Healing Home

by Madden, J. M.

  “Whether he knows it or not, Link will probably be promoted to take Black’s place.”

  She glanced at Mary. “Really?”

  “Yes. The men all look up to him, and he’s one of the older team members. He would be the perfect replacement.”

  It made BB happy that the men looked up to him like that. She could tell he was a good guy, but it meant even more that he was appreciated by his peers like that. Being a Navy SEAL had to be an incredibly hard job.

  “Are you excited to have him home?”

  Mary’s pretty blue eyes turned luminous. “Very much so. The kids are getting older and if he doesn’t get some time with them now I think he’ll regret it. Don’t get me wrong, he loves the kids and dotes on them, but by necessity his job has taken him away a large part of their childhoods.”

  BB nodded, adjusting her stance as Frankie leaned against her leg. “I’m sure. And your marriage, as well.”

  She smiled a little sadly. “Yes. It’s going to be an adjustment having him home though.”

  “You’ll just have to lay down the law and tell him how things operate. Tell him it’s boot camp all over again.”

  Mary laughed and nodded. “Gonna have to give him jobs just to keep him from being underfoot. Come on. I’ll introduce you to the girls.”

  A group of kids ran through the food area, circling the group of women once, then disappearing around the pool.

  “Don’t fall in,” one of the mothers called.

  Mary introduced her to the women sitting in a circle around a glass table. BB had seen most of them yesterday, but there hadn’t really been time to connect or talk. Mary introduced them all and connected wives to husbands and kids. There was no way BB would remember them all, but she would try. Most of the women seemed welcoming but there were a few that were more reserved. That was fine. She was an unknown quantity mingling with their families. They had a right to be.

  Mary handed her a glass of chilled wine and nudged a veggie tray toward her. She took a carrot, munching absently. She shook her head slightly, loving the scene. It was all so normal, just like her family. But the difference was, there was an underlying… awareness that it could all change in a second. These men were warriors. She could see it in their ever-roving eyes and the way they shifted their bodies. They were on the lookout for danger, even here at a friend’s home.

  For some reason her eyes connected with Link’s. Neither of them moved for a long second, then he slowly smiled.

  BB’s body was already over sensitized, but literally, every time he gave her that seductive, half-grinning look, her body drenched itself for him. She’d never reacted to any man the way she did with Link. There was a… she hated to say comfort because it seemed to diminish the situation, but that was how she felt with him. Comfortable. She’d walked around naked, something she rarely did, and felt free to talk to him about anything. They steered clear of the specifics of his job, but that was okay. She knew there were things he couldn’t talk to her about.

  She loved that even in the midst of the chaos around them, he could catch her eyes and they had a connection.

  “Hello,” Mary signsonged, laughing softly.

  BB dragged her gaze away from Link and back to the woman talking to her. “Sorry.”

  Mary was staring at her thoughtfully. “You know, can you help me with something inside?”

  “Of course,” BB said, following her into the house, Frankie at her heels.

  It wasn’t nearly as loud inside. Mary led her through the wood-floored family room and into the massive kitchen. “Your home is beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Mary said moving to the fridge. “We bought it about five years ago, before our youngest son was born.”

  BB watched her lean into the depths of the fridge. “Can I help you with something?”

  Mary appeared holding a beautifully decorated cake.

  “Black tries to make me skip his birthday every year, but I won’t do it. Every single one is precious to me, so we celebrate them.”

  “I think that’s incredibly sweet.”

  Mary set the plate on the island and began trying to get off the clear plastic lid. It popped free, clearing the icing. “Wow, that’s beautiful. In a very military way,” she laughed.

  The cake had been painted camo colors. It should have seemed harsh, but it was actually very pretty.

  “We have a local lady that does them for us. She’s the wife of a fellow sailor and she’s trying to make a go of her bakery business.”

  “That’s wonderful. What a way to support her.”

  Mary nodded, leaning against the island. “We try to do that. All of those women and kids out there are my family as completely as Justin and the boys. As completely as the boys rely on each other in Afghanistan or Iraq or wherever they are, the wives sometimes have to do the same. We all pitch in for car pooling or child care. Pet care. We’ll shop for groceries if someone is running short.”

  “That’s such a community thing to do,” BB told her. “I wish I had people around me like that. I was an Army brat so I was used to having people around us all the time growing up, but when I got out of college I got a job in New York. It took a while to get used to having so many people around unwilling to do anything for you. I mean, I’ve seen crowds of people watch a man get hit on the streets then lay there. Once I got my own career going I knew I wanted solitude, because I’d never had it before. But I remember how supportive people could be the you needed them on base.”

  Mary nodded, a slight smile curling her lips. “Army brat, huh? I thought you might have had some kind of military in you.”

  “Both of my parents, and later one of my brothers.”

  The other woman nodded, looking out the window. She started to say something, then stopped, changing direction. “Link looks happy. Happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.”

  BB wondered if that were true. He appeared to be happy, but…

  “Well,” she said carefully, “good food and comfortable company can do that, I suppose.”

  “And good loving,” Mary said softly.

  BB laughed uncomfortably. “Mm.”

  “Don’t deny it. I can see how the two of you look at each other. If I can say anything, you have my complete support. Lincoln is a total sweetheart, but he’s had it hard for a long time. His ex really did a number on him.”

  BB hated being curious, but she was. “Why do you say that?”

  Mary looked out the window over the sink to the back yard. “She was just very self-motivated. And she was very adept at manipulating men. It was how she’d gotten through her first twenty-four, twenty-five years. She latched her little claws into Link and said everything right, did everything right, but there was something in her eyes… none of the wives liked her, and we couldn’t pinpoint why. It was like she was too perfect. If we even mentioned needing to do something she would be right there. We eventually realized she was doing stuff for us so that she could report back to Link that she was so helpful and everyone loved her.” Mary sighed. “They came back from deployment in Fifteen and she hit him hard. I think she told him she was pregnant, but I’m not sure. But Link was hooked. Within a couple weeks they were planning a little wedding.”

  “She sounds like a self-centered little twit,” BB said at one point, then snapped her mouth shut. Damn, that was a harsh.

  “She was,” Mary agreed, giving her a look. “Unfortunately Link didn’t figure that out until he came back from another deployment early and found her living with another man. She gave him the same sob story I’ve heard so many times from women. ‘Oh, baby, you were gone so long and I was so lonely’. It’s such bullshit. If you love someone you wait for them. Period. Or you go to them. Period.”

  BB totally agreed with what Mary was saying. Her heart ached for Link. With what she knew of his background it sounded like he’d just wanted someone of his own to come home to, and he’d taken what little support was offered.

  He was so big and stron
g. It was odd to think of him as vulnerable to a predatory woman like that.

  “So, they divorced?”

  “Yes,” Mary sighed. “She took half of everything he had. We only found out later that she’d been married two other times, to other military.”

  “Damn,” BB breathed.

  “He hasn’t been willing to go on blind dates or anything, but we thought if we hired a service it would be different. I think you’re more awesome than he expected, though.”

  “He’s more awesome than I expected,” BB admitted before she could think better of it.

  Mary’s brows lifted. “Think there’s a chance you could stay longer? Or…”

  BB shook her head. “I’m not going to commit to anything, but I will say that I enjoy Lincoln very much.”

  “Well, I just want you to know that I like you and I haven’t seen Lincoln look this settled in a long time. So thank you for whatever comfort you’ve given him.”

  BB was a little uncomfortable taking the praise because she was doing what her heart told her to do, and she was getting just as much satisfaction out of it.

  They returned to the covered patio and Mary gathered the rest of the women with a nod to troop around the pool to sing happy birthday to Justin Black. There was a lot of laughing and off-tune voices, but BB could feel the love swirling around her. She sang just as loud and off-key, and Link wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her close.

  Justin looked smug, but loving as his beautiful wife guided almost thirty people through the song. The love between them was so apparent. No wonder Link had been looking for something like this.

  BB wished she could be the one for him.

  Chapter 7

  Black’s birthday party was one of the most surreal days of his life. It was a pretend day, he decided. For a few hours they could all pretend that all was good in the team, that changes weren’t coming like a slow moving train. And for a few hours he could pretend that BB was there for him, not because she’d been hired to but because she wanted to be.

  They all seemed to be having fun, but he worried that BB felt obligated. Right now she was sketching kids under the shade of the patio. Had she offered to do that? He hoped so.

  “You know,” Swamp Man said, cradling his sleeping two-year old, Andrea. “She’s a good fit.”

  Link glanced at his buddy. Over the past few months he’d gotten woolier and woolier, living up to his Swamp Man name, but Jodi, his wife, had already cleaned him up. Stephen’s crazy beard had been trimmed into submission, and his hair was back above his collar now. It reminded him that he needed a cut as well.

  He glanced over at BB as he took the last swallow of beer from his bottle. “Yeah, I know she does.”

  “Where’s she from? Is she local?”

  Link shook his head. “North of Bakersfield somewhere.”

  “Hell, that’s not that far away,” Stephen said, smoothing down little Andrea’s hair. The little girl slept like a rock against Stephen’s chest, just like every other child they’d had. Link had watched all four go through this phase. Before long little Andrea would be running around with the rest of the older kids.

  Stephen was right. Maybe they could meet up for a few dates or something. He knew for a fact he’d brought her pleasure, so maybe that would be enough to bring her back into his arms.

  Fuck, that sounded pathetic. Was he really that hard up that he would accept whatever crumbs she’d be willing to drop him? It wasn’t like she was a woman scrambling to find her way in life. No, she had her path and she was very successful at what she did. Men should be falling all over themselves to be with her. He wasn’t exactly sure why she’d even taken the contract.

  He glanced across the pool at her again, and his blood chilled. One of the younger guys in the group, Logan Neal, aka, Rocket, had dared to cross into the woman’s territory to talk to BB. Leaning against the back of one of the chairs he grinned down at her, arms flexed in his too-tight t-shirt. Lincoln had seen the move, or one similar, many times before and he had to shake his head. It did show off the kid’s biceps pretty well.

  “Was I that obvious when I first joined the team?” he asked Swamp Man.

  “Nah,” the other man said, “you weren’t that good.”

  They both laughed and watched as Neal very obviously hit on BB. Neal probably thought the smile on her pretty face was a come on, but Link could see the humor and derision in her expression. She thought being hit on by this kid was funny. It was obvious he was finagling for his own picture, so, once she was done with the little boy she was doing, she waved Logan into the chair in front of her.

  Neal obviously took it as a win because something about his look changed. He got more smug. BB nodded as he continued to talk, her hand flying over the sketch pad in her hands. She seemed to get done with this one quicker, and as she handed the paper over, Neal’s face lost it’s enthusiasm. Then it completely shut down and Link could see anger creeping in.

  “Uh, oh,” Swamp Man said. “Better get over there, Link.”

  Lincoln was crossing the pool deck within seconds, his gaze connecting with BB. He stepped up behind Neal and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s see the masterpiece, Rocket.”

  It took everything in Link not to burst out laughing. In just a few easy strokes BB had captured the overblown ego of the man in front of her. The little boy she’d depicted wore military gear many sizes too big for him, and he carried a long gun but couldn’t seem to get the muzzle up out of the dirt. He wore a helmet, but it was cocked over one eye like it wouldn’t stay centered. The best part was the flyaway rocket trying to drag the boy backwards. It was a mess, but it was beautiful at the same time.

  “It looks just like you, Neal,” Link laughed. “How did she know you were the baby of the team?”

  Neal looked a little startled, and maybe just a bit less offended. “Not sure. Thank you for the picture, ma’am.”

  “You’re welcome, Rocket.”

  The young SEAL stalked away and BB’s gaze connected with Link’s. He wanted to laugh out loud, but Rocket would take it as an insult and Link didn’t feel like fighting today. He was all about loving.

  A couple of the kids crowded around him to show him their cartoons, and they were all fabulous. Link had no idea how she managed to catch the essence of every child, but she did. There was true talent in her soul.

  He settled into the chair Rocket had occupied moments ago. One of the smaller boys asked to be held, so Link picked him up and began looking at the toy truck in the boy’s hand.

  “Just hold him there, please,” BB murmured. “He’s been too flighty to settle down, but if you occupy him I can snatch his picture.”

  Link talked to baby Ethan, responding to his gibberish like he understood completely. Link had a feeling she was doing his picture as well as the baby’s, but he was okay with that. So, he talked to Ethan like he always did. Man, the boy had grown in just the few months they’d been gone, though. Holy crap. The weight on his knee had changed by at least a few pounds and he was starting to look like a little boy rather than a toddler.

  Eventually, BB nodded and turned the sketch pad to him. Ethan wasn’t interested, so he took off to find his mother. Link stared, though, his admiration for her growing. Rather than a cartoon, she’d done a quick portrait of the baby. With him holding him securely in his big hands. Lincoln wasn’t sure he was a good-looking as she portrayed, but she was the artist. She had license to do as she wanted.

  He loved the picture, though. He’d been partial to Ethan as soon as the baby had been born and Hannah and Grant had made him godfather of the boy. Which was a huge deal to him.

  The portrait that BB had done so quickly and beautifully would be framed.

  “Thank you,” he told her softly.

  “You are very welcome,” she said, just as softly, as if she knew how important it was to him.

  The party wound down soon after. The guest of honor had to go inside for sleep. Justin grumbled but Mary w
as implacable. It was actually pretty cute to watch them bicker, because he knew it was with love. Everything they did was with love.

  Damn. He was so mushy and emotional today. What the fuck?

  * * *

  BB hated to leave the gathering, but everyone was wrapping things up. Justin was still recovering, and he needed rest now that the team had seen he was okay. She got up with the rest of the women and started cleaning things up so that Mary wouldn’t have to worry about it.

  She asked about the other injured man and was told that he was fighting an infection. That was why they hadn’t come today. BB hoped he did okay.

  The thought of Link being injured, and having no one here for him, terrified her. And saddened her. When Mary returned from settling Justin, she asked her for a minute of her time.

  “I know this isn’t my place, but if Link ever gets injured, can you let me know? I’d like to be here for him.”

  Mary looked at her for a long moment before giving her a single nod. “I’ll have to check with him first, if possible, but yes, I will let you know.”

  Mary already had her number because she had been the main contact for the contract. “I appreciate that, Mary.”

  “I like you, BB. I hope you’ll come down and see us without Link being hurt.”

  She smiled sadly. “I like you too, Mary. Thank you so much for your hospitality and friendship. Maybe next time you have a party I can slide down.”

  BB didn’t know what she was saying. She really did like all of these people and there was a communal draw that surprised her a little. Even Rocket had been kinda cute in his misguided way. Military families were strong and she was flattered that they’d taken her in the way they had.

  Lincoln sighed as they climbed into his truck. “I hope that didn’t get to tedious for you. I know you probably get asked to sketch people a lot.”

  “I do sometimes, but I enjoyed doing it here. No one asked other than Rocket. I offered.”

  The evening was nice so they left the windows down. Frankie hung her head out the window, making BB worry. She ended up rolling the window up part way and wrapping a hand around her chest.