Page 13 of SEAL's Spitfire
“Meghan. Stop for a moment. Take a breath. Listen, this is part of being in shock.” It seemed like as good a reason as any. She was definitely acting out of character. It was her role to be the calm one, the one who handled all the family problems and emergencies. He was right, she needed to pull herself together. Walking into her sister’s house like this would be a disaster because as soon as the door closed behind her, she’d be bombarded.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Well, some of it.”
“I know,” Rafe answered and smiled gently. “I shouldn’t have kept the information to myself. But even thinking about going to Afghanistan by yourself is a horrible idea.” Yeah, he was trying to be nice. She’d expected him to say it would be crazy. That she was out of her mind.
“Maybe. But I can’t sit home and do nothing.”
“Call the state department. Or actually, they may have called your mother already. She’d be the logical contact unless your brother is married?”
“No, he’s not married. And my mom is at my sister’s house for now.”
“Check her messages, I’m not sure how they operate. They might have called your sister too.”
“Right. I hadn’t thought of that. Seriously though, if you were in my position, what would you do?” She half-expected him to blow off the question. It sounded silly to her too. He’s a Navy SEAL and she’s a civilian reporter who’d never been out of the country. How could you compare them?
“Honestly, I don’t know. But my boss wouldn’t let me go over there for a rescue mission either. Not on my own. I have more rules to follow than you do.”
Another thing she hadn’t thought through. Of course, he did. The military was nothing but rules and as an elite team, they probably had extra since all of their missions were classified.
The announcement came to prepare for landing. Meghan wasn’t sure if she was happy or not. Exhausted, stressed, and definitely on edge. In another half hour, she’d be saying goodbye to Rafe, probably forever. It was nice that he’d asked for her number, but she never expected him to use it. Whether she’d call him was highly unlikely as well. She was just another woman at another stop in his life.
As if reading her mind, he put his hand over hers on the armrest. “Meghan, there is one thing I want you to hold onto about your brother. If being a missionary is truly his dream, then he won’t have regrets. I can guarantee that. He’ll feel bad about leaving his family, but if the worse happens, he’ll leave this life having followed his chosen path. We have to deal with that too. Every mission could be our last, but it’s what we chose, our life’s work, our passion.”
Once again, Rafe was right. If the worst thing happened and Charlie didn’t come home alive, he’d lived his life on his own terms. Now, it was time to start living her life and chase her dreams.
* * *
Thank fuckhis team wasn’t with him. His reputation as the woman whisperer would go right out the window and he’d never live it down. Instead, he’d made a colossal fuck-up. And even worse, he didn’t know if she’d forgive him. All he’d wanted to do was help her. Instead, he overstepped and tried to protect her. That right had to be earned, to be given, not just taken.
She hadn’t pulled her hand away. But she was staring out the window, and he could only see her profile. The muscle was ticking in her jaw. He didn’t know if she was just pissed-off, concentrating, or something else. She knocked him off balance and was living up to the nickname he’d given her.
Time was running out for them. Once they landed and taxied to the gate, she’d walk away. He had her number, but if he couldn’t repair the rift he’d just made, he was doubtful she’d answer his calls. She’d wormed her way into his heart like no other woman he’d met. If it took moving heaven and earth to get her brother back, he would. He’d do anything he could to put a smile back on his little spitfire’s face.
“Meghan?”
“Huh, yeah?”
“I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I hope you can forgive me.” She turned from staring out the window and met his eyes. The cabin lights had come on and he could see the determination gazing back at him.
“You are a protector, Rafe. It’s in your genes. You did what you thought was best. How could I not forgive you?” Could it be that easy?
“Thank you.” He meant it with all his heart. This tiny woman had changed his life in a span of eight hours. Watching her walk away would be the hardest thing he’d ever done. But he had to let her go, at least for now. But whether she knew it or not, she was going to be his. “I’ll let you know if my friend comes up with anything else.”
“Thank you.” He saw the truth of her words in her eyes and relief washed over him.
“Just promise me you won’t do anything without talking to me first. If there is any way or anything I can do to help I will.”
“I appreciate that, but you don’t have to. You have your own life.”
“Don’t you feel it? This thing between us? I can’t – no won’t let you just walk out of my life.”
Surprise and something else flashed in her eyes before she looked away. Whatever was there she didn’t want him to see it, to read her. But it was too late. He saw it, and he’d hold on to it until his dying breath.
“Meghan?”
“You… I… we just met. This can’t be real. Like you said, I’m in shock. And you’re a protector. It’s not real.”
“It’s very real, sweetheart, whether you want to admit it or not.”
