by Hart, Lea
“Give me a little time to figure things out, and I will let you know.”
“Whatever you want man, I’m happy to see you healthy and in one piece.” He tugged his brother in for a hug and thumped him hard on the back.
She watched the two brothers and noticed how alike they looked and acted. “How many of you are there?”
“There are four of us, and we have each served in a different branch of the military. Sean has been with the Marines for thirteen years, Brett is an Air Force pilot and the youngest Brandon is a Ranger.”
“Your poor Mom! She’s had to worry about each and every one of you for all of these years. She must be a saint or a heavy drinker.”
Max laughed, “She is a little bit of both. Actually she’s a true steel magnolia. Pretty on the outside and made of forged steel on the inside. She’s not someone you want to tangle with. Our Dad would be the first person to tell you that too.”
“I would like to meet her someday, I bet she has a million stories to tell.” Rory gathered her things and her purse together. “I’m going to get out of your way and let you two catch up. I’ll head over to Birdie’s house and check up on her. Mark went wheels up today and I think she could use a friend and a bottle of wine.”
“I will drive you over, just give me a minute.”
“No way. I’m fine on my own, you stay and catch up.”
“How are you going to get there? Your car is at your house.”
“I’m going to drive your car. You can catch a ride with your brother.”
Max turned to his brother, “Did you ever meet Mark?”
“I think I may have, when you were on a two day layover in Germany.”
“I think that’s right. Mark is engaged to Rory’s best friend. That’s how we met. Birdie was worried about her and Mark suggested that she give me a call.”
“Is this the small world of SEALS again?”
“It is. Whatever you need is only one phone call away. Just call a brother and he can tell you where to go.”
“Interesting! I didn’t know you could make a call for a girlfriend.”
Rory finally tuned into the conversation, “I’m not a dial up girlfriend. That’s rude - I’m not even sure I am one. I don’t have boyfriends – I have a strict no-boyfriend policy.”
Max looked at his brother with a scowl, “Thanks, I appreciate your help.”
Sean held up his hands in defense, “I am innocent.”
Rory adjusted her purse on her shoulder, “I’m going to Birdie’s house. You all are starting to make me crazy. I’m not saying that in a good way…. either. I need a break, so I’m going to my friend’s house and drink and enjoy some much needed estrogen.”
“The only reason I’m considering this is because no one will look for you in my car. Also, I have a team at Birdie’s house installing a security system. I will track you until you arrive and then I’ll have one of the guys check in with me.”
“That is very over protective of you and slightly controlling. I’m going to let it go for now considering you are trying to protect me from a stalker. We may have to revisit it after you catch the guy.” As she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek he brought her closer and kissed her for real.
“Jeez guys, give me a break. I’ve been OCONUS for almost nine months. I don’t need to see that. Give me a break.”
Rory pulled back, “It was his fault. I’m completely innocent.”
Sean laughed, “Women like you have never been innocent. You’re like a package of C4. We just have to make sure you don’t detonate and blow us up.”
“I have no idea what you just said, but if it’s a compliment, I accept. If it’s not, then I am going to remember that when it comes time to buy you a present.”
She turned and walked out of the office and behaved like she was Queen Elizabeth, except with more dignity. “When are you going to marry her? Because if you don’t, then I may have to.”
“I’m going to marry her as soon as I can talk her into it. I have only known her three days though, so it make take me a while. I think I will have it locked down by next week.”
“Get on it bro, you don’t want a woman like that to slip through your fingers.”
Max walked out and followed Rory. He wanted to make sure she got to the car safely. He didn’t like the idea of letting her go off by herself, but he had her fully chipped. He knew he could keep an eye on her, no matter where she ended up.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Rory pulled in front of Birdie’s flower shop and heard the car phone ring, and it startled her. Pushing the button, she answered hesitantly. “Hello, this is Max’s car, Rory speaking”
“Baby, why are you stopped? You’re not at Birdie’s house yet.”
“Ok, this is very creepy. I don’t want to know how you know this. I’m picking Birdie up from the shop, and then we’re going to get something for dinner.”
“I’m going to have one of the guys come down and stay with you until you’re ready to go to the house. The only way I agreed to this, is if you were going from point A to point B. No stopping in between.”
“I feel like I’m having a conversation with my parents. I don’t care for it at all.”
“I’m not interested if you like it or not. I am interested in keeping you safe. Baby, if I don’t have eyes on you, I get real uncomfortable.”
“God forbid you should be uncomfortable. What about me?”
“Sweetheart, please give me a break. I just want to keep you safe.”
“Why didn’t you just say that? Why do you have to be so controlling?”
“Said the pot to the kettle. One of my guys is going to come down and stay with you until you go to Birdie’s house.”
“Fine.”
“When you say fine, you don’t actually mean fine… right? This is some kind of secret language that I don’t know about.”
“Pretty much. Live and learn Max… live and learn.” She disconnected the call and walked into Birdie’s shop. “I’m here and we are drinking martinis tonight.”
Birdie came out from the back, “From your mouth to god’s ears. What kind are we going to make?”
They hugged and held hands just like when they were in second grade. Not much has changed since then, except they drank martinis and ate sushi instead of Oreos and milk. “Max is sending someone over to keep an eye on us until we get to your house. He is paranoid and overprotective and is starting to bug me.”
“Unfortunately, I have no words of solace. I think this is how they’re made. The good comes with the annoying. The idea of someone being after you is probably making him crazy. If he could put you in a bubble to protect you, he probably would.”
“I’m beginning to learn that. I appreciate what he’s doing along with his team, but it’s overwhelming. I went from complete freedom to no freedom. Can I do anything to help clean up before we go?”
“No, I’m done. Let’s go home and make martinis.” The bells above the door jingled as a big block of a man walked in. “Hi Chris, we’re almost ready to go.”
He nodded and waited patiently. He was as wide as he was tall and always had a serious expression. Birdie liked to see if she could make him smile. So far she’d been completely unsuccessful. “Chris, are you going to have a martini with us tonight?”
“No ma’am, I’m on duty.”
“When do you get off?”
“When the boss says so.”
“Ok, maybe next time.”
He nodded as if it was a possibility. Which they both knew wasn’t true. Chris had been under Mark and Max’s command at one point in his career, and he respected the hell out of both men. He didn’t want to have to answer to them if anything happened to the women. That was never going to be a conversation he was willing to have.
Rory shrugged, “It’s you and me Birdie.” She flipped Chris the keys, “We’re going to walk. Would you mind taking Max’s truck back to Birdie’s house?”
“I will follow behind you and m
eet you there.”
True to his word, he drove slowly behind Rory and Birdie as they walked home. Once they arrived, he checked in with Max and confirmed the package was secure. He watched the ladies go in, and wondered what they were in for. Those two seemed like they were up to trouble. He would be a lot more comfortable if he was in a firefight with a five to one ratio. He would prefer to be surrounded by the bad guys than being responsible for these two.
Birdie walked in and counted the number of men in her house and did a quick calculation. She called up her favorite Italian restaurant and ordered enough for everyone. Mark had taught her how much a man could eat, and she felt confident there would be enough for everyone.
Rory went upstairs, pulled out an extra set of clothes that she kept at the house and changed. She was ready to get comfortable and enjoy some much needed girl time. Well, girl time with five large men in the house.
Rory met Birdie in the kitchen, and they proceeded to mix up a batch of their favorite martinis. Derick was standing by the front door talking to one of the guys and turned around as Birdie approached. His friend Mark was a lucky son of bitch - he wished he’d met Birdie first. The woman was sweet and sexy and smart. In his experience, that was a rare combination. “Derick, we’re going to be in the backyard. When the food is delivered can you sign for it and give me a wave? I have ordered enough for everyone and I thought we could eat in the backyard.”
“Sure Birdie, I will take care of it.”
She squeezed his arm and thanked him. “Don’t pay attention to the cackling in the back yard, it’s completely normal.”
Rory had their drinks arranged on a tray and added some snacks to go with it. They walked back to the big sycamore tree and sat in the lounge chairs under the lanterns. Rory proceeded to pour, shake and garnish two perfect martinis. Handing one to Birdie, they both relaxed and took their first sip and sighed. “How are you doing?”
“I’m holding it together. I knew Mark was going to be called this week. I had a feeling and I was right. The dreaded wheels up call came at 5:00 this morning. I think he was ready though, he likes his job, as crazy at that seems. I only had enough time to fall in love and give him my heart. It wasn’t enough time to prepare for this.”
Rory held on to her hand, “Whatever you need, I’m here.”
“I think you’ve said that to me since we were eight or nine. It still makes me feel better.” They sat back and enjoyed the hot weather and drank their martinis. They had been best friends for over twenty years, and sometimes they just needed to sit together to feel better. “So tell me about Max…. have you fallen for him yet?”
She sat up and looked very distressed, “I may have. How lousy is that?”
“Why is it lousy? He’s a good man and I know Mark likes and respects him.”
“I think if I fall for him… that will be it. There will never be another. I think he’s that sort of man. You know how I feel about relationships - I don’t want one.” Taking a healthy sip of her drink, she laid back and wondered how to get her old life back. “If I was going to fall for someone, it would be him. But, I’m not going to do it. Relationships never turn out well for me.”
“Max may be different from the men you’ve dated before.”
“Remember how I always thought that about each guy I dated, and it was never true? They all behaved the same.”
“I think the men that join the Teams are different. Think about giving him a chance.”
“I can’t think about it now. I gave notice to Bob last night, and I will soon be officially unemployed.”
“How do you feel?”
“I feel relieved. I’m ready to make a new life. This stalker has allowed me to reassess.”
“I think this is a good thing, you never really liked your job. You were just good at it.”
“Exactly. Tell me about what kind of man becomes a SEAL? I feel like I have fallen down the rabbit hole and I don’t speak the language.”
“How long do you have? Out of the whole population there are like 3000 SEALs. Think of the percentage of the total population that represents. Mark, Max and all the men from the Teams are elite warriors entrusted with ensuring the safety of the country. They have demonstrated trustworthiness a million times over in their careers. Mark told me there is no better friend and no worse enemy than a SEAL.”
“Why did you fall for Mark so quickly? I’ve never seen you make a decision so fast.”
“He ran at me full speed. That’s the best way that I can describe it. He was a grown man who knew his mind and his heart and what he wanted. I never had a chance to resist him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think people hesitate when they start dating and are constantly weighing their options. Waiting to see if there’s a better deal out there. Mark never waited, not for one second. I thought I was the one who was interested, but he was more interested. It felt like he’d been waiting for me to show up. Once I did he wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass. It might be about how they live their lives, or the type of men they are. It could simply be that they’re men and not boys. We have no idea what their job entails. All we know is that they put their life on the line every day they are deployed. I’m guessing it makes you appreciate the brevity of life. Don’t waste a minute or an opportunity, because it may never happen again.”
“It’s starting to make sense. Max is behaving the same way. I’ve never experienced it before and it’s overwhelming. My life is overwhelming, and you know I don’t like that at all. I like my quiet, regular life. I have none of that right now. All I have is this man who told me he’s leaning in.”
“The thing that Mark did in the beginning was state his intentions clearly and forcefully and he kept stating them until I believed him. Somehow that allowed me to open myself up to him…. and I fell in love with him. Once I allowed myself to fall for him, my desire for him became all encompassing. I want his heart, soul, words, body and thoughts. It feels like it will never be enough with him.”
Rory sat up and poured them each another martini. “I never thought either one of us would end up with an alpha male. We are both bossy and opinionated and like to be in charge. Is this the universe’s joke on us?”
“Probably, good thing they’re so good looking and sexy. Otherwise it would never work out. Mark told me that he’s going to keep me in a sex coma, so that I can’t become irritated with him. So far it’s worked. That man has all kinds of magic and I feel lucky that he’s willing to share it with me.”
“I noticed at your party how he looked at you and I believe the man is all in. He looks like what he is - a hard man with an uncompromising nature. Yet when he looks at you, it’s easy to tell that he would do anything you asked. He would give you the world.”
“Oh Rory… he has to come home to me. This is my first deployment and I have to stay strong.”
“You will. I will do anything to help you through this.”
***
Derick stood at the French doors looking out over the backyard. “Yes Max, they’re probably getting drunk. They have their heads together and are talking a mile a minute. No, I don’t know what they’re saying. They’re speaking in Italian with shouts coming at strange intervals. No, you know languages were never my thing. I think they’ve had a couple of martinis, but I can’t be sure. Yes, Birdie ordered food and it just arrived. No, I’m not going to suggest they slow down. You get your sorry ass down here and take over. I’m not getting in the middle of that. Give me a dozen tangos and I am fine, but I’m not going to suggest they slow down.”
Derick waved to Birdie, “Foods here. Come and eat.”
They waved at him and didn’t move - they just kept talking. How could you have that much to talk about? Rory poured them another drink and they both got up and made their way to the table.
Derick went out and met them half way. They were laughing so hard that they were weaving as they made their way over. Max was going to shit kittens and there was nothing
he could do. “OK ladies, time to eat.”
They both looked at each other and started laughing hysterically. It was going to be a long night and he wished Max would hurry up and get here.
***
Max and Sean walked into Birdie’s house and it was relatively quiet. It was the sort of quiet that made him nervous. They made their way to the back and the volume rose by about 100%. They stepped into the patio and watched the shenanigans that Birdie and Rory had started. He heard Sean laughing in his ear as they watched Birdie trying to get the men’s attention.
Five of his best men were sitting at Birdie’s table eating and laughing. Birdie was apparently a closet matchmaker, and was making it her mission to match up the men. She had a huge piece of paper propped up with diagrams indicating potential matches. Rory was directing the whole thing from the head of the table and was taking her charting duties very seriously. When the girls were not deep in consultation, they were laughing their heads off.
Rory stood at the head of the table, and clapped her hands to try and gain every one’s attention. “I think we can all agree that we have two very real possibilities for David and Ed. I expect the rest of you to support them in their efforts to ask these ladies out. Let’s move on to Chris.” The whole table groaned. “This isn’t an impossible task. I would think a bunch of SEALs wouldn’t shy away from a challenge. But, maybe I am wrong. Apparently it’s up to the woman to solve this…. as usual.”
Max watched Birdie and Rory consult and then they started presenting their candidates to Chris and the rest of the men. It was like watching a demented version of a dating game. “So this is what happens when I’m not around.”
Chris popped up, “Thank god you’re here. It’s about to get ugly. Ladies thanks for dinner, and all the entertainment. But, there is somewhere that I have to be.”
As he made a hasty exit, Birdie called out to him. “You can run but you can’t hide. I’m going to find you the perfect woman and then I expect to be made god mother of your first child.”