Page 4 of Spring UnVeiled
He shook his head.He’d heard about those resorts twenty years ago.And eighteen years ago.And again, fifteen ago…from Genevieve.She’d always wanted him to take off an entire week, and they’d go to one of those fancy resorts and do nothing but eat great food, swim, and make love.
They’d never made it to Mexico...together.He’d been down there on a mission, rescuing a representative of the State Department from one of the cartels.He wasn’t sure if Genevieve had made it beyond Tijuana.When they were younger, he’d take care of Kylie for a day while she and her girlfriends went south of the border and bought Mexican junk.Evan doubted she knew it, but several of his men always followed her to make sure she was safe.
He’d take his daughter to Hawaii instead.
As the street skirted the beautiful old Hotel Del Coronado with its white porches and balconies, Evan smiled to himself as he remembered taking Kylie to brunch there when he’d come to California for her high school graduation…and meetings at NSW headquarters.
Understandably, she’d wanted to hang out with her friends, certainly not her father, so he didn’t feel bad when he had to spend most of his time on base.They’d found a few hours for supper at the area’s famous seafood restaurant, and she’d regaled him with stories about school, her friends, her plans for the summer, and her excitement to start college in the fall.
She looked all grown up in her pretty blue sundress with yellow flowers that matched her hair, the same color as her mother’s.Fortunately, she’d also gotten her mother’s beautiful face and amber eyes.
Had that really been almost two years ago?
He’d take her to brunch just as soon as he could get reservations.
Evan felt terrible because he hadn’t called her before he left Virginia.Everything happened so fast.Thankfully, his good friend, Captain Micah Reid, and his new wife, Berit, were down visiting her son and grandbaby.They saved his ass.Micah had formally promoted Evan to captain and Berit took over organizing his household move.
Thank God he’d rented with the military transfer clause.He’d already been assigned one of the largest houses on the Coronado base and all his furniture would be moved in within ten days.
Micah was so lucky to have found such a wonderful woman.Evan wondered if there was someone still out there for him.
A twinge of worry swept through him.As the commanding officer of Group 1, he had a certain social standing that he was expected to maintain.Thankfully, he wouldn’t be the only C.O.without a wife to act as hostess.Marriages in the SEALs rarely enjoyed longevity.
His friend and mentor, Vice Admiral Trevor Maddox, was the exception.At least he had been, until his lovely wife of twenty-five years had been taken from this earth too soon.It had been five years since Evan had gone to Carol’s funeral.Pancreatic cancer had taken her very quickly.He’d have to ask Trevor about his two sons and daughter.
The beach narrowed as they neared the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training facility, better known as BUD/S.Evan, like every single SEAL no matter what rank, had to pass the same twelve months of initial training that started in those white buildings in front of him.With a washout rate of eighty-five percent, only the best of the best ever got to wear the Trident.
As he stepped out of the car he drew in a deep breath of warm April air, smelling the Pacific Ocean which, yes, smelled different than the Atlantic.He stared at the headquarters building.The gold trident, rows upon rows of ribbons, and jump wings that he wore over his left breast suddenly weighed heavily upon him.When he stepped inside that building, he was going to be in charge of more than a thousand men trained just like him.All of them willing to do whatever it took to accomplish the mission.
He just hoped he didn’t fuck it up.
“Good afternoon, Ms.Merkel,” Evan said to the woman at the large oak desk positioned in front of the last two doors at the end of the hall.He didn’t need to see her nameplate to know her name.Marta had been seated at that desk for over a decade.Before that, she’d occupied several in the headquarters office.
“Captain Hubbard.”She stressed the first word as she looked up from her typing and smiled.“It’s good to have you here and nice to see you again.Vice Admiral Maddox is on the phone with the Pentagon, but I expect him to finish in…” She glanced at the time in the corner of her large computer screen.“Six minutes.Have a seat.If you want coffee, you know where it is.”
Evan chuckled to himself as he wandered over to the coffee station, grabbing a much-needed cup.His body was ready for supper, but it wouldn’t be the first time a major meal had been delayed.He’d live.Before he sat down, she handed him a folder.
“Today’s itinerary is on the top.You have fifteen minutes with Vice Admiral Maddox followed by a five-minute greeting with Rear Admiral Finger.Your temporary aide, Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Harrison, who is recovering from knee surgery, will show you to your new office and get you set up with your new computer and sat phone.You are to have drinks and supper with Vice Admiral Maddox tonight.If you’ve already made plans that conflict with those, discuss it with him.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”Evan wanted to smile but withheld it.That was Marta.Always the efficient gatekeeper.When she returned to her work, he watched her in his peripheral vision.
Her age was starting to show, but, fuck, so was his.She was still a beautiful woman in her early fifties.Her dark brown hair draped stylishly over her shoulders, the ends curling under softly from her chin to her modest scooped-neck blouse.She’d always had a light, natural tan.
“Are you still surfing?”He hoped his casual question didn’t interrupt something important.
Her broad smile accented by laugh lines told him that he didn’t need to worry.
“Every chance I get, which hasn’t been often enough lately.My beach time these days is usually yoga at sunrise.”She stopped typing and stared at him for a long minute.“Genevieve is in the class, too.In full disclosure, we often grab coffee together afterward.We’re friends.Good friends.I know this transfer was quick, and rest assured, I haven’t mentioned it to her.She didn’t mention it to me either, so I take it you didn’t call her or let Kylie know you’re moving here?”
“No,” he admitted sheepishly.“I intend to call Kylie as soon as I get a free minute.I’m hoping we can go out for a drink in the next few days.”He waved the folder.“Can we schedule that in for me?”He smiled and hoped it softened his guilt.
The edges of her eyes tightened, accenting the fine fan lines in the corners.“You know,” she said very quietly, “the baby is due?—”
“Captain Hubbard.”The booming voice behind her drowned out her last words.“Damn, it’s good to see you.”Vice Admiral Trevor Maddox held out his hand for a shake then pulled Evan into his office.
Evan was still reeling.Baby?He must’ve misunderstood.Gen was having a baby?At her age?Was that even safe?Fuck.She was forty-two, no, forty-three years old.And when the hell had she remarried?And to who?
“Have a seat, Evan.”The vice admiral’s order severed Evan’s thoughts of his ex-wife.He took the chair across the desk from his mentor.“Thanks for getting out here so quickly.I hate leaving any position empty.”
