by Leslie North
She headed down the stairs to greet them both. As soon as Frankie spotted her, she dashed over, expecting attention. Soledad willingly rubbed the dog’s ears. When Frankie sprawled on her back, silently begging Soledad to scratch her belly, Soledad dropped to her knees to give the dog what she wanted.
“You’re never that happy to see me,” Alex commented, forcing her to look up. He was grinning, teasing her. He’d avoided that since the kiss. What was up today?
“I’m just returning Frankie’s happiness at seeing me,” Soledad said, keeping her tone light but knowing that Alex would get her implication. He’d failed to recognize her except in the most perfunctory way for days. He couldn’t expect her to ignore that.
Alex cocked his head to the side and seemed to deliberate over a response. Would he engage with her or clam up? She waited, not surprised when he chose the latter. His unwillingness to talk about or express emotions and affection had been the main source of their relationship issues. They’d had some fundamental misunderstandings. The only comfort she could find in the moment was that he didn’t stalk off as he might have a year before.
There was no point in getting upset about it, she reminded herself. She understood his character, and it was her own fault that she hadn’t guarded against her feelings for him in the past. She had to avoid making that mistake again.
“I’m glad you’ve been taking Frankie for long walks. It’s good for her,” she said. Alex’s eyes flared like blue-hot flame, and she realized her error. He thought she was keeping tabs on him, trying to control him. She wasn’t. She just noticed where he was and what he was doing, even if she didn’t want to. She was attuned to him. There, she admitted it. Damn it.
“I’ve been trying to keep fit, and Frankie enjoys the exercise,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Soledad doubted walking a small dog would help a Navy SEAL maintain his level of fitness. But Alex hadn’t lost any muscle tone, from what she’d noticed. He was outstandingly, make that deliciously, fit. Those observations she kept to herself. What Alex did was his business. She didn’t expect him to open up to her, but it was difficult not to notice things when they shared a home and responsibility for a child.
So, yes, she’d noticed things. Like when he took Frankie out for nearly an hour at a time. Like the two recent late-night phone calls he’d taken, speaking in hushed tones. He could have a girlfriend for all she knew. And he’d have every right to, she told herself, despite the jealousy that sparked in her at the idea. He wasn’t hers in any way other than as the father of her child.
Which should count for something. Shouldn’t it?
But had it mattered to her father? He’d returned to Spain, and she’d never once heard from him, not a birthday card or Christmas gift. Nothing. She supposed she was lucky that Alex wanted to have a role in Luke’s life.
She rose from petting Frankie and eyed him. His return gaze was impassive, carefully shielding all emotion. Or perhaps he just didn’t feel anything for her and she was being foolish letting her mind dwell on their kiss. She should never have let that happen—but it had, so she had to see it for what it was. An indiscreet and unwise kiss between two adults who had once shared a powerful, if doomed, attraction.
There, that sounded very rational and logical… and didn’t at all describe the complexity of her true feelings for Alex. She broke their eye contact, turning away to head to the kitchen. As she walked, she silently pledged to keep her interactions with him at a minimum. She didn’t want them to be at odds, but she couldn’t let her heart be trampled either.
5
“I appreciate you moving me up on your schedule.” Alex walked his friend to the front door. Steve worked in the security business and had helped both Colin and Zach out in the past few years, and he’d been willing to install a home security system for Alex on short notice.
“It’s not the best system I’ve ever hooked up,” Steve said, “but it should give you some peace of mind. Down the road, when I’ve got more time, we can beef it up.”
“Thanks for doing what you did.” With the threat of Bruce Lewis always in the back of his mind, Alex was grateful for anything that made his household safer. The cameras, exterior and interior, plus a basic antiburglary system on doors and windows, gave him some reassurance, and he liked having the smoke detectors integrated into the system. He’d never worried much about fire, but with an infant in the house, his perspective had changed. On a lot of things.
“See you at poker night,” Steve said before heading to his truck.
Not likely, Alex thought, unless he hosted. He wasn’t leaving Luke and Soledad unprotected just so he could play cards and drink beer.
“It’s okay to come out now,” Alex called up the stairs after he closed the door. During the installation and testing, Luke and Soledad had stayed in the master bedroom. The windows in that room were alarmed as well, but he hadn’t added cameras or motion detectors in there, so they’d been able to move around. He’d heard Luke’s cries and Soledad pacing the floor, hitting the one squeaky spot repeatedly. It had taken everything in him not to go to her aid, but fortifying his home against threats was key.
Fortunately, Soledad hadn’t questioned his reason for adding the system. He’d explained it to her as basic security plus fire and carbon monoxide monitoring, which was way better than admitting that he was—they were—facing a credible threat from a highly trained Special Forces SEAL with deep connections in the Navy and a vicious grudge. He didn’t want to worry her, but it didn’t hurt to take precautions.
“Finally,” Soledad said as she came from the bedroom with Luke in her arms.
“Was he good for you?” Alex asked, regretting that he’d been no help to her during the hours he and Steve had checked and rechecked the system.
“He was fine. A little fussy and bored, but no big deal. He seems to be noticing more, and he wants stimulation,” she said, but she looked tired as she came down the stairs. Alex reached for Luke, taking him from her, and found the boy studying him, bright-eyed.
Alex had read about the developmental phases of infants and how quickly they changed. At seven weeks, Luke was becoming more aware of the world, both visually and by listening for sounds. They’d started giving him tummy time to help him develop his strength and connection to things, but he seemed to need more.
“Let’s take him for a walk,” Alex suggested. They could all do with getting out of the house, and maybe some fresh air would break the tension that had coated every interaction between him and Soledad since he’d kissed her on the back porch. They’d crossed into some strange territory, which was his fault. He’d been the one unable to resist her in that moment.
In the aftermath, he’d evaluated his actions, trying to see them objectively as if he was debriefing from a mission. His pondering led to one conclusion and one course of action: he had to quash any feelings of desire he had for Soledad. Did he want to kiss her again? Make love to her? Hell, yes. But it was simpler and safer if he established and maintained distance between them.
Staying emotionally distant wouldn’t prevent Bruce from targeting the mother of his son. But at least Alex could protect her from himself. His relationships didn’t work out. He knew that was due to his own upbringing. He and his brothers had been scarred by a mother who abandoned them. His father hadn’t been any better. He’d only crawled out of a bottle long enough to abuse them with his fists and his words. It had been a hell of a way to grow up.
He’d learned early on not to trust connections to others, because people always let you down in the end. His parents sure had. They weren’t anything like the image of parents on television or even in his friends’ homes where Mom and Dad loved each other and were happy about having kids. By the time he was six, he’d realized that was a fantasy world. His parents were gone, his father dead and his mother God knew where.
Years later, the admiral had come into his life… but in the end, even he had disappointed Alex in a way. Rational
ly, Alex knew that the admiral couldn’t help dying when he had, but not having his foster father there to see him become a SEAL had been a great disappointment. Alex had had a point to prove, and he felt like he’d been denied an opportunity to demonstrate that he measured up.
Life was a series of letdowns. Some serious, others minor. But Alex had no illusions. He met life head-on, with a cynical eye. Not qualities that made for great long-term relationships with women. So he’d kept it platonic with Soledad since the kiss. That was his best route. Platonic and hopefully friendly so there was no bad blood between them that might impact Luke. He didn’t want any acrimony to taint his interactions with Soledad. Having parents who got along and shared responsibility was the best gift they could give Luke.
His attraction to Soledad potentially compromised that, so he’d backed off, and he’d continue to maintain an emotional perimeter.
“I’d enjoy a walk,” Soledad answered. Was she suspicious of his motives, since he hadn’t offered a walk since the day of the kiss? If she did, she didn’t bring it up. “Let me get Frankie from the yard.”
While she was gone, Alex strapped Luke into the stroller and pushed it out the front door. The day was perfect, blue sky and sunshine. A minute later, Soledad and Frankie joined them, and together they headed the same direction as they had on their previous walk. The small park a few blocks away made a good destination. Alex imagined they would spend plenty of time at that park as Luke got older and wanted to go down the slide or play on the swings. He wondered what his arrangement with Soledad would be in a year or two. Hopefully, it would be better than the tense silence that had settled between them now.
“I can take Luke tonight and give you a break,” Alex offered as they walked.
“I’m fine. No need,” she responded without looking at him.
“All right,” he said. He changed tactics, since his first overture hadn’t worked. “I’ll make a grocery store run later, then. We need diapers. What can I get you?”
“Nothing special,” she replied, never looking in his direction.
He wanted to grip her arm and swing her around so they were face to face. Maybe then he’d get more of a response from her. Perhaps, though, she was being the smart one, the one who understood that the distance between them was necessary. Wasn’t she the one who had broken away from the kiss and made an excuse to leave him?
“Uh-oh,” Soledad said in a low voice, pointing underneath a car parked at the curb and tightening her grip on the leash. A large tiger-striped cat slunk out from the shadows. Frankie barked, and the cat dashed across the lawn with a hiss.
“Hey, puppy,” Soledad said to Frankie when the cat had disappeared into the shrubs, “this is the cat’s house. Don’t be rude when we’re guests on her sidewalk.” Frankie rubbed against Soledad’s leg almost as if she were apologizing for her actions.
“She’s a good dog,” he commented. “I’m glad you rescued her.” Surely this was a topic that Soledad would take up.
“Yep,” Soledad said without elaboration, and Alex gave up any attempt at conversation as they took a circuit around the park and headed home.
They’d just about reached his townhouse again when a curvy woman with blonde curls appeared on the sidewalk ahead of them. She wore strappy sandals, too high for a casual walk, with a short black skirt and a bright pink, clingy shirt.
Trinity Maki. Shit. He’d forgotten that her brother lived just down the street.
“Alex,” Trinity exclaimed, dashing up to them and throwing her arms around his neck. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen you.” She squeezed him tight, not something he’d ever enjoyed—too confining—and sure as hell not now.
Alex let the hug last about two more seconds before untangling himself from the woman he’d dated several years earlier. They’d gone out maybe half a dozen times when he was between deployments. Trinity had been fun, an easy fling that hadn’t meant much to either of them—or so he’d thought. He watched as Trinity’s eyes tracked to Soledad and Luke, who was sleeping in the baby stroller.
“Are you on leave?” Trinity flipped her curls behind her shoulders.
“Trinity,” Alex said, choosing to ignore the question, “this is…”
Soledad, with only the briefest nod to Trinity, had continued toward the door to his townhouse. He squinted after her. Her back was ramrod straight, each movement almost mechanical. She’d already been unhappy with him. Now she was just plain pissed off. Christ.
“I guess you’ve been busy.” Trinity touched her hand to his arm, forcing her attention back to her. “Your kid?”
“He is.” Alex gave the barest answer, unwilling to explain his situation with Soledad.
Trinity’s gaze did a rapid dip to Alex’s left hand, and she almost beamed when she saw he didn’t wear a ring.
“He’s adorable,” she gushed.
“Thanks,” he said, doubting that she had even looked at Luke. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I was across the street visiting my brother. You know, I’ve thought about you. A lot.” Trinity’s smile was at full wattage. She was pretty, with a ton of sex appeal, and she knew it. That didn’t mean he had to respond. He had gladly done so at one time, but his life was different now.
His front door slammed shut, and he imagined Soledad throwing the newly installed deadbolt in place and arming the security system. Good thing he had the code to get in through the garage.
“So,” Trinity said, not backing up an inch, “if you’re on leave, maybe we could get together.”
“I don’t think so.” He wasn’t reopening that chapter in his life. “I have other responsibilities now, but it’s been good to see you.” He stepped away, breaking the connection between them.
“Well, if you change your mind, my number’s the same. Bye, Alex.” She turned and crossed the street. Trinity had always had plenty of wiggle in her walk, but he thought she added an extra swing for his benefit.
He didn’t bother to watch the full show, knowing what it would be. Trinity would lean into her car, pretending to search for something, and make sure her skirt slid up when she got in. A few years ago, it would have been enough to engage his attention, to have him following after her looking for a quick hookup.
Even at the beginning of his relationship with Soledad, when they were still flirting, she’d never resorted to those sorts of tricks. She hadn’t had to, since she’d captured him with her beautiful eyes and genuine smile. He hadn’t been able to resist, and even though she was angry at him now, if she’d wanted to, she could still draw him in.
But no. He couldn’t let that happen. His eyes scanned the street, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He’d been vigilant during their walk, keeping a constant watch for Bruce as he had for the past days, but he’d let himself get distracted with Trinity.
When he saw nothing to worry him, he tried his front door and was mildly surprised to find it unlocked. He closed it behind him and armed the system. From where he stood, he could see Soledad in the living room with Luke. He’d woken up, and she had him in her arms, swinging him gently from side to side and making him smile. She smiled back at him before bringing his face to hers and kissing his cheeks.
They were beautiful together, and Alex wanted to be part of the happiness passing between them. He took a step into the living room, catching her attention. Her expression changed to the wary one she’d worn around him for the past days.
“There’s some mail for you,” she said. “I left it on the table by the door.”
Alex didn’t give a damn about the mail, but before he could say anything to her, she announced that Luke needed a diaper change and went up the stairs without another glance at him. With nothing better to do, he turned to the letter on the table. It was a card in a blue envelope. They’d received plenty of baby congratulation notes in the past weeks. He slit it open and yanked out the card. The front had a cartoon of a blue rattle and a baby bottle.
The message inside chill
ed his blood, though. “You’re a lucky bastard, Golden Boy. But for how long?” The card was unsigned, but Alex knew instantly who the sender was. He’d seen Bruce Lewis’s handwriting on dozens of reports. The neat, small, slightly slanted script was unmistakable. So was the term Bruce used for Alex: Golden Boy. Alex had heard Bruce sneer those words often enough.
Alex crushed the card in his fist, squeezing it into a tight ball, as his heart thudded in his chest. On the second floor, Soledad sang to Luke, unaware of the danger that hung over them. It was Alex’s job to keep it that way. His duty to keep them safe. He needed to look at it like a mission, one that he had no intention of failing at.
6
Alex spent the night pacing the floor, part of it soothing Luke and part debating about involving his brothers in the situation with Bruce. By morning, he knew he had to tell them about the threat for two reasons. One, the SEAL community was small, and the Vale brothers were well known. Even though Colin and Zach were retired now, Bruce knew of them and could target either of them—and their families. And two, his brothers would be seriously pissed if he didn’t share this danger with them. A couple of early-morning texts, and everything was set up.
The three of them had always been a team, but their bond was a hell of a lot more complicated now that they all had women in their lives and children to raise. As they headed to the park, Alex glanced at Soledad walking next to him, pushing Luke’s stroller. Being a parent changed everything. He’d always been aware of the world and its dangers, but the need to protect that had driven him to seek out the most challenging rescue missions was ten times stronger due to Luke and Soledad. He couldn’t let anything happen to them, so he needed his brothers’ wisdom and support.
He’d sold this family get-together to Soledad as a casual playdate, and after a moment’s hesitation, she agreed to it. He didn’t know what went through her mind during that minute, but he’d been prepared with arguments designed to convince her without revealing the truth.