Page 45 of SEAL's Providence
It was one reason Providence was so furious. Everyone seemed to forget she’d been in the Navy for almost twenty years. She wasn’t some shrinking violet, or a southern belle who sat on her veranda all day sipping mint juleps.
Once Providence had calmed down, she realized Tempest was worried because she cared about her. But Providence wasn’t a child. Maybe it hadn’t been the smartest thing not to tell anyone before she went, but it had worked out fine. Now she was home safe and itching for a fight. Tony’s the one who should be worried. She was madder than a wet hen.
Providence couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten this worked up. Probably not since she was a child, when her father dropped her kitten offat the pound. He’d said she wasn’t taking care of it and didn’t deserve to keep it. Her mother had stood by and let him.
It was probably the only time in her childhood when they’d agreed on anything when it came to her. Shortly after that, they’d divorced. Providence spent the rest of her childhood being passed back and forth. Neither one of them had cared about her. People could be so fucking cruel, especially the ones who were supposed to be the caregivers and offer love and protection. It’s no wonder she’d stayed single.
Dammit.She needed to calm down. No matter how upset she was, figuring out how to save the women had to be her priority. Providence wasn’t used to people caring about her, but that wasn’t their fault. She needed to remember that.
After finishing her coffee, she was making her way to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Sighing, she put the mug in the sink and headed for the front door.
Knowing it was Tony before she checked the peephole, she took a deep, cleansing breath, and opened the door. She stood to the side so he could enter.
“Providence, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I shouldn’t have gone off on you like that earlier.”
It was the last thing she’d expected him to blurt out. She’d been prepared for more accusations and yelling about broken promises like when she’d spoken to him earlier. She preferred this version of Tony. He was obviously still upset, but at least he seemed more reasonable.
“I’m fine. You really blew this whole thing out of proportion, you know,” she answered as she walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
“Yeah, I know.” He sat down, leaving a wide space between them.
He looked remorseful. Providence almost felt sorry for him. Almost. But she still needed answers.
“Before we get into what happened at the salon. I want to know how you knew I was there? Are you having me followed?”
A flurry of emotions slid across Tony’s face. But guilt was the one that stuck. Not what she’d wanted to see, especially when her anger had finally begun to fade.
“I was worried about you.”
“Yes, you’ve said that. I get it. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
“No, but it’s why I did it. You are important to me, more than you realize.”
“Again, that doesn’t answer the question. And now you’re just pissing me off.”
He ran this hand through his hair and clenched his jaw. “I put a tracker on your phone. Tempest, Grace, and Harmony have one too.”
“You did what now?” Providence let his words sink in. Was she furious that he’d done it without her knowledge? Fuck yeah. Did she sort of understand his reasoning? Also, a yes. But the two didn’t cancel each other out. It went so far into the stalker zone; she didn’t know what to say.
“I set it up while you were in the shower last night. I was going to tell you.”
“Well, bless your heart. Sure you were. I have half a mind to toss your sorry ass out right now. You’re lucky I need your help to rescue those women.”
“I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t fix anything, but I did it to protect you, not hurt you.”
Damn him. She stood and walked over to the large window and stared outside. Her thoughts were so jumbled she didn’t know which end was up. If she followed her usual path, she’d tell him to get the hell out and forget her number. But then she remembered all the shit Harmony and Grace had gone through. Did she approve of his methods? No. Maybe she was losing it. How could warmth fill her chest because he cared enough about her, he took such a risk? He hadto have known she’d be angry when she found out.
When Providence turned away from the window, Tony was still sitting on the couch, watching her. She huffed out a breath.
“I don’t know how to feel about this. You had no right to invade my privacy like that. We’re not a couple, not engaged, not married. Dammit. We’ve been on two flippin’ dates.”
“Don’t you remember me telling you last night after we made love that it was more? At least, it is for me,” Tony said, his hands clenched where they rested on his knees.
“I remember. But it’s still too much. I don’t regret last night, or I didn’t until now. I’m a grown-ass woman and I’ve been taking care of myself for a very long time. You don’t get to barge into my life and take control.”
“You’re right. I know all of that. You’re amazing. But with all that’s going on with these guys, can you really fault me for wanting to keep you safe?”
And that was the question she couldn’t answer. Not yet anyway. Her turmoil roiled through her like a twister in her belly. But she still wasn’t sure if she could kick him out of her life, either. Dammit. Maybe the solution was to just let things play out.
