IRISH (The Trident Series Book 4)

by Jaime Lewis

  “Oh, God. That’s my girl. Squeeze my hand, honey.” She heard the voice say, and then there was pandemonium.

  ◆◆◆

  When Irish got to Bailey’s room, all he could see were two security guards who had someone face down on the floor while handcuffing their hands behind their back.

  Immediately, Irish scanned the room. He found his mom standing between the person on the floor and Bailey. He recognized her stance and knew she was in protective mode.

  When the guards lifted the person up off the floor, Irish was shocked when he came face-to-face with Annette Anderson dressed in nurse’s scrubs.

  Irish looked at the police officers. “What the fuck is going on?”

  “This woman came in impersonating a nurse and tried to stick this needle into your fiancé’s IV.” The officer held up a syringe showing Irish. “But thanks to the quick thinking of your mom, she recognized this lady from photos and hit the alarm on the side of Bailey’s bed and intercepted her before she could get near Ms. Anderson.”

  He looked at his mom and then back at Annette. He walked over and stood in front of her. He gave her a nasty look.

  “She ruined everything!” Annette shouted, referring to Bailey.

  Irish gave her an icy look. “She didn’t ruin anything. You did the moment you gave birth to her. You and your husband were so obsessed with money and glory that you would do anything to get your hands on more money, including money that didn’t even belong to you, that you would murder your daughter.”

  She went to say something, but the officers hauled her out of the room. He ran his hands through his hair and took in a deep breath. All that mattered right now was Bailey and getting her strong, so she would wake up. When he turned towards the bed and met a pair of large, arctic eyes staring at him, his legs almost buckled under him. He worried he would never see those eyes again. He looked to his mom, who was crying as she held Bailey’s hand.

  He went to the bed and dropped to his knees as his head rested against Bailey’s side, and he cried and cried even harder when he felt her hand against his head. At that moment, he knew everything would be just fine.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Four weeks had gone by since the night they almost lost Bailey. It was early Thanksgiving afternoon. Bailey and Irish both decided they didn’t want to wait to get married, so Irish, with, of course, the help of Alex, planned a small ceremony at Ace and Alex’s house. Since everyone was going to be there for Thanksgiving dinner, it was perfect.

  Irish walked up to Alex as she stacked some of the chairs they used on the patio. He grabbed one and folded it up.

  “What are you doing out here? You should be inside with your new bride,” she told him as she smiled, but Irish sensed something was off, and he had a feeling he knew what it was. This was the third wedding she had coordinated, and none of the three had been her own. She and Ace had planned their wedding multiple times, but each time something within their schedules caused the postponement.

  “I wanted to come out here and thank you again for helping with everything and being there for Bailey.”

  She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Did you have any doubt I wouldn’t?”

  “No, you know that isn’t what I meant.” He bent down and hugged her. “I just mean, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  She smiled although he could tell it was forced. She turned and started moving the chairs again. “Well, you know I’m becoming a pro at throwing these spontaneous weddings together.” She tried to laugh it off, but Irish knew the meaning behind her words.

  “Alex, you know Ace would marry you today, right?”

  “I know. Don’t feel sorry for me. One of these days, I’ll get my fairy tale wedding.”

  As he walked back into the house, he wondered if Ace really knew how Alex was feeling. He didn’t want to get in the middle of their business, but they were both his friends, and both deserved to be happy.

  He would give it a little more time, but if he didn’t see a change in Alex, he would mention something to Ace.

  ◆◆◆

  Everyone took their seats around the large dining room table and adjoining tables Alex had set-up to make room for everyone. Their family was getting larger.

  Alex finished putting the last of the food on the table. She said a quick blessing, giving thanks for having the best family and friends, and a little prayer for those men and women serving away from home.

  “Is there anyone else who would like to say anything?” Alex asked, looking around before she took her seat.

  Ace came up behind her and hugged her. “I think you summed everything up, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  Tenley cleared her throat. “Well, I’m thankful for all of this delicious food in front of us. I don’t mean to rude but I have got two very unruly babies in my belly that I think can smell the turkey because one is beating my kidney and the other kicking my ribs.” Potter reached over and rubbed her large belly.

  Everyone laughed, but then Sienna stood up from her seat.

  “Uncle Ace. I have something that I want to share.”

  Ace smiled at Sienna. Ace was great with all the kids. Irish knew both Ace and Alex wanted to have kids of their own someday but decided it would not happen until after they got married. Another reason for Ace to get his shit together and marry Alex.

  “What are you thankful for, sweetie?” Ace asked Sienna.

  Sienna stood in between Irish and Bailey at the table and took their hands into her little palms. She looked so cute in her burgundy smock dress and black boots. Bailey had styled her hair up in a pony-tail, then curled the ends.

  “I know that you are not my real mommy and daddy. My mommy and daddy didn’t want me.” She looked up at Irish with the same blue eyes as him, and he just about melted into a big puddle of goo. “But I’m thankful to have you, Uncle Ky,” she then turned her head towards Bailey, “and you too, Ms. Bailey.”

  Irish felt his chest tighten, and he looked over and saw the tears building up in Bailey’s eyes as everyone sat in silence while Sienna spoke from her heart.

  Irish pulled Sienna on his lap, then clutched her chin, tilting her face up towards his, and he kissed her forehead. “That is definitely something to be thankful for, sweetie. And I speak for both Bailey and I when I say we are thankful to have you in our lives as well. After all, if it weren’t for you, I probably never would’ve found Bailey.” She smiled up at him. “There is something Bailey and I would like to give you, and I think now is the perfect time since our family and friends are here to share it with us.”

  He held out his hand, and Bailey handed him the necklace box containing a silver locket in the shape of a heart that he and Bailey had both picked out yesterday after signing the adoption papers making Sienna their daughter. As he took the box from Bailey, he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss and told how much he loved her. He saw the tear escape from her eye, and he wiped it away before she could.

  He looked back at the little blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl sitting on his lap. He opened the box and watched as Sienna’s eyes widened and sparkled as the beautiful locket was revealed.

  “Is that for me?” She asked him in a whisper.

  “It is,” he told her as he clasped it around her neck. It hung low on her chest since it was a little long, but she would grow into it. “It is filled with so much love from Bailey and me.”

  He looked around the table at all of their friends, and he could see how happy they all were. All of the women were crying, and even some of the guys looked to have tears in their eyes. And people thought SEALs had no emotions.

  Sienna took the locket into her hands and flipped it over where both Irish and Bailey had it engraved.

  “To Sienna with love from Mommy and Daddy.” She read aloud, then looked up at Irish with a confused look. “I don’t understand. I don’t have a mommy and daddy.”

  Irish smiled at her and took her little cheeks between the palms of his large ha
nds. “You do now, peanut. Bailey and I signed the paperwork yesterday. You are officially our daughter.”

  Her eyes lit up, and a big smile spread across her face before she gave Irish a big hug. He hugged her tight as tears formed in his eyes. He felt Bailey’s presence before he felt the gentle kiss on his cheek. When he looked over, she was beaming. He winked, knowing she was going to make an awesome mom and wife. “So, I can call you, daddy?” Sienna said as she looked between Irish and Bailey. “And I can call you, mommy?”

  He nodded his head, and Bailey said yes. She leaped off his lap and shouted, “Yippee! I have a mommy and daddy!” Everyone clapped, then started digging into the feast Alex had prepared for everyone.

  As Irish took the first bite of his meal, he said a silent prayer himself thanking the power above for bringing Bailey into his life and giving him an opportunity for a future he knew he was destined to have.

  ◆◆◆

  Later that evening, Bailey took Irish’s hand and asked him if he would walk with her. As she walked him down to a dead-end cul-de-sac at the end of Ace and Alex’s street, the house she had bought came into view. It was a gorgeous two-story house with a wrap-around front porch.

  She walked him up the front steps.

  “Baby, are we going to get in trouble for being in here?”

  “No, I have permission from the owners.” She unlocked the door with the key she had and let them inside.

  “I don’t understand; what did you want to show me?” He said as they walked further into the house, stopping in the living room. The house was fully furnished and decorated. A twelve-foot Christmas tree stood in the corner, fully decorated with lights and ornaments. But it was when he saw the pictures on the fireplace mantel that she knew he realized what this was.

  He turned to face her. “Is this ours?” He asked, and she smiled.

  “You’ve sacrificed a lot by taking in Sienna. Here, you will have not only your office back, but you also have a gym. And we’ll have two extra bedrooms for guests. Or, maybe for a nursery, one day.” She had been devastated when Irish first explained that the chances of her getting pregnant were slim to none. But until someone told her it was impossible; she would only have positive thoughts.

  She watched as Irish toured the house. She couldn’t gauge his reaction, and she wondered if he was upset that she did something so drastic without telling him.

  She walked over to where he stood by the French doors that opened to the huge back yard with a swimming pool. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he put his arm around her shoulder. They stood like that for a few minutes.

  “Ky?”

  “Hmmm”

  “Are you angry at me?”

  He pulled her around, so she was standing in front of him, then pulled her against his chest. She squeezed his waist, then looked up and locked gazes with his blue eyes.

  “Why would you think I would be angry with you?”

  She licked her dry lips. “Because I know you don’t like it when I spend my money on you.”

  He grinned, and she felt her insides relax.

  “I could never be upset with you for doing something good for your family. This house is beautiful and perfect for our family.” He leaned down and covered her mouth with his lips in what she would describe as the most passionate kiss he’d ever given her. As he stroked his tongue into her mouth in such a dominant but tender way, she became so aroused she had to pull back before she made a mess of things. She still had one more surprise for him that was going to knock his socks off, and if that kiss led to anything else, they might just have ended up with an audience. Though it wouldn’t have been the first time she was caught with her pants down around the gang. She chuckled to herself.

  When they both opened their eyes, he smiled at her as he waggled his eyebrows. “I was hoping we could go tour the master bedroom.”

  She snorted a laugh and ran her hands up his hard chest. “As enticing as that sounds, I have one more surprise for you.” He furrowed his eyebrows, and before he could protest, she continued. “Go through that door,” she said, pointing in the direction just off the large gourmet kitchen. It was the door that led to the three-car garage.

  Irish walked through the kitchen and opened the door and was greeted by all their friends who stood around a band new dark steel-grey Bugatti Chiron.

  He swung his head around where Bailey stood. “What did you do? Do you know how much one of these costs?”

  She laughed. “I’d better since I wired the money.”

  “Why?” He asked, and she walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Because I love you, and you have given up a lot in your life going out and playing hero and putting your life on the line to protect us here at home. Plus, I know how hard it was for you to give up your Corvette. So, I thought this might be a nice replacement.”

  He didn’t know what to say or do, so he did what he knew what was best for him, and he kissed her.

  “Ok, you two. This is a PG area,” Diego said, making everyone laugh.

  He looked into her eyes and whispered to her. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He took her face between his palms and leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled back, he smiled. Bailey realized that it was quiet and looked over her shoulder and noticed they were alone.

  “They all went back to Ace and Alex’s. Sienna is having a sleepover with Alejandra.”

  Bailey ran her hands up Irish’s chest. “She is, is she.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her snug into his chest, then slid one hand over her ass. He leaned down and suckled her neck, sending her libido into overdrive. Her neck was super sensitive.

  “She is. So now that we are alone, how about a tour of the master bedroom?” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and gave her that flirty grin of his that she loved.

  “I think that sounds wonderful. But you have to catch me first.”

  “Oh, baby, you are so getting your ass spanked for that.”

  “Bring it on, sailor.” She took off running. She made it to the stairs before he caught her. The only lights illuminating the downstairs were the white lights on the Christmas tree. Irish lifted her into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he devoured her mouth and moans. His one hand cupped her ass, while the other held her head in a possessive grip. She felt on fire. Her hands were in his hair, and she fought for control of the kiss.

  When Irish finally came up for air, he said, “Fuck the bedroom,” as he walked them over to the Christmas tree and laid her down on the plush rug. He shed their clothes quickly before falling between her thighs.

  Before he could get himself inside of her, he heard a low growl. When he lifted his head, he came face to face with none other than Mr. Whiskers. Shocking the shit out of him, the damn cat walked up to him and rubbed his head affectionately against Irish’s face.

  “Really? Now, as I’m laying here butt naked, you want to be nice?”

  Bailey couldn’t help but giggle as they watched the “damned” cat saunter his way up the stairs.

  Bailey turned her attention to Irish and hugged him. “I love you, Ky.”

  His eyes twinkled just as he slid home into her. “I love you, too, sweetness.”

  Epilogue

  Stitch sat at the dining room table, listening to his close friends and family chat with each other. Thanksgiving was by far his favorite holiday. One, he was thankful for being alive, two, he was grateful for his friends and family, especially those in the room with him and three, he loved the feast of food.

  He smiled as he watched and listened to the various conversations being held. It had been an exciting day with Irish marrying Bailey. After everything they had been through in their short time together, they deserved every bit of happiness.

  He scanned the room, looking at his teammates, Ace, Potter, and Frost, who have defied the odds of relationships in the SEAL community. Now that Irish was off the
market; he was curious who the next teammate would be that caught the “love” bug.

  Mia popped into his mind. Now that was a woman he enjoyed spending time around. She was fun, sweet, gorgeous, and wicked smart. He was also very attracted to her, but the problem was, Mia was Ace’s baby sister. Stitch wasn’t sure how Ace would feel about that. That had been the only reason holding him back, especially now that she was single. Back during Christmas, that wasn’t the case. She had been dating a guy back in New York where she lived, but he knew then that the relationship was on the rocks, and it was just a matter of time until it fizzled out, and it had when Mia had caught him with another woman.

  He glanced at the empty chair at the table. The chair that Mia should be sitting in and enjoying the festivities like everyone else. Ace and the rest of Mia’s family were a little concerned with her abrupt cancellation of attending Thanksgiving dinner.

  Stitch didn’t know everything about Mia, but one thing he did know was that family time was important for her. So, for her not to come to dinner was somewhat alarming, especially considering she hadn’t answered anyone’s phone calls or texts.

  Stitch felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He retrieved it and was surprised to see his friend, Sherriff Prescott’s name flashing on the screen.

  Sherriff Blake Prescott was the head lawman of the little town in the mountains of Virginia where his cabin was located. He was a good friend of his and a former Marine. Stitch always made it a point to reach out to him when he came to town. They would usually have at least a beer together at the local pub.

  Not wanting to be rude and talk on the phone at the table, he excused himself and went out onto the back patio.

  “Sherriff Prescott.”

  “Hey, Stitch. Happy Thanksgiving.”

  “Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. What can I do for you?”