by Cat Johnson
“Will’s tracing our cell phone signals to see if the guys who had us have moved.”
“He can do that?” she asked.
“You have no idea.” Thom laughed at her obvious surprise before getting serious. He pressed his lips together. “Are you really okay? Are we okay? I know I scared the hell out of you and I can’t possibly apologize enough for that.”
“We’re good.” She pressed closer feeling playful fueled with champagne and her new-bride happiness. “Very good. I’ll prove it to you later, husband.”
“I look forward to it.” He glanced around them before dipping his head. Holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger, Thom lowered his head and pressed a heated kiss to her lips. When he pulled back he said, “And might I add I’m very happy this thing is going to end early tonight.”
“Me too.”
“But, eventually, we’re going to have to talk seriously about things.”
“Things? What things?” Ginny had been too serious for too long now, with Thom’s constant deploying, and the wedding plans and then his disappearance. She didn’t want to have to be serious again anytime soon.
“For one,” he began. “Why did you assure me your mother was okay with you moving when she’s not? You should have told me.”
She shook her head. “It was my problem to handle, not yours.”
“No.” He formed the word while shaking his head. “That’s not how—”
“Not how this works. We’re a team,” she talked over him, quoting his words back to him, knowing the sentiment by heart by now. He’d said it at least twice already, maybe more.
Thom pressed his lips together. “It’s true.”
“I didn’t want to worry you before you went away.” Ginny had been more concerned about Thom coming back with his team in one piece than about her mother being a little upset she was moving away.
He tilted his head. “Give me some credit, baby. I’m a little tougher than that.”
She lifted her brows. “I could say the same thing to you about me. I can handle this.”
Eyes focused on her, he finally tipped his head. “Okay. Duly noted.”
“Thank you. And how’d you find out she’s unhappy anyway?”
“Besides her icy response by the buffet when Grant mentioned us living in Virginia, you mean?” He laughed. “Your father told my father.”
“Really? Hmm.” Their fathers were bonding. Interesting. She’d think more about that later. “Now, I have a question for you.”
With his warm hands still wrapped around her waist, where she hoped they’d stay for a long time, he said, “Okay, shoot.”
“What’s with the full moon?” she asked.
“What?” He looked confused.
“You asked me to choose a wedding date near the full moon. Why? I googled my butt off trying to find out what the significance was but I couldn’t find anything. Well, actually I found a ton of stuff but nothing that I thought had anything to do with you, so why? I mean this party is basically going to end at sunset, so it’s not like we’re going to enjoy the moon or anything.” As he grinned she frowned. “Please tell me before the curiosity kills me.”
He chuckled. “I believe curiosity could kill you. Ginny, really, it’s not a big deal.”
“Then tell me.” She was moments away from stomping her foot in frustration.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll make you suffer—”
“Thom!”
“Okay. Okay.” He grinned. “Darkness is a SEAL’s best friend. The full moon, not so much. Too bright. So we’re less likely to be scheduled for an op then.”
“Oh. That’s it?” she asked, frowning.
“Yeah. That’s it.”
“That doesn’t sound top secret to me.”
He laughed. “It’s not.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you didn’t ask.”
Ginny sighed. “I see being married to you is going to be an adventure.”
“Right back at you, baby.” Thom smiled.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I was talking to Debbie and we decided it would be nice if we could all spend Thanksgiving together. You, me, her, the kids. We could even invite your parents down. And mine. We’ll be settled in our new place by then.”
Thom swallowed hard enough she saw his throat work. “Yeah, sure. That’s a, uh, good idea.”
“Right? I’m so glad you agree. I thought so too. I’m excited.” Ginny smiled, already planning the menu in her head.
“Yeah, uh, me too.” He pulled her closer to him and blew out a big sigh and her marital bliss bubbled over.
EPILOGUE
“Hey, bro. Happy Thanksgiving.”
At the sound of the familiar voice behind him, Thom turned. “Hey. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.”
Rocky smiled. “Look at us. Two married men doing a little grocery shopping at the commissary the day before Thanksgiving.”
Thom tossed the bag of groceries Ginny had sent him out to buy into the back of the SUV and turned back to Rocky. “Yup. Looks like we’ve been domesticated.” He laughed.
“Completely,” Rocky agreed. “So uh, hey, I heard from my father. It looks like our friends in Pennsylvania are going to have a court battle on their hands. He said the DA is looking to throw everything she can at them.”
“Good.” Thom couldn’t say he felt bad about that, considering.
“More and more shit is coming out about the group. Apparently Ray had been a member of the state militia—which is a legal recognized group—but he was a little too extreme in his ideas for them. When they suggested he wasn’t a good fit for the group, he went off and started his own.”
“The one who took us.”
Rocky nodded. “Yup.”
That group seemed extreme all right. It all made sense.
“The Pennsylvania State Militia is pretty pissed that Ray’s group is giving them a bad reputation so they’re happy to testify against him.”
“Good. Thanks for the update.”
“Sure. So how’s things going over at your place?” Rocky’s grin told Thom his friend was amused at his expense.
“You mean with my parents and my in-laws there now and my ex-wife and kids all coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner? Yeah, it’s just been a ton of fun. Thanks.” Thom rolled his eyes, which only had Rocky laughing aloud.
“You’re married to one helluva special woman there. She got everyone to agree to spend the day together. I’d say it’s the next biggest accomplishment to brokering peace in the Middle East.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Thom sighed.
Meanwhile, their house on base was full to overflowing since both sets of parents had arrived that afternoon. One reason why he’d been more than happy to go shopping for the last minute things Ginny needed for tomorrow’s dinner.
Rocky shook his head. “Better you than me, man. I’m not sure I’d be able to handle it. I mean the ex-wife and the wife, together. Maybe even becoming friends.”
Thom shook his head. “I’m not too worried about it.”
Rocky lifted a brow. “You should be. What do you think the topic of conversation is going to be when those two are together tomorrow? You.”
“Let’s hope you’re wrong. I’m just happy to have my kids and my parents with me for the holiday.”
It didn’t happen often enough he got to be home and with family on a holiday and not off in some other part of the world. Given all that, he had plenty to be thankful for—even with Debbie as his and Ginny’s dinner guest.
“All right. I guess I’d better get back. Izzy’s waiting on me.” Rocky extended his right hand and shook Thom’s. “Hey, we’ll see you this weekend.”
Thom nodded. “You will.”
Ginny had orchestrated some gathering for Sunday night after their parents all left for home.
Friendsgiving, she called it. Apparently it was a thing. All the guys who were in town for the weekend and their wives or girlfri
ends were coming over to his place to eat turkey leftovers. It might actually be fun so he didn’t fight her on it.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Rocky said one more time. “And if you need to escape for a few minutes, or for a few beers, give me a call.”
Thom smiled. “I might do that. Thanks.”
As Rocky headed for his truck, Thom climbed into the driver’s seat of his SUV.
Three quarters of a mile away, he pulled behind his parents’ car in the driveway of the house he and Ginny had made a home.
She opened the front door and smiled as he climbed the front stairs, grocery bag in hand. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He leaned low and kissed her, still not used to her being there to greet him when he arrived home.
Every time he saw her there, he got a thrill. He hoped the feeling never went away.
“Was the store very crowded?” she asked.
“Nope. Not too bad. Not as crowded as our house, anyway.” He smiled, closing the door behind him.
Ginny cringed as she took the bag from his hand. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I like having the whole family here.” And if the surgery he and Ginny had discussed, the one to reverse his vasectomy, was successful, perhaps next Thanksgiving the house would be a little more crowded.
A baby of their own. A little brother or sister for Jason and Juliette. Thom couldn’t wait.
He pulled Ginny close. “I love you.”
“And I love you.” She tipped her head to one side. “Wanna help me make the cranberry sauce while the parents are busy in the living room looking at the wedding album?”
Smiling, he said, “There’s nothing I’d like more.”
In case you missed it . . .
Read how it all began! You can find the story of how Thom and Ginny first met in
SEALed at Midnight
Next up in the Hot SEALs . . .
Don’t miss computer genius Will Weber in
Matched with a Hot SEAL
A SEAL’s life isn’t all deadly missions. Commandos need love too. But when Naval Special Warfare computer guru Will Weber puts the fate of his love life in the combined hands of a dating app and his teammates, he learns what real terror feels like.
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ABOUT CAT JOHNSON
A top 10 New York Times bestselling author, Cat Johnson writes the USA Today bestselling Hot SEALs series, as well as contemporary romance featuring sexy alpha heroes who often wear cowboy or combat boots. Known for her creative marketing, Cat has sponsored bull-riding cowboys, used bologna to promote her romance novels, and owns a collection of cowboy boots for book signings. She writes both full length and shorter works.
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ESCAPE WITH A HOT SEAL
HOT SEALs Book 12
Copyright © 2017 by CAT JOHNSON
All Rights Reserved
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Also by Cat Johnson
About the Author
Copyright
