Stranded with the Navy SEAL

by Susan Cliff

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Let’s sit down,” Cady said. They found a quiet corner in the back. Then she took a deep breath and told the whole story. She started with their arrival at Eiao and ended with the test results, blinking away tears.

  Her mother gave her a tissue. She didn’t seem horrified by the news. “This man loves you?”

  “He says he does.”

  “And you love him?”

  She nodded, her face crumpling.

  “But you don’t want to have a baby with him?”

  “Of course not. We’ve only known each other for five weeks.”

  “You’ve spent every single day with him for five weeks.”

  She hadn’t thought of it that way. The hours probably added up to six months or more with a regular boyfriend.

  “Is something wrong with him?”

  “Yes. He’s a Navy SEAL.”

  “And?”

  “You know how careful I am. He’s a risk taker.” She crumpled the tissue in her fist. “He’s not a safe choice.”

  “He got you back here in one piece, didn’t he?”

  Cady couldn’t argue there.

  “You think he’s going to run around on you, like that other fool?”

  “No,” she said, because it wasn’t her main concern. Logan might have been a player before they met, but she believed he would be faithful. He was loyal to his team. When he did something, he didn’t do it halfway. “I think he’s got a dangerous job, and he’s going to drive me crazy with worry. He’s doing it right now.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t you worry about Dad?”

  “Of course I do. But I deal with it.”

  “How?”

  “I keep busy. When you were little, I had my hands full taking care of you. Now I have a career, and hobbies and friends.”

  Tears filled Cady’s eyes again. She made it sound so simple.

  “Are you afraid he’ll get hurt, or that you will?”

  “Both,” she said. If her relationship with Logan didn’t work out, she’d be devastated. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing him. Loving him was the ultimate risk. “I’ve never felt this way before, like I might die if he breaks my heart.”

  “You won’t die. He might break your heart and drive you crazy, but you won’t die. You’re a survivor.”

  She took a deep breath. She was, wasn’t she?

  “He also might be perfect for you. He fell for you for a reason. It takes a strong woman to love a man like that.”

  “You think I’m strong?”

  “I know you are.”

  Cady’s chest tightened with emotion. She hadn’t felt strong before she met Logan, but she hadn’t been weak. She’d just been lost. In a way, the island had revived her. She’d found love, and she’d found herself.

  Tears spilled down her cheeks. She didn’t know if it was the pregnancy or the epiphany that was making her so weepy. Either way, she needed to let it out. Her mother put her arms around her and held her while she cried.

  Chapter 24

  Logan found a bloodbath on Eiao.

  He hadn’t expected any serious danger there. It was one man against six. The worst he’d imagined was a long, drawn-out search process, in which the target attempted to evade capture by disappearing into the jungle.

  What they encountered wasn’t a clever criminal, or even a mild threat. It was just a fresh corpse on the beach, not far from the tide pools. He was lying in a circle of red sand, next to a broken bamboo raft. Apparently this guy had decided to take it out for a spin, maybe catch some nice fish. Instead he’d met up with Mr. Tiger. His left foot was gone, severed jaggedly at the ankle. He must have lost a lot of blood before he reached the shore. By the time he crawled out of the surf, it was too late. He was hemorrhaging, unable to stop the flow. Ribbons of flesh hung from the stump like pale fringe.

  “Guess he won’t be talking about his terrorist connections,” Pepperdine said.

  “Guess not,” Logan replied, staring at the man’s dead face.

  Instead of launching a manhunt, they started processing the scene. The other two bodies were just as ugly. The Polynesian had crabs all over him. He was still pinned to the ground by the boulder, teeth bared in a death grimace. Graybeard had drifted into the recesses of the cave. He was harder to find than his red-haired friend.

  When they dragged him out into the light, a sea krait emerged from his open mouth and wound around his fish-white neck.

  His comrades made noises of disgust, shoving at each other.

  Gonzales high-fived Logan for taking down two tangos and leaving a third for the shark. They all thought Logan’s shark bite scar was pretty cool. They examined the camp at Shelter Bay like a group of boy scouts on a tropical vacation. Adult boy scouts, who ribbed him about how he’d spent his nights with Cady.

  “Careful,” he said. “That’s my future wife you’re talking about.”

  His teammates laughed at this, as if he was joking. But they shut up, just in case. They took pictures, bagged the bodies and loaded them up. Then they headed back to Nuku Hiva. Cady wasn’t there, or in nearby Tahiti. Officer Sloan told Logan that she’d taken a late flight from Papeete to LAX.

  “Your future wife left you,” Gonzales said, smirking.

  “Shut up, Gonzales,” Pepperdine said.

  Logan knew none of his buddies would rat him out about being in Cady’s hotel room. They might tease him, but they’d have his back. He’d earned their respect. Whatever he did behind closed doors was his business.

  It didn’t matter, because he planned to be honest about their relationship. It wasn’t a secret that he’d left the bar with Cady. He’d learned that there was no security footage from the hallway, due to a camera malfunction. Cruise ship officials had pieced together an explanation for their disappearance.

  Logan found this story implausible, but it had a precedent. Drunk people had fallen over the railings of cruise ships before. Some jumped willingly, to commit suicide. Others did it in an attempt to save others. The chances of surviving such an accident were almost nil.

  No one had even bothered looking for them.

  Logan spent most of the day with Officer Sloan, going over the real story. Sloan didn’t seem interested in the details of his relationship with Cady, so Logan didn’t share them. They took an island-hopper to Papeete, and an afternoon flight from there to LAX. He wanted to call Cady as soon as the plane touched ground, but it was four in the morning. And he didn’t actually know her number.

  The closest naval base was an hour away, in the opposite direction of Long Beach, so he didn’t go there. He booked a hotel near the airport and slept for a few hours, only to be jolted awake by ringing. He picked up the phone by his bed.

  “Hello?”

  “Petty Officer Starke?”

  “Yeah.”

  “This is Commander Doheny. I’m sending a car to pick you up at eleven hundred. I need you and Miss Crenshaw to come downtown to the Intelligence Office. She’s already been notified. Do you have dress blues?”

  “I have service khakis,” he said, sitting upright. He’d worn them on the plane.

  “That’s fine. Be ready, and try to look sharp.”

  “Yes, sir,” he said, because that was the only response possible. Then he hung up and stared at the phone.

  What was happening? Was he going to get interrogated? Reprimanded?

  It was after ten already, and his khakis were in a wrinkled pile on the floor. Luckily, he was in a good hotel. He called the front desk to let them know he needed food and laundry services on the double. Someone came to pick up his khakis, promising to return within the hour. He shaved, showered and ate breakfast.

  His car arrived two minutes early. I
t looked like a secret service limo, complete with an armed driver. Logan didn’t ask questions. He just got in and went along for the ride. They went to a quiet-looking neighborhood in Long Beach.

  Cady was standing on the front step in a daffodil-colored dress. Her hair was a cloud of ebony curls, soft and pretty. She was a natural beauty, and he’d liked her wild-island style, but all dolled up, she took his breath away.

  He got out of the car to greet her parents. They were a mixed-race couple in their fifties. Cady got her good looks from her mother, who eyed Logan with a knowing smile. After Cady introduced them, her father shook his hand and thumped him on the back, thanking him profusely. Her mother just shook his hand.

  Logan helped Cady into the limo and sat down beside her. He’d replayed their last conversation over and over again. He’d planned some things to say to her. Right now, he couldn’t remember any of them. He just stared.

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said.

  “So are you,” she admitted.

  Straight up, like always.

  “You told your mother about us. But not your dad.”

  “How do you know?”

  “He was too friendly. He wasn’t even eyeballing me.”

  “She’ll probably tell him while we’re gone.”

  “Is he a gun owner?”

  She laughed at the question. “He is.”

  Logan didn’t think he’d get quite as warm a reception the next time they met.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “The NIO. Naval Intelligence Office.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure. They might want a second interview, with a sworn statement. They might want to tell us how to deal with the media.”

  She blinked in surprise. “The media?”

  “This is the kind of story they like.”

  “I don’t want to talk to the media.”

  “I’m with you on that,” he said, glancing at her. He wanted to take her by the hand and kiss her knuckles. But he didn’t reach out, because they weren’t really alone, and this was official business.

  “How did it go on the island?” she asked.

  “It went fine.”

  “Did you capture him?”

  “No. He’d...been bitten by a shark.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Was he dead?”

  Logan nodded, telling her a gentler version of the scene at Shelter Bay. “We wanted to take him alive for questioning, but there are other ways to get information. Other connections to investigate.”

  “When did you get here?”

  “I flew in to LAX this morning, before dawn.”

  “Did you sleep?”

  “A few hours.”

  They were quiet for the next twenty minutes. He studied her knee-length dress, admiring her smooth calves and stylish shoes. They were closed over the toe, with thin straps across the ankle and tiny little buckles. The look wasn’t sexy, exactly. Maybe sexy librarian. She was dressed appropriately for...whatever they were doing.

  “I like your outfit,” he said.

  “I like your uniform.”

  “This old thing? You should see me in my dress blues.”

  She smiled, looking away. “Modest, as always.”

  They arrived at the NIO, which was a distinguished brick building in downtown LA. Logan hadn’t been there before. The driver escorted them to a quiet meeting room with a large table. Commander Doheny and some other bigwigs stood to greet him. There was a round of handshakes and introductions.

  If Logan was in trouble, he was in serious trouble.

  He sat down next to Cady, resisting the urge to tug at his collar. Was it hot in here? He needed a drink of water.

  “Sorry for the mystery,” Commander Doheny said. “This came together at the last minute. President O’Brien just flew in for a summit this afternoon in Rancho Mirage. He has a minute to say hello.”

  Logan drew a blank. “To who?”

  The suits around the table laughed at his stupid question. “To you and Miss Crenshaw,” Doheny explained.

  Logan glanced at Cady. She looked terrified by the high-pressure situation. He tried to send calm vibes, but he didn’t have any. There was no opportunity for the tension to build, because President O’Brien waltzed right in with a warm smile. Logan stood with Cady. He stayed close to her, in case she keeled over from shock.

  O’Brien shook hands with Commander Doheny and the others. Logan couldn’t believe he was in a room with the former president. O’Brien stepped forward to shake Cady’s hand first. “Miss Crenshaw.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you,” she said, sounding stunned.

  “Likewise,” he replied, as if this was an important moment for him. He turned to Logan and shook his hand. “When I heard about what happened, I had to thank you in person. It could’ve been my daughter out there, lost at sea. The fact that you both survived is amazing. I’m told you’re the reason, Petty Officer Starke.”

  Logan flushed at the praise. “We made a great team, actually.”

  O’Brien smiled again, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m glad to hear it. Your commander says you’ll be nominated for a bronze star.”

  That was news to Logan. He nodded, struck speechless.

  “Maya asked me to give you this.” O’Brien took an envelope out of his pocket for Cady. “She couldn’t come with me, but she wanted to reach out.”

  “Thank you,” Cady said, sniffling.

  “If there’s anything I can do for the two of you, let me know. You can call my office to get in touch.”

  They agreed dutifully. Then O’Brien had to leave. He walked out with his guards. Logan stared at the doorway, unable to process what had just happened.

  “He shook my hand,” Cady said.

  “He gave you a letter,” Logan added.

  “He said you’d get a star!”

  Logan was humbled by the moment. He’d been hoping he wouldn’t get demoted for unbecoming conduct. A bronze star was beyond his wildest dreams. Commander Doheny returned to congratulate Logan on his nomination. His feet didn’t hit the ground on the way to the limo.

  “What does the letter say?”

  Cady read it out loud. “I’m so sorry you were taken in my place. I’m glad you’re okay. I’d love to hear the story of how you and Mr. Starke survived. Call or write me anytime. Best wishes, Maya.”

  He smiled as they climbed into the back seat. “Is there somewhere we can go to talk?”

  She asked the driver to drop them off at a nearby botanical garden, which was perfect for what he intended. It was quiet and romantic. They strolled down the flower-lined path together, hand in hand.

  “I always wanted to get married here,” she said.

  “Done.”

  She didn’t laugh at his quick response. She let go of his hand, her brow furrowed.

  Logan was serious about making things official, but maybe he was skipping a few steps. “You haven’t forgiven me for going back to the island.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “Am I moving too fast?”

  She leaned her elbows against a wooden fence, contemplative. “I don’t know if I can be the kind of woman you need.”

  “What kind is that?”

  “Easy to leave. Quiet.”

  He did a double take. He had no idea where she’d gotten the impression that he preferred quiet, amenable women. “You think I need a lapdog?”

  “I’m not calm or agreeable.”

  “I like that about you.”

  “We clash,” she said. “I play it safe, and you take risks.”

  “We don’t clash. We complement each other.”

  “We argue.”

 
“So what? The only couples that don’t argue are the ones who don’t care. We disagree because we’re passionate, not because we’re wrong for each other. You’re perfect. Calm women are boring.”

  She smiled at this overstatement.

  He closed the distance between them and took her hand. He couldn’t mess this up. She meant the world to him. “I understand why you were upset the morning I left. You said you weren’t ready to make plans, and I didn’t respect that. I wanted a commitment. I wanted to know how you felt. But I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

  “Maybe I needed a little push.”

  He searched her gaze. “I don’t want someone easy to leave. I want someone I can’t wait to come home to.”

  Tears filled her eyes.

  “And I don’t need quiet. I need you. I love you just the way you are.”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. He’d seen her lips move, but the words... “You’re what?”

  She pushed away from him. “I’m pregnant.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair, stunned by her announcement. Somewhere between the great escape and now, he’d stopped worrying about this possibility. He’d believed that thing she’d said about irregular periods. He’d convinced himself they were safe. “God,” he said, imagining how this would’ve played out on the island. They’d have left on the raft and died. “We’re lucky those kidnappers came back, aren’t we?”

  “You don’t sound happy.”

  “Give me a minute. I’m still picking my heart up off the ground.” He took a deep breath. “How do you feel?”

  “Scared.”

  He nodded an acknowledgment. Parenthood was a scary prospect, full of challenges. “I’ll take care of you.”

  “Will you have the baby for me?”

  He chuckled, putting his arm around her. “I’ll hold your hand, and rub your back.”

  She didn’t pull away this time. “What if you’re not there?”

  “I’ll be there. As soon as I know your due date, I’ll request time off. I’ll ask for short assignments from now until then. I’ll do whatever it takes.”