At the guarded gate, she was given a pass for her car and directions where to go and where to park. Once parked, she hurried through the entrance and toward an information desk.
“I’m looking for the ICU,” she said to the petty officer on duty.
“No visitors in the ICU, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“Master Chief Benjamin Blackwell. I’m Holly Maxwell. I have permission to see him.”
The young petty officer checked something on the computer in front of her. “Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t know.” The woman pointed. “Go to the elevators over there and head up to the third floor. There’ll be signs.”
Holly hadn’t thought her heart could race faster or her nerves get shakier, but she’d been wrong. On the elevator, she leaned against the wall and prayed she wasn’t too late.
She followed the signs to a small, four-bed intensive care unit and stepped up to the nursing station.
“I’m here to see Master Chief Benjamin Blackwell. I have permission,” she added to avoid the no visitor routine.
“Holly Maxwell?” the man behind the desk asked.
“Yes. That’s me.”
“We’ve been expecting you.”
“How’s Ben. Is he awake?”
The man smiled. “Awake and mad as hell.”
The rigid muscles in her back relaxed for the first time in a month, and she chuckled with a smile. “Good. Glad to hear it.”
“We are, too. This way, ma’am.”
The man led her to the fourth room and let her enter the room alone. Her heart, which had at last slowed to a normal beat, fell to her knees when she saw Ben. Lying amid white sheets, his beautiful hair stuck up in all directions. His ruddy cheeks and tan skin were wan under the hospital lighting. When she gently closed the door behind her, his stunning blue eyes opened, and he turned toward the noise.
She froze, not sure if she should run across the room and throw her arms around him, or wait for him to invite her in.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice gruff and just short of rude.
She took a step forward, confident in the knowledge that he loved her. “I’m here to kick your ass for scaring me.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Is that so? And who’s going to help you?’
This time, she walked up to his bed. “In the condition you’re in, I think I can do it all by myself.”
A smile broke out on his face. “You never did put up with my horseshit, did you?”
“Nope. Never did. Never will.” She patted her chest. “You’re firmly planted in here.” Then she laid her hand on his chest. “I know the love that’s inside here. You’re a good man, Ben. Good and honorable. To deny yourself love for the rest of your life is wrong on every level. You have too much love to give to keep it inside. Your father, well, he was wrong. It’s that simple. You’re worthy of loving, or I wouldn’t love you so much. You’re worthy of respect, or your team would never have followed you into harm’s way. You are worthy of being a father to my daughter, or you’d have never had the chance to meet her, which would’ve been a shame since she adores you, too.”
He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I don’t deserve you.”
She smiled. “True. We can agree on that.”
He chuckled. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”
“I never wanted to fall in love again, and definitely not with a man whose job puts his life at risk, but…” She shrugged. “I have. If the last month has taught me anything, I’d rather have as much time as I can with you than live without you in our lives. I know it’ll be hard. I know SEAL families have to be strong, and Katie and I will learn to be.”
“Well, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Gently, she perched her hip on his mattress. “This okay? Am I hurting you by moving the bed?”
“I’m fine. Do you remember when I told you that one of the reasons that being with one person over the summer would be perfect timing for me was because I had a lot of decisions to make?”
Her brow furrowed. “Sort of, but gosh, that conversation was five months ago. Pretend I remember and go on with your story.”
“I knew a year ago that I needed to leave teams. Hell, Holly, I’ll be thirty-six next month. I told myself I was living on borrowed time staying in teams. If I couldn’t keep up with the younger guys on my team, then I’d put them or me at risk. I was approached about two different jobs I could do while getting in my twenty for retirement. I’ve spent the summer going over the pros and cons of each position. I only had one chance to get it right, so I didn’t want to be distracted this summer with women.”
“I kind of do remember this. What did you decide? Are you leaving California?” Her heart stuttered at the thought he might have to move away for the Navy, and if he did, would he want her to go? She would if he asked.
“I’ve accepted a position as a SEAL instructor.” He smiled. “That means I’ll be based here.” He took her hand. “I want to be where you are.”
Her vision blurred with tears. “And I would have gone to wherever you had to go. I love you, Ben.”
“I love you, Holly.”
She leaned forward to kiss him, but he held up his hand to stop her.
“No. No kissing. I haven’t brushed my teeth since, hell, I don’t know when.”
“Got us covered.” She pulled a peppermint from her purse, bit it in half, and put one piece in her mouth. “Open up,” she said with a grin. He did and she set the second piece on his tongue. “Now, chew and then kiss me.”
He chewed, and then she leaned over to kiss him. He tasted like mint and love.
When she pulled away, she asked, “What are your plans when you get out of the hospital?”
He shrugged. “I’ll go back to my house to recover.”
“Buzzzzz.” She made a rude, wrong answer sound. “Wrong answer. When you tell a woman you love her, and she tells you she loves you, then the correct answer is, can I come stay with you? Now try it.”
He chuckled. “Holly Maxwell, the love of my life. Can I come stay at your house for a little while?”
“See? How hard was that? Of course, you can.”
* * *
Four Weeks Later
His legs were stronger. His bullet wounds had healed. His team had moaned and groaned when he’d confirmed he was leaving the teams. Jacob took over as Bravo One and Benjamin knew he was leaving the team in excellent hands.
He was still staying in the guestroom at Holly’s house, but he was okay with that. He loved Holly and Katie and wanted to be a strong, male role model for Katie.
His legs weren’t comfortable in Holly’s small sedan, so she’d begun to drive his truck. Heaven help him. She loved his truck and took it as often as she could, even if he wasn’t traveling with her.
Today, she was driving the three of them to the Long house for their annual Thanksgiving feast. When he’d asked how this feast would be different from all the other meals they’d had there, she’d rolled her eyes and told him there would be twice as much food. He didn’t see how that was possible.
He’d been wrong.
“We’re here,” Holly called through the front door of her parents’ house.
Her dad looked up from the football game playing on the television. “Hi, pumpkin. Hey, Benjamin. Good to see you. Come on in. Boys,” he said to Hank and Harvey. “Off the couch. Let Benjamin sit there.”
The boys jumped up. “Hi, Uncle Benjamin,” Hank said. “Can I see where the bullet hit you?”
“Yeah, me too,” said Harvey.”
“Boys,” Patrick said. “We talked about this. Benjamin is not here for show and tell.”
Benjamin laughed. “It’s fine, Patrick.” He sat on the couch and the two boys took seats on either side.
Holly shook her head. “I’m going to the kitchen and see if Mom needs help.”
Lawrence snorted. “You women don’t think we know that you drink wine back there?”
/> Holly rattled the three bottles of wine she carried. With an upward tilt of her nose, she sniffed. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Benjamin grinned and watched her prance off. God, he loved that woman. He’d had no idea that’s what love was all about. While he would never forget what his father had done to him after his mother died, for the first time, he understood the depths of his father’s despair. That didn’t excuse the behavior, but understanding gave Benjamin enough closure to put his past in the past where it belonged.
“Patrick,” Diana called from the kitchen. “Please set the kids’ table up.”
He waved her off. “I will.” As soon as she disappeared behind the kitchen door, he added, “As soon as halftime starts.”
“I notice you didn’t give that answer until after your wife couldn’t hear,” Lawrence said.
“I’m not stupid,” Patrick said.
The guys laughed.
When the family gathered at the main dining room table for meals, the usual place for the kids to eat was the kitchen. However, Benjamin discovered that one of the family’s Thanksgiving traditions was that the kids got to sit at a kids’ table in the adjoining living room so they were part of the festivities.
Once everyone was seated, Patricia said, “We have so much to be thankful for this year.” She looked at Benjamin and said, “Traditionally, we go around the table, and everyone says what they are thankful for. We’ll let you go last so you’ll get an idea.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Children first,” Patricia announced.
Hank said, “I’m thankful I got Mrs. Rowe for third grade. She’s so much better than Mr. Gold.”
Harvey said, “Um…I’m thankful I got a new bike.”
Hillary chewed at a nail and thought. “I guess I’m thankful I have pretty hair.”
Her brothers began gagging and pretending to throw up.
Benjamin had to cover his mouth not to laugh.
“That’s enough,” Diana said. “And you do have beautiful hair, honey.”
“You’re next, Katie.”
“I’m thankful Mom’s in a better mood these days.”
Holly chuckled. “Me too, honey.”
“Okay adults,” Patricia said. “The children have set high standards. Let’s see what you’ve got. Robert?”
“I’m thankful I’m one year closer to retirement.”
Danny grinned. “I’m thankful my baton accidentally slipped and busted Benjamin’s taillight.”
That brought a round of laughs.
“I’m thankful the boys haven’t killed each other,” Diana said.
“But it was close a few times,” Patrick added.
“True.”
It continued around the table until it was Holly’s turn.
She took a deep breath. “I’m thankful for Benjamin. I’m thankful he lived. I’m thankful he’s here with us. And I’m thankful none of you will be fixing me up on blind dates, ever again.”
Benjamin laughed, as did the others.
“Hmm,” Benjamin said. “I’m the last one.” He tapped his chin. “Got to make it memorable, since I’m last and this is the first time I’ve done this.”
Holly leaned over. “It’s not a big deal. Don’t stress over this.”
“I’m thinking,” he said, then he snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it.” He turned toward Holly. “I’m thankful you lied to your family about me. I’m thankful, sort of, that Danny busted my taillight. I’m thankful your family has welcomed me. I’m thankful I get the chance to tell you how much I love you and how much I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”
He scooted back his chair and a quizzical expression filled Holly’s face. His heart raced with nerves.
He dropped to one knee and winced a little at the twinge of discomfort in his healing thigh. He pulled a ring box from his front pocket and snapped it open.
Holly gasped.
Benjamin looked up into her eyes. “The only thing I could be more thankful for is if you’d agree to marry me.”
“Are you serious?” she asked with a cry. “Of course, I’ll marry you.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes. I love you.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms. “Thank goodness.” He kissed her. Behind them, Hank and Harvey gagged.
At the table, he heard a few sniffs as he slid the diamond solitaire onto her finger.
“It’s beautiful and perfect,” she said, holding out her hand so she could admire it. “How did you know exactly what I would want?”
He reached over and put his arm around Katie’s shoulders. “I might have had a little help.”
Her gaze swung toward her daughter. “Katie, you knew?”
She shrugged. “He asked me first if it was okay. I said it was fine and that he was okay enough.”
Holly sniffed and laughed. “For an old guy.”
Benjamin groaned. “Something like that. She went with me to pick out the right ring.”
“It’s perfect,” Holly said, still holding out her hand and looking at the ring.
“Well, now…” Patricia said. “We need some champagne.” She left the table and returned with three bottles.
“Mom? Since when do you stock champagne?”
“Since sweet, sweet Benjamin asked your father and me if he could marry you?”
“You knew, too?”
Her dad spoke up. “We weren’t surprised, honey. We’ve all known for some time that you two belonged together.”
Bethany sniffed. “This is so cool, guys. Don’t let my mother anywhere near your wedding.”
Holly laughed.
Patricia popped a cork and began to fill glass flutes.
“Hey, we want to drink too,” Harvey said.
“Of course,” his grandmother replied and handed Diana a bottle of sparkling, white grape juice. “I bought an extra bottle of, um, champagne for them.”
They toasted and ate and laughed the entire meal. Benjamin couldn’t wipe the broad grin from his face.
This was his world now. Love. Family. Laughter. Jokes. Kids. All he lacked was the dog and that would be easy enough to fix. In five months, he’d gone from a lone wolf/confirmed bachelor to a man with a family.
He looked at the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. She was talking to her sister-in-law and laughing, her eyes bright and twinkling.
How had a confirmed bachelor gotten so lucky? He didn’t sure and he wasn’t going to question fate. He draped an arm around the back of Holly’s chair. She looked over, smiled, kissed him, and went back to talking to Diana.
He only knew he would spend every day for the rest of his life thankful for what he’d been given.
Acknowledgments
At Coastal Magic convention in February 2020, I had the pleasure of meeting so many readers. During one of the games, I met a reader named Holly Maxwell. I immediately said, “Your name is perfect for my heroine.” She laughed, I’m sure thinking I was kidding. But after the convention, I reached out to Holly and she was happy to share her name with my character. So to Holly Maxwell…THANKS! You rock!
* * *
In this book, my heroine has a twelve-going-on-thirteen year old daughter. My personal experiences with pre-teens are limited to my own experiences. Having never been a mother to a pre-teen, hormonal girl, I reached out to Facebook for help. These ladies were kind enough to let me pepper them with questions and solicit recommendations for my characters. For that I am thankful. Any mistakes or mischaracterization of a pre-teen girl are my own. THANK YOU to Jody Holt, Kristen Humphry Johnson, Jessica Robinson, and Bru Baker. You ladies made my load lighter.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Cynthia D’Alba started writing on a challenge from her husband in 2006 and discovered having imaginary sex with lots of hunky men was fun. She was born and raised in a small Arkansas town. After being gone for a number of years, she’s thrilled to be making her home b
ack in Arkansas living in a vine-covered cottage on the banks of an eight-thousand acre lake. When she’s not reading or writing or plotting, she’s doorman for her border collie, cook, housekeeper and chief bottle washer for her husband and slave to a noisy, messy parrot. She loves to chat online with friends and fans.
You can find her most days at one of the following online homes:
Website: cynthiadalba.com
Facebook:Facebook/cynthiadalba
Twitter:@cynthiadalba
Pinterest: Pinterest/CynthiaDAlba
Newsletter:NewsletterSign-Up
Street Team:D’Alba Diamonds
Or drop her a line at [email protected]
* * *
Or send snail mail to: Cynthia D’Alba PO Box 2116 Hot Springs, AR 71914
Read on for excerpts from
other Hot SEAL books
by
Cynthia D’Alba
Hot SEAL, Cold Beer
Diamond Lakes, Texas Book 2
An ex-Navy SEAL agrees to play fake lover for the Maid of Honor at a destination wedding only to discover that what happens on a Caribbean Island can sometimes follow you home.
* * *
Nicholas Falcone, aka Nikko, aka Falcon, is five months out from active SEAL duty, putting his pre-service accounting degree to use while going to law school at night. He’d love to take a vacation between semesters, but every buck is earmarked for his education. When a fellow accountant approaches him about his sister needing an escort for a destination wedding, Nikko jumps at the idea. With the wedding families footing the bill, what does he have to lose?
* * *
Surgeon Dr. Jennifer Pierce is still stinging from a broken engagement. Going to a destination wedding at the Sand Castle Resort in the Caribbean would be great if only her ex-fiancé and his new wife weren’t also attending. Her options are to find a date or not go, but not going isn’t really an option. That means letting her brother set her up with a guy from his accounting office…Heaven forbid. When did accountants start looking like this?
Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor Page 19
