Shielding Aspen

by Susan Stoker

  Her decision made, even if it was an uncomfortable one and not something Aspen wanted to do, she parked at her apartment complex and took a deep breath. Kane’s clean scent clung to her clothes, already making her waiver. “Please let him be exactly who he seems to be,” she whispered, before getting out of her car and heading up to her apartment.

  Chapter Six

  It was four-fifteen, and Brain was standing in his kitchen talking to Oz. The others were either outside or sitting in his living room. His house was packed, but he loved having his friends over.

  “Is Aspen coming?” Oz asked.

  “She said she was,” Brain replied.

  “Everything going okay with her?”

  Brain nodded. “Yeah. Almost too good.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just that. She’s hardworking, nice, funny, smart…she seems too good to be true,” Brain told his friend. “I haven’t been the best judge of character in the past and the last thing I want is to fall for her, only to have her change once we’re together.”

  “I can understand that. You haven’t hung out with her much though, right?” Oz asked.

  “No. Just twice. But we’ve talked on the phone and texted a lot. I feel as if I already know her better than anyone else I’ve ever dated,” Brain said.

  “I don’t want this to come out wrong but…you want me to watch her when she arrives? Not spy on her, but give you my opinion on how she interacts with the others? Sometimes it’s easier to see someone’s true nature when you aren’t lusting to get into her pants.”

  Brain knew he was blushing but did his best to ignore his discomfort. “I mean, I’m always open to your opinion, but I absolutely don’t want you spying on her. It would make her uncomfortable.”

  “You know she wouldn’t even know what I was doing,” Oz said.

  “I know, but still, no. I like her, Oz. A lot. And I think that’s what’s making me uneasy.”

  “I’m happy for you,” his friend said, clapping him on the shoulder.

  “Thanks.”

  “Just remember that she’s not perfect. No one is. If you look too hard for her faults, you might overlook all her good qualities.”

  “Not a chance of that,” Brain said with a small chuckle. “Her goodness shines so bright it’s impossible to see anything else. Which is a part of my worry.”

  “What can’t you see?” Kinley asked as she came into the kitchen, Lefty at her heels.

  “Anything when someone as beautiful as you is around,” Oz quipped.

  Kinley blushed but rolled her eyes.

  “You hittin’ on my girl?” Lefty asked, throwing an arm diagonally across Kinley’s chest and pulling her back into him.

  “Nope, wouldn’t dream of it,” Oz said with a smile. Then he gave Brain a chin lift and squeezed past the couple into the other room.

  “When’s Aspen getting here?” Kinley asked.

  “I might get a complex with everyone asking about Aspen,” Brain joked.

  Kinley frowned and shook her head. “No, I’m always happy to see you, Brain.”

  “I know you are,” he told her. “I was kidding. And I’m hoping any time now. She had some stuff she needed to get done today, so she might be running late.”

  “Have you called or texted her?” Kinley asked.

  Brain shook his head. “I didn’t want to bug her.”

  Kinley rolled her eyes again and pulled out her phone. “What’s her number?”

  Brain hesitated. He wasn’t sure he should give it out without Aspen’s approval, but at the impatient look in Kinley’s eyes, he caved and rattled it off.

  Kinley’s fingers moved quickly over the keyboard on her phone and she nodded. “There.”

  It was seconds later when her phone vibrated in her hand. Lefty read the text she’d just received out loud from over Kinley’s shoulder. “I’m about to leave. Running late, as usual. Sorry.”

  “Don’t be upset, Brain,” Kinley said, always wanting to be a peacekeeper. “I’m sure she’s not always late.”

  Brain couldn’t help but laugh. He’d just been bitching to Oz that he hadn’t found any flaws in Aspen, and now he knew at least one. She hadn’t been late last night when she’d come to his house, but that was probably because she’d come straight from work. He thought back to their phone calls over the last week and a half and realized that, most of the time, if they’d planned in advance, she had called later than they’d scheduled.

  But he could deal with her being late. He pulled out his own phone and shot off a quick text.

  “You aren’t yelling at her for running late, are you?” Kinley asked.

  “What? No,” Brain said firmly. “I just told her to take her time, to not get in an accident or a ticket racing over here.”

  “Good,” Kinley said. “I like her. I don’t want you doing anything to make her break up with you.”

  Brain rolled his eyes. “I think that ship’s sailed,” he told her honestly. “I’m overbearing and overprotective. I fell asleep on her last night, and even when I woke up at two in the morning, I didn’t apologize and get her home, I let her sleep on top of me instead. I also bad-mouthed her team and made her cry. I’m not sure I’m batting a thousand here.”

  Kinley simply shook her head. “Overprotective isn’t a bad thing,” she argued, looking back at the man holding her. “And believe me, waking up on top of the guy you like isn’t a hardship. Cut yourself some slack,” she ordered. “But also, don’t be a dick so she wants to stick around, okay?”

  Both Brain and Lefty chuckled. “Got it. I’ll do my best.”

  “Good. Let me know when she gets here,” Kinley told him.

  “Uh, the house isn’t that big, I think you’ll know,” Brain told her.

  “I might be outside,” Kinley said, then turned, towing Lefty out of the kitchen behind her.

  At one point, Brain might’ve rolled his eyes at his teammate and accused him of being pussy-whipped over his girlfriend, but he had a feeling if Aspen was the one towing him around, he wouldn’t complain one whit about it. He’d follow her wherever she wanted to go.

  The get-togethers at his house were once all about him and his teammates eating burgers and talking shop until late in the night, but now that Kinley, Gillian, and Devyn had joined them, they had all kinds of side dishes with their burgers, and he’d even bought a blender to make margaritas for the women when they wanted them. Winnie came over more often than not, joining in the fun. And typically, after Trigger and Lefty took off with their girlfriends earlier than usual, everyone else slipped away soon after.

  The changes were fine with Brain. He loved seeing his teammates happy, and having the women join their group made them talk about work less and simply enjoy being together. Brain hadn’t had that before he’d joined the Army. If he was invited to get-togethers, they were study groups, and he’d always left before any alcohol had come out. He loved being a part of this group. That was one of the reasons he always invited people over to his house, so he could be in the thick of things.

  He’d just finished making another batch of margaritas when he heard a knock on the door. Knowing enough time had passed for Aspen to arrive, he intercepted Doc and opened the front door himself.

  Aspen was standing on his doorstep, looking delightfully mussed.

  “I’m sorry I’m late. I actually fell asleep, if you can believe that. I did all my errands, but my legs were sore from training and I sat on my couch for a small break and woke up three hours later. I had to finish the potato salad, even though it probably didn’t sit in the fridge long enough, and then get changed.”

  Brain didn’t comment, simply reached out and pulled her into his house. He kissed her hard, but way too briefly for his peace of mind. “I’m just glad you came,” he told her.

  “Me too,” she whispered.

  “And, I’m glad to know you aren’t perfect.”

  “What? Who said that? I’m far from perfect, Kane.”

 
; He shook his head. “I can handle you being late. Especially if it’s because you napped. You obviously needed it.”

  “I’m not always late,” she protested.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Okay, maybe I do tend to be late more often than not, but it’s not on purpose,” she protested. “And what about you? You’re pretty damn perfect yourself. What are your flaws, so I don’t feel so disgruntled that you already know about my tendency to be late?”

  Brain opened his mouth to say that he had plenty of flaws, but Gillian spoke up from behind him before he could.

  “Brain doubts himself way too much,” she said.

  “And his feet stink!” Trigger said with a grin. “Seriously, when we’re on a mission and he takes off his boots, we all nearly pass out.”

  Brain flushed and turned to his friend, glaring at him. “Shut the fuck up.”

  But amazingly, he heard Aspen giggling. He turned back to her. She stepped toward him and hooked her arm in his. “I’ll work on you doubting yourself, and I can handle stinky feet.”

  “I thought you were never going to get here,” Gillian told Aspen, breaking the intimate bubble between her and Brain. “Brain made margaritas, and somehow they taste so much better tonight than in the past. You have to try one.”

  “That’s because I made them extra sweet,” Brain said, not taking his eyes from Aspen’s. He saw the moment his words registered.

  “Thank you,” she mouthed, before she let Gillian drag her off toward the kitchen to drop off the bowl of potato salad she was holding and to get a drink.

  “Gillian’s been talking about seeing Aspen again all afternoon,” Trigger told him. “She really likes her.”

  “Good. Aspen could use some friends,” Brain said, watching Aspen laugh at something Gillian said. Before long, his small kitchen was packed full when Kinley and Devyn joined the other women. They all topped off their cups and made a toast.

  “Feels good, doesn’t it?” Trigger said.

  “What?” Brain asked, tearing his eyes from Aspen to look at his friend.

  “Wanting happiness for someone else more than you want it for yourself.”

  Brain thought about Trigger’s words for a second, then he nodded. That was exactly how he felt. What he wanted didn’t seem to matter as much when Aspen was around. He only wanted her to fit in, to find the camaraderie she’d been looking for her entire life.

  “Come on,” Trigger said, throwing his arm over Brain’s shoulders. “I’m hungry. You’ve got burgers to grill. She’s fine. The girls’ll take care of her.”

  Brain nodded. He knew his friend was right. Aspen was in good hands.

  Two hours later, while Brain and Aspen washed dishes, everyone else sat around his living room. They were laughing and talking after stuffing themselves with burgers, the best potato salad Brain had ever eaten, as well as the other side dishes everyone had brought over. Winnie was sitting contently in a rocking chair he’d bought after she’d commented how much she missed the one she used to have on her front porch, which had been destroyed in a wind storm. Lefty was on the couch with Kinley on his lap, Trigger and Gillian sitting with them. Lucky was hovering near Devyn while trying to pretend he wasn’t, and the other guys were sitting in chairs they’d brought in from his small kitchen table.

  They were talking about all the tropical storms that had been popping up in the Caribbean lately and how destructive they’d been, when Trigger cleared his throat and stood.

  “I can’t imagine a better place to do this than surrounded by the best friends we’ve ever had.”

  Brain felt Aspen go still next to him then whisper, “Oh my God.”

  He put down the pan he’d been scrubbing and quickly dried his hands, turning toward his friends.

  Trigger was still talking. He’d turned to look down at Gillian, who was sitting on the couch, staring up at him with wide eyes.

  “Gilly, every day I’m with you, I find out something new. You constantly keep me on my toes, and living a life without you in it would kill me. I admire your strength, I envy your ability to make friends, and I love waking up to you every morning and going to sleep with you in my arms. I want to spend the rest of my life learning what makes you tick and doing everything in my power to give you the best life possible. Will you marry me and make me the luckiest man in the world?”

  Brain heard Aspen inhale deeply, and he pulled her back against him. He rested his chin on her shoulder and watched as one of the men he admired most in the world held his breath while he waited for Gillian’s answer.

  “You dork,” she said lovingly and held up her left hand. “You already asked me, and I already said yes, remember? I’m already wearing your ring.”

  “I know, but we haven’t actually gone through with the ceremony yet—and I’m tired of waiting to make you mine officially.”

  Gillian smiled. “I’ll marry you whenever you want, Walker, but I already told you, I’m not planning it.”

  “Good. Because I’ve got the paperwork for you to sign, and next week we’ve got an appointment at the Justice of the Peace to get this shit done.”

  Gillian blinked in surprise. “You do?”

  “Yup. What do you say?”

  In response, Gillian leapt up from her spot on the couch and into Trigger’s arms. “Yes!”

  Everyone in the room clapped and broke into cheers.

  Aspen turned her head and looked at Brain with a smile. “That was sweet.”

  “It was. You knew the second he started talking what he was doing, didn’t you?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “Well, yeah, it was pretty obvious. He didn’t tell you guys that he was going to propose?”

  Brain shook his head. “No. It took me a bit longer to catch on since he’d technically proposed already, but I’m thrilled for them both.”

  “Me too. Women dream of this kind of proposal. Having the man they adore publicly declare his love and ask for her hand in marriage.”

  “You want that?” he asked.

  “What?”

  Brain gestured at Trigger and Gillian, still wrapped in each other’s arms.

  “Well, yeah.” Aspen shrugged. “If you’re talking about finding someone to love who wants to marry me, yes. Wait,” she said, turning toward him fully. “Do you? I mean, someday, not right this second of course, but eventually?”

  “Yes,” Brain answered immediately. “I want someone I can rely on no matter what happens in our lives. I want to face challenges together and raise a family with her. I want someone who will love our kids no matter if they’re super smart, or if they’re handicapped.”

  “It’s hard on you that you don’t talk to your parents much, isn’t it?” Aspen asked quietly.

  Brain sighed. “Yeah. They wanted me to be the next Nobel Prize winner or something, and when my life took a different turn, it was as if they thought everything I’d done until joining the Army was thrown away.”

  Brain felt as if he and Aspen were the only ones in the room, which was a miracle considering the hoopla that was happening behind them.

  “I’m sorry,” Aspen said quietly.

  “It’s fine. Honestly? It’s their loss.”

  “If the occasion ever arises, I’d still like to meet them…if that’s okay.”

  “It’s definitely okay. I don’t hate them. I just don’t go out of my way to visit them, but for you, I’d make that effort. My parents and I are just very different people. I think they despaired of me ever finding a girl who wasn’t like me.”

  “What do you mean?” Aspen asked with a tilt of her head.

  “You know, someone who doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book and wasn’t constantly babbling about the periodic table or math formulas.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being smart,” Aspen protested. “In fact, I bet your folks will be slightly disappointed I’m not a genius like you are.”

  “Want to bet, dorogoy?”

  “Don’t go spouting your Serbian
sweet talk at me, trying to catch me off guard,” she mock frowned at him.

  “It was Russian,” he said with a laugh. Then he got serious. “You keep me grounded in a way no one else has been able to. I’m not constantly wondering what other people are thinking about me when I’m too busy thinking about you. You accept me the way I am, and that means the world to me,” he told her honestly.

  “Because I like you just the way you are,” she told him softly.

  “If the time comes, and our relationship gets to that point, I’ll give you a marriage proposal that you’ll never forget,” Brain vowed.

  Aspen blushed and shook her head. “I don’t need anything over the top, Kane. A simple ‘will you marry me’ would suffice…if things between us progress to that.”

  Brain nodded, but internally, he was already thinking of what he could do that would be both romantic and flamboyant at the same time. He should be freaking out that he was even thinking about how to ask Aspen to marry him, but instead he just felt…content.

  “Come on, let’s go congratulate your friends,” she told him.

  “Our friends,” Brain corrected.

  Aspen’s smile couldn’t have been bigger. “Our friends,” she agreed.

  But just as she turned to tow him out of the kitchen, making Brain flash back to when Kinley had done the same thing to Lefty, her phone rang.

  Grimacing, Aspen sighed and shrugged. Brain didn’t suggest she not answer it. He knew as well as she did that phone calls couldn’t be ignored in their line of work.

  “Hello?” she said as she put the phone to her ear.

  Brain listened to her side of the conversation, his muscles tightening with every word.

  “Yes, Sir. I understand, Sir. O-four hundred, yes, Sir, I’ll be there. Thank you. You too. Bye.”

  By the time she hung up, Brain knew that not only had her plans for the evening changed, but she would also be leaving in the morning for the Middle East.

  “That was the major,” she told him.