Page 154 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Absolutely. Dee cares about you, but she’s scared because of what happened with her ex.”

“She told you that?” He was surprised that Pops had gotten Delaney to open up to him. And he was a little envious too.

Pops winked. “Given enough time, I think she’ll come around.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Corbin said darkly. “She’s been hurt bad. I don’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone else.”

“Just be patient with her. You’ll see … it’ll work out.”

He could tell Pops really believed that. Corbin wished he could be as sure.

Pops sat up straight and cleared his throat. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

“Okay.” Wariness settled over him. This sounded serious. “What is it?”

“This guy that’s after Dee, he’s bad news, huh?”

“Yeah, Hugh Allen’s the worst of the worst.”

“How are you gonna stop him?”

He tightened his fist. “I’m going to do everything in my power to keep Delaney safe, if that’s what you’re asking.” Was Pops questioning his ability? Of course he was. He never believed that Corbin could do anything right.

Pops looked him in the eye. “So you’re gonna spend the rest of your life running?”

He rocked back. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”

“If this guy’s as ruthless as you say, he won’t stop until he finds you and Dee.”

Corbin rolled his eyes. “I’m glad to see you have so little faith in me,” he said sarcastically.

Pops cocked his head. “Is that what you think?”

“Yeah, quite frankly, that’s exactly what I think.” They stared at one other, all the old hurts and disagreements boiling to the top. Corbin was surprised to see a twitch in Pops’ jaw, then moisture in his eyes.

“Nothing could be further from the truth.” He placed a hand on Corbin’s arm. “I know we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but I want you to know how proud of you I am.”

The words broadsided Corbin like a fist to the gut. He couldn’t ever remember Pops giving him an outright compliment. Emotion rumbled in his throat as he swallowed.

“I know you’ve been through some hard times,” Pops continued, “but I want you to know that the proudest moment of my life was when you were serving your country. I don’t know what happened out there, but I know you. I know your heart. You’re a good man.” His voice hitched. “But you’re also a hard, stubborn fool. Just like me. You may think that you’ll never be able to get past what happened to you, but you will. That’s the greatest gift the good Lord gave us … the power to change … tostart again. I changed for that amazing, good-hearted woman in the care center, and I know you can do the same for Dee.”

Tears brimmed in Corbin’s eyes, blurring his vision.

“I should’ve told you that a long time ago.”

Corbin coughed to cover the emotion.

Pops smiled thinly. “I guess with your grandmother around, I didn’t have to. She could take up the slack. But now that she’s … sick … well, things are different.”

“I miss her,” Corbin said quietly, the ache in his gut so powerful he could hardly contain it.

“I miss her too, son.” A tear dribbled down Pops’ cheek. “She loved you. In her eyes, the sun rose and set with you.”

Corbin looked down at the floor. He loved her too, so much that it cut to the quick.

“Back to this thing with Hugh Allen.” Pops cleared his throat, his jaw tightening.

Corbin recognized that gesture well. Pops was bottling up his emotion and putting on the hard cap. That he’d said as much as he had was a miracle.

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