The SEAL's Valentine (Operation: Family)

by Altom, Laura Marie

  “Works for me.” She’d finished one doll skirt and started a new one. “I know just the right people to help with the wedding cake and flowers.”

  “Would you listen to yourself? You sound crazy. I already married once and when I made those vows, I meant them.”

  “Of course you did. But nothing lasts forever. Just like you never imagined Andrea leaving you, I never thought your father would be taken from me so young. But, honey, that’s life. You have to grab happiness wherever and whenever you find it. I’ve seen the way Brynn looks at you and you look at her. Trust me, the fuel’s already simmering. All you have to do is add a spark and boom. Fireworks—which reminds me, have you thought about asking her to be your official date for the Fourth of July?”

  Tristan shook his head. “Did you find my secret beer stash? You sound tipsy.”

  * * *

  “THANKS AGAIN FOR DOING THIS,” Donna said at the Shreveport Regional Airport. “A week’s parking would cost more than our whole trip.”

  “Aw, for all you’ve done for us lately,” Brynn said, hugging Donna at the curb, “this was the least we could do, right, Cayden?”

  He nodded, but looked near tears. “You’re only gonna be gone a week, though, right, Tristan?”

  “That’s it, buddy.” He ruffled Cayden’s hair, then gave him a hug. “Think you can take care of things here while I’m gone?”

  “Yeah.” After a yawn—he’d fallen asleep in the car—he crossed his heart. “I promise to get your newspaper and mail every day.”

  “You’re a good boy.” Donna hugged him, too. “All right, we’d better get going. Georgia said the last time she visited her grandkids in Miami, it took a while to get through security.”

  Tristan teased, “That’s because she probably talked the ears off of every person in line.”

  “Don’t be fresh.” Donna landed a smack to the back of his head. “Now hug Brynn and let’s get going.”

  A feeling ranging between panic and anticipation ran rampant at Donna’s suggestion. Though obviously, Tristan’s chaste hold was purely for his mother’s benefit, Brynn couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like experiencing the real thing. The closest she’d come was when he’d carried her into the hospital the night she’d given birth to Mackenzie. Brynn had to admit to having felt safe in his arms.

  “Have a safe trip.” On impulse, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I hope you have a wonderful time with Jack.”

  “Thanks.” He held on longer than was probably necessary, but Brynn wasn’t complaining. As if wanting to say more, his gaze searched hers, but then he released her, turning to Cayden, “Take care of your mom and sister, okay?”

  “I will.”

  “All right, then...” Tristan grabbed his mom’s suitcase. “Guess we’re off. See you in a week.”

  What did it mean that Brynn already looked forward to picking him up?

  * * *

  “DAD!”

  Tristan might be a big strong SEAL, but the sight of his son running toward him made his eyes sting like hell. “Hey, bud! Lord, I’ve missed you.”

  “I missed you, too!” After a long hug for his dad, Jack embraced his grandmother before taking them both by the hand, leading them across a wide, tree-filled front yard and into Andrea and Peter’s ranch-style home. “Come see my room! And the pool! And Peter bought me an iguana! I named him Charlie!”

  “I don’t know if I’m brave enough to see that,” Donna said.

  “Come on, Grandma! He only bites if he’s hungry.”

  She laughed. “Well, in that case, I hope you fed him today?”

  “Yeah, I did.” He opened the door, shouting, “Mom! Peter! They’re here!”

  The house was all right. Beige carpet, beige walls and comfortable leather furniture with colorful throw pillows. Oversize windows looked out on a backyard pool and on a fireplace mantel were too many pictures of family fun. Jack and Peter playing catch. Jack and Peter riding an amusement park roller coaster. Peter holding Jack’s birthday cake while Tristan’s son blew out his five candles.

  “Tristan. Donna.” Andrea approached from what he guessed was the kitchen. Peter was close on her heels. “How was your trip?”

  “Good,” Donna said. “Although I still miss the days of getting a nice meal on flights.”

  “Me, too,” Peter said. “When I was a kid, all those little dishes fascinated me.”

  “Come on, Dad!” Jack tugged Tristan’s arm. “I want you to see Charlie.”

  “Go ahead,” Andrea urged. “Donna, you, too. Peter and I are just finishing up some appetizers for a small party we’re hosting in your honor. We thought you might enjoy meeting some of our friends.”

  “Not really,” Tristan said under his breath.

  His mother elbowed his ribs. “That sounds nice. You two go ahead with your preparations and we’ll have a nice visit with Jack.”

  Tristan had played with Jack and his pet for a solid hour, yet the whole day still felt surreal. As much as he loved his son, part of Tristan traitorously felt closer to Cayden. Every other word out of Jack’s mouth was something to do with Peter, and Tristan’s chest ached with loss. Oh, he’d always love his son with every breath of his being, but their relationship would never be the same. Tristan was man enough to realize Peter was doing a good job of surrogate parenting and for that, he was grateful. Peter hadn’t been the ruin of Tristan and Andrea’s marriage. For that, Tristan only had himself to blame.

  That said, the main reason for this visit—aside from seeing Jack—was to follow Brynn’s advice and make it clear to Andrea that he wasn’t giving up on forging a meaningful bond with his son.

  * * *

  “YOU’RE AWFULLY ANTSY TONIGHT.” Vivian used her phone’s camera to snap a pic of Dominic on third base. For a Tuesday night, the Mud Bug’s practice was running painfully long. “Missing your eye candy?”

  Brynn adjusted the sunshade on Mackenzie’s carrier. “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t act all innocent. You miss Tristan.”

  “I do not.” Brynn could deny it all she wanted, but the truth was that she missed him and his mother. Which was silly. Aside from her rich fantasy life, she and Tristan had never shared so much as a meaningful glance. Or had they? And she’d been too wrapped up in single parenthood to even know?

  Cayden’s behavior had been a thousand times better since he and Tristan talked. Just one more way she was indebted to him. But was that the same as being attracted to him? It’d been so long since she’d been in the dating market, how was she even supposed to know?

  “Then what’s up with your jiggling knee? You usually only do it when Cayden’s at bat, but tonight, you’ve been at it for two hours.”

  “Not that it’s any of your business,” Brynn said, “but I applied for a job today. I’m waiting for a call.”

  “Really?” Vivian leaned in closer. “I thought you were loaded now that Mack’s name had been cleared? Why do you even need a job? Especially with a newborn?”

  Where did Brynn start to explain? “I had wealth snatched away from me once and I don’t trust it. If it’s still there when it’s time for the kids to start college, then great. Until then, the only person I want to depend on is me.”

  “I suppose that makes sense.” Vivian fingered the lace trim on Mac’s pink T-shirt. “But still, what’re you going to do with this little angel? The cost of day care would eat whatever you make.”

  “That’s what’s so great about this job. I’d be working with Lindsay Brigham—you know? From garden club? I didn’t know she owns Morgan Hill Nursery. Anyway, she said when her kids were little, she brought them with her, and she doesn’t mind if I do the same.”

  Angling closer, Vivian asked, “So you’ve essentially already got the job?”

  “There
were three other applicants. Lindsay said she’d call tonight or in the morning.”

  “Good luck.” Vivian’s tone was sincere.

  Twenty minutes later, Brynn’s cell rang and it was Lindsay offering her the job. Brynn was excited, but one thing made the moment less perfect—the fact that she couldn’t share her news with a certain special someone. Tristan.

  * * *

  “I ALREADY TOLD YOU, TRISTAN.” Andrea jogged faster to try getting away from him. “Jack’s too young to be flying cross-country. Either you come here or he doesn’t see you.”

  Her attempt to outrun a SEAL was as ridiculous as her repeated efforts to sway him from his request. “And I told you, unless you want to go back to court, Jack is going to see me every other holiday and at least a month every summer.”

  “That’s funny,” she said without laughing as they jogged in place while waiting to cross a busy street. “With your schedule, how are you going to guarantee you’ll be there for him next week? Let alone months in advance?”

  She made a valid point, but he wasn’t backing down. His son was too important. Jack had to know no matter what happened between his mom and Peter, that his real dad—the one who’d cradled him the night he was born—would always be there.

  “If you were even a little reliable,” Andrea said, “I’d still be with you. But you’re not, and I can’t stand it. Never could.”

  “Then why the hell did you marry me?”

  She broke down. “I loved you. But you loved the navy more.”

  He pulled her against him, holding her until she’d cried out her frustration. “For the record,” he said into her hair, “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just—I didn’t know what else to do. A week after high school graduation I was a bluejacket and I’ve been a navy man ever since. I would do anything for my country, yet you treat me like I’m a deadbeat bum. Have I ever once been even a day late with child support?”

  “No, but—”

  “You’re out of excuses, Andrea. Out of guilt I’ve let you call the shots, but no more. I’ve got a friend back in Ruin Bayou who lost her husband and her kid’s a wreck. A boy needs his father.”

  “Jack has Peter.”

  Looking to the sky to keep from exploding, Tristan repeated, “A boy needs his father. We’re going to set up a visitation schedule and if, for whatever reason I have to tweak it, I’d appreciate your cooperation. There are lots of navy wives out there, Andrea, who make their marriages work despite deployment. I’ll take half the blame for our relationship falling apart, but I’m done accepting it all.”

  * * *

  “YOU EXCITED?” BRYNN ASKED Cayden Saturday afternoon on the way to the airport to pick up Tristan and his mom.

  “Uh-huh. Do you think Tristan will be able to go to tonight’s game, or is he gonna be too tired?”

  “I think he’ll manage.” At least she hoped so. Not only couldn’t she wait to hear how his visit with Jack and Andrea had gone, but she had her own news about her job.

  They made it thirty minutes early, so they looked at all the local artwork, then found a comfy seat and people-watched, taking turns guessing where arriving passengers had been.

  Finally, Tristan and Donna’s flight arrived and Brynn’s pulse raced like that of an excited child on Christmas morning.

  “Tristan!” Cayden didn’t have to hide his enthusiasm. He ran to his friend, nearly knocking him down from the force of his hug. Brynn envied her son, wishing she could do the same. Instead, she settled for a smiling, welcome-home hug first from Donna, then from Tristan.

  “I missed you,” he said low enough for her only. Had she imagined it or had his hold been stronger than when he’d left? His lemony aftershave acted like an aphrodisiac. She’d forgotten how heavenly he smelled.

  “I missed you, too,” she admitted, shyly ducking her gaze. She wanted so badly to hold his hand on the way to get his luggage, but Cayden had already stolen the honor. She couldn’t be too disappointed, though. Her son’s happiness had always come before her own, but just this once, she wouldn’t have minded stealing some for herself.

  Donna chattered away, but Brynn had a tough time concentrating on what she was saying.

  While Cayden helped drag Donna’s bag off the conveyer, Brynn hung back with Tristan, wanting to say so much, but in the end, saying nothing at all.

  “You got anything going on tonight after the game?”

  “As a matter of fact,” she joked, “I’m invited to what I hear is going to be a wild party.”

  His expression faded. “For real?”

  “No.” She laughed. “I’m hardly the party type. I was teasing.”

  “Oh.” For a highly intelligent man, he seemed to have a tough time asking, “I was thinking that after the game you and I might grab a steak at Scooter’s. Is there any way Cayden could stay with Dom?”

  “I—I’m sure Vivian won’t mind. I’ll ask if she’ll watch Mac, too.” Was this an honest-to-goodness date he was asking her on?

  “Good. This isn’t a date or anything. Just thought it might be nice to catch up.”

  If Brynn’s excitement had been a balloon, it would’ve popped. Whatever. She hadn’t even wanted to go on an official date with him.

  Oh, yes you did, her conscience begged to differ.

  * * *

  ALL TRISTAN HAD WANTED THE whole time he’d been gone was to talk to Brynn, so now that he finally had her to himself, why did he feel like a tongue-tied teen? Vivian had taken Cayden and the baby so Brynn could ride with him to the restaurant. During the meal, just when he thought he might be able to open up about how he really felt in regard to so many things—Jack, his failed marriage and even his unwanted crush on her, his brain shut down.

  Now, in the restaurant parking lot, seated in his truck, Brynn looked so pretty in the dim light, he was especially off his game—if he’d ever even had one.

  “Why aren’t you starting the engine?” she asked, her voice the soft haven he’d craved for seven days.

  Abandoning the keys in the ignition, he turned to face her. “Look, I’m apparently really bad at this, so I’m just going to come out and say it. I missed you—like, really missed you. I wanted to tell you my time with Jack was beyond amazing. We surfed and went to Disneyland and Universal Studios and more than that, we got the chance to really talk about how he’s doing.” He swallowed hard, remembering how grown-up Jack had seemed for a kindergartener. But then Cayden was the same. Just when Tristan was coaching him and thought the kid didn’t have a clue where he was coming from, Cayden far exceeded Tristan’s expectations. “He’s good. And he doesn’t hate me like I feared.”

  “I could’ve told you that.” Brynn reached across the seat, covering his hand, filling him with yearnings he had no right to have. “If anything, my guess is you spend far too much time hating yourself. Wondering what might’ve been, when all that happened with Andrea is in the past. Right now, you have to look forward. Figure out what’s best for not only Jack, but you.”

  “You make it sound so easy.” Tristan’s chuckle was strained. Her hand was still on his and more than anything, he wanted to lift it to his mouth, kiss the skin he already knew to be unbearably soft.

  “You and I both know when it comes to relationships, nothing’s easy. I thought after losing Mack, I’d never even want to try again, but lately—especially when you were gone, I, well...” She bowed her head and smiled shyly, in the process, spilling ginger-red curls across her face.

  Pulse erratic, not sure if he was breathing at all, Tristan summoned his every ounce of nerve to tuck her hair behind her ear, then cradle her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She shook her head. “I have too many freckles and my nose is funny.”

  “I adore your nose,” he stupidly admitted. “And damn near everything else about y
ou.”

  “Stop...” Her shimmering eyes told him to go on.

  “With everything in me, I want to kiss you.”

  She licked her lips. “What’s stopping you?”

  “The fact that I’m running out of time. Eventually, I have to get back to my base. Then what? You and Cayden and Mac have made a great life here—I know, because I remember how simple and sweet small-town ways used to be.”

  What if you stayed? her penetrating stare asked. Or was it his own wishful thinking?

  “What if I don’t care? What if I want to know if what I’ve been curious about for all these weeks is even worth my while?”

  “You’ve been curious about me, huh?”

  She nodded. Edged closer on the seat to rest her head on his shoulder. Her silky curls caressed his neck, fueling forbidden images of her riding atop him, those curls playing hide-and-seek with full breasts.

  When she looked up, it would’ve been so easy to kiss her. To tug her onto his lap and do more. But what kind of man would that make him?

  Honestly? His need for her had become damn near impossible to deny. She deserved better. And he wasn’t just talking about the fact that his divorce had made him damaged goods, but because his career left precious little room for a meaningful private life. He couldn’t do that to her—or himself. Start something special he’d never be able to finish. Which was why he cleared his throat and said, “We should probably get going.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” Vivian said the next morning while Brynn fed Mackenzie. Sean was still sleeping and the boys were already playing cowboy in Dominic’s tree house. “I thought SEALs were the ultimate good time guys, but you two were on the verge of kissing and he put on the brakes?”

  “Yep.” Shaking her head, Brynn sighed. “But the thing is, he made a good point. What’s the sense in either of us falling for each other when he’s leaving? Cayden’s already hopelessly attached. He’s going to be shattered when Tristan returns to duty. I can’t begin to figure out how to make that okay. So why would I want to have myself torn by his leaving, as well?”