Page 33 of SEAL's Harmony
“Yes, you do, sweetheart. Several options, really. We’ll discuss it when we get back to my truck. Okay?”
“Okay,” Harmony mumbled against him.
“That’s my girl.” Ry released her and picked up her suitcase from where she’d dropped it. Then he took her hand in his, twining their fingers together. As soon as he’d stepped back, she missed the comfort of his arms. But holding his hand helped keep her anxiety at bay.
As they made their way through the parking lot, she noted the lack of crowds. It was an enormous relief. Harmony had feared it would be worse than earlier, but the boredom of the scene seemed to have taken its toll. There were still a few hangers-on—some may have been her neighbors, but she wouldn’t recognize them if they were. Mostly, it was easy to see that her father wasn’t in the crowd, and neither was Harry.
Ry opened the door of the truck. Whiskey jumped in first, then he helped Harmony get settled. Instead of getting in on the driver’s side, she watched Ry walk the perimeter of the truck first, and she wondered if he was looking for something. Then he put her suitcase and the plastic bag with the water bottle into the small area behind his seat.
Ry started the engine and turned the heat on low. Then he turned to her. “Well, Ms. Taylor, it would seem you are in great demand.”
“What do you mean? Demand for what, exactly?” Had Detective Nelson changed his mind about letting her leave?
“I just meant that you get to make a choice on where you’d like to stay. Meghan has invited you to stay with her, but I’d prefer it if you’d stay with Whiskey and me at my apartment. And before you object, I have a spare bedroom. You’d have your privacy.”
“Meghan wants me to stay with them? How does she know I need a place to stay?”
“When I texted Josh to have him bring the water, he let the team know. They were still at the Ready Room, so Rafe and Ryan came too.”
“You shouldn’t have done that. It’s bad enough you’re caught up in this mess now,” Harmony said. The last thing she wanted was their pity or for them to feel obligated to help.
This had been her chance to start over, to be strong, to stand on her own two feet and prove to herself that she could do whatever she wanted. But here she was just a few months later—homeless, with no transportation, and she’d have to rely on her new friends for help. Just thinking about it made her want to throw up. Karma must really hate her.
“Sweetheart, whatever you’re thinking, just stop. You’re part of our family now. I know it’s soon, probably way too soon for this conversation. But in my heart, I know we’re meant to be together.”
“But—” Harmony tried to interrupt him, but he stopped her.
“No, please let me finish.”
She nodded. The sincerity in his deep blue eyes tugged on her heartstrings, and the butterflies were in full flight in her stomach. Oh, how she wanted to believe him, but it was too soon. He didn’t know her secrets.
“I believe sometimes things just happen. And when I met you, the last thing I was looking for was a relationship. But it was like being struck by lightning.”
“No, that was the calamity curse,” Harmony murmured.
“Cute, but no, sweetheart. Sorry. I’m only telling you so you don’t think you’re causing trouble by needing help. You’ve been through hell tonight, and probably for a long time from the little you said about your father. But you’re in a safe zone now. Even if you don’t want a relationship, you’re still part of our family.”
Harmony didn’t know what to say. “I… you.” She shook her head and started over. “I’ve never had this kind of support before. I don’t know how to thank you.” Tears welled up in her eyes and she brushed them away with the back of her hand. She was tired of being weak. Pulling herself together, she straightened her shoulders and met Ry’s gaze.
“You don’t have to thank me. I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Ry replied with a gentle smile. The corners of his eyes crinkled, and she wanted to reach over and run her hand over his cheek. “So, where would you like to stay?”
Harmony took a deep breath. It was time to grab what she wanted and not worry about what anyone else thought. “I’d like to stay with you and Whiskey. If you’re sure you don’t mind?” She waited for his reaction and when he smiled, she released the breath she’d been holding, and the butterflies in her tummy settled.
“Are you kidding? I’m ecstatic. Did you hear that, Whiskey? She’s coming to stay with us.” There was no mistaking the excitement in Ry’s voice.
Whiskey woofed, and then with one lick covered half her face with a slobbery kiss.
Giggling, she hugged the big German shepherd and smiled at Ry. The tightness in her shoulders eased, as she relaxed for the first time in hours.
“I’m glad I went grocery shopping earlier, or we’d have to go now,” Ry said. “Although I don’t have a lot of breakfast food.”
“That’s okay. I just have coffee in the morning.” Harmony stopped eating breakfast years ago. No breakfast meant less time around the Kraken—the secret name she used for her father.
“I have coffee and a protein bar or shake. Especially if I have PT.”
“Oh, right. Didn’t Quinn say you have to be on base for seven am?” If Ry left that early, she’d need to call for an Uber to get to the bank on time. The drive-thru opened at eight, but the rest of the employees didn’t need to be in before that. But it would take time to drive across town to the bank and then all the way out to the base. He’d never make it on time for PT.
“Nope, he told me I didn’t have to report tomorrow. So, I owe you one now, because you got me out of PT.” Ry glanced over at her, probably to see her reaction.
