Navy SEAL Protector

by Bonnie Vanak

  “Oh, good. We were in a rush and didn’t have time to stop.”

  The driver pulled away and Pete came over and hugged her. Tall and slender, with a shock of brown hair and a cowlick, he was a quiet man who deeply cared for Heather and Timmy. Shelby liked her brother-in-law. He worked hard, and kept Heather stable and happy.

  “So good to see you, Shelby. Can I take our luggage upstairs?” Pete asked.

  It could clutter her small living room, but they’d manage. “Sure. Just store it by the sofa. I’m afraid I don’t have much room, but we’ll make do.”

  He nodded. “Thanks for looking after Timmy for us, Shelby. You’re a lifesaver. I’ll never forget how much we owe you for this. Mind if I look in on him? I can’t wait to see him.”

  She smiled. Her brother-in-law was as thoughtful and pragmatic as Heather was forgetful. “Go ahead. He’s asleep in the bedroom on the right, down the hall.”

  As Pete took the two big suitcases upstairs, she turned back to her sister. “You hit the jackpot with him, Heather. And your son. He’s an amazing little boy. Loves it here. Heather, why didn’t you answer my texts?”

  Heather frowned and pulled a cell phone out of her pants pocket, and then groaned. “Oh, darn, Shelby. My phone died and I don’t have a charger. It’s packed. I never got your texts. I’m sorry, honey. I really am. It’s been so crazy since we arrived, and I got sick at the airport.”

  Irritation dissolved into sisterly worry. “The long flight must have been a bear. Are you all right?”

  “Fine, only queasy at times.”

  The glow on Heather’s face... It clicked. “You’re pregnant!”

  Beaming, Heather nodded. “Four months. You’re going to be an aunt again, Shelby. And Timmy will have a little brother or sister by this time next year. It’s why we’ve returned to the States. The contractor hiring Pete let us go, with the condition he finishes the work remotely. All they need are the plans now that the groundwork’s been laid.”

  Laughing, Shelby hugged her again, glad for her sister. Heather deserved this happiness, a family of her own and enough money to feel secure. She’d dreamed about it all the time while growing up.

  And what about you? a small voice whispered inside her. When will it be your turn?

  Soon. Now that Heather and Pete are home, it’s my turn to relax and let someone else take charge.

  “So what are you going to do now? Did you find a place yet in Nashville?”

  Heather’s eager expression changed. “Pete found a terrific job, with a good salary, in Seattle with a tech firm. They want him to start next month and meet the team he’ll be working with as soon as possible, so we’re headed out there.”

  Shelby’s heart sank to her stomach. “Seattle! That’s across the country. I don’t know if I can move that quickly.”

  “I’m sorry, Shelby. There won’t be room.” Heather twisted the wedding ring on her finger. “We rented a very small apartment, and with the baby coming, it’ll be really crammed. And I need to bond with Timmy again before the baby comes, so I want lots of alone time with him. And my mother-in-law is coming when the baby arrives to stay with us for at least two months. You understand...”

  Her sister’s words turned into babbling nonsense. Stricken, Shelby stared at her sister. When she finally surfaced for air, she said quietly, “You promised we’d all live together. You begged me to live with you, and you promised free rent until I could find a job. No matter where you ended up, Heather.”

  “I know, but things changed, you have to understand, Shelby. Why, you can find a job in Seattle after we’re settled there? I’m sure you could get a good job and a place of your own...and by then the baby will have arrived.”

  Tuning her out, Shelby stared at the seemingly endless rolling fields. Once more, she’d set aside her own needs for someone else, and once more, they had disappointed her.

  “Nick was right,” she murmured. “It’s never going to change.”

  Heather’s gaze sharpened. “Nick? That tomcat? He’s back here?”

  “Yes. He now owns the farm. Silas left it to him. Didn’t you read my emails?”

  Another flash of guilt in her sister’s eyes. Eyes so much like their mother’s. “I meant to, but we were busy packing everything and organizing to move back here. Everything happened so quickly.”

  “Ah. Is that why you stopped sending money for Timmy’s care?”

  This time, Heather wouldn’t meet her gaze. She worked the wedding ring so much it spun around her finger like a merry-go-round.

  “We needed every last penny for the move and buying a new car. Pete’s former roommate in Nashville found him a great deal on a barely used car to get us across the country, but the guy wanted cash only. And I figured with you living here rent-free, and Silas was always so good to us and treated us like his daughters...well, you could manage. I mean, Nick now owns the farm and they’ve always been rich.”

  More excuses. Heather never asked once how Shelby had been faring. How her life had been, or how she felt about seeing Nick again. Nor had she asked about the farm or what was happening there.

  It wouldn’t matter. She was upset with Heather, but her sister didn’t need to know how bad things were here. It was for the best that they take Timmy and get him away, to a place where arsonists didn’t burn barns and nearly kill little boys.

  “When we get settled in Seattle, I’ll pay back every last dime. I swear it, I mean...”

  Suddenly drained, she smiled. Heather was her only sister, and all the family she had left. “It’s okay. Come upstairs, and I’ll fix you something to eat.”

  “I’m sorry, Shelby, about the last-minute arrangements. We can find a motel in town.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re pregnant and Timmy’s here. I have fresh sheets on my bed, and it’s a queen. I can sleep on the sofa.”

  Shelby pasted a too-wide smile on her face as they trudged upstairs. She would let Heather and Pete have her bed. Because she’d always been the big sister who set aside her own needs to care for others.

  Old habits died hard.

  * * *

  Heather and Pete were taking Timmy and leaving today.

  Over breakfast the following morning she’d tried to process the news, but Shelby felt as if someone had smacked her with a two-by-four across the face. Now, as she watched Heather throw Timmy’s clothing into his suitcase, she tried to keep her equilibrium. Her world was tilting on its axis.

  Timmy was outside with his father, saying goodbye to Macaroni pony. Nick was with them. He’d shown up at the apartment after breakfast to greet Heather and Pete. Questions had lingered in his eyes, but he hadn’t asked anything, only agreed to escort them to the stables when Shelby asked.

  She sat on Timmy’s bed, clutching his one-eyed teddy bear. “I thought you were staying at least a week!” A week would give her time to say her last goodbyes to Timmy, whom she would miss dreadfully. A week would stave off the terrible loneliness swimming in her chest with the knowledge that her only sister was leaving and going far away.

  And she didn’t know when she’d ever see her again. How could she afford a plane ticket when she had no job, and barely two hundred dollars in her checking account?

  “We have to get to Nashville by noon because the guy selling the car wants to sell it on his lunch break. He’s got another buyer if we fail to show up.” Heather tossed Timmy’s Spider-Man underwear and white T-shirts into the case.

  As she went to shut the lid, Shelby scooped up the plastic bulldozer—Timmy’s favorite. “You have to take this. He’ll be asking for it.”

  Heather dumped the toy into the suitcase. Her sister glanced at the trucks, cars and blocks littering the floor of the postage-sized bedroom.

  “We don’t have room for all those, so can you pack and ship them to us in Seat
tle?”

  “Sure,” Shelby said dully.

  Clinging to the teddy bear as if it was her stuffed animal that kept away the nightmares, Shelby followed her sister down the stairs. Heather insisted on carrying Timmy’s case.

  In front of the garage a car sat, its engine running. Heather handed the suitcase to the driver. “Here’s the last one.”

  Nick, Pete and Timmy walked up the driveway. Timmy ran to the car and turned to his father with a frown. “Daddy, you and Mama going away again?”

  Pete squatted down, looking at his son. “Yes, Timmy, but you’re going with us. We’re never going to leave you again.”

  Tears spilling down her cheeks, Heather hugged Shelby tight. “It’s best if we leave right away,” she said, sniffling. “I love you, Shelby. Thank you for everything.”

  Openly crying now, Heather climbed into the back seat, leaving her husband with Timmy to say goodbye to Shelby.

  Heather never had been able to tolerate a scene when their parents fought, and didn’t like drama any more now.

  Nick squatted down and hugged Timmy. “Goodbye, sport. Don’t forget what I told you.”

  Nick shook hands with Pete. “Good luck.” With a meaningful look at Shelby, he jerked a thumb at the house. “I have a conference call with the mayor if you need me. Dan and Felicity and the kids are away and Jake’s still in Nashville, seeing about a new tractor.”

  Her heart beat faster as Nick walked away. Now came the hardest thing of all. How could she say goodbye to this little boy who had captured her heart a year ago, who had been her entire world for thirteen months? She had rearranged her schedule, her priorities, her life around him.

  He was the first one she saw in the morning and the last one at night, for she always checked on him before going to bed.

  I’m going to miss you so much. Shelby bit her lower lip, struggling to control her emotions.

  Bending down, she hugged Timmy. “Goodbye, sport. I’ll take good care of Macaroni pony for you.”

  A small frown puckered Timmy’s face. “You’re not going with us, Aunt Shelby?”

  “I can’t. But I’ll come visit.” Someday. Somehow. I don’t care where you are, I’ll come visit, when I can.

  She started to walk away, but Timmy pulled free of his father. “No! No! Please, Aunt Shelby. Don’t leave me, don’t leave me!”

  Pete grabbed his son’s hand. “We have to go, Timmy,” he said firmly.

  Struggling to be free, Timmy wailed, kicked and screamed.

  She rushed to him, kissed his forehead. “It’s okay, sport. You belong with your mama and daddy. They’re going to take you to a wonderful new place, and you’ll have lots of new adventures. They love you so very much and they’re going to take good care of you.”

  Tears clung to his long lashes. “But I won’t have you and Macaroni pony. And Nick won’t be there to keep me safe or play Legos with me.”

  Throat closing with emotion, she brushed back his hair. Stubborn cowlick, just like his daddy. “You have your daddy now, honey. He missed you so very much and he’ll keep you safe. And Mama will read you night-night stories and tuck you in, and be there when you get home from school each day. They’re your family. Please, you have to go with them now. It’s going to be okay.”

  She handed him the teddy. He smiled through his tears.

  “Here’s Teddy. Hug him tight and wish him good-night and I’ll hear it. Teddy is a good messenger.”

  Timmy hugged the bear tight. “I’ll tell him. But will you call me and tell me a night-night story over the phone?” he asked, his lower lip jutting out.

  Shelby blinked hard to keep the tears at bay. She looked at Heather, who was openly crying. “Your mama will read you a night-night story, but I promise I’ll call.”

  She kissed his forehead again. “Now be a big boy, just like I asked, and go with Mama and Daddy.”

  “Come on, Timmy,” Pete said gently. He picked his son into his arms, and mouthed thank you to Shelby.

  He buckled Timmy into the booster seat, and then sat in front beside the driver.

  As the car drove away in a cloud of dust, Shelby waved hard until she thought her arm would break. What the heck, she thought dully. It can’t hurt any worse than my heart right now.

  Chapter 15

  Nick worried about Shelby.

  All the next day she avoided him, insisting she had the books to balance and bills to pay. He left her alone until dinnertime. He knew what it was like to say goodbye and struggle to keep your emotions in check.

  At dinner, she’d vanished. He ate leftovers Felicity had in the fridge, and then went to find her. There was only one place Shelby would go. He went outside into the clear, starry night, buttoning his jacket. Damn cold out. A wicked cold front was sweeping across the valley. He had to find Shelby before she froze.

  The ATV was inside the four-car garage below Shelby’s apartment. Giving silent thanks Dan had left the two ATVs there, and not in the barn that had burned down, he strode into the garage, found the keys in the ignition of one vehicle and started it up.

  As he headed out along the north trail leading to Henry’s cabin, thoughts spiraled in his head. Awfully smart of Dan to garage the very pricey ATVs. But why the garage? In the past, the machines, along with the tractor, were housed in the barn. They used them to get to the pumpkin garden, and the fields where they grew hay.

  Dan also had mentioned taking his boys on the machines for joyrides.

  Was Dan the arsonist who burned down the barn? Maybe his cousin was tired of the responsibility, and resented Nick for inheriting everything after all the years Dan had worked his ass off for Silas.

  But if Nick sold the ranch, what would Dan get?

  Dan had a very good reason for forcing Nick to sell, and leave. He wished he could trust his cousin.

  Jake, on the other hand, seemed ready to cut his losses and move on. He’d mentioned something about moving to Kentucky, getting a job as an assistant trainer at a reputable stable known for producing Derby winners.

  Seemed like everyone was ready to move on. Except Shelby. She was planted here as surely as the magnolia tree by the garage. Sturdy and resilient.

  Ruminating over what she must be feeling, he navigated past the thick trees, the headlights of the vehicle picking out the dirt trail head of him. Cold air whipped his cheeks as he drove, careful not to speed. This trail had been groomed, but with the barn incident, anything could lurk here.

  When the cabin finally came into sight, he saw a glow in the windows. Someone was there, and had lit a fire. Nick parked the vehicle at the slope of the hill, climbed off and walked on the woodchip path to the front door. Maybe she didn’t want company, but tonight, he wouldn’t give her a choice.

  Lightly tapping on the front door, he waited a minute and then opened it.

  On a blue wool blanket, Shelby sat before the brick hearth of the fireplace, where a small fire crackled. She looked so forlorn and woebegone, he wanted to gather her into his arms and promise her no one would ever hurt her again. But he couldn’t.

  Nick softly closed the door, his boot heels clicking against the hardwood floor as he approached. Damn, it was cold. He put more logs on the fire, built up the flames and then tugged off his boots and socks and set them before the now roaring fire. Only then did he join her on the blanket.

  By the glow of the flames, he could clearly see the tear tracks on her cheeks. Gently, he wiped one away with the pad of his thumb.

  Shelby sniffled. Nick said nothing, but held out his arms, and she went into his embrace. He stroked her hair, wishing he could provide more comfort, wishing her sister hadn’t arrived when she did and hurt Shelby. She was one tough woman, and it twisted him up inside to see her this broken.

  He knew what it was like to have family reject you,
no matter how hard you worked at getting their approval. Nick sighed. Silas and Heather were worlds apart in personality and temperament, but for one thing. They never appreciated those closest to them, the ones who would give up everything to make them happy. They were too blind when it came to everything except their own lives.

  Heather still had time to change. For Shelby’s sake, he hoped the hell she would, before it was too late, like it had been with Silas and him.

  Giving another heartbreaking sniffle, she buried her head against his shoulder, wetting the checked flannel fabric of his shirt. “What are you doing here, Nick?”

  “Watching after you. All your life you’ve taken care of everyone else. Your folks, sister, Silas, my family, Timmy, even me. I reckon it’s time someone looked after you for a change.”

  She gave another heartbreaking sniffle. “He’s gone, Nick. My Timmy. He was mine for a whole year, and now I don’t know when I’ll see him again. Everything’s changed. I was supposed to go with them. Heather, Pete and Timmy are all I have left.”

  Nick kissed the top of her head. “No, they’re not. You’ve got me, Sweet Pea. I’m not blood, but I’m here for you.”

  He couldn’t help it. Nick drew back and stared into those wet emerald eyes, teardrops clinging to her dark lashes. Gently, he kissed away a salty droplet trickling down her cheek. Over and over he delivered tiny kisses to her face, letting her know he did care.

  Shelby slid her arms around his neck, and caressed his nape. Man, the things she did to him...he should stop now, before this went too far. Ten years ago, he’d convinced himself he’d be heading into hell in a handbasket if he followed through on his passion for Shelby.

  Drawing away, he gazed into her eyes and realized he didn’t want to stop.

  “Nick, I’m not sixteen anymore.” She traced a line over his mouth. “I want you. Do you want me?”

  Taking her hand, he slid it down to the hardness in his jeans. Her gaze grew languorous with desire.

  “There’s no bed big enough for what I want to do to you,” he murmured. “And what I want to do to you now is barely legal.”