Page 168 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Please.”

Religion had always been a key element of Corbin’s growing up years, so he was well-versed in how to pray. There were times when he hadn’t been consistent with his prayers, particularly after the ordeal in the Philippines when his anger and heartache had nearly consumed him. Nevertheless, he had a strong belief in God and was glad Delaney did too. He started his prayer by expressing gratitude for the food and that they’d been kept safe. Then he asked for continued protection to see them through the ordeal with Hugh Allen. Pushing back emotion, he gave thanks for Gram and asked that she be blessed to have very little pain. He added that he was grateful for her long, fruitful life and the many lives she’d touched, including his. Lastly, he expressed gratitude for Delaney and asked that she be given added peace. When he saidAmenand opened his eyes, he noticed that Delaney had tears in her eyes. “Are you okay?”

She smiled slightly, nodding. “Yeah. That was a beautiful prayer. Thank you.” He was surprised when she reached for his hand. “I’m sorry I freaked out earlier.”

His heart melted a little. “I’m sorry I acted like a buffoon and took my anger out on the chopping block.”

“It’s okay,” she shrugged.

He searched her face. “If you didn’t know it by now, I have a temper. I’m working on getting it under control, but it comes out from time to time.”

Her eyes lit with laughter, turning them a warm caramel. “You?” she asked in mock astonishment. “No.” She pursed her lips. “Come to think of it, I might’ve guessed that when you laid out my three-hundred-pound bodyguard in the middle of a party.”

“Not one of my finer achievements,” he said dryly. He looked her in the eye. She was so beautiful—strong, yet vulnerable. And in the short time they’d been together, she was consuming him body and soul. “I know I’m a hothead, but you need to know that I would never hurt you. I love you.”

Tears slipped from her eyes. “You’re a good man, Corbin Spencer. I know you’d never hurt me.” She took in a deep breath. “I’m just trying to fight those demons.” She laughed remorsefully. “It’s hard, you know?”

“Yes, I do know. We’ll fight our demons together. Okay?” He held his breath, awaiting her answer.

“Okay.”

He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing they could move forward. Yeah, it would be awesome to know that Delaney loved him too, but it was early in their relationship. Like Pops said, he needed to be patient, give her time. He released her hands. “I guess we should eat the pizza, before it gets cold.”

“It looks delicious. I’m glad you got a supreme. It’s my favorite.”

He smiled. “Another thing we have in common.”

She chuckled. “The list is stacking up.” She took a large bite. “Very good,” she said, a minute later. She reached for her napkin, dabbing her lips. “Oh, I was thinking about the sweetheart dance tomorrow night. I think we should go.”

He nearly choked on his pizza. “What?”

“It would mean a lot to Addie …” She gave him a hopeful look. “And I’d like to dance with you.”

Delaney was full of wonderful surprises. His eyes caressed hers, his voice going husky. “We could dance together tonight, here in the cabin. In front of a warm fire.” The very thought of dancing with Delaney, holding her close, swaying to soft music, swirled anticipation through his veins.

Color seeped into her cheeks. “Yeah, we could,” she said evasively. “But it would mean a lot to Addie for us to go to the dance. And I’d like to get dressed up and go out on the town.”

Absolutely not. “What if someone recognizes you? Madison came close at the lodge. We can’t take another risk.”

“Madison came close, but she didn’t recognize me.” She touched her hair. “You have to admit, I look so different with this thing on.”

“True,” he conceded, “but do you really think we should chance it?”

“I think it’ll be okay.” Her eyes pled with his. “The lights will be low. I’ll wear extra makeup. Will you take me to the sweetheart dance? Please?”

Why was she being so stubborn? He crossed his hands over his chest. “No.”

Irritation flashed in her eyes as she squared her jaw. “Fine. If you won’t take me, then I’ll go by myself.”

“Have you lost your mind? You really want me to take you to a place packed with people?”

She looked him in the eye. “I want to get dressed up. Go someplace as a couple. Forget about our problems for a few hours.” Her voice quivered slightly. “Is that too much to ask?”

He sighed, knowing how this would end—the same way things had gone down when Gram wanted something from Pops. Eventually, Pops would always give her whatever she wanted. As kids, Corbin and Addie used to joke that Gram had Pops wrapped around her little finger. But for the first time, Corbin understood the situation. How could he say no to a woman like Delaney? From the first moment he saw her, all his thoughts had revolved around making her happy. “Okay, I’ll take you.”

She rewarded him with a dazzling smile. “Thank you.”

“For the record, I still think this is a bad idea.”

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