Lillian was a beautiful woman, but my eyes glued themselves to Daniel—his smiling face, his now damp shirt clinging to his muscular chest, the flushed cheeks, the sweat that beaded onhis forehead, upper lip, and forearms. He fucking glowed with happiness and excitement.
I loved the song before today, but now, his laughing and dancing will live in my fucking head forever. I loved and hated every damn minute. He looked gorgeous, and as nice as Lillian seemed, I hated her. Fucking loathed her. I wanted to be the one dancing with him, the one he smiled at and laughed with.
Not long after they’d worn themselves out, the bartenders yelled, “Last call.”
“Y’all are all welcome back at the house. There’s plenty of room,” Walker’s offer was interrupted by the bartender from earlier.
She handed over my ID and credit card with the slip for me to sign, but the amount was nowhere near what I expected.
“Ma’am…”
She patted my shoulder. “A thank you from the staff for what y’all have done already, and for what’s coming. Take care of yourselves and come home safe.”
Looking around the table, resignation, worry, and a bit of anticipation filled the faces looking back at me. I signed the slip, and the room filled with ringing cell phones.
CHAPTER 16
DANIEL
On the sidewalk outside,Julie said goodbye to her husband, who’d barely let her out of his arms the entire night. The woman was the picture-perfect military spouse—steadfast, understanding, encouraging.
“Take care of yourself. Let me know where you land if possible,” she said.
Foster nodded, but said nothing. He kissed her deeply, then dropped his forehead to hers. “I love you. I wish you’d go home to Texas, but I know you won’t. You and Lillian take care of each other. Remember, you’re not Superwoman. Hire a nanny, or a housekeeper, or whatever you need, or call in Mama and Daddy if you prefer. Donotwear yourself thin. I mean it, Jules.”
Julie nodded. “I promise. Somehow I think I’ve got the easy job, though, even with eight-week-old twins adding two more to the three we already had under five. You watch your six, and bring your sexy ass back to us.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, giving her another deep kiss.
Walker hugged his brothers, wrapped his arm around Julie, and walked her away with Lillian in the lead.
“Let’s go, boys,” Foster said, smacking his brother on the back and pushing him toward the parking lot.
We split ourselves between the cars and trucks the team arrived in, making sure the guys who’d been drinking weren’t driving, and headed to base.
The trip was a quiet one. Foster and Parker sat up front with Xander and me in the back of the quad cab truck. I’m sure everyone’s mind was on the coming deployment and invasion, but for me, the man sitting beside me took center stage.
I worried.
About everything.
How he’d react when the bullets really started flying.
How we’d deal with being on ops together.
If there was anything to deal with.
Just doing the job.
Keeping the team safe.
Parker looked at me, then over his shoulder at Alex. “From this moment forward, you have three rules, Alex: front sight focus, stick close to your battle buddy, and watch your six and his. Got it?”
Alex nodded.
“I know you’re the strong, silent type, but I need words.”
“I got it, Parker.”
