Page 53 of SEAL's Providence
PROVIDENCE
Aweek later…
“Another week in the books,” Providence murmured to herself as she shut down her computer and rested her elbows on the desk. To say she was worn out would be an understatement, but she was happier than she’d been in forever. On top of that, they’d saved the women and all were doing well.
She’d been going to Mike’s safe house every evening after work to check on Mary, Aleksandra, and the other women. They’d chosen to stay in the U.S., and Mike and Adam had found everyone jobs and apartments for their new lives. Except for Mary. She still needed recovery time.
Marina, Mary’s real name, would need a few more weeks before Providence would be comfortabledischarging her. She hated just thinking about saying goodbye to the woman and her daughter who’d changed Providence’s life. But it would be safer for them to move as far from Virginia as possible until Tony and his friends/team took down the trafficking ring.
Tony’s teammate, Pat, had interrogated Sergei, the man who’d survived their raid, but he hadn’t been able to give them much intel. About the only thing he’d known was the name of John’s boss. Someone named Anatoly. It wasn’t a whole lot to go on, but Tony seemed to think it would help, even if Providence wasn’t so sure.
“Hi, sweetheart. Are you ready to go?” Tony asked from her office doorway.
Mercy. Her man was drop dead sexy. Every time she saw him, her heart did a crazy somersault thing. Thank goodness she hadn’t kicked him to the curb.
They’d talked it all out after the mission. It helped her to understand Tony a lot better. She’d been terrified when John confronted Tony. Then when she’d heard the gunshot, she’d been convinced she’d lost Tony forever. The thought of life without him was like living in a black-and-white movie—no color, no love, no warmth. She sounded like a sappy Hallmark movie, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true.
“Yup, let me grab my phone.”
After locking her office and saying goodnight to Laurie, she followed Tony out to his car. He’d been staying with her since the rescue, so it made sense to drive back and forth to work together.
“Do you want to get something to eat before or after you check on Marina and Aleksandra?” Tony asked, as he opened the car door for her.
“Have you talked to Mike? Maybe we should pick up something to bring over. Now that the others have left, he’s been doing all the cooking.”
Tony nodded. “I texted him before I came to get you. He said they had it covered. Since they didn’t need anything from us, I was hoping you’d agree to go out to dinner with me. You know, like a proper date in a restaurant. Just the two of us?”
Before she answered he closed her door and walked around the front of the Jeep to the driver’s side.
Providence grinned.An actual date. Wow. They’d been out, but mostly with others. Although making love every night kind of negated the need for dates, didn’t it? Or did it? Tempest claimed everyone should have date night even if they were already married.
Tony climbed into the driver’s seat and buckled his seatbelt before reaching for her hand. “What doyou think? Would you like to have dinner with me?”
Providence didn’t even try to hide her smile. “Yes, my sexy SEAL commander, I’d love to have dinner with you. Did you have some place in mind?”
Tony leaned over and barely brushed his lips across hers, just enough to wake up her girly parts.
“Yup, I even made a reservation.”
“Hmm, awfully sure of yourself. Aren’t you, Commander Knox?”
“I thought you’d figured it out by now, Dr. Sheridan. When I want something nothing will keep me from having it.” His hand cupped her cheek and the emotion in his gaze took her breath away. “You’re it for me, sweetheart. I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”
“It? Like the ‘permanent till death do us part ‘it’?”
Tony smiled. “Yes, exactly like that.”
“Are you? I mean, do you?—”
“Fuck. Give me a second.” Tony unbuckled his seatbelt, turned off the engine, and came around to her side of the car.
She braced for whatever he was going to say. Had she gotten it wrong?
He opened her door and leaned in. “I’d havepreferred to do this somewhere a little more private. Where we didn’t run the risk of disciplinary action. But I can’t wait anymore. I love you, Providence. I’m in love with you. I know it’s fast, but I don’t care. You make me feel alive, more than operating, more than anything. I don’t want to spend another day of my life without you in it.”
Tears filled Providence’s eyes. She tried to blink them away, but one slid down her cheek. His words resonated deep in her heart and healed the cracks she’d ignored for so long.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. I’m sorry if I upset you.” Tony used his finger to catch the tear.
