by Vaughn, Ann
"Mike?" she prompted.
"Your skin is so soft," he said, raising the back of her hand to his lips again.
She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her then.
"Oh, no, Commander, you aren't getting out of answering me."
"No?" he replied, tugging on her hand to pull her into his arms and sealing his lips over hers. Before she knew it, he'd pulled her completely into his lap, one arm supporting her weight, the other hand buried in her hair as he deepened the kiss. For a moment, thoughts of nightmares and planes full of other people fled from her mind and all she could think about was this moment, this man and this kiss.
"Mike," she breathed when he trailed his lips down her neck.
"Yes?"
"Why was this dream different?" she pressed, causing him to lift his head and meet her gaze.
"Because in my dream, my captors brought you in to torture in front of me and when I got free, the leader plunged a knife into your heart," he said bluntly.
Neither spoke for a moment, those words hanging in the air between them. Then Lainey licked her lips and leaned forward, kissing him.
"It was just a dream though, Commander. You're safe now. No one will ever torture you like that again."
"Conroy could," he said, his voice soft and low.
"Mike -" she began but he cut her off.
"All the missions I went on, even when I was captured, I was never really afraid. Apprehensive and anxious, sure. But never afraid. The only time I feel real fear, the only time my breath feels like it's running out...is when I think of something happening to you," he confessed to her. She gasped and he touched his fingertips to her lips, "I know that I've only been in your life a short time...but because of Riley, I've felt like I've known you for years. He talked about you a lot...and after that time I saw you at the Founders Day Ball, I finally had a face to put to that name...and this face," he said, caressing her cheek, "has never been far from my thoughts...and you...are more than I could have ever dreamed...you're beautiful and sweet, smart and full of that Irish spunk that drives me insane."
She smiled, pressing her forehead to his. "You're going to make me cry, Commander," she whispered, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. To distract herself, she tugged on his hair. "If you let this grow out, would it have a curl to it?"
"It would look just like Nick's," he replied.
She looked lost for a moment and she would never know how much that clueless look meant to him. He brought her fingers to his lips, winking at her.
"Nick's hair?" she asked, and he could tell she was genuinely puzzled.
"You didn't notice Nick's hair?"
"Um, was a little preoccupied by the fact that he had your face," she grumbled.
"My face, huh?" he asked, nipping at her fingertips.
Lainey smiled, cupping his chin with her free hand. "Yes, your face...though," she turned his head to the side to study his left profile, then to the right to study the opposite side, "your face has more character."
Mike and Lainey were so lost in each other that they had no clue that all eyes (except Sarah's, because she was asleep) were on them. Jenna couldn't decide what was more interesting to watch, the budding romance between the stoic Mike and the sweet-faced Lainey...or the guys' reactions to watching them, which she found really interesting...and really touching.
"That's still...amazing," Coop said.
"Why?" Claire asked.
"The Commander," Colt began, "never once dated while I was with the team. Never went out carousing when the rest of us did."
"You caroused?" Jenna asked Riley with a raised brow.
"I was in my mid-twenties and a badass SEAL. Hell, yeah, I caroused," he replied, making her laugh.
"But Mike never did?" Claire asked.
"He'd go out on a blind date from time to time to indulge Melissa," Whit explained.
"But this," Colt said, nodding toward Mike and Lainey, "never."
"Never?" Jenna asked, looking to Riley for confirmation.
"Not since college," Riley explained.
Jenna looked back over to Mike and Lainey, thinking they made a perfect couple. Lainey's blonde, petite frame was a perfect compliment to Mike's dark hair and complexion. She loved that Lainey was bringing out a different side of Riley's best friend...the side she caught glimpses of when he'd come to her house and ended up letting Cam talk him into playing war games on his PlayStation. It was during those times that she saw the gentle soul behind the warrior's mask. She was sure he didn't show that side often, but once she'd cottoned on to the attraction between him and Riley's cousin, she began to hope that things would work out between them. He was wonderful with Cam and she knew he'd make a great father someday.
She had no doubt that even though he was giving his undivided attention to Lainey, that at that moment, just like Riley and she imagined Colt, Coop and Whit, Mike was fully aware of his surroundings; fully aware of all the eyes that were on him. Several times, she watched him raise Lainey's small hand to his lips and kiss either her knuckles, her fingertips, or occasionally her palm. It made her smile and she hoped that everything would work out smoothly for him and Lainey. They faced a much more challenging road than she and Riley did, but she had to believe that the man who led his men through so much danger, who sacrificed himself so that Riley could live, would finally have his own bit of peace and happiness. As she watched Lainey snuggle into him and lay her head on his chest, Jenna offered up a little prayer that they would continue to stay as happy as they both appeared to be in that moment.
Chapter Twenty
The minute the guys stepped into Mike's loft, they all shifted into mission mode, going straight to the office area and beginning their game plan for the Founders Day Ball security. Jenna took the other wives to their various hotels, leaving Lainey in the loft with the guys. Mike had told her on the plane that they would have about two hours at the loft and then they would be going to the Adtkissons, so while they worked in the office, she went upstairs and laid down. She wasn't sleepy but feeling...she wasn't quite sure what she was feeling; that she wished they didn't have to jump right back into the security stuff. The flight had been so nice. It would have been nice to come back and have a chance to just chill out and relax with him for the rest of the day.
One day soon, her life would go back to some semblance of normal. She hoped it was very soon. Her patients needed her. Some would go to the stand-in counselors she and Kacee arranged, but she knew most would only come to her or Kacee. She loved the practice they had established. Due to the Adtkissons generosity, children who wouldn't normally be receiving the help they needed were getting it. It wasn't right that they were having to put their road to recovery on hold because of a problem in her life.
The door opened and she saw Mike walk in, feeling her heart leap when that translucent gaze settled on her. He crossed over to her, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her.
"You OK?" he asked, stroking her hair.
She nodded. "Just resting before we have to leave."
"Your dad called Riley. They had a bead on Conroy last night after the phone call but he got away from them."
"Lovely," she sighed, loving that he was still stroking her hair.
"Hey, Boss!" Whit called, making Mike close his eyes a moment. When he opened them, Lainey saw a bit of humor shining in their depths.
"It's like dealing with children," he murmured, making her smile.
"Go deal, Daddy," she teased him.
"That's not too far off the mark sometimes," he said, standing and going to the door.
Her eyes roamed over his back as he stood in the doorway, from his broad shoulders, to his narrow waist, to his incredibly firm butt. Biting her lip, she recalled what it had felt like to run her hands over him, to squeeze him. She wanted nothing more than to get up, walk over to him and pull him into her arms and feel his arms around her. That wasn't going to happen right now, though, and she knew it; he was too busy. The big question was w
hen. When would they finally be alone?
Four hours later, Lainey sat in the Adtkissons large family room with Kacee, both of their mothers, her Aunt Paige and, surprisingly, Mike's mother and sister while they worked on the seating charts for the dinner portion of the Ball. She was extremely thankful it was just his mother and Gia and not Carolina or Brooke.
The guys were in and out of the room the whole time. Whenever Mike came in, Lainey's gaze was inevitably drawn to him but he never once acknowledged her. She knew it was due in part to his mother and sister being there, and also because his mind was filled with the tasks he needed to accomplish. Still, she enjoyed the rush she felt whenever he walked through and couldn't stop her eyes from following him, drinking him in.
"Michael," his mother called the next time he came through. He immediately stopped and altered his path to come toward them. By all outward appearances, he looked his usual, stoic self, but Lainey had learned to read him over the last few days and she knew he was a bit irritated by the distraction.
"Yes?" he said when he was standing close to her side.
"Will you and Riley and the others be joining the dinner? I need to arrange seating." He simply stared at his mother for a moment, a muscle in his jaw ticking. "It's a simple question, Michael."
"I believe," Lainey spoke up, "that he and the rest of his team will be working that night, Jeannette."
Mike's gaze shifted to meet hers, briefly, giving her a look of such intensity that she felt a shiver run down her spine before he looked back at his mother.
"Lainey's right; we'll be working."
"Oh. Really? The whole night?"
"The whole night," he confirmed, "if you'll excuse me...," he said, turning to go.
"You won't be escorting Lainey?" his mother pressed, making Mike stop and turn back to her, briefly meeting Lainey's gaze as he did.
"I have to work that night," he repeated.
"This is the biggest event of the season, and you're going to leave this lovely young lady unescorted?"
"It's all right, Jeannette," Lainey said softly, coming to his defense. She didn't like that his mother was calling him out in front of everyone, even if she did agree with what she was saying.
Jeannette's eyes shifted from her son to Lainey a moment.
"It's not all right," she stressed, then looked back to her son, "am I wrong in my assessment that there is something happening between you two?"
"I have to go," Mike said, dismissing her and walking away.
"That's all right, Jeannette," Kacee spoke quickly, her voice carrying, "I'm sure Kevin won't mind being Lainey's escort. He's back from London, you know."
Lainey's eyes widened as she gaped at her friend before getting up and following Mike out of the room, having to practically run to keep up with his long strides. She could feel the anger rolling off him in huge waves.
"Mike," she called after him, but he continued walking, "I didn't say anything to her about...anything, I swear! Mike?" He kept walking and she followed him into the ballroom. "Commander, please!" she cried, and this time he responded to the desperation in her voice. Around the room, she saw Colt and Coop up on a ladder, working on one of the surveillance cameras.
"I don't have time for this, cara," he said, his tone short.
"I know. I just want you to understand that I had nothing to do with that. We hadn't even been talking about us, I don't -"
"Stop," he cut in. "My mother has her own agenda. She always has. Don't worry about it."
She studied his body language. He was tight, as if preparing for an attack. His face was closed, which was an indication to her that he was irritated. Across the room, Colt called something technical out to him, drawing his gaze momentarily away from her while he responded.
"I just wanted you to-,"
"Hey, baby girl," she heard Kevin call to her as he walked into the room, "I thought that was you in here when I glanced in." He stepped to her and picked her up in a huge bear hug. Lainey felt panic spread through her and she tried to see Mike but Kevin held her in such a way that she couldn't see him. "You working with Mom and Kacee on the last minute prep?" he asked when he placed her back on her feet.
Lainey quickly took a step back from him, glancing anxiously at Mike, who was scowling at Kevin, arms folded across his chest, muscles rippling.
"Just like always," she said, offering him a smile, but her eyes kept shifting to Mike. While he'd definitely made it clear to his guys that the two of them were an item and also to his family when they'd gone there for dinner, this was the first time they were around someone outside of that circle. It had not escaped her notice, either, that Kevin had yet to even acknowledge Mike's presence.
"So, are you going to make me a happy man and let me be your escort?" he asked, making the blood drain from Lainey's face, her eyes flying to Mike.
To her surprise and amazement, however, Mike stepped in between her and Kevin, putting her behind his back.
"You need to walk away, Adtkisson. Now," he said, his voice smooth as silk.
Lainey stepped back and to the side a bit so she could see Kevin's face around Mike's broad back, but she stayed behind his back, hoping to send a non-verbal message to Kevin.
"What's it to you? Are you escorting her?"
"Bottom line is, you are not," Mike replied.
"Really? Lainey? Is that what you say?"
"Kevin, please," she said, exasperated by his behavior. She knew Kacee had told him that there was something developing between her and Mike. He was just being an ass to try to get to Mike.
"He's working the whole night," Kevin said to her, "are you going to go unescorted because he's too wrapped up in his job to take you?"
Riley walked up then, Colt and Coop just behind him. Lainey took just a moment to admire how they had recognized that their Commander was in a confrontation and they all came to stand behind him.
"You got a problem, Adtkisson?" Riley asked.
Kevin shook his head, a wry smile on his face. Lainey silently shook her head, trying to discourage him from saying anything that would unleash the wall of testosterone that was staring him down now.
"You're a damn idiot, Casiano. I'll see you later, Lainey," he said, leaving.
She heard Mike curse low under his breath in Italian as he turned and walked toward the opposite side of the room without a word or even looking back at her. The set of his shoulders was even more tense than it had been prior to Kevin's arrival. Colt placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze before he and Coop went back to the work they'd been doing when she came into the room.
"Let him go," Riley said to her when she started to follow Mike.
"His mother blindsided him in there about escorting me and then Kevin comes in and pulls this. I need to talk to him."
"No, you don't," he said, grabbing her arm when she again tried to walk away. "Trust me, let him calm down first."
"Let go of me, Riley," she snapped. "Everyone has always just left Mike alone to deal with whatever is bothering him."
"For good reason. He has a temper, Lainey."
"Don't we all?" she retorted. "Let me go to him, Riley."
He sighed and released her. "All right. Your funeral."
She ignored him and headed off in the direction she'd seen Mike go. One good thing about the Adtkissons' home, there was always staff around doing one thing or another. They directed her to the security room where she found Mike talking with Mr. Jacoby, the Adtkissons' head of security, studying the wall of monitors showing all the areas of the house. It was a bit sobering, she thought, seeing the lengths that Jack Adtkisson went to in order to keep his family safe. There were cameras everywhere! For a moment, she was distracted by all the things she'd done in this house over the years...and it was sobering to think someone was sitting in here, possibly watching everything she'd done.
"Miss Riley," Mr. Jacoby said, "did you need something?"
"I need to steal Mike for a moment," she said, smiling a
t the older man.
A muscle in Mike's jaw ticked before he turned his head to look at her, then he excused himself to Mr. Jacoby and stepped out of the security room into the hall.
"I told you, I don't have-" he began but she cut him off by stepping to him and reaching up to cup his face in her hands, pulling him down for a kiss. He resisted for only a moment, then wrapped his arms around her, deepening the kiss. Lainey sighed and stood on her toes to wrap her arms around his shoulders as he kissed her.
"You do have time for me," she whispered when he pulled back, smiling up at him.
He kissed her brow. "Apparently so."
"Please don't let them upset you," she said, looking into his eyes.
"Nothing is more important than your safety. I will not take any unnecessary risks where that is concerned. Chances are low that Conroy will try to breech the measures we've taken here...but we have to proceed as if he will."
"I understand, Mike, I do."
"I would escort you if I thought it would be safe."
"I don't care about that," she assured him, and realized in that moment that she really didn't.
"We've got another two to three hours work today and then we can head home, OK?"
She nodded. "About Kevin," she began but he stopped her.
"He's just being an ass. I'm not worried about him."
"Promise?"
He tightened his hold on her. "What did I tell you about questioning me on something I've already told you?"
A slow smile spread across her face. "I don't know, sir, I'm not sure I remember."
A hint of a smile touched his lips. "Imp," he said, leaning down to quickly kiss her then releasing her. "I've got to get back to work."
"OK. Later, Commander," she said over her shoulder as she walked away.
She was smiling when she stepped out of the security hall into the foyer until she saw Kevin waiting for her, arms folded over his chest.
"Not one word, Kevin."
"You could say thank you," he said with a smirk.
That stopped her in her tracks. "Thank you?? Have you lost your mind? And don't play innocent with me because I know that Kacee told you about me and Mike. Asking to escort me in front of him? Seriously? Have you gone insane? He was a freaking Navy SEAL. Do you want him to hurt you?"
