by Jaime Lewis
“Come on, sexy. Let’s go introduce Zuma to everyone and announce our news.”
As he reached for the door, he turned around and caught her admiring her ring. Her smile reached from ear-to-ear. He couldn’t wait to make her his wife.
◆◆◆
When they stepped into the kitchen Tenley, and the guys were standing around talking. When Alex glanced over at Tenley, Alex knew immediately she was busted.
Tenley, not one to hold back with words, shot her eyes over to Ace. “What in the hell did you do?” Spoken in a stern voice, she had caught the attention of pretty much everyone, and before either Ace or Alex could reply, she noticed the puppy in Alex’s arms.
“Oh, my God. You have a puppy.” She hurried over to pet it. “He or she?”
“He. His name is Zuma.” Alex said, giving Ace a wry smile.
“He is so freaking adorable. Wait a second. Don’t try to distract me with the puppy. Why does it look like you were crying?”
“Because I was,” Alex answered, keeping her answers short. She was going to make her friend work for it.
“Because he got you a puppy?”
“No.” Alex looked up at Ace and smiled.
“What the hell ‘friend’? Then why were you crying?” She asked as she reached for the puppy to hold him. Just as Tenley reached under his belly where Alex’s left hand was, Alex knew the moment Tenley felt the ring. Her eyes snapped to Alex’s, and Alex nodded her head at the silent question. Tenley’s face split into a wide grin. “Holy shit! You’re engaged!” She shouted, and the room erupted into shouts of congratulations. Lots of back-slapping and hugs greeted the newly engaged couple. Alex handed off Zuma to Ace, so she could show her ring to everyone.
Potter opened a bottle of champagne. “I think this calls for a celebration.”
After everyone migrated to the game room, Alex found herself standing in front of the Christmas tree. She scanned the tree, looking at all the decorations. Most of the ornaments had a meaning or story to them. Some were her father’s, and some were hers she had collected through the years. She spotted the newest ornaments that Diego had given to her for her birthday. Her eye then stopped on one that had a picture of her dad on it. She unhooked it from the tree and placed it in the palm of her hand. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”
Sensing someone behind her, she turned her head and saw Ace standing there with a beer in each hand. He stepped up to her and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
“You’ve had one hell of a day. How are you holding up?”
She took a sip from the bottle. “I think I’m doing surprisingly good, considering. I mean, how many people can say they got a puppy, a million dollars, and a fiancé for Christmas? This has been the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. He placed his chin on the top of her head.
“I love you, Alex.”
“I love you, too, Ace.”
Six months ago, both Ace and Alex set out on a journey. A journey where finding love was least expected, until the one afternoon where fate brought them together. Before their run-in, if anyone had asked either one if they believed in love at first sight, they would’ve said no. They’d each found their future in one another. Ace found a woman who would stand by him, support him, and love him while Alex found a man who would protect her, support her, and love her. This was their home, their future.
Epilogue
After most of the guests had left and Ace’s family had retreated to their rooms for the night, only the SEALs, Alex and Tenley, remained.
The guys were sitting around the TV, watching the news. Earlier, it was reported a 7.8 magnitude earthquake had rocked the northern coast of Ecuador near the Colombian border.
Details were still coming in, but it was said there was major widespread damage. Fatalities had been confirmed; however, their government was not releasing a number yet. Sources were estimating it could reach into the thousands.
Aid from countries across the globe was already pouring in, including the United States.
“I still can’t believe that you’re engaged.”
“I know,” Alex said to Tenley as she admired her ring. “I’m still getting over the shock of it myself.”
Tenley reached over and put her hand over Alex’s. “I’m really happy for you, friend. Who would’ve ever thought that you would be engaged to of all things, a Navy SEAL.”
Alex laughed. “Yeah, I never saw that coming.”
“But I have to say; you snagged yourself a good man. I can tell he adores the hell out of you. You are one lucky woman.”
Alex noted the sadness in Tenley’s voice. Something was bugging her friend. For the last month and a half, Tenley had kept more to herself. She hadn’t wanted to hang out much, and she had also kept a distance from Potter, which puzzled Alex because things had seemed to be going in the right direction for the two of them.
“Tenley, I’ve been meaning to…” She was interrupted when Tenley’s cell phone rang.
“I need to grab that; it could be the hospital. They’ve been short-handed the last few days, and I told them to call me if they needed me.”
Tenley grabbed her phone and walked out of the room. Alex didn’t miss the way Potter’s eyes followed Tenley out of the room.
Ten minutes later, Tenley walked back into the room.
“Everything okay? You look a little frazzled,” Alex asked. Potter must have seen the strained looked on Tenley’s face as well because he was up and walking over to where they were standing.
Tenley grabbed her purse and coat off the bar stool. “That was the humanitarian organization I volunteer with through the hospital. They’ve been called in to assist with the relief for the earthquake victims. They were calling to ask if I was available to help assist.”
“You’re going to Ecuador? When do you leave?” Potter asked, not looking happy at the news that Tenley was leaving. It seemed to Alex he wanted some alone time with Tenley, maybe to talk.
“Tomorrow morning.
“For how long?” He questioned.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. We won’t know until we assess the situation down there. They said it could be weeks.”
Alex watched the back and forth between Tenley and Potter. Seeing the tension between the two pretty much confirmed there was something definitely off.
“We need to talk before you leave,” Alex said, grabbing Tenley by the arm and pulling her down the hall toward the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, Alex swung Tenley around. “Okay, fess up. What’s up between you and Potter?”
“Nothing. Why?” Tenley snapped, looking surprised by the question.
“Because since you two started dating, you’ve been making progress in the relationship. And now for the last month, there is obvious friction between the two of you. Not to mention the way you avoid hanging out with us. So, stop blowing smoke up my ass and tell me what’s got your panties in a twist.”
Tenley shook her head and lowered her voice. “Please, Alex, I don’t want to talk about it. Not right now. But so you know, nothing can happen between Potter and me. Just let it be.”
Alex squinted her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“God, no! I’m just going through some stuff I need to deal with, and I can’t involve anyone else. Okay?”
Alex eyed her friend. She could see Tenley was struggling. She knew that both she and Potter were right for each other. Everyone could see it, especially when Potter had all but marked his territory when other men congregated around her, and the way Tenley looked at Potter told an entirely different story than the words coming out of her mouth. Her friend had it bad for a certain Navy SEAL. Now Alex just needed to figure out what was holding her friend back and give her a little nudge.
Alex let out a sigh. “You’re scaring me, friend. But for now, I will respect your wishes. When you get back from your trip, you and I are going to sit
down and talk. I’m worried about you.”
Tenley hung her head in defeat. “Whatever. Give me a hug. I need to get going, so I can pack.”
Alex hugged her friend, giving her a good squeeze. When they finally let go of each other, all of the guys had come out to the kitchen. They hugged Tenley while some even lectured her on her safety.
◆◆◆
When the last team member said good-bye, Potter stepped up to Tenley. “Come on; I’ll walk you home.”
Tenley bit her bottom lip. Her nerves were at an all-time high. Just let him walk you home.
“Okay,” she told him as she prayed, nobody was watching her house. The last thing she wanted was to place him in danger.
“Be safe, and call me when you can.” Alex offered a wave before Tenley gave her a small smile, then turned and walked out the door with Potter following.
The walk next door to Tenley’s house was done in silence. At the front door, Tenley turned to face Potter.
The glare he gave her was intense, so intense that she wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. She was drawn to his black eyes, and she could tell those eyes were trying to see through the imaginary shield she had put up.
She felt guilty. Guilty of a lot of things, like lying to her best friend and Potter. She cared for him so much. Who was she kidding? She was already in love with him, but she couldn’t act on those feelings. She had to protect him and anyone else for that matter. She had gotten herself into a bind and didn’t have the first clue as to how to get out of it. The worst part was that person she wanted to ask for help; she couldn’t because she wasn’t putting him in danger.
Potter’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Honey, I don’t know what happened to make you pull away from me, but I’m telling you right now, I’m not ready to see our relationship end. You have some concerns floating around in that mind of yours, and whatever they are, you and I are going to get to the bottom of it.”
Her eyes started to tear up. “Please, Potter, you don’t understand.”
He stepped closer to her. “Shhh, we’re not getting into it now. Now is not the time to hash it out. I’m just saying that when you get back, we’re gonna talk. No more bullshit and no more running.”
Before she could respond, he leaned in and took her face between his large hands and kissed her. Not the hard-demanding kiss she was used to getting from him, but a tender and passionate one.
Getting caught up in the moment of enjoying Potter’s mouth on her, she’d stupidly had forgotten there could be eyes on her. That thought was like dumping a bucket of cold water on her.
Placing her hands on his chest, she gave a little shove, breaking the kiss. “I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. And it can’t happen again,” she told him, looking down at her feet. She was a coward and couldn’t even look him in the eye, knowing that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to hide the truth from him any longer.
Taking his index finger and putting it under her chin, he lifted it until her brown eyes were locked on his. “Don’t deny what we have, Ten. I know you feel it.”
She silently stood there, wishing she could let him in, but if she did, she would be opening the doors for evil to enter their lives. Evil had already taken something from her. A precious gift that Potter had given her that she would never be able to get back, and now that same evil didn’t want to relinquish its hold on her.
He leaned in and gave her one last quick kiss on the lips, then dropped his hand as he stepped back. “Stay safe, Tenley.” He turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, staring at his retreating back.
A lone tear slid down her cheek.
“I do feel it,” she whispered to herself.
Maybe going away for a few weeks will be a blessing. It will give me some time to come up with a plan to take back my life and claim my Navy SEAL.
Potter and Tenley’s story is coming in August 2020!
Pre-order available now!
Book List
The Trident Series
Volume I
ACE
POTTER
FROST (October 2020)
IRISH (December 2020)
STITCH (February 2021)
DINO (April 2021)
SKITTLES (June 2021)
DIEGO (August 2021)
AcknowledgEments
Wow! I don’t even know where to begin. When I set out on this wild and unexpected journey, my mind was filled with a lot of doubts. But with the reassurance of many wonderful people in my life, I pushed those doubts aside and got to work.
I couldn’t have accomplished this dream of mine without the support of my husband and two boys. You guys have been my rock and cheerleaders. I love you three so much!
Susan Stoker – I cannot thank you enough for instilling the confidence in myself to follow my dream. Your words of encouragement mean so much to me.
Debbie R. – Thank you for not thinking I was crazy and being so supportive when out of the blue, I told you I wanted to fulfill this dream. Not to mention, listening hours and upon hours while I threw ideas at you.
Vendie S. – You are probably the most thankful person to be reading this because it means the book is finished. I can never repay you for all the re-reads you did to make this book happen.
Christy F. – Thank you for being the best friend anyone could ask for. Your unwavering support means the world to me.
Lastly I would like to extend my gratitude to all of my peeps (you know who you are because only a handful of you knew about this secret project of mine) for all the words of encouragement. I appreciate y’all so much!
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Epilogue
Book List
AcknowledgEments