Cowboy Seal: A Navy Seal Romance (The Navy Seal Collection Book 2)

by Angela Blake

  But Ivy and Zack barely had time to follow the ongoing investigation. Their focus was on their own budding relationship and on Sam. Because now that Sam had found his voice, he would not stop talking.

  Zack watched Ivy staring at the ceiling as Sam told her about the rock that he and Fabian had found. According to his knowledge, when he had left an hour earlier, the story had been in process, and it was still ongoing when he had returned. He had to give Ivy credit for not losing patience.

  “And then, and then, Fabian grabbed the worm but I said he couldn’t eat it and we fought over it, and he growled at me but then I growled back and then I fell on the ground and –“

  “Zack!” Ivy sounded so happy to see him that he didn’t realize the trap he was walking into.

  “Sam has the most interesting story to tell you about this rock he found.”

  Zack blanched, and Ivy smirked at him, “Why don’t you tell Uncle Zack about the rock you found? I’m sure he’ll love to hear it. Sit down, Zack.”

  Grabbing the book that she had been trying to read before Sam had interrupted, she fled the room, leaving Zack to glare at her and then sit down.

  He made a mental note to get back at her later.

  Later that evening, he tracked Ivy down to the stables where she was feeding Sasha. Ivy was quite taken with the bad tempered foal who seemed just as enamoured with her.

  Leaning against the wooden door, Zack watched her laying on the pile of soft hay, reading her book as Sasha lipped at her hair. Thunder was not paying either of them any attention and the man in charge of the stable had slipped out when he had seen Ivy sneak in.

  It had become common knowledge that Ivy liked to spend quiet time with horses. She couldn’t ride them yet, but she had an odd love affair with them. Even Thunder had accepted her presence, not bothering with her anymore. He did watch her with great interest when she brought treats with her.

  Zack watched Ivy push Sasha away when the foal decided to nibble at the book.

  “The more you push her away, the more she’s going to go after it.”

  Zack’s amused voice reached Ivy’s ears and she sat up, “How’d story time go?”

  Zack walked over and settled near her feet, “Billy walked in and thought it was funny, so now it’s his turn to hear about the rock. What’re you reading?”

  He picked up the book from Ivy’s lap and grinned, “Isn’t this porn?”

  Ivy blushed and snatched the book away from him, holding it to her chest, “No, it’s a romance book. Beth came over yesterday and she lent it to me.”

  “Huh, I didn’t know you two were friends.” Zack commented, as he leaned back, putting his head in her lap and looking up at her.

  Ivy shrugged, unable to help her smile, “She came over herself to see how I was doing and after Cory told her what had happened, she had wanted to know whether I still wanted a makeover.”

  Zack tugged at a lock of her hair, “I like you the way you are.”

  “I thought you’d say that,” Ivy said, dryly. “I told her the same thing, and then Cory took us to this diner in town for lunch. I guess we became friends. She comes over sometimes.”

  Zack gave her an affable smile, “I’m glad you’re settling in here.”

  Ivy was silent for a few moments, and then said, “You know, Trey told me a few stories about you, like how you’re supposed to be a badass, but you seem more like a fluffy marshmallow right now.”

  Zack didn’t take offense to that, and he closed his eyes, murmuring, “You have no one to blame but yourself.”

  Ivy sniffed at that, pleased.

  “Trey wants to offer you a job.” Zack said, nonchalantly.

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you going to accept it?”

  Ivy shrugged, “He’s not been forthcoming about the details. But he said something about me requiring some basic training. He also talked a lot about my team.”

  “Your team?” Zack asked, almost purring as her fingers raked through his hair, scratching his scalp.

  “Trey says if I say yes, then I get my own team, people under me, and I might have to travel a lot as well. I’ll have the latest military tech at my fingertips. I’ll be testing everything. Can you imagine what it’s like to have the latest gadgets before they’re even launched, creating programs that will help millions?”

  Zack stilled under her fingers, but his eyes didn’t open, almost as if he couldn’t bear to see her face at that moment.

  “And what did you say?”

  A slight hesitation that made his heart start crumbling at the edges, almost knowing what she wanted. He could sense her excitement, almost taste the eagerness, and his heart hurt.

  “I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

  Zack latched on to the glimmer of hope.

  “Why not?”

  “I like living here, with you and Sam. And you said I don’t have to leave.”

  Zack sat up, and turned around to face her, forcing out the words, “What Trey offered you is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Are you sure you want to let it slip through your fingers so easily?”

  Ivy frowned, “It’s not about what I want.”

  “Yes, it is.” Zack studied her, hoping she couldn’t see past his casual comments into the gaping hole that was starting to grow in his chest.

  “Sam and I will always be here but this is something, that if you turn down now, you might never get the chance to experience again.”

  Ivy started, “Are you saying that I should take this job offer?”

  Zack tried to sound reasonable, “I’m saying that whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”

  “Oh, you will, will you?” The sarcasm in Ivy’s voice was laced with bewildered hurt.

  He wanted to tell her not to take the job because that would mean she would leave them and she had no strong ties here that would compel her to return. But she was imprinted on his very soul and asking her to give up something that would mean so much to her, he couldn’t do that.

  Ivy pushed herself to her feet, “So you’re saying that if I leave it won’t bother you?”

  She wasn’t a hysterical female, but she was feeling pretty hysterical right now. She had thought that Zack would fight for her, or at least tell her that he wanted her to stay. But the steady way in which his eyes watched her, made her swallow her own pain, “You know what, never mind. You just made up my mind for me.”

  She marched out the door, her book forgotten on the pile of hay, and Zack stared at her back, miserable.

  “I did the right thing, didn’t I?” He asked Thunder, and the horse just rolled his eyes and stomped his feet.

  CHAPTER 12

  Ivy didn’t talk to him the whole day. Every time he would drop in, she would conveniently not be there. He found her talking with Billy at one point and when he showed up, she gave him the coldest look anyone had ever given him, and by the Gods, it made him squirm.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong!” He growled at Billy, later that evening, chucking an empty bottle of beer at a tree. “I don’t want her to regret her decision. I never said that if she leaves it won’t bother me! I love the damned woman!”

  When he grabbed Billy’s beer, the older man snatched it away, “I’m not done with that.”

  He took a chug, and studied the glowering man, “Did you tell her that?”

  Zack crossed his arms over his chest, defensively, and said nothing.

  “You didn’t tell her, did you?”

  “If I had told her-“

  Then what? Would she have decided to stay instead? Or if she had decided to take the offer, would it have hurt him more?

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, Zack. Your decision’s already made. We both went into town together that day. She deserves to know.”

  She deserves to know.

  The words echoed in Zack’s brain, as he got up the next morning, and watched Ivy sleeping, her forehead furrowe
d with lines that told him she had not had an easy sleep.

  He quietly climbed out of bed and checked the date.

  She deserves to know.

  Maybe he could show her.

  He slipped out, and started walking towards the stables.

  Saddling Thunder, he started dealing with the daily tasks, his mind occupied.

  It was around ten in the morning when he stood at a distance and observed Ivy leaving the house with Sam and Fabian running circles around her. Even from this distance, he could see the misery, lining her face.

  His heart clenched and he realized that Billy was right. He hadn’t told her even once that he loved her. He knew she cared deeply about him and that she was very attached to Sam. But was that enough?

  Did she need some commitment from him?

  He knew the answer to that as he got into the car to go to town.

  ***

  When he got back, he handed the car over to Billy, who looked a little wary.

  “What’s wrong?” Zack asked, as he saddled Thunder.

  Billy tucked his hands in his jeans, “Your friend is here. I sent Cory down to the main house to see if Miss Ivy needed some help. Some of the men are saying that Miss Ivy might be leaving. They’re a little upset, to say the least.”

  “She’s not leaving.” Zack said.

  Billy didn’t meet his eyes, “She told Cory to get her a suitcase.”

  Zack scowled, “I’ll take care of this.”

  Thunder could sense his upset and maybe that’s why he didn’t give him as much trouble. Both man and horse pushed themselves against their limits to reach the main house.

  “What’s that car doing here?” Zack asked, slowing Thunder down to a tread, his eyes moving over the sleek black Ford, whose driver stood outside, a military bearing to him.

  Cory looked a little too relieved to see him, twisting his hat in his hands, he jerked his shoulders towards the house, “Uh, Miss Ivy took Mister Trey up on his offer. She said not to tell you.”

  “Oh, she did, did she?” Zack’s voice was deceptively soft, making it all the more dangerous. He climbed off Thunder, and shoved the reins into Cory’s hands.

  “Boss?”

  “Take him to the stables. And you-“ Zack looked at the driver who blinked, “-you need to leave, now.”

  The man’s shoulder’s stiffened, “I have my orders. I’ll only leave if Miss Mills tells me to.”

  Zack looked the man up and down, growling, “Get off my property or I’ll shoot you in the fucking ass. Miss Mills isn’t going anywhere.”

  “Zack.” The cool tone from behind him had Zack narrowing his eyes as he turned around.

  Trey stood on his porch, a brow raised, “Is there a reason you’re harassing Miss Mill’s escort?”

  “Escort, my ass. She’s not leaving.”

  “Oh? The trial is coming up in a few weeks. For now, she’s going to stay at one of our safe houses. We might need her to testify, even if she says she can’t.” There was an undertone in his previous supervisor’s voice that Zack didn’t quite catch since his blood was boiling at the idea of anyone taking Ivy away from him.

  “She’s safer here than any safe house you dump her in. And if I need to make this ranch into a fucking impenetrable fortress to keep her safe, I’ll do that. The DA has all the data. You’ve recovered most of the people; you don’t even need her to testify with all the evidence you’ve gathered.”

  Trey tucked his hands in his pockets, “Miss Mills has a particular set of skills that are very useful to us. Even our best hacker doesn’t compare to her. We want her to work for us. Her skills are wasted here. She knows that.”

  When Zack snarled at him, Trey continued, “You can’t possibly expect her to stay here. Even if I agree to it, she’ll need a bodyguard, certain equipment, the list goes on. There will be a team assigned to her. She’s already said yes.”

  “Then, I’ll give her what she needs. To work with a team, she doesn’t need to be sitting in their laps all the time. You’ve been trying to bring me back in the fold for months. I’ll protect her. She’s mine. That’s my woman, you asshole.”

  Trey watched him for a second, and then shrugged, “That could work. But that would mean you are responsible for her safety and her comfort. And you’ll have to be drafted back in. Won’t be hard for you.”

  He stepped off the porch and as he passed Zack, he patted him on the shoulder, “She’s a good woman.”

  Getting into the car, he instructed the driver to take him back to the airport.

  Zack didn’t bother to watch him leave. He just marched into the house and strode upstairs towards his room.

  Then he stopped.

  Ivy was sitting on top of a packed suitcase, her legs crossed, Lily’s laptop in her lap. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, “Is Trey gone?”

  Zack closed the door behind him, a world of hurt in his voice, “You were going to leave me?”

  “What?” Ivy blinked. “And go where?”

  “Trey said you accepted the job.”

  Ivy closed the laptop, putting it on top of the bed, “A home based job. What’s wrong with your face?”

  Zack walked forward, and grabbed her in his arms, “I think I’ve been had.”

  The sound of thudding feet, and a child’s excited voice, from outside the door, “Ivy! Billy is taking me to go get ice cream! Can I go?”

  Ivy looked at Zack who just shrugged, and she called out,“Uh, yeah. Bring back some strawberry flavored for me.”

  “Okay!”

  The sound of feet running away and then silence.

  “Is he going to be asking my permission for things now?” Ivy asked Zack, her arms around his neck.

  “You’d better get used to it.” Zack told her. “He worships the ground you walk on.”

  Ivy just smiled, affection in her eyes, “I love him, too. And you, if I’ve not said it yet.”

  Zack’s smile faded, and the look in his eyes became intense, “Trey had me believe that you were leaving with him. I don’t want you to leave. I know I told you yesterday that whatever you decide, I’ll stand by, but I can’t let you leave me. You mean the world to me, Ivy. I love you more with each breath I take.”

  Ivy rubbed her eyes, furiously, “Stop it, you’re making me cry.”

  Zack winced, “Then this is probably going to make things worse.”

  As Ivy watched, stunned, he took out a grey ring box from his back pocket, and disentangling himself from her, he took a step back and then lowered himself onto one knee.

  Ivy gaped at him, a brain to eyes disconnect happening at that moment.

  Zack opened the box and showed her the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was very simple and had a tasteful diamond cut in it.

  “I got it this morning. I’d ordered it two weeks after you came. So, Miss Mills, will you marry me?”

  “That’s a ring,” Ivy breathed.

  “Yeah.”

  “Like an actual ring.”

  “It sure is.”

  “You want me to marry you.”

  Zack stared at her, “Do you need time to process this? Or are you going to say ‘yes’?”

  “Do I get a choice in this?” Ivy found herself laughing through incredulous tears.

  “Nope. If you say ‘no’, I’m going to keep asking till you give in. I’m even willing to use sex to persuade you.” Zack grinned.

  “Then, I guess I’ll have to say ‘yes’.”

  When Zack put the ring on her finger, and kissed her, tears sparkled in her eyes. Sounds from outside had her frowning, and she glanced out the window to see half the men standing around the front, hollering.

  From behind her, Zack opened the window, and shouted back, “She said ‘yes’!”

  Hats were thrown into the air and people were shouting congratulations from below, making Ivy laugh with tears, “I feel like I just agreed to marry your entire ranch.”

/>   Zac dragged her away from the ridiculous sounds of celebration, and kissed her on the mouth, “Those idiots are too invested in my love life.”

  “I don’t know how I feel about that,” Ivy wanted to laugh.

  Zack’s eyes, however, moved to the suitcase, “If you weren’t going to leave, why did you pack a suitcase?”

  “Huh?” Ivy glanced behind him, “That’s not for me.”

  She moved away and opened the suitcase, and Zack saw Sam’s clothes.

  “Dare I ask?”

  Ivy tucked her tongue in her cheek, “Sam was complaining that his shirt was too tight, so we looked through his closet, and it seems that’s the one thing you didn’t check to see. His closet was overflowing with clothes. Some were his size, and most of them he had outgrown.”

  Zack picked up a yellow T shirt that read ‘Mom’s Hero’, and he touched the words, “Lily got him this.”

  Ivy smiled, “I know. I was talking to Beth and she said she knew a seamstress who stitches blankets, the thin ones. I was thinking we could use the clothes Lily and Tom got him and make a patched quilt. That way he can always have a piece of them with him.”

  Zack took a sharp intake of breath, “That’s a – He’d love that.”

  Ivy kissed his cheek, and watched him shift through the clothes, “These are a lot of clothes. He’s outgrown all of them?”

  “Well, he is a growing boy,” Ivy raised a brow. “He’s active and he tears most of his clothes.”

  Zack closed the suitcase, “You’ve taken on Sam as if he were your own. Me and Lily, we never had that. We were never loved that way.”

  Ivy leaned against him, “Neither was I. Which is why I know what it feels like not to have someone to watch out for you. I don’t ever want Sam to feel that way. I want him to feel that sense of security with us that we never had. You can tell him stories about Lily and Tom. He should always remember them. But we’ll give him all the love in the world, and more.”

  Zack curled his arm around her waist, dragging her into him, “I don’t deserve you. But I’ll be selfish and keep you, nonetheless.”

  Ivy laughed, “I already said ‘yes’. You can’t back out of this. Not anymore.”