Code Name: Nina's Choice (Warrior's Challenge)

by Natasza Waters

  Lieutenant Cobbs appeared on the other side of Nina. “Get used to it, Ghost. Just say, ‘Yes, Dear.’” Cobbs set a box on the ground. “She’s got a mouth like a sailor cuz she lives with one.”

  Ghost gave his best friend a crank of his head and a disapproving glare, then grunted. “She’s little, but I think I’m scared of her, and she’s got a good aim when she’s pissed.”

  “What did you do this time?” Cobbs asked.

  “Dragged her kicking and screaming all the way to the psychologist’s office.” He leaned the box against his thigh. “I didn’t have to sit on her to keep her there, but my skin was black with the burning looks she kept firing my way. She’s probably throwing darts at my picture right now.”

  “Hey, Captain.” Fox, the squad’s Master Chief, came around the side of the truck.

  Ghost gave him a nod. “Thought it might be wise to clear out and give you a hand moving, Nina.”

  “Uh-huh, and then I’m supposed to call her and calm her down, right?” Nina lifted her brow.

  “Wouldn’t hurt.” Ghost’s cheeks tightened with a grin.

  “Well, thanks for helping even though you are taking cover. I could use it. I didn’t think I’d collected so much stuff.”

  “Is this the load from Canada?” Ghost asked.

  Nina brushed her forehead with her arm. “It is. Thankfully, everyone’s here. The entire squad and their wives came to help.”

  She stepped out of Ghost’s way and surveyed her new home. Small, dated, but the family had already been transferred to Virginia so she signed on the dotted line and took immediate possession. The middle of September was hot as the sun arched downward in the sky. There were only a few more boxes left and her couch. Thank God.

  Ghost returned and heaved himself onto the truck with Mace right behind him. “Mace, grab an end.”

  With everyone’s help, the truck emptied. Within an hour she’d found the barbeque and had steaks ready to grill. Tony returned with a few cases of cold beer and transferred them to the fridge.

  Naomi, Caleb’s wife, Kate, Fox’s wife, Shelly, Clay’s wife and Marg, Cobbs’ wife helped her in the kitchen. They whipped up some salads, and threw some potatoes in the oven to bake while they chatted.

  “This house is a perfect size for you and your daughter,” Marg said, leaning on the counter. “It’s gonna take some updating, but it’s cute.”

  “Thanks, Marg.” She pulled a bowl from a box, gave it a swish under the tap and dumped a bag of mixed greens into it. “Mom and Dad are gathering up Gabbs’ stuff, and she’ll be here next week. She’s a little late joining her classmates, but I couldn’t take the chance of bringing her here while the Shark was still around.”

  “Kelsey can’t wait to meet her,” Marg said. “They’re going to the same school.”

  Naomi handed their son off to Caleb. “Make yourself useful, SEAL.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” His son giggled at him, and tried to wrap a chubby little fist around his nose.

  Mace stood on the deck forking the steaks onto the grill with the rest of the guys flanking him. The newest addition to Alpha Squad, Ed Saxton, arrived a couple weeks ago. The guys called him Cracker, but the name came with him from the East Coast teams he’d served with before transferring to Alpha Squad. Nina guessed he was in his late twenties. The guy wasn’t married, but finding a girl wouldn’t be hard for the long, lean drink of blond water with deep brown eyes. He’d gravitated to Tinman and Tadpole, probably because they were bachelors and knew the club scene. She hadn’t had a chance to really talk to him. In a way he was unique, most SEALs were on the bold side. Ed seemed a little withdrawn. Polite but quiet, he had a southern gentleman’s drawl.

  “So, I noticed we didn’t move any of Mace’s boxes in here,” Naomi said with a questioning look bringing Nina’s attention back to the kitchen. Marg nudged Naomi.

  “Did you ladies live on your own before you got married?”

  All the women nodded.

  “I didn’t. I was just in the process of moving out when I got pregnant with my daughter. It was easier living with Mom and Dad.” Slicing the radishes, she contemplated why she needed to stand on her own before letting Mace move in. “I don’t know, I just feel I have to stumble around on my own two feet for a while.”

  “I get it.” Marg rolled a beer bottle between her hands. “I heard through the grapevine your parents are kind of like mine.”

  Nina cocked her head.

  “Money.”

  Nina paused. “Uh, well, yeah, I guess. They’re not hurting.”

  “I couldn’t wait to move out,” Marg said. “I’d already had a good contract with a modeling agency and could pay my own bills. I had to get the heck out. Dad kept bringing home my future husbands for dinner. Guys in suits who wanted to suck up big time. Ugh!” She drew a carrot from the salad bowl and munched on it. “I moved here to San Diego, which was too far away for a fly-by harassment session from my mom.”

  “They must have loved Lieutenant Cobbs,” Nina commented.

  Marg snorted. “Yeah, right. I could have told them I had cancer and they would have been happier. I love my parents, but they’re snobs. Correction, they were snobs.”

  “Gave him a bad time, huh?” Nina added a tomato on top of the lettuce and drizzled ranch dressing over the top.

  “Yeah, I’d say. I brought Pat home for dinner to meet them and you would have thought he was tracking dog shit all over their expensive carpets.”

  “What happened?” Naomi asked.

  “That night was a disaster. Not only were they being jerks, but my dad brought another wannabe with him from work. The guy’s family had money and he wanted a trophy wife. If you think marrying off your daughter like chattel disappeared a couple hundred years ago, think again.”

  “Momma?” Kelsey ran into the kitchen. Marg turned her attention to her five-year-old daughter. “Where’s Daddy?”

  “He’s—where is Pat?” She looked around and saw him and Ghost talking on the small front lawn. “He’s with Uncle Thane out front, baby.”

  Kelsey ran for the front door.

  “Anyway, I lost Pat that night. He walked away from me, from us.”

  “Seriously?” Nina reached in the fridge and plopped four more beers for the girls on the counter.

  Marg nodded. “Yup, he said we came from two different worlds, my parents were the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was the attention I was getting because I’d landed a big contract with Estole Magazine. I got the cover and it kinda poll vaulted my career. Pat thought he was doing the right thing by setting me adrift.”

  “Obviously, you didn’t listen.”

  “No, I didn’t, but just when I thought we were going to patch things up he got deployed for seven months. He walked away telling me to move on. That it was really over between us. I cried a lot. I was scared shitless he wouldn’t come home. Guys who wanted to date a supermodel came banging on my door and I slammed it in every face. I tried a couple times, but they were two-dimensional. I needed Pat’s depth. He was so real. So deep. No one affected me like him.”

  “I can’t imagine Lieutenant Cobbs being insecure, but it sounds like he was.” Nina said. All the ladies leaned in listening. “What changed his mind?”

  Marg’s brows lifted and she fingered a radish. “It wasn’t only my parents and my career.”

  The girls waited.

  “I was only eighteen when I moved to San Diego. I went to this bar and was partying one night.” She cleared her throat. “I didn’t meet Pat first. I met Thane.” Marg scattered a look across all their faces.

  Nina felt a little squeeze on her “ruh-roh” bone. “You didn’t…”

  “Yeah, we did.”

  “Holy shit, does Kayla know?” Nina asked.

  Marg nodded. “She does. Pat told her.”

  Nina scratched her temple and said, “So, Lieutenant Cobbs thought you had a thing for Ghost?”

  Marg sighed. “I guess I did for one night.�
� She gave them a wicked grin. “Kayla’s a lucky woman, let me tell ya.”

  They all burst out laughing.

  “Seriously, when I saw Pat for the first time, I literally felt my knees weaken. My heart nearly exploded it beat so hard.”

  “He obviously came around,” Nina said, grinning.

  “He did.” She smiled to herself. “Sometimes a woman just has to go all—Navy SEAL on a SEAL to get him to listen, and that’s what I did. I dared him to love me for the rest of our lives.” Marg shook her head. “Nina, I know you’re aware of this already, but there have been a lot of years of worry and fear. You do a lot on your own being the wife of a SEAL. I guess that’s why we girls are all so close.” Marg set her eyes on Nina. “But it’s worth it, you know? When he’s home, it’s all worth it.”

  Naomi, Kate and Shelly nodded. “Amen,” Kate said.

  * * * *

  Nina’s moving party sat around with happy bellies as she tuned into their conversations. Mace reached for her hand. “You okay?”

  “Sure, just tired.”

  He leaned over and planted one on her. “Did you call Kayla?”

  “She says she’s not feeling very good. The baby is doing the salsa in her belly, so she just wants to rest.”

  Ghost stood up and all eyes rose to him. “Thought I’d take a second to congratulate you on your new home, Nina.”

  “Here. Here.” Everyone chimed in.

  “I have a couple of announcements I’d like to make.”

  Everyone waited, looking up at the leader of their pack.

  Ghost hooked his hands in his jean pockets. “I’d like you men to join me on a mission tomorrow.” The guys brows furrowed and they exchanged looks. “You too, Mace. Ed, you’re part of this team now. I could use you too.” Ghost straightened his shoulders. “I need you in your dress uniforms tomorrow morning. Zero–nine-hundred hours at Kayla’s condo.”

  What the hell was Ghost up to? Nina wondered.

  “What’s up, Captain?” Fox asked.

  He cleared his throat, and gave a short chuckle, passing a hand through his sun-bleached hair. “Tomorrow morning I’m taking a last non-negotiable stand. I’m going to ask that beautiful Canadian woman who’s driven me crazy from the second I met her, to marry me.” He rushed the words out and exhaled. “I’m not taking no for an answer. So if she doesn’t want to be civilized about it, get ready for a quick trip to Vegas.”

  “Hooyah, ’bout time,” Fox shouted and raised his beer.

  “I know we’re cutting it close. My son is going to have my last name, and I want to spend the rest of my life with his mother.”

  A huge smile split Nina’s face. Kayla was done like dinner because the resolve in Ghost’s eyes was of utmost determination.

  He raised his hand. “There’s one other thing.” He shot a look at Cobbs and Cobbs nodded at him. “I’ve been promoted.”

  The cheering stopped and the guys looked at each other, thunderstruck.

  “Tomorrow afternoon I will be handing over my command to Captain Harrington and assuming the position in charge of the West Coast Chain.”

  Nina saw the split emotion on all their faces, joy for his success, but also concern. Ghost would not be going into battle with them anymore. Nina knew instantly he had done this for Kayla.

  “There was another vacancy, the secondary position supporting my new office.” He turned his gaze toward Cobbs. “Lieutenant Cobbs has accepted that position and will be promoted to Commander.” Marg slowly rose to her feet. Stunned. Her head jerked and it looked like she’d crossed the finish line of a marathon race.

  “What?” she whispered.

  Cobbs drew her to his chest. “No more missions, sweetheart. We’re moving to Hawaii with Ghost and Kayla, if the woman decides to marry the hardass. I’ve got my doubts, but he seems to think she’s going to cave.”

  Marg flung her arms around her husband, tears rolling down her cheeks in relief.

  Lieutenant Cobbs’ silver eyes set on his wife and he brushed her tears away. “Marg, you’ve held the command post at home for too long. I wasn’t there for Rayanne and Cindy. I don’t want to repeat that with Kelsey.” He leaned back. “What d’ya think? Can ya stand me coming home every night?”

  Marg pounced on his lips, and he lifted her in the air, and then set her on her feet again.

  “Wow,” Mace uttered and rose, extending his hand. “Captain, congratulations.”

  Ghost clapped Mace on the shoulder as he shook his hand. The two men didn’t say anything, but they shared a look. The look brothers share when they know life is about to change course and you can’t stand in its way.

  Mace walked into the house after congratulating his lieutenant, and Nina followed warily. “Are you okay, Mace?” she asked, stepping up to him.

  Mace nodded, staring out the front window.

  “You’re all going to miss him, both of them.” Nina rested a hand on his shoulder. “He’s doing it for Kayla, isn’t he?”

  “I think so. He needs her just as much as she needs him.” He shook his head. “I’m happy for him, but at the same time I feel like I’m losing an older brother. He’s been there for me since I became a SEAL. Hard but fair, he’s taught me a lot. He let me make mistakes and then made sure I never made them again.”

  Mace’s jaw tensed and Nina could tell this was really biting at Mace’s core. She felt the wind move behind her, and she shot a look to see Ghost standing behind them. He lived up to his name.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever know a man like Ghost again.”

  “You’re right about that,” Ghost said. When Mace turned, Ghost nodded and looked to the floor. “I feel the same way about you, Mace. Of all the men who have served with me, three men have impacted my life. Captain Redding taught me how to be a warrior. Patrick Cobbs taught me never to give in. And you, Mace, you never lost sight of being compassionate. You never let your humanity stray. I know I lost mine for a while, but…your humanity has been enough to carry the entire squad. Your loyalty to me and to your team members never faltered, and it has been my honor to serve with you.”

  Ghost and Mace gazed at one another. Nina knew she was witnessing one of those moments in life that would never be repeated again. These two men had molded a relationship cured by trial and fire. Warfare and loyalty cemented a union that would never break. You could only earn that with a brother in arms, layer by layer.

  “You’re right, I do need Kayla. I want to watch my son grow up.” He sighed. “I want that damn woman to be my wife.”

  Nina covered a laugh. “You’re sure you’re not going to end up killing each other?”

  “My money’s on Kayla,” Mace said, showing a grin.

  Ghost’s blue eyes sparked. “Think you’re right, Mace.” He paused. “Listen, I’m going to be around for a little while longer, but then I’m reporting to Hawaii. Kayla will be here until we can arrange the move, and I would be thankful if you’d watch out for her.”

  “You know I will, sir.”

  “Is this lovefest gonna end soon so we can have some dessert?” Tinman asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

  Kelsey sprinted in the door and tugged on Tinman’s shorts.

  “What’s up, shortstop?” he asked, looking down at her.

  “Mom said you’d get me some dessert, Uncle Tony.” Her big blue eyes gazed up at him and she added a pearly smile that harkened to outdo her mother’s one day.

  “I’ll cut the cake and you can stick your finger in your dad’s piece, okay?”

  Kelsey giggled. “’Kay.”

  Nina growled. “Remind me never to let Tony babysit.”

  Mace gripped her hips and leaned his chin on her shoulder. “Let’s feed these people and get them the hell out of here,” he whispered in her ear. He kissed her skin just below her hairline and she shivered. “Think we need to christen the bedroom. If you’re not going to let me move in, at least let me make your first night memorable.”

  Ghost’s jaw squa
red off as he overheard Mace. He maneuvered around the boxes cluttering the floor and joined Tony in the kitchen. With a quick sweep he scooped up Kelsey and threw her over his shoulder, tickling her. She screeched, making Tony squint, and he hurriedly pulled the plates, carved the cake, and hit the door with four servings balanced in his arms in record extraction time.

  * * * *

  Nina woke with a start. She sat up in bed and reached for the phone. “Hello?”

  “She said yes,” Mace crowed.

  Nina laughed out loud. “That’s great. I have to call her.”

  “I’d give it an hour, we just left after having breakfast. Think the Captain and Kayla are a little preoccupied. You still in bed?”

  “Affirmative,” she said, running a hand through her hair. “Guess I was tired.”

  “Stay there, I’ll be right over.”

  “Mace, I have to get up and start unloading these boxes.”

  “Have a shower and we’ll go out for breakfast.”

  “You already had breakfast,” she said, kicking the sheets away and rolling to a sitting position on the side of the bed.

  “I need two breakfasts, pancakes and my sweet Nina on top.”

  She laughed. “Fine, but we’ll make it quick.”

  The day started off with an optimistic ray of good things to come, and it ended with one new member added to the Alpha Squad family.

  “Look at him,” Nina said as Mace wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The whole squad stared through the hospital nursery’s glass window.

  “He’s already famous,” Tadpole said.

  “No kidding,” Stitch agreed, standing next to his wife, Naomi.

  “Adam Herbert Austen,” Ditz muttered. “The kid is as big as his dad already.”

  They all chuckled. “Herbert,” Mace laughed. “I am so holding that against him.”

  Ghost was in the nursery and he picked up Adam and brought him to the glass. “Holy shit, that’s one big baby,” Kate said.

  Nina had hoped Kayla would ask her to be in the room when Adam came into the world, but like a true SEAL pup, he came into it while Captain Austen was handing over his command in front of three hundred or so onlookers. “Hey, sweetheart.” Nina tapped the glass. “I’m your Aunt Nina.”