Springwell Series: Books 1 - 6, page 75
It was all true, even if it wasn’t the real reason behind my decision to install something now. I just didn’t want to admit that I was—we were—facing a credible threat from a highly trained Special Forces SEAL with deep connections in the Navy and a vicious grudge. I didn’t want to worry her, but it didn’t hurt to take precautions.
“Finally,” Soledad said as she came from the bedroom with Luke in her arms.
“Was he good for you?” I asked, regretting that I’d been no help to her during the hours Steve and I had checked and rechecked the system.
“He was fine. A little fussy and bored, but no big deal. He seems to be noticing more, and he wants stimulation,” she said, but she looked tired as she came down the stairs. I reached for Luke, taking him from her, and found the boy studying me, bright-eyed.
I had read about the developmental phases of infants and how quickly they changed. At seven weeks, Luke was becoming more aware of the world, both visually and by listening for sounds. We’d started giving him tummy time to help him develop his strength and connection to things, but he seemed to need more.
“Let’s take him for a walk,” I suggested. We could all do with getting out of the house, and maybe some fresh air would break the tension that had coated every interaction between me and Soledad since I’d kissed her on the back porch. We’d crossed into some strange territory, which was my fault. I’d been the one unable to resist her in that moment.
In the aftermath, I’d evaluated my actions, trying to see them objectively, as if I was debriefing from a mission. My pondering led to one conclusion and one course of action: I had to quash any feelings of desire I had for Soledad. Did I want to kiss her again? Make love to her? Hell, yes. But it was simpler and safer if I maintained distance between us. After all, that was what she had said she wanted.
And even though staying emotionally distant wouldn’t prevent Bruce from targeting the mother of my son, at least this way I could protect her from myself. My relationships didn’t work out. I knew that was due to my own upbringing and the way it had damaged my ability to trust.
I’d learned early on not to rely on connections to others, because people always let you down in the end. My parents sure had. They weren’t anything like the image of parents on television or even in my friends’ homes where Mom and Dad loved each other and were happy about having kids. By the time I was six, I’d realized that was a fantasy world.
Years later, the Admiral had come into my life…but in the end, even he had disappointed me in a way. Rationally, I knew that the Admiral couldn’t help dying when he had, but not having my foster father there to see me become a SEAL had been a great disappointment. I had had a point to prove, and I felt like I’d been denied an opportunity to demonstrate that I measured up.
Life was a series of letdowns. Some serious, others minor. But I had no illusions. I met life head-on, with a cynical eye. Not qualities that made for great long-term relationships with women. Soledad must have figured that out—it was why she’d ended things with me in the first place. I had no right to ask her to start things up again when I was no more capable of giving her what she needed and deserved now than I had been before. So I’d kept it platonic with Soledad since the kiss. That was my best route. Platonic and hopefully friendly so there was no bad blood between us that might impact Luke. I didn’t want any acrimony to taint my interactions with Soledad. Having parents who got along and shared responsibility was the best gift we could give Luke.
“I’d enjoy a walk,” Soledad answered. Was she suspicious of my motives, since I hadn’t offered a walk since the day of the kiss? If she did, she didn’t bring it up. “Let me get Frankie from the yard.”
While she was gone, I strapped Luke into the stroller and pushed it out the front door. The day was perfect, blue sky and sunshine. A minute later, Soledad and Frankie joined us, and together we headed the same direction as we had on our previous walk. The small park a few blocks away made a good destination. I imagined we would spend plenty of time at that park as Luke got older and wanted to go down the slide or play on the swings. I wondered what my arrangement with Soledad would be in a year or two. Would she still be living with me, or would she had insisted on finding a place of her own by then? I didn’t like the thought of her moving out, and not just because of the safety concerns. Somehow, I knew the house would feel way too empty if she and Luke weren’t filling it anymore.
“I can take Luke tonight and give you a break,” I offered as we walked.
“I’m fine. No need,” she responded without looking at me.
“All right,” I said. I changed tactics, since my first overture hadn’t worked. “I’ll make a grocery store run later, then. We need diapers. What can I get you?”
“Nothing special,” she replied, never looking in my direction.
I wanted to grip her arm and swing her around so we were face to face. Maybe then I’d get more of a response from her. Perhaps, though, she was being the smart one, the one who understood that the distance between us was necessary. Wasn’t she the one who had broken away from the kiss and made an excuse to leave me?
“Uh-oh,” Soledad said in a low voice, pointing underneath a car parked at the curb and tightening her grip on the leash. A large tiger-striped cat slunk out from the shadows. Frankie barked furiously, and the cat dashed across the lawn with a hiss.
“Hey, puppy,” Soledad said to Frankie when the cat had disappeared into the shrubs, “this is the cat’s house. Don’t be rude when we’re guests on her sidewalk.” Frankie rubbed against Soledad’s leg almost as if she were apologizing for her actions.
“She’s a good dog,” I commented. “I’m glad you rescued her.” Surely this was a topic that Soledad would take up.
“Yep,” Soledad said without elaboration, and I gave up any attempt at conversation as we took a circuit around the park and headed home.
We’d just about reached my house again when a curvy woman with blonde curls appeared on the sidewalk ahead of us. She wore strappy sandals, too high for a casual walk, with a short black skirt and a bright pink, clingy shirt.
Trinity Maki. Shit. I’d forgotten that her brother lived just down the street.
“Alex,” Trinity exclaimed, dashing up to us and throwing her arms around my neck. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen you.” She squeezed me tight, not something I’d ever enjoyed—too confining—and sure as hell not now.
I let the hug last about two more seconds for politeness’s sake before untangling myself from the woman I’d dated several years earlier. We’d gone out maybe half a dozen times when I was between deployments. Trinity had been fun, an easy fling, but what we’d shared hadn’t meant much to either of us—or so I’d thought. I watched as Trinity’s eyes tracked to Soledad and Luke, who was sleeping in the baby stroller.
“Are you on leave?” Trinity flipped her curls behind her shoulders.
“Trinity,” I said, choosing to ignore the question, “this is…”
Soledad, with only the briefest nod to Trinity, had continued toward the door to my house. I squinted after her. Her back was ramrod straight, each movement looking almost mechanical. She’d already been unhappy with me. Now she was just plain pissed off. Christ.
“I guess you’ve been busy.” Trinity touched her hand to my arm, forcing my attention back to her. “Your kid?”
“He is.” I gave the barest answer. I wasn’t sure how to explain my situation with Soledad, and I for damn sure didn’t want to fumble around for answers in front of Trinity, one of the biggest gossips I’ve ever met.
Trinity’s gaze did a rapid dip to my left hand, and she almost beamed when she saw I didn’t have a ring on.
“He’s adorable,” she gushed.
“Thanks,” I said, doubting that she had even looked at Luke. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I was across the street visiting my brother. You know, I’ve thought about you. A lot.” Trinity’s smile was at full wattage. She was pretty, with a ton of sex appeal, and she knew it. That didn’t mean I had to respond. I had gladly done so at one time, but my life was different now.
My front door slammed shut, and I imagined Soledad throwing the newly installed deadbolt in place and arming the security system. Good thing I had the code to get in through the garage.
“So,” Trinity said, not backing up an inch, “if you’re on leave, maybe we could get together.”
“I don’t think so.” I didn’t have to be with Soledad to know that I wasn’t interested in reopening that chapter in my life. “I have other responsibilities now. In fact, I should be getting back to them, but it’s been good to see you.” I stepped away, breaking the connection between us.
“Well, if you change your mind, my number’s the same. Bye, Alex.” She turned and crossed the street. Trinity had always had plenty of wiggle in her walk, but I thought she added an extra swing for my benefit.
I didn’t bother to watch the full show, knowing what it would be. Trinity would lean into her car, pretending to search for something, and make sure her skirt slid up when she got in. A few years ago, it would have been enough to engage my attention, to have me following after her looking for a quick hookup. But I liked to think I had better taste now. A certain woman had raised my standards, taught me what real allure looked like.
Even at the beginning of my relationship with Soledad, when we were still flirting, she’d never resorted to those sorts of tricks. She hadn’t had to, since she’d captured me with her beautiful eyes and genuine smile. I hadn’t been able to resist, and even though she was angry at me now, if she’d wanted to, she could still draw me in.
But no. I couldn’t let that happen. My eyes scanned the street, looking for anything out of the ordinary. I’d been vigilant during our walk, keeping a constant watch for Bruce as I had for the past days, but I’d let myself get distracted with Trinity.
When I saw nothing to worry me, I tried my front door and was mildly surprised to find it unlocked. I closed it behind me and armed the system. From where I stood, I could see Soledad in the living room with Luke. He’d woken up, and she had him in her arms, swinging him gently from side to side and making him coo. She smiled at him before bringing his face to hers and kissing his cheeks.
They were beautiful together, and I wanted to be part of the happiness passing between them. I took a step into the living room, catching her attention. Her expression changed to the wary one she’d worn around me for the past days.
“There’s some mail for you,” she said. “I left it on the table by the door.”
I didn’t give a damn about the mail, but before I could say anything to her, she announced that Luke needed a diaper change and went up the stairs without another glance at me. With nothing better to do, I turned to the letter on the table. It was a card in a blue envelope. We’d received plenty of baby congratulation notes in the past weeks. I slit it open and yanked out the card. The front had a cartoon of a blue rattle and a baby bottle.
The message inside chilled my blood, though. “You’re a lucky bastard, Golden Boy. But for how long?” The card was unsigned, but I knew instantly who the sender was. I’d seen Bruce Lewis’s handwriting on dozens of reports. The neat, small, slightly slanted script was unmistakable. So was the term Bruce used for me: Golden Boy. I had heard Bruce sneer those words often enough.
I crushed the card in my fist, squeezing it into a tight ball, as my heart thudded in my chest. On the second floor, Soledad sang to Luke, unaware of the danger that hung over them. It was my job to keep it that way. My duty to keep them safe. I needed to look at it like a mission, one that I had no intention of failing at.
6
ALEX
Ispent the night pacing the floor, part of it soothing Luke and part debating about involving my family in the situation with Bruce. By morning, I knew I had to tell them about the threat for two reasons. One, the SEAL community was small, and the Vale brothers were well known. Even though Colin and Zach were retired now, Bruce knew of them and could target either of them—and their families. I couldn’t be sure if he knew about my relationship to Chance—who was also a former SEAL—but the scuttlebutt had probably gotten around by now. And with a toddler in the house and another baby on the way, Chance would want to know about any possible threats. To be honest, all three of the guys would be seriously pissed if I didn’t share this danger with them. A couple of early-morning texts, and everything was set up.
Getting together was a hell of a lot more complicated now that we all had women in our lives and children to raise. As we headed to the park, I glanced at Soledad walking next to me, pushing Luke’s stroller. Being a parent changed everything. I’d always been aware of the world and its dangers, but the need to protect that had driven me to seek out the most challenging rescue missions was ten times stronger due to Luke and Soledad. I couldn’t let anything happen to them, so I needed my family’s wisdom and support. Chance, Zach, and Colin all gave good advice—and they’d been through some trials on their own, so they’d get where I was coming from.
I’d sold this family get-together to Soledad as a casual playdate, and after a moment’s hesitation, she agreed to it. I didn’t know what went through her mind during that minute, but I’d been prepared with arguments designed to convince her without revealing the truth.
We were the first to arrive, as I’d planned, because I wanted time to evaluate the location and find a good vantage point. I wasn’t taking the chance of Bruce sneaking up on us while we were out with the kids. I let Frankie off her leash, knowing she wouldn’t wander far.
“How about the picnic table under those trees?” I suggested after surveying the play area, shelter house, and soccer fields. The trees would give us cover if we needed it, and the spot on the edge of the park allowed me to see nearly everything, including the parking lot.
“Fine with me,” she said briskly, her first words since leaving the house. “I can put Luke on a blanket in the shade. He’ll like that.”
I wanted to ask if she might enjoy the visit, even a little. She liked my in-law, or seemed to, and their kids were great. I wanted Luke to be close with his cousins, even though he was too little to play with them for now. When he was bigger, they’d play together, forming bonds that would last.
When we reached the picnic table, I helped Soledad unpack what Luke needed from the stroller. I shot her a sharp look when she placed a bottle of Cherry Coke, my favorite soda, on the table near me. Her only response was a shrug, but it surprised me that she’d thought of me when she was preparing for the picnic. Things rarely happened that I didn’t expect.
“Thanks,” I said, loosening the cap while I searched for the right words to say to her.
“I thought you’d get thirsty.” She took a drink from her bottle of ginger ale.
My eyes went to her throat, watching the muscles that worked there—the same movement that had led me to kiss her on the back porch. She lowered the bottle, flushing pink. Her thoughts were apparently in sync with mine. We hadn’t talked about the kiss, and we should, even if I didn’t want to. An adult conversation would help to establish some boundaries and clear the air between us…but it might also close off possibilities. I realized I didn’t want to do that yet. What the hell? I knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to pursue a relationship with her, but now…
“Here’s Colin and Lily,” she said, shifting her attention away from me.
Christ. The newcomers had gotten within twenty yards of us without me being aware of it. My guard had come down when my desire for Soledad ramped up. Stupid mistake. I rose to greet my brother.
“Hi,” Lily called. She held Colin’s hand as Sofia ran toward me and Soledad. The three-year-old dashed to where Luke lay on a blanket and dropped to her knees next to him, seemingly mesmerized.
“She’s curious about babies,” Colin said as he reached me and shook my hand. “Good to see you, Soledad.”
“Thanks. You, too.” Soledad smiled at Colin before turning her attention to Lily and the kids.
“Zach was getting his brood out of the car, and I saw Chance looking for a parking space as I started heading over. They’ll all be here in a minute,” Colin said, his eyes tracking to his wife and daughter.
“Glad you could make it,” I commented.
“It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Going to the park’s a great idea.” Colin directed a look at me, a look that said he knew this was more than it seemed on the surface.
A few minutes later, Zach and Carolyn walked toward us, along with Chance and Mandy. Chance had his son, Ray, perched on his shoulders and was holding his wife’s hand. Meanwhile, Zach was carrying Erin, their eight-month-old, while their toddler, Austin, raced toward the other children and Frankie, who yapped excitedly.
“I’ll take this one.” Carolyn reached for the baby girl as Chance lifted Ray down to the ground, where the twenty-month-old took off after his cousins. “You boys probably want to talk.”
“What’ll you be doing?” Zach asked.
“The same, but I’m guessing our subject matter will be different. Alex has a serious look about him.”
“He always does,” Zach said, giving me a punch in the arm. “I’m the light-hearted one of this crew.”
Carolyn laughed at her husband’s words. “Right.” She took the baby to where Soledad and Lily sat at the picnic table with the kids playing beside them.
I took another scan of our surroundings, knowing the men in my family had already done the same out of habit. My eyes lingered on Soledad before I shifted my attention away from her.
Soledad
I stroked Frankie’s head as I listened to Mandy, Carolyn, and Lily talk. As much as I enjoyed being out of the house and having adult company other than Alex, I had mixed feelings about this playdate. Alex’s cousin- and sisters-in-law had always been kind to me, both when Alex and I were dating and since Luke’s birth. But I wasn’t in the club. I was the baby mama, not a girlfriend, fiancée, or wife. I felt like an outsider despite the easy conversation.
