboy tapped his watch. “I’ve got to go. He kissed her several times and they left. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him about Anderson and ruin the mood. There would be time enough for that later.

Over the time he was away, she did just what he asked. Missing him like crazy but each time she looked down at the ring, she glowed with such happiness.

* * *

“So, you’re just telling me this now?” Kid said as Cowboy reclined against a boulder, his weapon braced against his inside thigh. They were back in Mexico. But there wasn’t a donkey in sight.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal.”

Kid took another bite of his MRE. “You hate going home, but now you’re going to your high school reunion? Sounds like a big deal to me.”

“Me, too,” Blue said, sitting down.

“Oh, dang it, now we have the whole peanut gallery.”

“One guy isn’t the peanut gallery,” Scarecrow said.

“Right.” Hollywood sat down. “But the more the merrier. Spill, big man.”

“Oh, geez,” Cowboy said. He explained what had happened when he’d gone home for the wedding.”

“Your sister crying would do me in, too. I have a sister, and I couldn’t resist her. I get it.”

“That’s not everything,” Cowboy said, looking sheepish.

“What’s the other reason?”

“Kia Silverbrook, a girl I knew in high school. I didn’t talk to her then.”

“The one that got away?” Hollywood said thoughtfully. “I don’t know what that’s like, but I bet it bites. I say get her out of your system.”

Scarecrow shrugged. “Be decisive, man. Right or wrong, make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.”

“Great. That’s your advice. I’m roadkill?”

“Um…” Scarecrow looked confused. “No,” then he said it again.

“There’s no need to repeat yourself. I ignored you fine the first time.”

The guys laughed.

Blue took a breath and said, “Cowboy, regret comes from the things we don’t do, but wished we had. If you’re attracted to this girl, make a move.”

“Naw, it’s a fantasy. She lives in Texas, and I’m, well, I’m with you punks.”

That got more laughter. “You’re doomed,” Kid said and clapped him on the back.

“I say, there’s your chance. Get her done,” Hollywood said. The guys meandered away.

Cowboy leaned over and whispered, “I don’t know. She’s different. She makes me feel different.”

“Scared?” Kid asked under his breath, making sure the guys couldn’t hear him. “That’s not a bad thing.” He nudged him. “Suck it up. You’re a SEAL. We can do anything.”

As the guys started giving Cowboy a hard time about his love life, Kid’s had fallen into place. He couldn’t wait to get home so that he could love Paige in every way.

When the day finally came and he walked off the plane, he was confused. He didn’t see her waiting for him. But as he came up the walk, there were balloons and welcome banners everywhere, a wonderful aroma coming from the backyard. When he went inside, everyone was there. Not exactly what he hoped for because he wanted to get into her before he actually had to socialize.

But when he spied his mom, sister and nieces, he was overjoyed to see them. They hugged each other tight.

Then he kissed and hugged his future bride.

“What is all this about?”

“Oh, we’re getting married next weekend. I have a ton of things for you to do.”

“We’re getting married?” Could one man be this happy?

“It’s batshit crazy, but you told me to be ready.” She smiled. “What is there to wait for? I have a million things to talk to you about.”

He took her hand and said, “If you all could excuse us.” He dragged her out of the backyard and up the stairs. Before she could protest, he was kissing her and having his way with her. Once they could breathe again, with her wrapped in his arms, he whispered against her fragrant skin, “Okay, give me the million details. I think I can concentrate now.”

She started to talk and he nodded, his heart full. There was a time when he thought he was going to be a failure at this shit his whole life, but then this woman had drop-loaded into his life like one-hundred percent adrenaline. Now all he had to do was hold on.

He watched her face as she talked and thought: It’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Book 3 in the SEAL Team Alpha series, Cowboy, is next. A trip home, an old, guarded secret, and the woman he couldn’t get off his mind add up to one heck of a homecoming for Wes “Cowboy” McGraw. For him, things changed ten years ago, now he going to find out the truth. Will it make him or break him?