Chapter Four #3
Mac ignored Grant and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. He looked at the boys. “Your mom works for Lumi?”
The boys cracked up laughing.
“No, Mom doesn’t work for Lumi. She owns Lumi,” Tyler stated, looking like a proud son.
Mac’s eyes widened. “Your mom owns Lumi?”
Trevor grinned and nodded. “Yup. People love her stuff.”
“What’s Lumi?” Grant asked, feeling like he was missing something very important.
Mac looked at him. “Lumi is one of the top jewelry design companies in the world. Jessie commissioned our wedding bands through them. Amelie must be the designer that Jessie is meeting with this afternoon.”
Grant chuckled as he ran his hand through his hair.
Apparently, fate wasn’t subtle at all. For twelve years, he had searched for Amelie, convinced that if he ever found her again, he would tell her everything he hadn’t gotten the chance to say.
Now, somehow, she was here. Not halfway across the world.
Not hidden behind another dead end. And if life was offering him a second chance at the woman he had never stopped loving, there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell he was going to waste it.
He looked at his sons. God, even now, those words still felt incredible. His sons. As he took them in, a thought occurred to him—one that was probably equal parts reckless and brilliant.
A grin slowly spread across his face as he leaned back in his chair.
“Okay, here me out. Hypothetically speaking, if a guy had spent the last twelve years hopelessly in love with your mom and suddenly found himself with a second chance, do you think the two of you would be willing to help him out?”
Trevor looked at Grant. “With all due respect, if you’ve both been in love with each other for twelve years, which it sounds like you have. I don’t think we’re dealing with a romance problem. I think we’re dealing with a communication problem.”
For a moment, Grant could only stare at him. In all his years as a SEAL, he had been shot at, blown up, chased through hostile territory, and interrogated by people who wanted him dead. Somehow, none of those experiences had prepared him for being psychologically evaluated by a twelve-year-old.
To make matters worse, the rest of the table seemed to think this was the funniest thing they had heard all week.
Mac grabbed his drink and took a long sip, clearly using it as an excuse to hide the grin threatening to break across his face.
Nico, meanwhile, completely lost the battle.
He was laughing his ass off, while Rafe slapped the table and pointed at Grant as if the boys had just delivered the greatest comeback in recorded history.
“The kid’s got a point,” Mac finally said, still trying to hold back his laughter.
Grant dragged a hand down his face and looked at his sons. “You know, most kids spend their time playing video games, not diagnosing your parents’ relationship issues.”
Tyler shrugged. “We do that too.”
Grant grinned as he shook his head. God help him, he thought to himself.
Looking between the boys, he leaned forward slightly. “So, can I count on you boys for this mission?”
“On one condition,” Tyler said, and Grant straightened up.
“You promise not to break her heart again,” Trevor finished.
Grant swallowed hard. The words hit harder than any accusation ever could because they weren’t spoken with anger. They were spoken with the quiet protectiveness of two boys who loved their mother more than anything and wanted to make sure she wouldn’t get hurt.
“Boys, I loved your mom then. And I love her now. There are things that she and I definitely need to talk about. And if she gives me another chance, I can promise you that I’ll spend every day making sure she knows it.”
They looked at each other again. But this wasn’t one of their normal looks, either. This one seemed full of emotion, but Grant could see the excitement there.
“We’ve been waiting twelve years for this mission,” Tyler said.
Trevor nodded in agreement. “Oh, we’re definitely in.”
Mac smiled and gestured toward himself, Nico, and Rafe. “Count us in, too.”
Grant looked over. “Seriously?” he asked.
Nico grinned. “Absolutely.”
Rafe nodded. “We’ve listened to you talk about this woman for over a decade. At this point, we’re emotionally invested.”
Grant chuckled. “Thanks, guys.”
“Don’t mention it,” Mac said.
Trevor’s eyes widened as he looked between the three men.
“Wait. You’re joining the mission?”
Mac looked offended. “Kid, we’re former Navy SEALs. We don’t leave one of our own hanging.”
Nico nodded. “SEALs stick together. Always.”
Rafe pointed at Grant. “Besides, somebody has to make sure Romeo here doesn’t screw it up.”
“I'm starting to like these guys,” Tyler said, laughing.
Grant laughed, though his heart felt full. Not that he would admit that to the guys, because they would roast him.
So, for the next hour, a former Navy SEAL, his two newly discovered sons, and three highly entertained teammates began planning what might very well become the most important mission of Grant Carter's life.