by Katie Knight
When he’d asked her that last day where she was going, she’d mentioned heading back to the Little River area, but didn’t have an exact location yet. Said she’d let him know once she was settled. He wondered where she was at now. If she was happy. If she missed him too, even a little.
Man, feelings were hard. Way harder than anything else he’d ever done, including being a SEAL.
Speaking of which, he’d asked for a change there too. He’d transitioned out of active duty to a more desk-job type training position. He still wanted to remain in the navy and play a role in defending his country, but missions were no longer his thing. He wanted peace and quiet and a place to come home to every day. He wanted to be there when his child was finally born and to be a part of the kid’s life, in whatever way Diana would allow. Even if that meant giving up the house here and moving across the country to be near her, if required. He’d grown up without a dad. They both had. He wanted better for his child, and he would do whatever he could to make that happen. He’d never wanted to sell the house before, probably because he’d never truly processed his feelings about what had happened there. Now, he was ready to let it go, let it become a home to someone else’s family.
Demetri felt the weight of Franklin’s stare on him and rolled his head to look at his friend, sitting in the armchair next to the sofa. And yeah, that was also new. He and Franklin were friends. Up until the whole Rivers debacle, they’d always been rivals, too similar for comfort. But now, they’d bonded. Between Franklin, Peter, and the guys at Bratton Security, Demetri had more friends—real, close friends—than he’d ever had in his life. Sure, it was still uncomfortable sometimes, having people all up in his business, and he was still learning the ropes of communicating without all his walls and barriers in the way, but it was getting easier each day to trust those in his inner circle and appreciate their opinions.
“How about starting by admitting you fucked up, dude?” Franklin said.
Or not.
Ugh. Demetri rubbed his hand over his face and groaned. Yep. Harris was right, much as he hated to admit it. He had screwed up with Diana. He’d been so scared about what Rivers might do and so in denial about his own feelings and his own worthiness that he’d let her and their baby and their future together slip through his hands. Now all he wanted to do was get them back, but he had no idea how.
“It’s complicated,” he said, which was the understatement of the century.
“What isn’t?” Franklin leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, his bottle of ale dangling from his fingers between them. “Listen, that’s life, man. Complicated. Take me for example. Did you know my dad was a SEAL too?”
Demetri straightened and shook his head. “Nope.”
“Yeah. That’s what got me interested in taking this path in the first place. You think you were my first competitor? Nah, that was my old man.” He took a swig of ale and narrowed his gaze on the far wall. “He was always pushing me to be better. My goal when I entered the SEALs was to get one rank higher than my dad ever did. Made it too. But even through all that, we were still close. He loves me and I love him. My childhood was great. Like something out of a frigging Disney movie or something. And not Nightmare Before Christmas either.”
They both chuckled.
“Anyway,” Franklin continued. “What I’m trying to say is that sure life’s complicated. So what? It can still be happy. You can still have what you want out of it, still live life to the fullest, man. You just gotta stop being so worried you’re going to get hurt again. Just go for it. You’ve done better these past few weeks with us, but Diana’s your real test. You gonna accept that challenge or not, dude?”
There was the question.
Demetri stood and stretched, then walked to the kitchen to grab himself another beer. He opened the fridge and saw a jar of strawberry jam Diana had bought during their time living together in the house. She’d always craved sweets like that. Right now, all he craved was her.
You gonna accept that challenge or not?
His buddy’s words looped through his head as he twisted the cap off his bottle and gulped down the cold liquid. His chest squeezed with yearning and that’s when he knew. Yep. He absolutely was accepting that challenge. Just as soon as he knew where Diana had landed, he’d chase after her and he’d find a way to prove to her that even with all their differences, even with their pasts, they belonged together.
He nodded and walked back into the living room, unable to stop himself from grinning ear to ear as he glanced at Franklin. “Will you keep an eye on the place while I’m gone?”
Franklin snorted and reached over to give him a fist bump. “Hell yeah, dude. Of course. Whatever you need. Now go and win you that woman back.”
Twenty-Seven
Coming back to Little River, Virginia, turned out to be even lovelier than Diana had imagined. She followed the realtor through the open kitchen of the house she was touring and through to a hallway that led to the guest bedrooms. There was one that would be perfect for a nursery. Lots of windows and natural light, and a small alcove where she could put a rocking chair to sing her baby to sleep at night.
Said baby nudged just under her ribcage as if in agreement.
“When are you due?” the realtor asked.
“October,” Diana said. Hard to believe it was just four months away now. So much had happened in the last month, she was still trying to wrap her head around it all. Still trying to heal her heart too.
“Aw. Congratulations.” The realtor continued the tour, taking her into the master suite and showing her the jacuzzi tub there. Between the settlement from her insurance company from the house fire and the money she should be getting soon from the sale of Demetri’s house in Baltimore, Diana expected to have enough to put a nice down payment down on her new place. The salary at her new teaching job should help with that too.
Of course, if she’d agreed to accept the full proceeds from Demetri’s home sale, the way he’d wanted her to, then her finances would be even more solid. But she’d insisted the place was his while he’d insisted he’d given it to her.
“These jets are amazing, I’m telling you. During my last trimester, they saved me from curling into a ball in bed because of the sciatic pain.” The realtor smiled. “Well, that and massages from my hubby.”
At the mention of a husband, Diana’s heart pinched a tiny bit. A few weeks ago, she’d dreamed of her and Demetri raising the baby together. Not necessarily married yet, since they still had a lot to learn about each other, but as a couple. Now, she had no idea how he was, let alone if he even wanted to be part of their lives anymore.
Through the grapevine—meaning Aunt Rebecca—she’d heard that Rivers had been given a life sentence for the murder of Demetri’s drill sergeant, for arson, and for attempted murder from shooting Demetri. He wouldn’t be getting out anytime soon. Rebecca had also mentioned Demetri putting in for a transfer to a training position and that he’d put the house up for sale. In the end they’d agreed to split the proceeds from the sale, for all she’d put up with because of him, and to start a nest egg for their child.
But once she’d left Baltimore behind, she’d not spoken to Demetri again. Even the negotiations about the money from the house sale had all gone through Rebecca. At first, that had been fine. She’d needed time to gather herself and heal. But now, she missed him terribly and worried more each day that maybe things really were over for them.
At her silence, the realtor frowned. “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no. It’s fine.” Diana forced a smile she didn’t quite feel. “The house is lovely, really. I’m just tired.”
“Girl, I hear that.” The realtor led her out of the master suite and back to the great room near the front of the house. The entire place was decorated in shades of white and beige that gave the feeling of openness and light. “So, are you interested? The current owners have priced it to sell and I’ve got another showing booked right after
you. Not to pressure you or anything, but if you want it, you might want to put an offer down now. Did I mention the school districts are awesome here?”
“Yes, you did.” Diana laughed, a genuine one this time. “But I knew that already. In fact, I’ll be teaching kindergarten at the elementary school a few blocks over starting this August.” Her old principal, bless her heart, had lined up a new teacher to take Diana’s position while Diana had been out of contact, but when she heard the whole story of what Diana had been through, she’d given her a glowing recommendation for a new school. “So yes. The location would be perfect. Let’s do it. I want to make an offer.”
“Wonderful!” The realtor clapped her hands. “Let me just get some paperwork ready here…” She’d just pulled out her briefcase when a knock sounded on the front door. “Oh!” The realtor frowned and glanced at her watch. “That must be my next showing, but they’re early. Do you mind waiting a moment while I let them in?”
“Not at all, as long as you make it clear to them that the house is mine,” Diana said, winking. She took a seat on one of the stools at the granite-topped island while the realtor hurried to the front door. From where she sat, she could see into the foyer and spotted a figure walking in with what looked like a small tree in their hands. She couldn’t see their face as it was obscured by the leaves, but she had to chuckle. Huh. Okay. While the realtor and the new arrival chatted, Diana busied herself looking over the specifications sheet for the house again, planning what her new life would look like here. With all of her furniture and belongings gone in the fire, she’d be starting from scratch, but maybe that was good. The feel of this place was different to her old home anyway. She’d need different décor to suit it. And sure, it would take her awhile to make enough to fully fill the house the way she wanted. That was fine. Slow and steady was good, especially after the chaos of the last month.
“Ms. Addison?” the realtor said, returning to the kitchen. “I’m sorry, but this gentleman says that he’s here to see you, not the house.”
“Huh?” Diana looked up, nose scrunched. She hadn’t been back long enough to make contact with any of her friends. She squinted at the person holding the plant on the other side of the island. “I think there’s been some mistake.”
“Yeah, there has. My mistake,” a familiar male voice said, and her heart skipped a beat. The plant slowly lowered to reveal Demetri’s gorgeous face. “Hello, Diana.”
She blinked at him, trying to comprehend the fact he was actually here, standing in what would soon be her kitchen, and not just a product of wishful thinking.
He set the plant aside and came around the island to stand before her. “The biggest mistake I ever made in my life was letting you go, Diana. I came out here to beg your forgiveness and see if you’d give me another chance.” He swiped a hand through his thick dark hair and swore under his breath. “Well, that and to accept my new post as training coordinator at the naval base here.”
Her whirling mind finally snagged on that last sentence. “Wait. What?”
“I put in for my transfer last month.” He smiled. “Got accepted last week and accepted yesterday after Aunt Rebecca told me you were here.”
“Has this person been stalking you, Ms. Addison?” the realtor asked, her expression wary. “Do I need to call the police?”
“What?” Diana transferred her attention from Demetri to the realtor. “No. It’s fine. I know him. I mean, he’s not stalking me.”
“Okay.” The realtor didn’t look entirely convinced, but she started out of the kitchen anyway with her briefcase. “I’ll just be in the next room preparing your paperwork, if you need me.”
“Thank you.” Diana waited until she and Demetri were alone in the kitchen before continuing. “So, what about your SEAL missions? I thought you loved those.”
“I love you more,” he said, taking her hand and shocking the hell out of her.
The Demetri she’d known a month prior would never have blurted out something like that, but now his dark eyes shone with love and affection and so much joy her heart ached with it. The change in him was dramatic and she wanted so much to believe in it, believe in him and the love he professed to her, but did she dare?
“You love me?” she whispered, her voice breathy.
“More than life itself.” He stepped closer, blocking the realtor’s view of her with his muscled torso. “I was an idiot that day in the recovery room. So scared of being hurt that I ended up hurting you instead. I’m so sorry about that, Diana. Sorrier than I can say. But I’m working on my trust issues and being more open, feeling my feelings instead of shoving them away. I want to be the man you need, Diana. I want to be the man you love. I want to be there for you and our baby and give you both the life you deserve, if you’ll let me. If I haven’t completely destroyed your love for me by my actions back in Baltimore. Please God, say I haven’t done that. Please give me another chance to prove myself to you, Diana. I won’t let you down again. I swear.”
“I…” Stunned, she wasn’t sure how to respond. She still loved him, no doubt about it. And she wanted him here, to share her life and their baby’s life too. But they needed to get a few things straight first. “I do love you, Demetri. I think I always will. But I don’t need you to give me a life. I’m making one on my own here. You’re welcome to join us in this house, to build that new life together. Are you okay with that?”
The warmth and love in his gaze nearly floored her, and his grin brightened her world. “I’m more than okay with that, Diana.”
She grinned too, just before he swept in and kissed her, hard and hot and deep. Sweetness fizzed through her blood like champagne bubbles and the baby danced a jig atop her full bladder. For once she didn’t mind a bit. They were all celebrating for once, it seemed. At last all was right with her world, and she wouldn’t take a second of it for granted. She kissed him once more, then pulled back.
“So, what’s with the tree?” she asked, cocking her head toward the sapling. “Is that some SEAL tradition I don’t know about?”
“Nah.” He laughed. “Aunt Rebecca’s idea, actually. She said if we got back together, we should plant a tree at our new place in honour of the baby’s birth. That way the kid and the tree will grow together, year by year.”
“Aw, what a lovely idea,” the realtor said from the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, but if you want to put the offer down, we should get to it before my next appointment shows up.”
“Right.” Diana hopped down from her stool and took Demetri’s hand. “You ready to buy a house, Mr. Lewis?”
“Whatever you want, Ms. Addison,” he said, tugging her into his side and kissing the top of her head as they headed into the living room. “I’m all yours.”
“That’s what I’m counting on,” she said, resting her head against his shoulder. “Let’s do this.”
Twenty-Eight
Seven months later…
“Here, can you take her for a minute?” Diana said, handing off Isabella, their daughter, to Demetri. “I need to finish getting ready.”
“Yep,” he said, hoisting Izzy into his arms, careful to avoid getting anything on his dress whites. “Let’s go see what Aunt Rebecca’s doing, eh?”
They walked down the hall of the craftsman-style house and into the kitchen where his aunt was busy making dinner.
“Are you sure you guys don’t want to eat before you go?” Rebecca said over her shoulder as she stirred a pot of something that smelled delicious on the stove. Chili, if Demetri’s nose was right. Man, Aunt Rebecca made the best chili on the eastern seaboard. He was tempted. He really was, but the Military Ball was having food catered and they’d already bought their tickets, so he didn’t want to ruin his appetite.
“I’m sure.” He put Izzy down in her playpen by the island, dodging some scattered toys and blocks she’d thrown out along the way, then leaned in and kissed his aunt’s cheek. “Thanks for the offer, though.”
“Here.” She held out a wooden sp
oon to him, her hand cupped underneath it to catch any spills. “Have just a taste anyway.”
He did, his taste buds lighting up like fireworks at the spicy goodness. “Yum!”
“Just like your mamma used to make.”
“Really?” Demetri frowned. “I don’t remember that.”
“Yep. It’s her recipe. I just tweaked it a bit.”
“Huh.” He sat on a stool to watch his daughter. “Thanks for letting us stay here too, while we’re in town. Sorry we made kind of a mess.”
The assorted chaos of the living room, with Izzy’s toys and their bags scattered around, was a far cry from Aunt Rebecca’s usually pristine surroundings.
“Nonsense.” Rebecca winked, then cupped his cheek. “I love having you guys here. It’s like old times.”
“You need to come visit us in the new house. Seriously. You’d love it. We’re in a great area—lots of sunshine and walking trails. Parks where Izzy can play.”
“Sounds lovely.” She crouched near Izzy’s playpen and snatched the doll she was waving around like a weapon, then teased her with it. “Maybe in the Spring I’ll come for a visit. Would you like that, Izzy? Huh? Would you like Auntie Rebecca to come visit you?”
“Wecca!” Izzy shouted, looking extremely proud of herself. Then she drooled and spouted more gibberish. Teething and talking were hard work, but they were getting through it. Together.
Sometimes Demetri still had to pinch himself to be convinced that all this was really real, that he’d gotten exactly what he’d dreamed of all those months ago. Diana. Their beautiful child. A home.
“Ugh. Can you help me with this stupid thing?” Diana said, coming down the hall in her half-zipped dress. “It’s stuck.”
Rebecca went back to stirring the chili while Demetri stood to help his wife. They’d gotten married shortly after Izzy had been born in October. Even a year after their first blind date, it all seemed like a dream. And yeah, they had their problems like every couple, but he could honestly say he loved her more each day. Waking up beside her, holding her, loving her was the best thing in his life. The fact that Izzy was turning out to be a miniature Diana only delighted him more.