by Grady, D. R.
Monday morning wouldn’t look quite so daunting then. Having a clear desk might give her a fresh start on the new week. Then, she would only have one week of paperwork to deal with, rather than three.
Well over an hour later, standing proved to be painful, but a good stretch helped to alleviate most of the soreness sitting too long had caused. She located her purse and lunch bag and with a last look around the area, snapped off the light. It wasn’t quite six, and she sighed.
Now what was she going to do with the rest of the evening? She figured her evening would be similar to many others – watching a video with the kids. Rachel and Will treated Friday nights as date night, so Treeny tended to volunteer to watch their offspring.
Tonight, though, she really didn’t want to do that. With Janine gone back to Atlanta for however long, Treeny couldn’t call her. Max and Mitch were both back from their business trips, and besides, she knew both families planned to spend the weekend at the lake.
Frowning, she decided to go home, eat and then pack, collect Pete, and join them there. At least the lake would offer a change of scenery, and she did want to start filling her little cottage. Moving in would be something to do other than pine for Ben. Keep busy, she reminded herself.
She shoved the door open and stepped through quickly. The blasted thing had a tricky spring and if you weren’t quick enough, it managed to bruise slowpokes. After falling victim to the spring too often in the past, she learned to step briskly.
Now, where had she parked her car? She shaded her eyes from the still bright sun and scanned the parking lot. When her eyes slid over a man who looked remarkably like Ben, her heart performed an acrobatic flip. She continued her perusal until she realized the Ben look-a-like was leaning against her car.
When he grinned and opened his arms, she realized the Ben look-a-like was Ben. She ran on light feet across the short expanse between them and leaped into his arms.
“What are you doing here? I thought you went wheels up.”
“I did. But only for a quick briefing. I’m on call, but free right now. Just so you know,” he warned her right before his lips captured hers. She grasped him like she was drowning and let the kiss whisk her away.
When they finally parted, she gazed up at him, so happy to see him she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. “I’m so happy to see you. I don’t even care if you are on call.”
“Good,” he grinned and again her heart did that flip thing. “What are your plans for tonight?”
She frowned. “Well, I had planned on going to the lake. I just bought a cottage there, and I decided to move in tonight.”
“You bought a house at the lake?”
“Yes,” she answered and cocked her head at him. “Why?”
“That’s coincidental, because I also bought a cottage at the lake.”
“Really?” She laughed. “Were you planning on moving in this weekend, too?”
“I had intended to, but if you’re moving...”
She flapped a hand. “Don’t worry about me. Honestly, I don’t have much. Rachel and Will have already moved the big things in. And it’s been cleaned. I was just going to add some personal touches.”
“Good. Cause I need to move everything. We can put personal touches on your place, and then start filling mine.”
“Right. Now I’m really looking forward to this weekend. I’m so glad you’re home.” Treeny couldn’t help but kiss him again. She couldn’t believe her luck at having him home so soon after he’d left.
“Where’s your truck?”
“At Max and KC’s. He helped me fill it with my furniture for the lake. I asked one of the rellys to drop me off here.”
“How long have you been cooling your heels waiting for me?”
“Well, an hour, maybe, but it’s okay.”
“An hour? Ben, why didn’t you come in and get me?”
“I needed the time to think. I honestly didn’t mind.”
Treeny was aghast at the time he’d spent waiting for her. But he did sound sincere about not minding. She hoped he was, because she felt awful wasting their time together. Of course, she had no idea he had been waiting. He could have called her.
When she crawled into the passenger seat, she smelled the redolent scent of something that made her empty stomach grumble and complain. Darting a suspicious glance in his direction she checked out the backseat. There she saw a large picnic basket.
“Used the time for thinking, did you?”
He looked smug. “Some of it.”
“Mmmhmm. How long did you really wait?”
“I did wait an hour, but when I glanced at your desk, I estimated I had at least half an hour, if not more to find us supper.”
Treeny laughed. “You made excellent use of your time, I see.”
“I try,” he answered humbly.
***
Sam Welby paused and turned again. Yes, there was definitely someone sitting in his office chair. Yes, he definitely knew the man. Crossing to the chair opposite his desk, Sam dropped into it. “Want to tell me why you’re here, O’Riley?” he asked conversationally. At least he thought he sounded civil enough.
“The name’s Admiral O’Riley to you, SEAL boy,” his former boss joked.
Squelching the sense of loss he experienced whenever he thought of his SEAL years, Sam shook his head. He glanced around the room, and a sense of pride swelled in his chest. In seven short years, he’d gone from a man who had left the only job he ever wanted to become one of the leading oncology pediatricians in the nation.
“Actually, O’Riley, this is my office, and here, I’m Dr. Welby.” He tried to keep a straight face.
“Yeah, well, Welby you’re a doctor, all right, but as of,” and O’Riley glanced at his watch, “1400 hours, you had the right to call me admiral again.”
Sam’s former military training kept the shock off his face. He had only been out of the Navy for seven years, but now he usually tried to show his emotions, at least compassion, sympathy, and support whenever possible. The admiral’s news was different, though. He was thankful his skills hadn’t deteriorated. He still worked hard to keep them at peak. But he also had no idea what O’Riley was saying.
“Want to run that by me again?”
“As of 1400 hours, you’re in the Navy again, Welby. Not merely pulled out of retirement, but indeed, yanked out. We need you.” O’Riley appeared to have trouble keeping a grin off his face, but Sam didn’t care if his trouble showed.
His heart skipped a few beats. “I’m a SEAL again?”
“You are. Morrison asked me to pull you out of retirement. We need a planner.” He went on to explain the terrorist-traitor situation they faced.
Sam fought down the rising exultation. “When do I start, Admiral?” He could celebrate later.
“As soon as I call you.” He tugged a familiar electronic from his pocket and tossed it across the desk.
Deftly catching the communication device, Sam stared at the small black square for a moment. “It might be harder than we think for me to leave here, though. I’ve got a full patient roster, and we’re already barely keeping up. I need to hire another doctor or physician’s assistant.” Sam ran a hand down his nape, his mind churning.
“Already taken care of, Welby. I happen to have a doctor I want to gain some pediatric skills. She’s going to Kuwait in a month or two. With the added office experience, she’ll be up on all the pediatric practices.”
“Admiral, we’re an oncology pediatric facility.”
“Even better,” his new boss said easily. Sam wasn’t fooled.
“So why do you need me? Can you give me some specifics?”
“I must be losing my touch. Sorry, Welby. Got a traitor in our midst.”
“A traitor?” he repeated, scandalized.
“The...” and the admiral bit off what was sure to be an ugly word, “He killed my best agent with his deeds, and now he’s gunning for one of my best SEAL teams, your old squad in particular
.”
“This pus brain,” Sam stopped when he saw the admiral grin. “I work with kids, I have to keep my language clean.”
O’Riley’s grin grew. Sam decided to ignore him.
“This traitor sold your best agent and now wants SEAL Team Eight?” He wanted to be certain of the facts. Team Eight’s lives could depend on his knowledge of the situation. Most of that team had stood by him during his cancer scare. He owed them.
“Yeah. The operative and team were paired up for an assignment not too long ago. Morrison’s squad and the operative spent a lot of time together. We suspect this had to do with that assignment, but at this point we don’t know much.”
“Except that you’ve got a dead agent.”
“Before he died, he told me the same traitor who nailed him wants Team Eight.”
“That’s a tough guy.”
“Yeah. One of the reasons why he was one of my best.” O’Riley looked sad and Sam realized anew why he and the other SEALs had always liked him the best. O’Riley was tough, knew his job, could probably out SEAL all of them, but he had compassion, and he cared about them, and it showed.
“I’m thinking I’ll kiss Morrison when I see him again.” He gazed down at his new communication device, excited to be on the team again.
“His new lady friend will probably have a problem with that.”
“Did he finally manage to ask Treeny out?”
The admiral’s eyes gleamed. “Sounds that way.”
“Good for him. This must be recent because he didn’t say anything during our run.”
“You’ll have to ask him. I’m sure you’ll be seeing him soon enough. We’ll have a lot of briefings before we activate your plan.”
He saluted, and it felt good. Felt good to see O’Riley again, too. Admiral O’Riley. He kept a goofy grin off his face, but it was a challenge. He got to be a SEAL again, even if for only a short time.
The admiral turned to leave, but stopped. “How did you know how I got in?”
“Same way all my SEAL buddies enter, Admiral.” Sam shrugged.
The admiral raised a questioning brow.
“I planned for it,” he responded. He didn’t understand O’Riley’s chuckle but he was too happy to care.
After seven long years, he was in the Navy again.
Chapter 20
Ben pulled into her spot at Will and Rachel’s house and helped her out of her car. Any excuse that involved touching him was fine by her. He leaned into the backseat and grabbed up the picnic basket.
“Where’d you get the basket?”
He grinned. “The lady who loaned it to me is called Mom.”
Treeny laughed. “Ah. I think I’ve met her a time or two.”
“She said the same thing about you.”
“How does she feel about you and me?” She didn’t voice how important his answer was to her. But knowing Ben, figured he probably knew. They climbed out of the car and he locked the doors before handing her the keys.
“Her comments were, ‘Well, it’s about time,’ and ‘I’m surprised that girl hasn’t moved on to someone else by now,’ and ‘Finally, Ben, we thought you’d never ask her out.” He ran a hand down his face. “I’m thinking she’s happy.”
“She said all that?”
He rolled his eyes. “Actually, she said more, but I tuned it out.”
She laughed, as relief soared through her. “That’s okay, you repeated enough for me to get the gist. I was worried they’d be upset.” Then she wrapped her arms around Ben and squeezed him.
He snuck in a kiss before squeezing her back. “Why? They’ve known you practically forever. You can name all their children and grandchildren, which by the way, she said thanks for watching the kids at church on Wednesday night,” he glared at her, she shrugged, so he kept going, “Somehow you’ve become a surrogate kid in their eyes.”
“Their eyes?”
“My mom and the aunts. Well, my dad loves you too, and I’m sure the uncles do, but if you make the Morrison women test, you’re in.”
“I see.” Treeny preceded him up the stairs to her apartment.
“No, but you will this weekend. They’re all going to be at the lake. Helping me ‘move’.” Ben’s voice sounded resigned, and she turned laughing eyes on him. She couldn’t allow herself to actually laugh at him, but figured he could tell by her expression.
“It’s nice to be loved,” she quipped. He swatted her bottom and she laughed.
“You know, I don’t remember you being this bratty.” He stroked his chin.
She raised an eyebrow before melting against him. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said in her best husky, femme fatale voice. His eyes turned dark and she witnessed the instant he folded.
With a groan, he dropped the basket and pressed her even tighter to him. Being barely able to breathe didn’t bother her a bit. Treeny kissed him with all the feminine power she possessed, just to see if she could.
Because the man she kissed was Ben, her efforts proved far easier than she could have ever dreamed. He moaned, and she shuddered. She realized she couldn’t do this on a regular basis. They’d wind up in trouble before their relationship had a chance to grow.
Reluctantly she stepped away from him. He released her, as though he too realized they were treading on shaky ground. Staring up into his dark brown eyes, she wondered why they had waited so long. She was sorely tempted to ignore their beliefs about saving sex before marriage and that was bad. She wanted him, and she could tell he wanted her. But now was too soon.
Pete barked, and she turned to greet her pet. The pup made for Ben, wiggling in her little puppy way. He laughed and tussled with their dog while Treeny unlocked her front door. Then she retrieved the forgotten picnic basket, set the table, and placed the food there.
When she had everything ready, she called Ben and he washed his hands. Pete followed behind him, her black tail swaying happily. “I think you’ve got a fan,” Treeny remarked, smiling as Pete made a nuisance of herself.
“I guess.” Ben took a seat at the table. Pete sat patiently beside him. Treeny caught him grinning at the puppy.
They said the blessing then dug into the fried chicken, baked beans, biscuits, three bean salad, and fruit Ben had managed to scrounge up. The food tasted like home.
“Where did you find all this?” she asked, as she caught a drip of watermelon with her tongue.
“Mom.” His grin melted her heart even further.
“That lady deserves a trophy.”
He shrugged. “She’s a mom.”
“True. So they’re going to the lake?”
“From what I understand. What about Rachel and Will?”
“I don’t know if they’re going or not.” Treeny frowned. She should know this. “But the Max Morrison family and Mitch Monahan families will be there.”
Ben nodded as he bit into a biscuit dripping with homemade jam.
“I suppose you’d know that since you were over there today.”
He took another bite of the biscuit, but she saw his smile and shrug.
She was struck by the realization again that she wanted this man. Forever. But somewhere in the back of her mind, a clock ticked ominously in accompaniment to marching boots.
After packing Treeny’s car, Ben took the wheel again and drove them to Max and KC’s house, where the activity made things apparent they were also busy packing.
“Can we help?” Treeny asked as she slid out of the car. Ben approved of the length of skin revealed by the shorts she wore. She was a classy dresser, much like him, and her shorts weren’t short, but he still appreciated the view of her gorgeous, bare legs.
“Can you help? Oh, please.” KC begged and passed her daughter to him, and Ryan to Treeny.
Ryan led Treeny to the back yard where she soon had him pitching a soft ball to her. Apparently, he enjoyed throwing and catching a softball, and Treeny used to play, if Ben remembered correctly. And from the smoothness of her tosses, she hadn’t los
t her skills.
He stared down at Macy’s scrunched up face and started to bounce her. She looked mighty uncomfortable. “Hey, KC, when was the last time you changed this kid’s diaper?”
KC stopped and gazed into space. “You know, that might be the problem. Her diaper could be wet, will you do it?”
“Since I live here sometimes, I suppose I can, this time...”
She punched him on her way by and he laughed before finding the downstairs changing table. With so many cousins who had reproduced, he’d changed diapers before, just never for such a tiny baby.
But once he started the task, after setting everything out he thought he needed, Macy seemed to calm down. “Now remember, kid, I can’t feed you, so no yelling. I can change diapers but we don’t do the stinky ones.”
He didn’t deftly remove the old one and insert the new diaper, but he got the job done. Ben decided to avoid using any of the creams and powders, since he had no idea what to use and where. Macy gurgled up at him now, and he patted her precious little cheek.
“Let’s go see what Aunt Treeny and Ryan are doing. Does that sound like a good idea?” Macy stared up at him, and he sensed her stealing his heart again. If he felt this way about Max’s kids, he wondered how he’d feel about his own? Funny how he had never given kids much thought before. They were always just there, but now, now that he and Treeny were dating, the idea of babies took on a whole new meaning. He wondered about her thoughts on having kids.
Ryan and Treeny were still involved in their catch game, so Ben settled himself and Macy in the shade on the back patio. He liked Macy’s warm weight against him. She smelled like a baby and he even appreciated that. Ben wanted to share his observations with Treeny but she seemed as intent as Ryan in tossing the soft ball back and forth. Ryan had a good arm, he noticed.
His cell phone rang, and juggling Macy a bit, he finally managed to extract the device and answer. Without looking at the display. “Hello?”