Page 35 of Protected By the SEAL

If there were ever going to be a next time, I wouldn’t do that again, but there won’t be a next time. I’ve pulled out of that life and won’t ever go back to being in a dangerous position again. Cassie would hate it, and I know my mom would too.

Knock, knock.I haven’t warned Mom that we’re coming, so I’m not just walking in to keep this as more of a surprise.

“Do you think she isn’t in?” Cassie whispers quietly. “Maybe doing this as a surprise wasn’t the best plan…”

The door swings open and my mom immediately screams like I’ve given her a heart attack or something. When she grabs onto her chest, I actually worry that I might have tipped her over the edge. I now regret not calling in ahead.

“Oh, my God, Benji.” She throws herself at me and holds me against her chest. “Oh, my God, I can’t believe you are here.”

“I’m sorry it’s been awhile. And also that I didn’t warn you. I wanted this to be a surprise because it’s been awhile.”

“Yeah, well this is a wonderful surprise. I haven’t heard from you in forever. I’ve been worried about you.” She pulls back and runs her eyes over my face like she’s checking that I’m not injured or anything. “What finally brings you back to me?”

She hasn’t even noticed Cassie yet, which is hilarious. She’s been worried about my being single and never settling down for a verylong time, and now I finally bring a woman home and Mom is so wrapped up in me that she doesn’t see her.

“Well, Mom, there’s actually someone I want you to meet.” I step back and point toward Cassie. “This is my girlfriend.”

She darts her eyes between me and Cassie a few times, trying to work out how serious I’m being. “Are you for real?”

“Yes, of course.” I laugh. “This is Cassie Jones. She’s my girlfriend, and I just wanted you to meet her.”

I can see the cogs ticking in Mom’s brain. I don’t know which way her head is going. I don’t know what her thought process is, but it’s making me more than a little nervous. “Cassie Jones… you were that poor girl who was kidnapped, aren’t you?”

“Er…” Cassie’s eyes dart downward. I can tell that she doesn’t like talking about this, and how can I blame her? “Yes…”

“Benji, were you the one who saved her? Oh, my goodness. I didn’t know that you were involved with such danger.”

“Not anymore,” I insist. “Because I’m with Cassie, I’ve given it all up. Now we’re traveling the world together…”

“Come inside.” Mom suddenly realizes that she hasn’t invited us in yet. “Sorry, I’m a little bewildered by all of this. It’s a lot. But it’s so lovely to see you, Cassie. It’s great to meet you. I would love to learn more about you. Let’s go in for tea.”

Cassie begins to relax as the subject changes, and I think that Mom will see that too. I’m hoping that we stay away from anything to do with the kidnapping again. Mom is usually pretty good at reading rooms and people’s moods. Thankfully, as we take a seat and we drink some tea, we talk about our relationship instead, which is a much nicer subject for all of us. Cassie comesout of her shell and really begins to get on well with my mother, which is hugely important to me.

“Wow, you two are really good together,” Mom finally declares with a big smile. “I was starting to wonder whether Benji was ever going to find anyone he liked and who could keep up with him, but you must give him a run for his money. And you are just so beautiful, Cassie. I can’t get over how gorgeous you are. Wow. I’m surprised that you aren’t a model or something.”

“Oh, no, I don’t like being on that side of the camera.” She laughs. “I’ve spent far too long trying to get away from the public eye. The last thing I want to do is ever go back into it. I’m much happier hiding away from the world with Benji.”

I can see Mom’s approval as she looks at the pair of us, and it makes me feel all warm and soft inside. I actually need this more than I thought, and it allows me to consider other steps that we could take in our relationship. Since we already know that we’re going to be together forever, then why not solidify that in the place where I grew up? Hmm, now I’m thinking…

“Where are we going?” Cassie laughs as I pull her further up the hill which allows for an amazing view of my hometown, all of it. “Oh, my goodness, I wouldn’t have worn these shoes if I knew that we were going on a freaking hike.”

“I’m sorry, I guess I forgot quite how intense this hill was.” I chuckle. “But you will love it at the top. And anyway, I needed to get you out of the house so I can ask you what you really think of my mother. I can’t ask you in front of her.”

“Oh, Iloveher,” she insists right away. “She’s an incredible woman. Wow, and so sweet as well. She’s been so kind to me. Now I get where you get your wonderful nature from. She’s brought you up very well. She must love you a lot.”

“Well, before she met you, I would have agreed, but now I think that she loves you more. My God, she’s obsessed with you. She might not have met any other women before now, which is probably why she was so worried about me, but she loves you so much.” I smile to myself as I think about my mom raving about her. “She really is happy about us.”

“Well, that’s two families then,” Cassie declares. “My family obviously loved you as well. Especially since you stood up for yourself when it comes to my father. He has a whole lot of respect for you now. They all like you.”

“Even your siblings?” Iknowthat whatever they think of me will be the most important thing. “What did they say?”

Cassie smirks. “They all loved you as well, and I think you know that. The twins were obsessed with you, and Nick thinks you’re the coolest guy ever. Alena and Kevin had fun with you as well. They will probably be more excited to hang out with you in future instead of me. I’ll be the one neglected when I go back home, and you’ll have all the fun…”

Her words fall away as we finally reach the top of the hill and she sees the town below, just as I knew she would. This is how I’ve always felt coming up here. There’s a sort of magical quality to it. Not only that, but it’s really private as well. Up here, it always feels like the rest of the world has simply melted away and there isn’t anyone else left. That’s the perfect way for me to be able to do this. Cassie loves privacy. She adores being hidden away and out of the limelight, which makes this everything.

“It’s incredible up here,” she gasps with joy. “Wow, I can see why you dragged my ass up here now.”

“I didn’t just bring you up here to see the view,” I admit as I take her hands in mine, which causes her to spin around to look at me curiously. “I actually brought you up here because I wanted to have a conversation with you about the future.”

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