Page 16 of Commander

“I want a hug too.” My mom stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

I kissed her cheek and soaked into her warmth and love.

It had been over three months since I’d last seen them. My parents had decided to do a world tour as a celebration of their mutual retirements.

They’d saved their whole life for their trip, and I couldn’t blame them for having pride in achieving their goal or for extending it when they had the opportunity.

“You look well rested, Mummy.”

Karina Zain was as gorgeous as always. Black hair that had only a sprinkling of gray and a figure that showed she took care of her health. “I swear you barely age.”

She gave an unladylike “yeah right” snort, which made me laugh.

My family was real as they came. There was no pretension with them. They’d rather have people tell them what they really thought than put on a face. Maybe that was the reason my mother seemed to have an unending tank of tolerance for Minesh and his antics. Hell, his own wife could only take so much of his company before leaving a room.

“My glow is thanks to your soon-to-be husband. He extended our trip with a week in Tahiti. He offered us his private yacht to visit all the islands.”

I turned a surprised glance at Ashur.

He shrugged. “Tara said it was your birthday. The ship was the least I could do.”

A tinge of embarrassment colored his cheeks.

My goodness, the president was blushing.

The man kept surprising me.

I walked over to Ashur and whispered, “I promise not to tell a soul you’re a sucker for our moms.”

“You do that.” He grazed his jaw across my forehead, sending goosebumps across my skin.

I pulled back, not wanting to linger, and I sat down with my parents on an antique yellow fabric couch.

After a few minutes of conversation, my mom took my hand in hers and said, “Ashur isn’t the only one who looks tired. Are you okay? Samina called to check on us today and said you had to close your office.”

“Mummy, I’m fine. My practice is still open. The junior partners are taking the lead now. Besides, the DC office was only a temporary location, so I could finish out a few cases before I assumed my duties as Ashur’s wife.”

She studied me for a second and then spoke in a hushed voice against my ear. “No more assignments, Tara. It’s too dangerous.”

“What?” I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face.

She gave me her “I’m not as oblivious as you like to think” look she’d bestow on me when I was a kid and tried to sneak into the house after curfew.

All these years, I’d thought my parents had no idea about my life. Trust my mom to figure things out.

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to, but if it makes you feel better, I’m all done until I’m in civilian life again.”

I was saved from my mother’s response by an interruption from Ashur’s father.

“Why does Samina talk to you,” Minesh asked, giving my mother a disgusted look, “but doesn’t have the decency to call her own parents?”

“I’m sure Samina has contacted Anya. It isn’t like her to be distant.” My mother tried to defend Sam.

God where the hell was Sam? She had left Shawna’s shop twenty minutes before I had, saying she wanted to pick up the kids so they could play interference between the grownups and the overgrown ass who’d provided half her DNA.

The only soft spot in Minesh Kumar’s demeanor was Sam’s kids. They were a handful but had a way of drawing even the stodgiest person into their antics. Samina may dislike her father but she’d never keep her children away from her mother. And therefore, because of Anya, Minesh was allowed time with the hellions.

“Don’t make excuses for her. What could I expect from the likes of you?” Minesh Kumar came to stand in front of Mom and me.

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