Page 54 of SEAL's Providence
“I’m not upset. I just?—”
“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same about me—yet. I know it’s fast. I’m sure I totally freaked you out. But please don’t run from me. Like I said, I’ll wait for you to catch up, even if it takes the rest of our lives. I’m not going anywhere. Nothing you can say or do will make me walk away. You need to believe that.”
He took her hand and placed it over his heart as he gazed into her eyes. She knew in that moment as his heart beat beneath her hand, that she loved him with the same intensity. Maybe they were both crazy, but the truth of her feelings couldn’t be denied.
“Shh.” She put her index finger over his lips. “You don’t have to wait.”
Tony shook his head as grief shattered his hopeful expression.
Providence smiled, knowing what she was about to tell him would change everything. “You don’t have to wait because I already know. I’ve caught up. I love you, Tony. You’re my it, too. Forever.”
As the words settled between them, Tony lifted her from the car and wrapped her in his arms. His smile was blinding as he lowered his lips to hers, his tongue rubbing until she parted for him. Providence clung to his shoulders, melting into a kiss that promised all the love and devotion he’d show her for the rest of their lives.
When he finally released her, clapping echoed around the nearly empty parking lot. Providence had forgotten they were still on base. But her worry dissipated as she looked over Tony’s shoulder to see several smiling faces and cheers of support.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” Tony said as he lowered her to the ground.
“I don’t care, my love. You’re worth any discipline the Navy wants to dish out.”
Ayear later…
Providence walked into their bedroom, carrying their coffee mugs, and expecting to see Tony still in bed. It was his last day of work. As of sixteen hundred hours it would be official. Officially retired—from the Navy, at least.
She’d worried he’d regret his decision, but after they’d rescued the women from the traffickers last year, he’d put in his separation papers. Knight Kidnap & Ransom Recovery, Inc. had been born that night.
Providence smirked every time one of them used it. She might have had a little something to do with the choice. They’d been embarrassed when she called them her knights in shining armor, but it had stuck.
“Oh God, no,” she said with a laugh. His singing was so bad if she didn’t get him to stop her ears would bleed.
Providence pushed open the bathroom door with her foot, then put the coffee on the counter. “It sounds like you’re murdering a bunch of bunnies. It’s just cruel to torture me first thing in the morning.”
Tony leaned around the wall of the showerenclosure and waggled his eyebrows. “There’s a quick way to get me to stop.”
“You mean talking to you? Because I think you just stopped.”
“Nope. Take off your clothes and get in here. I’d much rather have my mouth all over you.”
“Mercy. So would I, but we have places to go and desks to clear out, Commander Knox. You wouldn’t want to be late for your last day. Would you?”
For a moment, she thought he’d pull her into the shower anyway.
“As much as I want to make love to you, you’re right, I shouldn’t be late. Although, it would be amusing to let everyone else give me shit for not being on time. Still, we have the rest of our lives for shower sex, table sex, stair sex…”
“Stop, just stop. Your coffee is next to the sink. I’m getting out of here before I spontaneously combust.”
An hour later, they walked into Tony’s office on base with cardboard boxes and packing tape. Providence was still worried he’d regret his choice to retire, but she hadn’t found anysigns. She needed to trust his decisions; she’d learned that the hard way. Besides, he always told her that once he decided on something, he was all in. He’d proven that over and over, since they’d been together.
“I can start on the bookcases?” Providence asked.
“That works. Those two bookcases can go. The one in the corner I’ll leave for Jake.”
She knew the former team lead of the Black Eagles. He’d been badly burned during a mission, but he’d fought through it to come back to work. He never operated again, but he’d received a promotion along with several commendations. Now he’d take over for Tony. It would be an adjustment for him and the teams. But she liked him and his wife, Dawn. She was an amazing woman.
“It’s crazy how much you accumulate over a career,” Tony said, as he went through his desk.
“I’m sure. I’ve been lucky, I guess. Since I deployed so often, I’ve stashed most things in storage back home.”
“You need to set it up in your office.”
