The Texas SEAL's Surprise--A Clean Romance

by Cari Lynn Webb

  Wes waited in the road, hands on his hips, his hat low on his forehead. “We’re missing the sunset.”

  “Some things can’t be rushed.” Abby coaxed the horse out of the weeds and back onto the road. “But I think we’re good now.”

  Wes came up to Abby and took her hand, linking their fingers together.

  Abby slanted her gaze at Wes. “Did I wound your pride with how easy I made that look?”

  “Not in the least.” He grinned and squeezed her hand. “In fact, I couldn’t be any prouder of you.”

  Abby smiled and a warmth filled her inside and out. Her heart sang. She had her cowboy and the beginnings of a new life. And it had all started on this very same back-country road. One wrong turn had become the best mistake she’d ever made.

  Wes held out his phone. “Are you sure you don’t want me to call for a trailer and a ride.”

  “I could use the walk.” Behind her, Queen Vee trailed along, relaxed and docile as if she’d follow Abby anywhere. “I’m still full from Thanksgiving dinner.” Their holiday feast had been four days ago. Abby was still laughing over the stories shared and the new memories made with friends and family—everyone she loved.

  “We have to tell Tess to stop making her fudge and all those other candies.” Wes put his phone in his pocket. Laughter lightened his tone. “Especially the homemade marshmallows. I can’t stop eating those.”

  “I can’t either.” Still, Abby couldn’t—wouldn’t—tell her cousin to stop her candy-making ways.

  Tess had unpacked her kitchen and was creating and baking for the first time in years. For the first time since her husband had passed. Tess was healing in her own way, in her own time. Abby wanted to support her cousin. If eating Tess’s white chocolate raspberry fudge and red velvet truffles was the way to do it, Abby was all in. “Although, the baby’s favorite seems to be the peanut butter drops.”

  Wes stopped and set his hand on Abby’s stomach. “That’s a good choice, little one.”

  Abby had made a really good choice too. She kissed Wes, then placed her palm against his cheek. “Ready to go home?”

  “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.” He took her hand again, his grip steady and secure. The perfect fit.

  Together, they walked the mare back to the rescue. Their pace slow. Unrushed. After all, there was no need to hurry. She was in love and planned to cherish every minute.

  * * *

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  CHAPTER ONE

  “Don’t look. It will only encourage him.” Brooke kept her eyes on the road in front of her. She could all but feel ­­the eyes of the passengers in the truck next to them staring at her—waiting. He can just keep on waiting. She hadn’t had enough coffee to deal with Audy Briscoe yet. He required at least three cups. She’d only had time to have one.

  Brooke glanced at her watch. Her little sister, Tess, was almost ten minutes late now. At the rate the late drop-off line was moving, she’d miss her first period altogether. “I can’t wait until you get your driver’s license.” Then she wouldn’t be stuck in the drop-off lane of Garrison High School, needing coffee, while doggedly ignoring the man in the truck next to her.

  “Like you’re going to let me drive.” Tess laughed. “Why drive when I can walk, though, right?” Tess did a spot-on impersonation of Brooke.

  “I might have said that a time or two, huh?” Brook glanced at her little sister, smiling.

  “Um, maybe, yeah.” Tess paused. “Still, I am sorry about this morning. I know you have your early appointment this morning and you need more coffee.”

  Her little sister knew her so well. Brooke reached over and took her hand. “It’s not a big deal, kiddo.” She winked. In the grand scheme of things, going without coffee to get Tess to school was a mere inconvenience. A little one at that. Definitely not something worthy of starting the day off tense or crotchety. She took a deep beath, teasing, “It’s not like I haven’t slept through my alarm once or twice—or ten times.”

  “I guess. But I know you have other things to do—” Tess broke off. “Oh, nooo... Beau waved, Brooke. He waved. How can I ignore that? I mean, I can’t, can I?”

  “No.” Beau was Audy’s younger brother. Poor kid had to be mortified by his older brother’s behavior. At least, I hope he is. “That would be rude.” Brooke was pretty sure having Hank Williams’s “Your Cheatin’ Heart” blasting from your pickup truck was rude, however. And that’s just what Audy was doing. The base was so loud, her seats were vibrating. Audy didn’t seem to grasp the current reality of their location: the drop-off line at the high school versus a rodeo or honky-tonk. Then again, he’d always been really good at living in his own little world.

  “Oh...oh, wait, and Audy. Now Audy is waving, too. Brooke? Even his giant dog is looking at us.” The panic in Tess’s voice was endearing.

  And wrong.

  It wasn’t a secret that she and Audy didn’t get along. Everyone knew that Brooke could not stand Audy Briscoe. But that was because she and Audy had a long history, one her little sister had nothing to do with. Tess shouldn’t get caught up in the middle. “It’s okay, Tess. You can wave. Be neighborly.” Brooke smiled at her.

  Tess waved. “That dog is huge. They must be really crammed in there. I wonder why Beau is riding with his big brother? He normally drives his own truck.” She chattered on. “It’s so pretty, Brooke. His truck, I mean. He got it this year after he got that scholarship to University of Texas. Pretty cool, right? He’s only a junior. He leaves next summer for Austin. I bet that’ll be a big change from Garrison.”

  It would be a change. Not everyone who left Garrison stayed gone. I know that all too well. But she was exactly where she needed to be, doing what she needed to be doing. And right now, that was waiting. They were next in line—the front door of the school was in sight. All Brooke had to do was sign the tardy clipboard that Vice Principal Gutierrez was holding. She took her foot off the brake and edged forward—but Audy’s large black truck cut in front of her and slammed on the brakes.

  Brooke stomped on the brake, threw her right arm out to protect Tess and winced as her 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air slid. Her car, Betsy, was old, solid metal—a tank, basically. Not the sort of vehicle that could stop on a dime. But Betsy managed not to crash into Audy’s truck. Barely. “That man... That man.” Her hands tightened on the steering wheel as a whole string of less-than-flattering descriptors flashed through her brain.

  But Tess was visibly rattled. “He didn’t even use his blinker.”

  Vice Principal Gutierrez walked around the driver’s side of Audy’s truck, scowling, holding the clipboard toward the driver’s window.

  “Do you think he’s in trouble?” Tess asked. “Mr. Gutierrez can be really scary when he gets mad. He looked mad. I bet he’s giving Audy a talking-to. He should, anyway.”

  “Sadly, I think Vice Principal Gutierrez lost his ability to discipline Audy once he graduated.” Not that Audy had listened or cared even when he was in school. If anything, his behavior had earned him more bragging rights. He’d loved getting in trouble—Audy Briscoe had loved getting attention. He still did.

  “Well, Mr. Gutierrez should talk to him anyway. That was so not cool.” Tess crossed her arms over her chest. “Like, seriously. We could have hit his truck and, according to my driver’s ed teacher, it would have been our fault since we’d
rear-ended him.”

  Brooke smiled. Even in the midst of her outrage, her little sister was all practicality. “It’s okay, Tess, but you’re right he is not cool.” She hurried to add, “Audy, I mean. Beau seems pretty cool.” She had absolutely no reason to pick on Beau Briscoe. By all accounts, the youngest Briscoe was a sweet kid. Good grades. Polite. Helpful around the community. And Tess had a little crush on the boy.

  “Beau’s not at all a jerk,” Tess confirmed, gushing. “He’s...he’s...nice.”

  Brooke gave Tess a quick look. Her sister was red cheeked, leaning to peer out her window—watching as Beau climbed down and out of Audy’s truck. Okay, maybe not so little.

  “Don’t let this ruin your day,” Brooke said, relieved when Audy’s big black truck finally drove off. She pulled up, put the car in Park and turned. “Morning, Mr. Gutierrez. It’s my fault. I slept through my alarm.” Brooke shrugged.

  “No problem.” Mr. Gutierrez smiled. “It happens. Take this to your first-period teacher, Tess. Go straight to class now, so you don’t miss anything.”

  Brooke handed the pass to her little sister. “See you after.”

  Tess nodded and slid from the car, slamming the door. “Bye.” She hurried down the walkway and inside the high school.

  “I spoke to Mr. Briscoe about that little stunt.” Mr. Gutierrez shook his head. “I keep thinking that boy will grow up.”

  “Oh, I gave up on that years ago.” She smiled, signing the clipboard then handing it back. “But I appreciate the effort.”

  He grinned. “Have a good day, Miss Young.”

  “You, too.” She waved, waited for him to step back onto the curb and drove around the curved driveway to the stop sign—where Audy Briscoe had pulled over and was leaning against the side of his truck, arms crossed, cowboy hat tipped forward, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. His massive dog leaned out the window, tongue lolling out and ears perked up.

  What now?

  She had a stop sign, she didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter. But she seriously considered ignoring the sign and pulling through the intersection just to avoid the now-­advancing cowboy with the all-too-cocky grin on his undeniably handsome face.

  Handsome might be an understatement. Audy Briscoe had Paul Newman good looks. Crystal-blue eyes, dark brown hair, dimples in both cheeks, a dimple in his chin and the I-work-out physique that drew all sorts of admiration.

  “Morning, Brooke,” Audy said, tipping his hat and stepping forward. He bent, resting his hands on the window frame of her car. “Mr. Gutierrez got me thinkin’ I might owe you an apology.”

  “Oh?” She barely glanced his way. “Well...go on.”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “That’s what you’re apologizing for?” Her knuckles were white from the death grip she had on the steering wheel. “You didn’t upset me.”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t think so. Your sister waved us on, so—”

  “Tess?” Brooke’s gaze darted up at him. “My little sister was waving good morning, nothing more. Being neighborly, is all.”

  “I was trying to catch your eye.” He ran a hand along his stubbled jaw.

  “I hadn’t noticed.” She stared out the front windshield. “I’m sure you need to get wherever it is you’re in such a hurry to get to, so I’ll say good morning.” She waved. “That was a good-morning wave.”

  Audy chuckled. “Duly noted.” He stepped back, tipping his hat again. “You have a good day, now, Brooke.”

  She didn’t spare him another look. She rolled forward, turned left onto School Street and headed down to Old Towne Books & Coffee. The only thing that was going to get her morning back on track was some coffee—and a lot of it. She had just enough time before her early-morning trim and color arrived at the salon. Brooke parked Betsy, exchanged morning pleasantries with the town librarian out for her morning run and headed inside the bookshelf-lined coffee shop.

  “Morning, Brooke.” Hazel Dertz smiled warmly from her place behind the counter. “What can I get you? We have some new dark roast that’s heaven and Ryan made good fresh cinnamon almond scones, too.”

  “Good?” Ryan asked, hugging his wife from behind. “I thought you said they were delicious.”

  “I did.” Hazel tilted her cheek up for her husband’s kiss. “Let me start again. Ryan made some delicious cinnamon almond scones. You should definitely get one.”

  “Much better.” Ryan kissed her cheek and let her go.

  “Sold.” Brooke suppressed a grin. Hazel and Ryan were newlyweds and it showed. One of them was always making an excuse to give the other a hug, touch or quick kiss. Even without having adequate caffeine in her system to function, it was impossible to deny just how adorable they were. “Coffee. Hmm... Which has more caffeine? The dark roast or a regular with an espresso shot? I need the one with the most. Maybe two.”

  “Uh-oh.” Hazel’s nose wrinkled. “Rough morning?”

  “You could say that.” Brooke smiled. “More unpleasant than anything.”

  “Want to talk about it?” Hazel asked, putting a scone into a white paper bag.

  “Yeah, Brooke,” the deep voice at her back made her jump. “Want to talk about it?”

  She knew that voice. She knew the voice and heard the not-so-subtle hint of amusement coloring his words. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were following me.” She turned. “Audy.”

  “Guilty.” Audy chuckled. “And I needed some coffee.”

  Brooke suspected he’d come for coffee and overheard just enough to think he was the topic of conversation. She stood, arms crossed over her chest, and waited. What are you up to?

  “I realized I hadn’t apologized.” He hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his painted-on dark blue jeans.

  She blinked. He’d followed her to apologize? You are definitely up to something.

  “But now I’m curious, too. You had a rough morning?” He paused, those clear blue eyes sweeping her face. “I know it can’t be me, since you said I didn’t upset you and all.”

  Brooke wasn’t going to play this game. Not now, not ever. “No, I don’t want to talk about it. Go ahead and apologize now so I won’t worry about you popping up later.”

  Audy took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for—”

  “That’s all,” Brooke interrupted. “That’s enough.” Over the years, Audy had apologized to her many times. He had unapologetic apologies down to a science. He’d say I’m sorry but... If there was a but attached to it, it wasn’t a real apology. “You’re sorry. That’s all I need.”

  Audy was laughing.

  “Brooke,” Hazel said. “Coffee, double shot of espresso and a scone.”

  Brooke turned back to the counter to find Hazel and Ryan watching the exchange. Hazel was wide-eyed, Ryan looked like he was trying not to laugh. “Thank you,” she said, sliding money across the counter. “Have a great day,” she said, injecting as much sunshine into her voice as possible. She grabbed her coffee and her scone and hurried outside, to Betsy and escape. She had her coffee, her space and a full schedule of appointments over at her salon. Knowing Miss Ruth, her first appointment, there’d be no lull in the woman’s chatter for Brooke to fill. She could drink her coffee, listen to all the ins and outs and gossip of her small town, and forget all about this morning. Good plan. The day was looking up already.

  Copyright © 2021 by Sasha Best

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  ISBN-13: 9780369714398

  The Texas SEAL’s Surprise

  Copyright © 2021 by Cari Lynn Webb

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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