Page 19 of Treasured
This time, she massaged one of my shoulders like she needed me to relax, and then she said, “He… tried to threaten me, but I called his bluff. Then my brother came over and stayed in my spare bedroom.”
Good. She wasn’t alone entirely. “So you were protected.”
“I can’t keep calling him.” We walked in sync as she continued, “Joseph and his company are about to launch some major app and software, so he’s super busy these days, but he makes time for us.”
Good, I thought again. I wasn’t sure how much Mary would let me in her life yet, but I said, “Well, if you need me this week, I’m in town.”
She looped her arm in mine and placed it on the stroller. “When we first got together, I was okay with it because I never thought I’d see you again. Now I’m getting confused and crossing the lines.”
I smiled. “Is that your way of telling me to get lost?”
She snuggled closer. “No!”
“Good,” I said, and we curved around the reservoir on the empty path covered with green branches overhead.
She gently elbowed me, and our gazes met. “I’m glad you’re here today. And having you on my side a little is nice. So, what do you do now that you’re not a SEAL? If I remember right, you work for Cole Securities.”
Where I inherited a bunch of older-brother types that I hardly remembered and now everyone checks on me to make sure I’m not overburdened. I swallowed and simply said, “With Cole Securities. I hired them to help me get my brother’s company out of Wanda Frost’s hands.”
“Arthur works for her.”
“He won’t work for me. I’d choose you if you let me.”
“I don’t want to think about him.” She motioned with her hands and pushed forward in silence for a moment and said, “It has to be hard to go from larger-than-life hero to legal paperwork as a means to get what you want.”
I laughed as she created a box like she was a mime. I helped steer the stroller. “Being a SEAL isn’t like the movies.”
She winked at me and retook the stroller. “I’m sure it’s not. What was the best part of the job?”
Her son started crying. She stopped short and turned him toward us. I knelt down and motioned that I could hold him. She unstrapped her son, kissed his head, and handed him to me.
He smelled good, and I was captivated by his big blue eyes. As we stood up again and I held him to my chest to keep him close, I blinked and remembered her question. “Being around others who I knew were just as capable as me and that we’d look out for each other. I missed my mom’s cooking, but otherwise, my team was like family.”
Her lips curved into a wide smile as she glanced up. “That sounds nice.”
Her son took hold of my finger and held it tight. My heart melted a little as I said, “And you sound like you and your family are close.”
She wiped her eyes like she had sudden tears when she stared at us and said, “That’s one of the best parts of my life. I have people who care about me.”
I inhaled and hugged her son as I said, “Include me on your list, Mary.”
She placed her small fingers on my hip. “You care about me?”
I bounced her boy, and he laughed. “Is that a problem?”
“No.” She went onto her tiptoes and tugged me to lower my face as she said, “It’s nice. Look, I don’t live in a fancy place or anything, but you’re welcome to come over.”
I kissed her cheek. “I’m touched.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “What does that mean?”
Her boy closed his eyes, so I put him back in the stroller. She helped me with the straps. As we finished, I said, “That I need to get my things from the hotel, but I’m excited to spend every second I can with you.”
As we headed toward the parking lot, she said, “Okay, look, I shouldn’t ask you over.”
“You want me. It’s okay to admit it.”
She typed a text into her phone. “I’m probably crazy, but here is my address. Meet us there.”
