by Kariss Lynch
“Smile, gorgeous.” He smoothed the lines on her forehead. His mouth tipped at the corner in the moonlight, and her body tensed.
“Don’t you . . . ” She squealed as his fingers found her rib cage. She twisted and fought, laughing so hard the nightmare from moments before receded with the tide into the darkness.
“Nick Carmichael, let go!”
“You asked for it.” He released her, and she began to tip backward into the waves, his laugh echoing in her ears.
“I don’t think so.” She snatched his T-shirt and pulled him in the water with her, her head dipping below the cold waves once again.
Their laughter filled the air as they rose to the surface. “How can you be so nice one second and so mean the next?”
“Mean? I make you laugh because I love you. Don’t be so gloomy.” His chuckle warmed her to her toes, and she threw her arms around his neck.
“I like you too.”
His arms slipped around her waist, and his face dipped toward hers. He could see all the way to her soul in the moonlight, and it was enough to stop her heart.
“I think it’s a little more than that. But I’ll wait to hear the words.” His lips settled on hers, making the lingering fireworks pale in comparison.
“Ugh, break it up, you two.”
Her brother’s voice made her jerk, but Nick held her close, turning to face Micah on the beach.
“Bad timing, Bulldog. What’s up?”
Kaylan tensed as Micah held up a phone. His silence spoke volumes. Her hands clenched in Nick’s wet shirt.
“We gotta go, Hawk.” His voice carried a warning over the crash of the waves.
“Is it . . . ”
“Yeah. It’s time.”
Nick’s hands slipped from her waist, and he waded to shore. Kaylan immediately felt cold. She followed him out of the surf. Up the beach a couple other SEALs who were part of Support Activities kissed their wives and girlfriends good-bye before running for their cars.
“Babe, we gotta go. I’ll call you later.” Nick’s eyes grew distant, his mind already miles away.
Kaylan refused to show her fear. “Be safe.”
With a nod, they both ran to Micah’s car. Moments later they peeled out behind their teammates.
Kaylan wandered back up the beach to the other SEAL families. She’d known when they left Haiti in July and when she’d moved to California the first of August that the time would come when Nick and Micah would leave. She’d come to hate every ring of his phone. But here they were, and she had the choice to panic or stand firm. She was the girlfriend and the sister of SEALs. If they could race fearlessly into danger, then she could remain their rock at home. She only hoped they wouldn’t see the small cracks.
“Kaylan, Kaylan, Kaylan.” Four-year-old Molly came bounding up, her blonde curls bouncing around her slim shoulders. Kaylan lifted her into her arms.
“What’s up, Munchkin?”
“Where did my daddy go?”
Kaylan glanced at Molly’s mom, who was busy wrestling sparklers away from her two boys. Kaylan smothered a laugh. They were as strong as their dad, Logan, the team medic and one of the older men. Molly had his curly blonde hair and pale green eyes.
“Daddy and the boys needed to work. You’ll see him later.”
“Are they going to take care of bad guys?”
“Yes, sweet girl.” Molly was innocence in a beautiful, sweet package. The little girl wrapped her arms around Kaylan’s neck as she walked them closer to the fire. Molly’s blonde hair glowed, and her little hands felt sticky on Kaylan’s neck. She knew the little girl was getting wet, but Molly didn’t seem to care.
“Kaylan, know what?” She pulled Kaylan’s head close, whispering in her ear. “My daddy’s a hero just like Superman. Only he’s better. He doesn’t need a cape.”
Kaylan’s heart warmed, and she kissed Molly’s sticky cheek, tasting marshmallows from the s’mores. “Your dad is definitely a hero.”
“Molly?”
The little girl squirmed to the ground as her mom called. She turned back quickly to Kaylan. “Don’t worry about Mr. Nick. My daddy says he is the best of the good guys.” The best, the bravest, the most sacrificial. It was the latter that scared Kaylan the most. Her hero without a cape, unafraid to face the barrel of a gun—even if it meant his life.