Page 249 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“I don’t want to go on without Jordan.” Piper let out a brittle laugh. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? When I found out about Jordan’s affair, I hated him for it. Then, just when we were working through our issues, he left me.”

“He didn’t leave you by choice. He was killed.”

A sob broke through Piper’s throat. “I know. That’s what I meant. It’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not,” Addie agreed.

Piper wiped her eyes with the palms of her hands, a shaky laugh escaping her throat. “You probably think I’ve lost my mind.”

“I don’t think that at all. You’ve been through a lot, and it has taken its toll. Anyone would have a hard time under these circumstances.” Her gut tightened at how unfair life could be.

“Without Jordan and my company. There’s no reason to continue.” Her voice broke, a thick silence descending between them.

“That’s not true. You’ve got your dad … me,” she said fiercely. More than anything, she wanted to be as good of a friend to Piper as Piper had been to her. Memories of Addie’s critical time came rushing back as her voice grew reflective. “When I found out Gram had brain cancer.” A ball of emotion lodged in her throat as she coughed to clear it. She offered Piper a pained smile. “Well, you remember how distraught I was. I wasfurious with God, wondering how a woman who’d been stripped of everything—her memories, her identity—could then have cancer.” She gritted her teeth. “It was so unfair.” She paused, giving Piper a meaningful look. “Remember the rest?”

A faint smile graced Piper’s lips. “You were in bad shape…sitting by your grandmother’s bed, bawling your eyes out. She’d been given a heavy sedative, didn’t even know anyone was there.”

“You came in and put a hand on my shoulder.” Addie couldn’t hold back the tears that slipped down her cheeks in thin ribbons. “You told me how strong I was, reminded me that I needed to be there for Pops.” She chuckled. “You also told me to dry my eyes because the two of us were going to lunch.”

A wry grin formed over Piper’s mouth. “Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten about that part.”

“Well, I never will.” Determination fired in Addie’s blood as she sat up straight and took Piper’s hand. “This is where I tell you to get your butt out of bed and get a shower, so we can go and grab something to eat.” She clapped her hands two times briskly. “Chop, chop.”

Piper reached for the sheet and twisted it around her hands. Her eyes clouded, turning them a dark, muddy brown. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it won’t work.” Her voice went flat, and any residual vitality seemed to drain out of her. “Not this time,” she said quietly.

Addie was about to grab the sheet and pull it off Piper, demanding that she get up, when a knock sounded at the door. She and Piper looked as Hamilton entered, holding a tray. He spoke to Piper. “I brought you some herbal tea with chamomile. It’ll help you relax. I didn’t know if you wanted tea, so I brought you a glass of ice water,” he explained to Addie, his tone apologetic.

“Water’s great,” Addie said as he placed the tray in Piper’s lap. “Where’s Maddox?” She didn’t like the idea of him being left alone in the living room, while the three of them were in here.

“He got a phone call and stepped into the hall to answer it.” Hamilton gave Piper a fatherly smile. “I figured it was a good time to bring your tea.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Piper said in a small voice as she reached for the handle and lifted the cup to her lips.

Hamilton handed Addie the glass of water.

“Thank you,” she responded, taking a sip. She was about to place the glass on the nightstand beside the bed when Hamilton spoke.

“Drink up,” he encouraged them both, bringing his hands together.

Piper took another drink of her tea, her eyes taking on a hint of laughter as she looked at Addie. “Better do as he says, or else he’ll stand here hovering over us all day.”

It was a relief to see a spark of life coming back into Piper’s eyes. Addie laughed, feeling like they were teenagers again. Out of politeness, she downed a few large swallows.

A couple minutes later, Piper placed the half-empty tea cup on the tray and leaned back against the pillows. She stifled a yawn. “All right, Dad. We drank it. You can go now.”

“Thanks for the water.” Addie lifted the glass to her lips and took another couple of sips, then placed it on the bedside table. Hamilton stepped forward and retrieved the tray and Addie’s glass. “Can I get you a snack?” he asked.

Piper waved a hand. “No, Dad. We’re fine. Thank you.”

He nodded, leaving the room.

Piper looked at Addie. “Thank you for accommodating him.”

“Of course. It’s nice of him to take such great care of you.”

“Yes,” she responded, her tone going listless. Addie could almost see her slipping back into the depression. She fingered the sheet. “So, Maddox is here with you?”

“Yes,” Addie couldn’t help but smile as she answered. Since last night, she’d felt like she was wrapped in a protective blanket of bliss, secure in the knowledge that the two of them were together for good this time.

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