Hot SEALs: SEALed For Life (Kindle Worlds Novella) (11 page)

Melina heard a chorus of male laughter just outside the tent as she covered her face with her hat again. Maybe if she got lucky, she’d dream of Gower in her unconscious stupor. Thinking of him naked nearly always improved her mood.

She smiled about him checking in on Jack. Gower simply got her. And without really trying. The man just understood how she worked.

For the first time since she’d arrived in the desert, she fell asleep thinking happy thoughts.

“I don’t see any helicopters.”

Gower checked messages on his phone. “They’ll be here soon.”

“You said that an hour ago.”

Gower looked down and snorted. “It was only ten minutes.”

“Well it feels like ten
hours
,” Dillon exclaimed. “Are you sure Avenging Angel is coming home today? She’s been gone a long time.”

Gower didn’t huff, but he did glare. Dillon had come up with a name. He used it every time they talked about Melina, which was a hundred times a day when he wasn’t in school.

“You can call her Melina.”

“No I can’t. You said she’d be wearing her uniform, so I have to use her secret identity. No one is supposed to know who she really is. Melina is her real person name.”

Gower’s lips tightened. It had been a long—very long—two months. But at least it hadn’t been six. Or four. Or a year like it might have been in worse circumstances.

And today, if Jack was right, Melina was finally returning. He hadn’t spoken to her once in all the time she’d been gone. She’d sent two cryptic updates by email with “
see you soon”
at the bottom.

His only real news had been one hateful, but hopeful, conversation with Chris Cassidy, which indirectly had told him the most important thing he’d wanted to know. Before that he’d sustained himself on the memory of her turning back to him just before she left.

Melina had looked like she was going to cry that day. It had been hard as hell to send her off in that condition. He didn’t want to do it again. He’d have to tell her that and get it off his chest, no matter what the fallout. They’d have a lot to work out if she did decide to stay in. He’d have a lot of adjusting to do if he had to get used to her picking up and leaving all the time.

Gower sighed and closed his eyes. Hell. What if he was fooling himself? What if he’d been the only one of them who’d fallen hard? Melina had never said a single word about her feelings for him. Hell, she could barely bring herself to be nice on a regular basis. She worked damn hard to be gentle with Dillon. The boy adored her and never stopped talking about her.

“How long now? We’ve waited another hour already.”

Gower grunted. “No we haven’t. It’s only been another ten minutes. Leash Princess and take her for a walk. Make sure she does her business before you bring her back to the car.”

Dillon sighed. “She takes too long to pee. We should have gotten a boy dog. All he would have to do is lift his leg. She has to squat down fifty times before she finds the right spot.”

Gower grinned. “I hear you. Girls are trouble, but they’re worth it.”

“Why?”

Gower grinned wider. “Ask me again in three or four years. I’ll tell you then.”

He watched Dillon shrug impatiently and trail his fingers along the car as he went to retrieve the dog.

“Sit,” Gower heard Dillon order sharply. Princess sat docilely in the passenger seat while his son clipped on the leash. She barked once to signal her approval when it was done.

Dillon ordered her to jump down and off they went to the nearest patch of grass.

He couldn’t say becoming a pet owner had all been easy, but cuddling the dog in his lap at night had been a small consolation. It made him remember Melina petting the dog and laughing. It made him remember that inside the Marine he admired was a woman with other dreams—just like he had.

Gower pulled a piece of paper out of his front pocket and read what was on it for the hundredth time. After reaming him over sleeping with Melina, Chris had barked out a name and phone number that he’d ‘better damn well call’ as Chris put it. Apparently, some of the guys were starting some sort of security business.

Gower folded the paper and put it back. Of course, he’d call. Anything beat doing nothing. Security work would be interesting, but most security work was night based. Caring for Dillon had prevented him from taking on such work. But if there was daytime duty? It sounded pretty good to him.

But not until he’d settled things with Melina. It would take a week, maybe two, to exorcise the lust he’d built up during her absence. Memories were not the same as the real thing. He just hoped he hadn’t been the only one feeling the extreme connection that hadn’t lessened one iota since she’d been gone.

Damn.
Gower scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d never, ever been nervous about seeing a woman. Not any time that he could recall. Women had always been one of the easier things in his life. But Melina? She had changed everything he wanted. She’d been far more than he’d counted on finding.

He heard the car door open. Princess yapped going back in. She always barked once, like a person trying get in the last word.

Then he heard helicopter blades off in the distance. It gave him a familiar pang in his gut—a momentary longing for what life had been like not so long ago.

His future was on that metal bird that would soon descend. But his present?

His present was on the ground. “Dillon, look up. Do you see the helicopter off in the distance?”

His son ran to stand by his leg. “Yes. Where is she? Avenging Angel should just spread her wings and fly down here on her own.”

Gower rolled his eyes at his son’s expectations. “Her foot is hurt. Remember?”

“Oh yeah. I forgot.”

“Why don’t you climb into the car and hide in the floor with Princess? The helicopter is probably going to scare her. It gets real loud when it lands. Plus we don’t want to reveal our secret so soon. I’ll rap on the car when it’s time for you to come out.”

Gower demonstrated by rapping on the hood.

“Make sure Princess is on her leash before you open the door. She’ll probably freak out a little when she sees Melina. They have a special relationship.”

“But you said Melina had a special relationship with you.”

Gower drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “Yeah. Melina may freak out a little when she sees me too.”

“What’s the matter? Are you scared of her, Dad?”

Gower crossed his arms and glared at his very intuitive son. “Well, what if I was?”

Dillon scrunched his face, thinking hard. Then he suddenly relaxed. “You don’t need to be. Superheroes need sidekicks to keep them out of trouble. Ask to be her sidekick. I’m pretty sure she’ll say yes. She liked it when you kissed her boo-boos better.”

Gower laughed at his son’s reasoning, wishing it was so easy. The helicopter would be landing in about two minutes. His stomach went into tailspins of anticipation.

“There is nothing I would like more than to kiss her boo-boos for the rest of my life. Now scoot. You can peek at the helicopter over the dash. Just stay as quiet as you can.”

Dillon nodded. “Okay. Princess probably needs a hug. She’s a girl dog. Girls get scared easily. The girls at school squeal really loud when they get scared.”

Gower nodded at Dillon’s nine-year-old reasoning. Then his attention was suddenly riveted by the chopper’s descent. Happy men poured out of each side, duffles slung over their shoulders. She would look like one of them. She would blend in. Would he even be able to pick her out?

It was hard to see with the blade wash pushing air into his eyes, but he kept looking. One uniformed person turned in his direction, froze at the sight of him, and then started walking his way.

He pushed off the car and just knew. She seemed so much smaller than she had when she left. The blades wound down and he walked forward to meet her. About ten feet away her bag hit the concrete and her steps picked up speed as she ran the rest of way. He barely caught her when she launched herself at him. Her lips locking to his was everything he’d dreamed of for months and everything he’d relived in his memories.

He wasn’t turning loose this time. He wasn’t turning loose.

They kissed and never said a word. Not hello. Not I missed you. Instead her legs found their way around his waist. He spun her joyfully in a circle, wildly relieved to have her back in one piece and in his arms.

Finally he tore his mouth away as he walked back toward the car with her wrapped around him. He’d go back for her duffle in a minute. “I love you, Melina. I missed you like hell.”

“Gower.” His name barely escaped her mouth before she was hiding her face against his throat and sobbing in relief to be back.

Gower tightened his hold and carried her to the hood of the car. Never letting go, he turned and leaned on it, rocking her against his chest as she clung to him. He felt her draw in ragged breaths of air trying to get herself under control.

“I… I… I… Fuck. I can’t talk.”

“Sssshh…” he whispered. “It’s okay. You’re home now. Everything’s fine, Melina. Everything’s fine. You did well, Gunny Angel. You brought them back and you came back too. It doesn’t get any better, honey.” Melina’s emotional panic finally ceased at his words. A quiet nod of her head against his shoulder allowed him to take a much needed breath.

“I guess for the first time in my life I really needed to hear that. I love you too, Beckett. Damn you anyway. I was maintaining just fine until I touched you.”

Gower laughed at her admission. Her vulnerability wouldn’t last long. It didn’t need to. He didn’t care. He’d handle her. She’d handle him. He couldn’t wait to get started again.

He pulled off her hat and put it on his own head, then ran a hand through her short hair. “You need a bath, Angel. You smell like desert.”

She raised her head and met his gaze. “I know. Sand is in everything I brought home. Please never make me vacation on the beach.”

“Deal. Maybe we can head to the mountains when Dillon gets out of school.”

Melina nodded at the offer. “Sounds good. Can you ease me down before I embarrass us both by ripping your clothes off? I’m sure some of my men are in the hangar staring out the windows. I still have to work with them.”

“Sure. Dillon is hiding in the car. We have a surprise for you. Ready to see him?”

Melina sniffed back tears, and scrubbed her face with both hands. She nodded. “Yes. Is he scared to see me?”

“Not nearly as much as I was,” Gower admitted.

Melina laughed. “This is crazy. You were all I thought about over there. You kept me sane.”

“Yeah. I know that. Chris Cassidy called me.”

“Fucking Whale Bait. What did that bastard say to you? I’m going to kick his lying ass.”

Gower shrugged, amazed at how little it had mattered—even when he’d listened to the man’s tirade. His heart and gut had believed only one truth about the woman in front of him. Gunnery Sergeant Melina Angel was his in every way that counted.

“Actually—Cassidy said you were a one woman man and I was a lucky son of a bitch.”

“He’s right,” Melina echoed.

“About which part?” Gower teased.

“You can figure it out later. I’ve never had welcome home sex. This will be my first time,” Melina answered, snatching her hat off his head.

Gower felt his pants tighten. “I’m going to like being your first for something. Let’s make
later
happen sooner. Pardon me while I send out the bat signal.”

He grinned as he rapped on the car hood. The vehicle rocked with the activity going on inside it. For once, Princess didn’t have a yapping fit at the strange commotion. He heard Melina snort as she adjusted her uniform.

“Quick. Before he comes out. Do I have a superhero name yet?”

“Yes… but I’ll let Dillon tell you. He came up with it all on his own.”

The car door sprung open. “Princess! No! Come back here.”

The excited dog rounded the front of the car, braked when she saw Melina, and then started barking and dancing around in a circle at her feet. Gower swore at his luck even as he hid a smile behind his hand. Kids and dogs. Neither were predictable.

Melina looked down and then back up at Gower. “How in the hell did you…? Where…? I don’t know what to say to you, Beckett. Part of me wants to kill you right now.”

Gower removed his hand from his mouth and shrugged. “Yeah, I know. And it’s every bit as bad as you think. I followed you to the pet store and saw you with this dog. I went to get her the day you left. If you don’t want her, we can take her back, but you and Dillon will both be heartbroken. And both our names are on the adoption papers. The dog was a leap of faith.”

Melina stooped to pick up the dancing dog and Princess jumped into her outstretched hands to lessen the distance. The dog fought past the military gear and immediately put her face into Melina’s neck before sighing raggedly in relief.

“See? That’s why I went and got her. And I feel like doing that myself, if you want the truth,” Gower said softly. “Princess and I have a hell of lot in common when it comes to needing you.”

Melina sniffled at his declaration. Tears suddenly ran unchecked down her face into the dog’s fur. “Caring for a dog is a commitment I can’t make by myself. You know that. Is this some cocked-up proposal, Beckett?”

“I guess it’s half of one,” Gower answered, nodding at the emotion on her face. He liked the idea that Melina had thought of marriage first.

“Dad… Princess got away from me. Oh… I see she found Avenging Angel. Wait… why are you crying?” Dillon demanded in disgust, slapping his head with his hand. “Does crying mean you want to keep her? Girls are confusing… even superhero ones.”

Melina laughed at the sexist pronouncement, nodded against the dog’s head, and swallowed the knot in her throat at the worried look both males gave her. Beckett reduced her to whimpering nearly every time he was near. Dillon vacillated between hero worship and needing her nurturing. Was she really going to take on both these men for life? They were more trouble than a whole platoon of green recruits. Plus she had to talk nice to the Beckett men—all the time.