“Your brother,” she breathed, and hopped up from his lap, allowing him to stand.
Rank waited for a moment, giving his parents a chance to run to Richard, the air filled with their cries of joy. Carol and her children ran over, their own exuberance spilling out as well. Once the coast was slightly clear, he tucked her close to his side and moved down the walk.
She slipped from his hold as they approached, allowing him to embrace his brother. A bone-breaking hug and back-slapping ensued and her breath caught in her throat as she watched them greet one another.
Rank leaned back and grabbed Richard’s hands with both of his, and said, “Good to see you, bro. Fuckin’ good to have you back on American soil.”
Richard grinned, his large hands clamped onto Rank as well. “Hope you all have some leftovers for me, or did you eat everything?”
“Since I knew you were coming, I think there might be a little turkey wing left for you.”
“You knew?” Hannah called out, looking at Rank, her mouth hanging open as her eyes narrowed.
“He called last week and said he hoped he could get here. He wanted it to be a surprise,” he explained, as his mother pretend-slapped the shoulders of both of her sons.
“Well, let me and Carol go in and heat up the leftovers. We’ve got plenty.”
Richard looked past Rank’s shoulder to Helena, and his smile widened. “You must be the woman that tamed my brother.”
She stepped forward and lifted her hand to him, noting that while he was every bit as handsome as Rank, she felt no tingle when he touched her. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on her knuckles, as she said, “I’m Helena.”
Rank wrapped her tightly to his side and groused, “Back off, man. This girl is mine.”
She elbowed him in the ribs and Richard laughed as he grunted.
“It’s nice to meet you Helena,” Richard said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Come on,” Hannah called from the porch, waving her hand toward the three of them.
“See you inside,” Richard said, and he trotted up toward the house, disappearing inside with the others.
The late November, afternoon sky was already sending a cool breeze over the yard, causing Helena to shiver a little. Rank turned her toward him, his arms wrapping tightly around her. Bending, he lightly kissed her lips, then lifted his head as a sigh slipped from her. “What’s the matter, babe?”
Shaking her head ever so slightly back and forth, she held his gaze. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just so in love with you.”
He slid his nose along hers, his lips moving gently over hers. “Then that’s all we need to be happy, babe. You and me.”
That night, Rank slipped from the bed in his old room that he was sharing with Helena and padded down the stairs. Finding Richard sitting in the kitchen, a beer in his hand, he said, “Time zone change?”
Chuckling, Richard nodded. “Yeah. I should be sleeping, but I’m still on Afghan time, I reckon.”
He leaned against the counter and asked, “You think about what I proposed?”
Richard stared at his beer for a moment and nodded slowly. “I got another year.” Sighing heavily, he said, “It’s all I ever wanted to do.”
“Nothing wrong with that, bro. You’ll always be a SEAL, but you can’t do the job forever. At some point you’re gonna have to decide what’s next.”
“Yeah…”
They sat in silence for a moment before he shifted off the counter. “Well, goodnight, bro.” He started to turn to walk back up the stairs, when Richard called out.
“You like it? Really like it?”
Turning back, he grinned. “Besides being a SEAL…best job in the world. You don’t have to decide now, but I just wanted to make sure you knew the offer was out there. Mace would love to have you, if you get out and decide you want to continue to make a difference.”
Richard smiled in return. Nodding slowly, he said, “I’ll think about it.” Standing, he grabbed his empty beer bottle and tossed it in the recycle bin. “I like Helena,” he added. “Love looks good on you, man.”
His smiled widened. “Fuck, yeah. Best thing in the world. A job I love and a woman that completes me.”
Flipping off the light, they headed up the stairs and each went into their own rooms. He closed the door and stood by the bed, staring at Helena bathed in moonlight. Sliding underneath the covers, he felt her warmth as she turned in her sleep, pressing up tightly against him. With his arms circling her, he breathed in her scent. Yeah…best thing in the world.
One Year Later
* * *
“It’ll be good to have you home, Richard. Stay safe and we’ll see you when you get in.”
Helena walked into the den of their house and smiled as she listened to Rank finishing his call. They had lived together in his apartment for only a few months before deciding to look for a house. Now, they owned a two-story house by a small lake only thirty minutes from the LSI compound. While looking, he had told the realtor that room for a family was the highest priority, catching her by surprise.
“Babe, what we’ve got is only going to grow and that includes a house, marriage, kids. So, let's get something so we don’t have to move again.”
Getting married six months after buying the house was next on their list. Her parents had relented on the idea of a big wedding when she insisted that she wanted to be married in a small chapel near the coast. Her father, before walking her down the aisle, had told her how proud he was of her and that he supported her career choice completely. The wedding celebration lasted well into the night, including the huge reception her parents had catered. All the Keepers had attended, Mace escorting a very pregnant Sylvie.
Now, as Rank disconnected the call with his brother, she flopped on the sofa, half on him. Hearing his grunt, she grinned.
He grabbed her by the hips and with a swift roll, had her body flat on the sofa underneath his. Resting his weight on his forearms, he caught her mid-giggle, kissing her lips. Lifting his head, he said, “Best kiss ever is breathing in your laughter.”
Her chest heaved and she blinked away the moisture that immediately gathered in her eyes. “How is it that every time I think you can’t possibly get more awesome, you prove me wrong?”
“We’re going to keep getting more awesome together.”
Falling back into another kiss, she believed his words with all her heart.
* * *
Rank also plays a supporting role in my new Silver SEAL book!
SEAL Together
* * *
Click here for a sneak peek at the first chapter of the new SEAL Together!
* * *
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* * *
If you liked Rank, check out the other books by me!
Maryann Jordan
* * *
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Mace
Rank
* * *
Baytown Boys (small town, military romantic suspense)
Coming Home
Just One More Chance
Clues of the Heart
Finding Peace
Picking Up the Pieces
Sunset Flames
Waiting for Sunrise
Hear My Heart
* * *
Follow the exciting spin-off series:
Alvarez Security (military romantic suspense)
Gabe
Tony
Vinny
Jobe
* * *
Saints Protection & Investigations
(an elite group, assigned to the cases no one else wants…or can solve)
Serial Love
Healing Love
Seeing Love
Honor Love
Sacrifice Love
Remember Love
Discover Love
Surviving Love
Celebrating Love
* * *
> Letters From Home (military romance)
Class of Love
Freedom of Love
Bond of Love
* * *
The Love’s Series (detectives)
Love’s Taming
Love’s Tempting
Love’s Trusting
* * *
The Fairfield Series (small town detectives)
Emma’s Home
Laurie’s Time
Carol’s Image
Fireworks Over Fairfield
* * *
Please take the time to leave a review of this book. Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!
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Rank: Lighthouse Security Investigations Series Page 24