Page 69 of SEAL'S Baby Surprise
“I’m that Austin,” he says.
“Grab him,” Artie says. “Grab him quick before he changes his mind. He’s legend. Folks that can’t find a place to park their camper or tiny house can go set up at Freedom Beach or Freedom Mountain, depending on the time of year.”
“Do you still want me?” I ask in a very small voice.
“Oh, Lady Mermaid,” he says, standing up. “I want you. I want you today, and I’ll want you tomorrow. In sunshine, in rain, in sickness, in health…”
“Say yes and marry him, already!” Someone yells out a window. “Then we can all get some sleep.”
“Yes,” I say, walking toward the gate. “I’ll marry you, Austin Ezekial Moore. That is…if you want me. And all of the mess that I come with.”
He gives this big shout of laughter and opens his arms to me as Artie opens up the gate between us. He cuddles me up. “I want you,” he says. “I want every beautiful, messy part of you.”
I laugh a little and burrow my nose into his chest. He smells amazing, and I inhale deeply, picking up additional notes that remind me of the time we’ve already shared together.
Best of all, he smells like Austin, like his deodorant, like sun and sand and sea spray. Like home. Behind us, the people living in the PG hostel cat call, cheer, and yell congratulations.
“That’s one counseling appointment I can take off my list,” Artie says. “Don’t get this result often, but when it happens, it’s my favorite.”
“Thank you, Artie,” I say from my safe haven in Austin’s arms. “Thank you for your wonderful work. Maybe you would like a pearl or two?”
“Convert it into cash, and I’ll take it,” Artie says. “The Family Clinic never has enough money.”
31
AUSTIN
I’m notbig into over-powered four-wheeled vehicles, but I have to admit that Richard’s Wagoneer is a comfortable haven after our encounter with the hostel matron. It has plenty of room for Lee, Ark, and me.
Lee pulls me into the back seat and refuses to let go.
Richard pauses in the open driver’s side door and glares at her. “You’ve been missing for nearly three months, and you treat me like a chauffeur?”
“I want Austin,” she says. Then she adds saucily, “Ark can ride up front.”
“I don’t think so,” Richard replies. “I want an accounting . . .”
“We can walk or get an Uber,” I say, preparing to get out. “If Lee didn’t contact you, even after she knew I was going to your home to visit, then there must have been a reason.”
“It was to keep them safe,” Lee says.
“What?!” Richard and I both explode the word at the same time.
“Jason did something I didn’t like,” Lee says in a small voice. “He threatened to put a hit out on you if I said anything. I just couldn’t marry him after he said that, but I couldn’t go near you because he would know that I told.”
“What kind of thing?” Richard asks, half kneeling in the seat so he can look at his sister.
“I can’t tell you,” Lee says. And then she began to cry. “But now he’ll think that I did tell you. You are in terrible, terrible danger. You, and Kandis, and Charlie. And I guess, now that you’ve found me, Austin, and Julia, too. Oh, this is awful, just awful. I should have walked into the ocean.”
“Rylie Arianrhod Lane!” Richard explodes, while I put my arms around Lee, and say, “No, no, no! I need you. Julia needs you, and so does Ark.”
“But I’m going to get you all killed,” Lee wails. “He said he’d do it . . .”
“Call Caleb,” Richard snarls at his onboard computer.
“Calling Caleb,” a science fiction-y voice drones.
After a couple of rings, a chipper tenor voice says, “What’s up, boss?”
