Mommy Loves The Military Man (Mommy's Little Matchmakers Book 2)

by Allie Kincaid

  Neither of them had said the words, but each day he spent with Cameron brought him closer to knowing for sure that he was in love with her. Their date to the country club might have been their first official “call up and ask” date, but they had been seeing each other for weeks by that point. Nobody said their courtship had to be traditional—how could it be with two ten-year-olds in the mix?

  The conversation moved to lighter topics. Before long, the girls had rinsed their dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher before running off to Lizzie’s room.

  As soon as he heard the bedroom door click shut, Cameron asked, “What aren’t you telling me? Did something happen at work?”

  “No, nothing like that.”

  “Whew.” Cameron swiped her hand across her brow. “So, what’s going on?”

  How did he get so lucky to find a woman who recognized his moods and supported him like this?

  “Some aspects of the testing have had problems. Major Williamson wants to send me overseas.” As he spoke, he searched Cameron’s expression for any sign of distress. After Josh left them high and dry, he couldn’t blame her for being wary. “He knows my situation, and I think he’s hesitated because of that.”

  Cameron dropped her gaze to her empty plate. “Do you want to go? Into the field, that is?”

  He could lie and say he was one hundred percent happy where he was, but it would be just that. A lie. He linked his fingers with hers under the table. “Well, I do and I don’t.”

  She forced a smile, but a shadow descended over her eyes. “What does that mean? Do you want to go or don’t you?”

  He struggled to find the words that would explain his sense of duty in a way that a civilian would understand. “Of course, I want to be with my unit. And I want to see this system that I’ve been pouring myself into be put into action. It’s my duty and I feel like I’m letting my team down by not being with them. But I have Mariana to consider.”

  And Cameron, but he wasn’t sure she would want to hear that right now. She continued to stare silently at their joined hands.

  “Cameron, Look at me.” He rested his hand on her cheek and she leaned into him, like she needed the connection as much as he did. “Nothing has been decided yet. I’m still working from here and while there are some concerns, no one has pulled the trigger on a trip overseas. And if they do, I’ll talk about it with you. You’ll know where I’m going and for how long. All right?”

  She nodded, but a wariness lingered in her gaze. He pulled her into his arms and felt her tremble.

  Was he ready to give Cameron up? Deploying might mean she would break up with him. She’d already dealt with one man who couldn’t be there for her and Lizzie and may not want to commit to another.

  Chapter Eight

  Cameron scanned the photos on the wall as she dodged two women rushing by, both wearing baseball jerseys.

  “This is so cool, Mom. Did you see the pictures of the old players?” Lizzie could barely contain her excitement as the four of them followed another woman in a white baseball jersey in the underground tunnels of the professional ballpark of their hometown team, the Washington Federals.

  “Do you think we’ll see Luke Haynes in person? I’d give anything to get his autograph. He’s my favorite player ever.” Mariana giggled as she spied a picture of Luke Haynes on the wall, his trademark hair flung back and a huge smile on his face. The girls whipped out their phones and took selfies with their hero crush.

  Oh Lordy, these girls were going to be a handful when they’re teens.

  Alex gripped her hand tighter and pulled her to his side as they passed a throng of reporters. It was wild down here. Not that it was ever calm at the ballpark. She’d been a couple times, with seats in the nosebleed section. But it evidently didn’t matter where you were in the park. People ran around like crazy this close to the first pitch.

  Alex had gotten them tickets to today’s game because of a pre-game recognition ceremony for his unit. But when he’d come to pick them up, his dark navy uniform jacket and royal blue pants had been a stark reminder that his life, and more importantly, his posting, weren’t his decision to make.

  What shocked her most was the row of ribbons and medals over his heart. When she’d asked, he’d tried to play it off, but she’d lived around the military enough to know that those awards weren’t given to just anyone.

  In this uniform, with his beret perfectly perched on his head, Alex walked with authority. She’d thought that he was attractive before, but whoever said they loved a man in uniform was absolutely right.

  Her concern regarding his career choice was being chipped away. Quickly.

  They approached a group of soldiers, and Alex dropped her hand. “This is where we’re assembling. The escort will show you to your seats and I’ll meet you there after we’re done.”

  Short, sweet, to the point. That was soldier Alex. Nothing like personal Alex who pulled a Barbie out of the toilet and dumped wine onto the grass on National Mall to keep from getting a ticket.

  “All right.” She stretched up to kiss him but he turned his head politely so her lips brushed his cheek. He smiled at her and took his place next to a woman who was similarly dressed. A line of perfectly appointed soldiers, every one of them volunteering to defend their country.

  Alex’s sense of duty chipped away another block in her not-so-well-constructed wall. At some point, that wall was coming down. She just knew it.

  She wished she could pull out her list right now and circle “Doesn’t travel” in bright red ink. Because if she couldn’t count on a man to be around for her and Lizzie, most of the other things mattered.

  “Right this way, Mrs. Sanchez. I’ll show you to your seats.”

  Cameron caught her breath. They did resemble a family—husband, wife, two daughters. She didn’t bother to correct the woman, but there was that ringing in her ears again.

  Chip, chip, chip.

  They followed the woman to their seats behind the home team dugout.

  “Your seats are right here, ma’am. Mr. Sanchez’s unit will be on the field pre-game so he should be joining you shortly after the first pitch.”

  “Thank you so much.” Cameron tried to wrangle the girls but gave up when they climbed on their seats to get a better look at Luke Haynes stretching in right field.

  “Mom, look. A lot of people have dogs here. The sign said it’s “Dogs in the Park” Day. We should have brought Boomer.”

  “We absolutely should not have brought Boomer. Who knows who he’d puke on and I guarantee you the people around us did not sign up for his stink. Boomer is just fine at home in his crate.” At least she hoped. There was no telling what kind of gift Boomer would leave her today.

  Enough of that. They were here to honor Alex and his unit, not to worry about a dog. Speaking of which… the stadium announcer came on the loud speaker and she shushed the girls. “Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to home plate where members of the Army’s 35th Military Intelligence unit are filing onto the field.”

  The crowd around her stood and started to applaud.

  She nudged Lizzie and Mariana. “Here comes Alex.”

  Her heart raced as two lines of soldiers paraded onto the field, one down the third base line and the other down the first. She didn’t know how Alex managed it, but he stopped almost directly in front of them. She wanted with all of her heart to wave at him, to show the feelings that had been building inside her, but she was quickly coming to learn that there was a time and place for displays of affection.

  When Alex was in uniform wasn’t one of them.

  She studied the line of soldiers, backs straight, arms at their side. How many of these soldiers had been deployed before? How many would be deployed again soon? Would Alex be among them?

  Every time her mind went somewhere it shouldn’t, she tried to remember what Mom had said. Did Cameron need to give herself permission to take a risk? To chip away the last remnants of her wall and really let Alex
into her life?

  She didn’t want to always wonder what if.

  The one thing she knew for sure was that Alex wasn’t Josh.

  The man on the loudspeaker continued to recite a lengthy list of awards and recognitions Alex’s unit had earned. As the announcer continued, the applause from the fans grew to a fever pitch. Beside her, Lizzie and Mariana jumped up and down, screeching at the top of their lungs.

  Could she set aside her fears and celebrate the wonderful man she was falling in love with? How could she not love someone who chose to serve his country, who loved his daughter with everything in him? A man who truly listened to her and took her feelings into consideration?

  After the announcer completed the ceremony, the Federals players went down the line and shook hands with the men and women in Alex’s unit. Cameron smiled, proud of the man who had come into their lives when she’d least expected it.

  Lizzie wrapped her fingers around Cameron’s arm, digging in so hard she was sure it would leave a mark. “Mom. Look. Alex is shaking hands with Luke Haynes. Oh my gosh, he’s so lucky.”

  Alex and Luke laughed together for a minute and Alex leaned in and said something quietly to the young player who had won the hearts of Washington fans the day he’d stepped onto the field. Then Alex gestured to where she was sitting with the girls. When Luke’s gaze landed on Mariana and Lizzie, he plastered a huge smile on his face and waved.

  “Oh my gosh, I think I’m going to die. Luke Haynes just waved at me.” Lizzie pressed her hand to her chest and she and Mariana giggled and tried to hide behind Cameron.

  “Girls, look.” Cameron motioned to the jumbotron. A cameraman had positioned himself at the end of their row and had a camera focused on them. “We’re on the big screen.”

  The girls spun just in time to see themselves on the video board… and proceeded to screech and wave to the camera. Mariana spun around to show off her Luke Haynes jersey while Lizzie pointed and grinned.

  Before Cameron knew it, the video board had them on a split screen, with Luke and Alex on one side and the girls on the other. She had to get a photo of the board. Mom wouldn’t believe it, and the girls would probably like to show their friends. Cameron could also see sharing it with the girls’ future boyfriends. Just to let them know what they were up against.

  She couldn’t believe she was thinking about the future with both girls in it.

  Chip, chip, chip.

  Cameron grinned at Alex and he nodded just as Luke Haynes motioned to the dugout. A bat boy ran two baseballs out to him. He scribbled something on each ball and handed them over to Alex.

  Cameron wasn’t sure the girls had noticed, too busy hamming it up for the crowd. Eventually, the ceremony ended and the girls fell into their chairs.

  “I can’t believe we were on the Jumbotron,” Mariana said.

  “Right next to Luke Haynes,” Lizzie added. “Do you think he saw us?”

  Should she tell them that she’d seen their favorite player sign something for each of them? No, she’d let Alex have that thrill.

  Finally, Alex slipped into his chair, having removed his jacket, right as the first pitch by the Federals ace pitcher flew over the plate for a strike. The Federals were in the middle of the National League championship series. A chance to go to the World Series was on the line, so each team had brought out the big guns on this cool, fall Sunday afternoon.

  “Hi, Daddy.” Mariana threw herself into Alex’s arms before he got settled. “Did you see us on the big screen?”

  “I did.”

  “Do you think Luke saw us?” Lizzie asked. It hadn’t taken long before she started interjecting herself in the middle of conversations between Mariana and her dad, just like Mariana jumped into discussions with Cameron and Lizzie.

  Alex’s eyes twinkled while he reached into the pocket of his navy blue jacket. “He not only saw you, but he…” Alex pulled out two baseballs. “… said that his two biggest fans deserved to have these.”

  The girls squealed and scrambled over Cameron to get to Alex, throwing themselves into his arms. That was okay. Alex’s arms were wide and strong enough to hold both of their girls. And her. As they went on and on about their baseballs, and Luke Haynes, Alex caught her eye over their shoulders… and he smiled.

  If this is what life with Alex would be like, what was holding her back?

  The sound in her ear was the final bricks in her wall tumbling down.

  Chapter Nine

  “You wanted to see me, sir?” Alex snapped to attention after he stepped through Colonel Rossinger’s door. It wasn’t often that he was called in to the boss’s office, and he couldn’t imagine what had prompted the summons today.

  “At ease. Have a seat, Mr. Sanchez. I’ve been hearing from Major Williamson that you’ve been doing great things with the VR battlefield system.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “That’s why we’ll be sending you TDY to the field unit, effective twenty-two hundred hours tomorrow evening, to oversee the sign-off and live startup of the system.”

  Alex’s heart raced, like it did whenever the prospect of deployment was floated. The Colonel extended a stack of papers to Alex. He studied the temporary duty paperwork, the travel orders, everything he needed for the trip. He knew he’d missed being deployed, but the prospect of heading out had him sitting up higher in his chair.

  He studied the paperwork again. The end date was eleven days from now. That shouldn’t be too bad. But now that his parents weren’t nearby, he had things to arrange. Most importantly, who would watch Mariana while he was gone? He hadn’t secured a backup plan for Mariana since he’d moved to D.C. Especially since he was assigned to a non-deployable unit. But none of that mattered now. The trip was set and he was in a pinch.

  And what about Cameron? He’d finally started chipping away at the barriers she had thrown up. Her comfort level with their family-style interactions seemed to have grown. He was almost there. Now was a terrible time to leave. Not before he had convinced Cameron that he wasn’t like her ex-husband. That his duty and not his whims were taking him out of town. The duty he’d signed on for the day he scribbled his signature on his enlistment papers. And he wasn’t about to let his unit down.

  He rose to his feet. “Thank you, sir. Permission to be dismissed?”

  “Permission granted. You’re on leave until your flight at twenty-two hundred tomorrow.”

  Alex spun on his heel and exited left the Colonel’s office. He didn’t have much to pack and was able to escape before getting shanghaied into a last-minute meeting. Good. He needed the extra time to get his plans in place.

  On the way out of the building, he grabbed his phone and dashed off a quick text to Mrs. Rodriguez. He would pick Mariana up at school early and talk to her about his trip. She’d seemed okay in the past when he’d left her with his parents, but she’d been younger and used to seeing them every day.

  Now they were in a new city, with a new school, and a new babysitter. He should have made formal backup arrangements already, but Mrs. Rodriguez had mentioned that she’d watched other children during brief deployments. He’d tucked that in the back of his mind and therefore, making arrangements became a lower priority.

  The next text he had to send? That one was a bit tougher. Can I come by tonight? I have some news to share.

  Cameron responded almost immediately. Is everything all right?

  Was everything all right? He never imagined he’d reach a point where joy and fear, excitement and dread battled for a place in his mind. He hated leaving Mariana, but his little girl was resilient and emails and a few video chats should suffice during such a short deployment. But Cameron might feel that his trip was also an abandonment of sorts.

  If she did, he might have to consider a choice between his career and Cameron.

  Everything’s fine. I’ll be by after 9. Give Lizzie time to get to sleep.

  He dashed off another text to the teenaged babysitter whose father was in the Navy an
d who understood the last-minute nature of military assignments. Hopefully she could spare an hour tonight to watch Mariana while he went to see Cameron. Sharon replied quickly that she was free.

  Three texts sent, about a million things left to do.

  He headed to Cameron’s as soon as he got Mariana settled, but he had one stop to make on the way. This conversation with Cameron would require caffeine. And a lot of it. Peet’s Coffee, one of his and Cameron’s favorites, wasn’t far away, and, thankfully, stayed open later than most coffee shops.

  With an extra-large caramel latte with extra whipped cream in hand to share, he headed to Cameron’s.

  This conversation was definitely an extra whipped cream conversation.

  He knocked on Cameron’s door about nine-fifteen, hopefully late enough that they could talk without being interrupted.

  When she opened the door, her entire face brightened. “Hey, Alex. Come on in.”

  If only he could trust that smile would be there when he left.

  He stepped through the door and brushed his lips across her cheek. What he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and remind her of what they had. But she might not feel the same after she heard what he had to say. “Caramel latte, extra whipped cream.”

  She closed the door behind him. “This must be serious.”

  “Lizzie?”

  “She fell asleep about fifteen minutes ago. She was in a sour mood today.”

  Oh, man. What Cameron needed right now was a glass of wine and a foot massage. Instead, he was going to cause her more stress. “Sorry it’s been a rough day. I have some things I need to discuss with you.”

  Cameron mumbled something just out of earshot as she led him to the couch. But she didn’t join him—she sat in the armchair that flanked the sofa. What was up with that? Some kind of woman’s intuition? She usually snuggled up next to him when they talked.

  This was probably better anyway. Now he could look her in the eye. To see her reaction. He didn’t want her to hide anything from him.