Page 73 of Her Guarded Hero

“Okay, I won’t call them the Scooby Gang.”

“That’d be for the best. Let’s go face the hoard.”

13

The Scooby Gang, Lindy and Uncle Tate were the first heads to turn when the kitchen door silently opened. It must be a training thing. She saw there was a distinct delineation in the room, ‘The Professionals’ and the others. She couldn’t help but grin, because Brody hadn’t made the cut. Uncle Tate, Hunter, Dex and Lindy were standing in the farthest corner from the big bay window. She approved of the way that Hunter and Dex immediately zeroed in on Dalton. They were good friends to her man.

Gunnar, meanwhile, had been waiting by the kitchen door.

“Everything good?” He asked as he looked her up and down. He broke into a bright smile. “Oh yeah, everything’s really good.” Gunnar swept her into a huge hug, careful of her tummy. She knew her grandfather was probably grinning like a loon at Dalton, over her head.

“So, you’re here to stay?” he asked Dalton.

Damn.

They hadn’t discussed logistics.

“First thing is stopping whoever is behind the attempts on Aurora’s life. Then Aurora and I need to talk about our future. But, rest assured, it will be together. Nothing will ever tear me away from your granddaughter. Nothing.” Aurora felt like a rock was lifted off her shoulders, one that she hadn’t even realized was there.

Gunnar gave her one last squeeze, then released her to Dalton’s embrace.

“Let’s get you sitting down,” Dalton said as he guided her to the sofa.

“You know I’m not an invalid, right?” she teased her Irish hero.

“I know that you looked like you were going to fall over only forty-five minutes ago, so humor me. Anyway, you’re the leading lady so people need to congregate around you.”

“Great,” she muttered. In an ‘Eagle Scout Gentleman’ fashion, he settled her onto the couch. When he remained standing, she yanked on his hand.

“Hmmm?”

“If I’m the leading lady, your butt is seated next to mine,” she said sotto voice.

He looked ready to protest, then she smoothed her hand over her tummy and raised her eyebrow. He immediately sat down beside her. She figured she had about three days where she could pull this crap, so she’d take advantage while she could. Dalton put his arm around her and kissed her temple.

“It’s going to be all right, Sunshine.”

Somehow, Dalton performed magic, because the youngest, tallest and broadest SEAL suddenly crouched down in front of them. He looked a little scary, until a dazzling white smile illuminated his face.

“I don’t know if you remember my name,” he started.

“Hunter Diaz,” Aurora smiled back.

“That’s me. I’ve known Dalton since we attended BUD/S together. He was an old man and needed a younger friend to help him through.”

Dalton snorted.

“I wanted to say how happy I am to finally meet you. Dalton has been a sorry S.O.B. to work with these last five months. So far Dex and I are the only representatives of Black Dawn, but I want you to know that if we need more manpower, you’ve got more of our teammates chomping at the bit to come up and help sort things out.”

Aurora stared at him. He was serious. How could that be? A team of Navy SEAL’s coming up to help her for her car being driven off the road?

“But isn’t that out of your scope of operation?” she asked.

“Aurora, SEALs never operate in an official capacity on American soil, so we’re just here on a little R&R here in Lake Tahoe,” Dex said as he ambled over. “Hunter’s going to lose money at the penny slots, and I’m going to win money at the craps table.” Dex said with a wicked twinkle in his eye.

“If you tell anybody that I play the penny slots we’re going to have a serious talk outside the mess hall,” Hunter said as he stood up and towered over Dex.

“Yep, penny slots. Sorry man, I call ‘em like I see ‘em.”