Page 50 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Zach

“Zach, I’m so sorry about Kennedy.” Rayne and Reaper had agreed to hang around for a few days until I could get Kennedy to listen to me. “It was so late, I never dreamed she would come over and find me in your kitchen.”

I tossed my head against the back of the couch, feeling like a dumbass for not being able to figure this shit out. “Rayne, it’s not your fault. The second she went upstairs and found my bed empty, she would have been just as pissed off.” I reasoned.

“Would an Uncle Ray story cheer you up?”

I turn my head to Reaper, “Not unless it holds the secret to getting Kennedy back.”

“Maybe I could talk to her? Let her know I'm with Matt, and not you.” While I knew her intentions were good, I needed her to understand why this was such a bad idea.

“Rayne, let me ask you a question? Let’s say the roles were reversed and it was Kennedy standing in Reaper's kitchen. The relationship is fairly new and you have just been through a terrible experience with another man. How about we add into the mix, you and Reaper haven't gone much past a heavy groping session. Would you really want to talk with the half naked girl, when she shows up at your front door?”

Rayne lowered her eyes to the rim of her coffee cup, “No, I wouldn’t want to speak with her. Rip her eyes out maybe, but no way would I talk with her.” It was oddly adorable how gentle and kind Rayne is, considering the gruff, mountain of man Reaper is.

“Wait, you went through all of that last night and today, but you haven't slept with her yet? Hell man, either she is more like a little sister or a good friend, or...”

“I bought the ring two weeks ago.” My admission hung heavy in the room.

Rayne rose from her seat by the door, walking with a smile on her face as she sat on Reaper’s lap. “You know, Zach, back before I met Matt, I was getting ready to marry a man I didn’t love, or really even like. The people around me convinced me there was no one out there who would want to wake up to a woman who looks like me.” Her pleading blue eyes, latched onto my soul, pulling me into the deep pools her heart swam in. Rayne, like Kennedy, was a classic beauty. Both were blessed with simple features and soft lines. They didn’t need pounds of makeup to make them look natural.

“I worked for a funeral home, getting people who have passed ready for their loved ones to say goodbye to them. I felt safe doing it, avoiding the judgment I found in the eyes of those around me. My brother had asked his long time girlfriend to marry him and she made it clear there was room for only one female in the home she would share with him. So I started looking around for a place to stay, no small task considering the size of the town I lived in. Anyway, one afternoon I was leaving the post office and ran into Matt here.”

Sliding her eyes to meet Reaper’s, glowing smiles forming as they both relived the memory. “He seemed larger than life. When I looked into his eyes, what I saw looking back at me, made every bad name I had ever been called and every cruel joke seem to disappear. Mrs. Merkel, who ran the post office, tried to tell me he was some shifter blowing through town and to keep my distance. But when I needed his help, he was right there to save me.” Rayne turned in my direction, immeasurable joy on her face. “Matt told me why we needed to come here. I have to tell you, he made it clear if I chose to get in his truck, I was stuck with him forever. What Kennedy needs, is living proof of the kind of love you have for her.”

Rayne didn’t need to come out and say I had to be honest with Kennedy, but she was right, actions always speak louder than words.

“Zach?”

“Oh, God, that’s creepy. You calling me by my first name.” I shivered, unable to recall Reaper ever using my name.

“Tough shit. If I keep using your call sign for every day, when I need to use it in a mission, it won’t protect you.” Fucker had a point. “I spoke with Chase and his brothers today while you were over trying to salvage your relationship. They’re offering to bring you in if you're still interested. According to Chase, they have more work than they know what to do with.”

If I chose to join this group with my old teammates, it would mean admitting to Kennedy what I did when I was away. Hell, what I did for her last night. I can hire another artist to help Jason, only working there when we didn’t have a mission.

“But you should know.” His voice is serious, which causes me to sit up straight. “I have to leave in a few days to go help Tombstone.”

“What the fuck happened?”

“You know he got shot and had to go to Germany to recover, right?” I nod my head, allowing him to continue. “Once he was well enough to fly back to the States, they tried to get in touch with his wife. When all attempts failed, his parents showed up and helped him home. He opened the front door to an empty house and divorce papers in the middle of the living room floor. His ex-wife had fallen in love with some guy she’d found in an Internet chat room and took off with him. While he wants nothing to do with her, he does want his kids back. I’m going to go help him get them back.” As a SEAL, we have been in countless missions like this. Granted the child was being used as a pawn or was a runaway to get Daddy's attention.

“And you're taking Rayne with you?” I had to know what to tell Kennedy. If she would forgive me for what happened, I wanted her beside me.

“Chase’s wife is about to have a baby, so Rayne is gonna stay with her and help out.”

“What about the rest of the guys, are they willing to join up?” We had four other members of this team, each serving an important purpose. The mission would be damn near impossible without the whole team.

“Havoc is still on active duty, stationed down in Florida until his time is up, but he wants in the second he removes the uniform. Ghost is giving us intel, he’s trying to get a job with the Secret Service. Chief is willing to do whatever we need him to while he waits for his girl to get back to the States. Doc is still in Afghanistan, while he waits for his time to be up. He’s been working hard on the girl who sent him that package for Christmas, hell of a story there.”

I wanted to know more of the stories my guys had going on, but I needed to work on my own relationship first. “Let me see if I can win Kennedy over, smooth this shit out before I give you an answer.”

***

I tried Kennedy’s phone a few more times, each call resulting in a trip to her voicemail. Matt would be leaving the day after tomorrow and I wanted to have an answer for him. As I lay in my bed, the one I’d fantasized about having her in, I tried to come up with a way to get her to listen to me, to see the truth of what happened. As the dawn of a new morning greeted me, I tossed back the covers, determined to get my girl back.Grabbing my cell off the dresser, I scrolled through my contacts until I found his number. “Hello, Mr. Forrester. I’m sorry for the early hour, but I need to speak with you urgently.” Kennedy may not want to listen to me, but I knew she damn well would listen to her father.

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