Page 36 of Protecting Vera

Vera’s mouth hung open. “Really?”

Thario shrugged. “I didn’t appreciate what I had. I was a little shit and didn’t appreciate anything. I may not have legs, but I’m happier now. It doesn’t make sense, but it does.”

“I’m glad you’re happier.”

Hop grabbed the plate with the meat and opened the door to the backyard. “I’m going to put the meat on the grill.”

“Want any help?” Thario asked.

“I got it. You and Vera chat.”

“Sure thing, brother.”

He should have asked Thario to hang out with them earlier. There were things he needed to do better. First, he really needed to make sure Vera knew who to contact if things went bad. He could see Vera and Thario laughing inside, and his heart squeezed.

Being a SEAL opened a world to him he never would have known about. He was a better person because of his training. He could keep Vera safe. He knew that now. He would just have to work harder and get her the resources she needed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Life with Ben was great. She’d fallen in love with him, and it only got better. Every day seemed like the best. They’d had a few arguments, but even those weren’t too serious. Ben really listened to her and didn’t just override her concerns with some bullshit macho crap about being in charge. He really wanted her in his life.

Frizz and Justin’s flight was set to arrive at two in the afternoon. She’d taken Ben to work that morning, so she had the car and could pick them up. He was getting a ride home with one of the guys who didn’t live too far away.

Vera was excited to see Frizz and spend some time with her. She knew Ben and Frizz wanted to spend time together, but on the days Ben had to work, she would be showing Frizz and Justin around.

She thought it a little weird that she hadn’t done much in town. She hadn’t been to the zoo or the park or anything touristy. Of course, she was living here like she was a local instead of a transplant. Then again, she’d been busy with work and still hadn’t bought a car. She had the money but didn’t want her name on anything Logan could track down. He didn’t have the resources she had, but still, it worried her. Thario kept her up to date with Logan’s movements. So far, he hadn’t hopped a plane, but he wasn’t letting up on his investigation.

When she arrived at the airport, Frizz texted her that they were coming out. She dropped into the pickup line, sending back a note that she was about twenty cars back and she would be there soon.

Excitement pinged through her. When she finally saw Frizz and Justin, her heart almost skipped a beat she was so excited.

The hugs had to be quick while Justin threw their suitcases into the back of the vehicle. Soon, they were back on the freeway heading to Ben’s house.

Vera knew her smile was ridiculous, but she couldn’t help it. “I guess you know where we live?”

“Obviously. It was Nana’s California house.”

“There’s a house in Colorado, right? How did Nana get so many houses?”

“Nana liked men, but she didn’t sleep with just anyone. When Nana found someone, she made them give her stuff. No stuff, no nookie.”

“Wow. And you knew this as a kid?”

“Heck no. I didn’t find out until she died, and I took over her house in Texas. There were notebooks filled with stories. She once dated an Arabian prince, and she dated a few movie stars. That’s how she got the house in San Diego. The place was an actor’s escape home, you know, where he went when he wanted to escape publicity. He left it to her when he died.”

“Wow. That’s wild.”

“Yes. She got the house in Colorado in the same way. Just had some guy leave her the house when he died. The one in Texas was bought for her when the guy was still living. She also had a house in Florida but sold it to pay for a caretaker in her final years.

“Wow. I’m impressed with her.”

“She was one of a kind. The best.”

“Sounds like it. I’m happy you’re here. Ben will be happy to see you.”

“So you don’t call him Hop?”

Vera chuckled. “Sometimes. But Hop isn’t the sexiest name.”

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