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His team had come to get him.

Come to get them.

The decision in his head and his heart to leave the Marines?

He’d have to have a really good talk with Mari when they were on dry land, but he had the feeling that she’d feel the same way that he did.

These men weren’t just friends.

They were his team.

They were… family.

FOURTEEN

BUCK

They stayed until the last rescued resident had been evaluated at the scene and released. It was only then that he felt like he could breathe.

When he turned to look at Mari he wasn’t prepared for the emotion he saw shining in her eyes.

She looked like he’d hung the moon in the sky.

Her eyes watering and her smile wavering.

As soon as he opened his arms to her, she flung herself against him.

He caught her easily and held her tight to his chest.

There was still a mist of rain falling over them, but he couldn’t care about that.

He felt… alive.

His body vibrating like a live wire.

Mari drove them back to his place, even though they were both exhausted, he was shaking with relief.

They didn’t say a word to each other on the drive, but he felt her hand reach for his about halfway there and they finished the ride holding hands.

Earlier in his life, he might have thought the gesture was silly or… maybe even juvenile, but now, he recognized it for what it was.

Love.

Sharing warmth and support.

A gentle and enduring reminder that they were both alive to share a moment like that together.

The moment things changed for him was when they pulled into his carport.

He looked over and saw that she was wearing a pair of leggings that looked like a second skin on her body.

Part of the reason it did was the fact that they were still wet from the rain.

It was a simple thing. Mundane even.

But it brought back a reminder of what they’d just been through.

She got out of the car first, giving him a view of the dark pink leggings wrapped around her body.