Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
As MacGyver stood in front of a class full of seventh-grade boys and girls, he was still thinking about last weekend. Like he had been for days now. He hadn’t expected Addison to curl up against him when he’d come to bed after the get-together at Wolf and Caroline’s house. The day had gone so well, and he’d felt good about where he and Addy stood. But when she’d wrapped her arm around him and sighed in contentment, it was all he could do not to roll over until she was tucked beneath him.
He wanted her. In all the ways that a man wanted his wife. She was an amazing mother, a hard worker, kind, compassionate, and sexy as all get-out. He was half hard every time he was around her now, which was a lot. It was getting difficult to hide his constant erection, but the last thing he wanted to do was put her off or pressure her into doing something she wasn’t ready for.
Because if Addy was intimate with him out of a sense of obligation or duty, or because she felt as if she owed him in some way, it would destroy him.
“How many bad guys have you killed?”
The question came from one of the boys. MacGyver let Kevlar handle that one. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t been asked inappropriate questions in the past, but it was always a little uncomfortable.
“Did you really have to kneel in the ocean for hours and hours while you were freezing to death?” another boy asked. He’d obviously seen a movie or a documentary on BUD/S training.
“Yup. It wasn’t fun, but do you know why we were asked to do that in our training?” Safe asked. There were some brave kids who tried to answer the question, but eventually Safe explained, “It was to toughen us up. When we’re on a mission, if we get cold or hot, or if we get hurt, we can’t just stand up and call a time out. There’s usually no one around to help us but our teammates. We have to work through things that are uncomfortable in order to complete our tasks.”
The kids in the class were enthralled with the presentation, which made MacGyver feel really good. If they could inspire just one child today to want to serve their country when they grew up, it would be time well spent.
The presentation for the current group of kids ended, and they shuffled out of the classroom. Wolf’s team was in another room; there’d been so much interest in the SEAL teams that the school had told Addison they’d be thrilled if another group came to talk to the kids. Apparently, they were a larger draw than the accountants, doctors, and engineers. Although, the pair of veterinarians was giving the SEALs a run for their money. But MacGyver thought they’d cheated by bringing along not only a dog and cat, but a sloth they’d been caring for as well.
While they waited for the next group to enter, Smiley approached MacGyver. “I’m going to bug out early, if that’s okay,” he told him.
“Why would I care?” MacGyver asked.
“Well, this is your girl’s thing. I didn’t want you to be upset if I left early. It’s not because I don’t care. This has actually been fun and kind of interesting. It’s just that I want to get an early jump on the weekend. I’m going to go to Vegas one last time to see if I can find Bree.”
MacGyver knew how much finding the mysterious woman meant to Smiley. Bree Haynes had been sold by her boyfriend to a sex trafficker—the same man Josie’s deceased ex-boyfriend’s family had tried to sell her to. Blink and Smiley had freed Bree from the man’s car, but in the ensuing drama, the woman had disappeared. Smiley had been almost obsessed with finding her ever since…but he hadn’t had any luck.
“You’re giving up?” MacGyver asked.
Smiley shrugged. “I don’t know what else to do. Where else to look. Tex has been helping me a little, between more important jobs. But her apartment was cleaned out, she hasn’t used her cell or credit cards, and he can’t find any trace of her. She was either found by her ex or she left town. I’m hoping for the latter.”
MacGyver frowned. “You need help? I can go with you.”
His friend chuckled. “Right, because you don’t have anything going on here.”
He shrugged. “I admit my plate is kind of full, but if you need help, you know I’ll drop everything to do what I can.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m probably on a wild goose chase anyway. If Tex can’t find her, I don’t know what makes me think I can. It feels pretty useless driving around the city, looking for a woman I met just once. Hell, I probably wouldn’t even recognize her if I did see her again.”
MacGyver wasn’t so sure about that. Smiley was one of the most observant men on the team. No one had seen him so serious about anything as he was finding this Bree person. “All right, but if you need us, you know all you have to do is ask.”
“I know. And I appreciate it. Has the bitch been through yet?”
MacGyver smothered a grin. He knew exactly who Smiley was talking about. “I don’t think you’re allowed to call a kid a bitch,” he told him, even though he’d said the same thing when Ellory had first told him about Chrys.
“She’s bullying Ellory for things she can’t control. She’s getting her friends to turn on her too. She’s making that girl miserable. I can call her a bitch if I want.”
“Well, hopefully she’ll figure out that being a mean girl isn’t the path she wants to take,” MacGyver said diplomatically.
“With a name like Chrysanthemum, I wouldn’t bet on it,” Smiley muttered, before stepping away to speak to Kevlar. Just as a new batch of kids started to trickle into the room, Smiley headed for the door.
MacGyver really hoped he found Bree. She’d obviously struck a chord in the usually taciturn and unemotional SEAL, and MacGyver could only hope that wherever she was, she was all right.
“Ricky!”
Turning, he saw Ellory rushing toward him. He opened his arms and was pleased when she walked into them without hesitation, giving him a big hug. “Hey, El.”
“You guys are a hit,” she told him quietly. “People are talking about you and your presentation all over school. And they can’t wait to see you in action after lunch, when you and Wolf’s team give a demonstration of some of the stuff you do, outside in the square!”
MacGyver smiled. They’d set up a small obstacle course in front of the middle school, and they’d brought the gear they usually wore while on a mission, minus the weapons, to show the kids.
“Cool,” he said.
“She’s here,” Ellory whispered. “Chrys. I tried not to get in her group, but since our last names both start with W, I usually get stuck with her.”
The first thought MacGyver had was that if she changed her last name to his , Douglas, she wouldn’t have that problem anymore. But it was way too soon for that.
“She been giving you problems today?” he asked quietly.
But Ellory simply shrugged. “No more than usual.”
Which meant she was.
“Okay, kids, everyone find a seat so we can get started,” a teacher called out.
“Gotta go,” Ellory told him.
MacGyver nodded, but hugged her again before letting her go.
Once everyone was seated, Kevlar started his spiel once more. They had it down pat now, since this was their fourth time giving the presentation today. He talked about the history of the Navy SEALs, their motto, The only easy day was yesterday , then each of them gave an entertaining story about Hell Week. After the basics were covered, they opened the floor for questions.
Many of the things the kids asked were the same questions others had asked in previous sessions. But when a girl who could only be the infamous Chrysanthemum—based on Ellory’s description of her—raised her hand, MacGyver straightened.
“You guys are all so big and strong,” she said with a smile. “Were you all athletes in high school and college?”
It was a ridiculous question, but maybe not so much for a twelve-year-old. MacGyver was eager to answer.
“We’re all strong because we’ve worked very hard to get this way. Muscles don’t grow overnight—neither do brains. You have to train both. And to answer your question, I was small in high school. I was probably the kid you’d like to make fun of…skinny, short, and nerdy. I played the trombone in band. I was bullied a lot. By kids who thought they were smarter, cooler, better-looking than I was. You know what my bullies are doing today? One is a drug addict; another is a businessman who made a lot of money, but went to jail for tax evasion; and the third guy—the one who bullied me the most—is grossly overweight and has had four heart attacks.
“Just because someone isn’t an athlete or doesn’t meet society’s standards of ‘beauty,’ doesn’t mean they aren’t going to be someone important or successful. The person you bully today, might end up being the paramedic who shows up at your door in the future when you call nine-one-one because your baby is choking. Or is the next Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga. But even if they aren’t…even if they don’t end up famous, or rich, or a Navy SEAL…doesn’t mean they aren’t good people contributing good things to society. These men standing next to me? They’d be my best friends even if we weren’t SEALs. I can count on them to have my back no matter what. Whether I run out of gas on the interstate, need a couple bucks to buy a hamburger, or if I’m pinned down by enemy fire and have no chance of escape unless they risk their life to help me.
“You’re all young. You have your entire lives ahead of you. You don’t have to be an athlete or popular to be successful. You just need to be a decent person. Do what’s right. Be the kind of teammate you’d want to have at your side if everything in your world went to sh—um…went bad.”
He wasn’t being very subtle, but MacGyver didn’t care. He was just about finished with his little speech when he thought of something else he wanted to say. A warning of sorts.
“Oh, and being an athlete isn’t always about being the biggest or strongest person in a crowd. It’s often about knowing proper defense. I’m teaching my own wife and kids to stand up to anyone who might try to harm them. It’s not about violence, just as being a Navy SEAL isn’t all about shooting up the bad guys. Being a SEAL is about standing up for yourself and your country. Not backing down when the bullies who are in charge of other countries decide to flex their muscles. At home, that means when someone at a store or a bar decides to pick on my wife—or a kid in the neighborhood or at school picks on my children—I want them to be able to defend themselves.”
Again, not subtle, but MacGyver wanted Chrysanthemum to get the message. He was going to start that evening, teaching both Ellory and Addison basic self-defense moves. While he didn’t condone violence, if things continued the way they were for Ellory, the torment could turn violent. Bullies loved when people were afraid of them. That went for leaders of countries as well as seventh-grade girls.
The presentation continued, with other kids asking questions, and soon their time was up. Chrys didn’t look at Ellory as she left the room, and MacGyver was taking that as a win. Time would tell if what he’d said sank in for the mean girl.
Ellory came up and gave him another big hug before she left the room, whispering, “Thank you,” against his chest before pulling away and following after her classmates.
MacGyver saw the tears in her eyes, and he hoped like hell he’d done the right thing.
“Good job, man,” Blink told him when they were alone once more. They had one last group before their demonstration outside. “I’m thinking you might have made her think a little.”
“I hope so. I mean, she’s too young and pretty to be such a meanie-head.”
Flash overheard his comment and burst out laughing. “Meanie-head?” he asked.
“Hey, we’re in a school. Can’t exactly say what I’m thinking,” MacGyver retorted.
“True.”
“You didn’t play the trombone in high school,” Safe said with a small chuckle.
“Nope. And I was on our football team. We won a state championship too,” he bragged. “But I didn’t think that would help Ellory’s case any, so I embellished a bit.”
“I was in band,” Flash said. “I played clarinet. And I was in theater. I was bullied all the time, but I mostly ignored the assholes. Except the one time, when I was cornered by three guys.”
“And?” Kevlar asked, when he didn’t finish his story.
“I beat the shit out of them, and no one ever bothered me again,” Flash said smugly. “So you’re right, MacGyver. It’s not about being big and strong. Those karate lessons I had when I was little paid off. Self-defense for all our women isn’t a bad idea.”
“Our women? You don’t have a woman,” Preacher said with a grin.
“Well, being around all you guys has to rub off on me at some point,” Flash said with a smile. “Maybe I’ll find one by osmosis or something.”
He was being ridiculous, but MacGyver could hear something in his friend’s tone. He might act like he didn’t care if he had a girlfriend…but being around couples all the time might be making his friend a little weary.
Kevlar shared a loaded look with Safe, then the two men pounced on Flash and began to gyrate against either side of him.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing? Stop it!” Flash exclaimed, trying to push his friends away, with no luck.
“Cooties! Girlfriend cooties! We’re getting them all over you. Maybe it’ll attract a woman,” Safe told him.
Everyone was laughing hysterically, and it didn’t help when the next batch of kids entered the room and found two big men basically dirty dancing against a third.
Getting through the presentation was difficult, as everyone kept giggling and it was almost impossible to keep a straight face. When it was over, and they met up with Wolf and his team, everyone laughed all over again when they tried to explain what was so funny.
The rest of the day went by without a hitch. The obstacle course was a huge hit with the kids and it was fun to watch them try to navigate it. Even the biggest boys had problems finishing, and MacGyver loved that it was ultimately a girl who outperformed everyone else.
Then the students got to try on the armor the SEALs wore, check out the scuba gear and wetsuits they used for underwater missions. Watching them attempt to lift the forty-pound packs and walk around was hilarious.
All in all, it was a good day. MacGyver had enjoyed himself, and not only because he’d gotten to speak his mind to Ellory’s main bully. He had no idea if it would make a difference or not, but the gratitude in his stepdaughter’s eyes was all the thanks he needed.
He was in a great mood—which made the phone call he got when they were packing up the gear and obstacle course a total shock.
The number on his screen read “unknown.” Normally he didn’t answer those kinds of calls because they were usually from spammers, but for some reason, his gut told him to pick up.
“Hello?”
“Is this Ricardo Douglas?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“My name is Samantha Price, and I’m with Child Protective Services. We understand that you’re in the process of attempting to adopt three children from the Ukraine. As you probably know, our office is swamped with cases and we recently began working on yours, and some irregularities in your case have come to our attention. Therefore, while an investigation is ongoing, the children have been removed from your care.”
“What?” MacGyver barked, his blood running cold.
“They have been picked up from their schools and are being interviewed as we speak.”
“You can’t do that. Are they okay? What have you told them?”
“They’re fine, sir.”
“When will you be done? When can I come and get them?”
“They’ll be placed with a foster home until this matter can be investigated thoroughly.”
“Are you fucking kidding? We are their foster home. My wife and I. You can’t just take them away from us.”
“Actually, we can, Mr. Douglas,” Samantha told him. “We need to make sure they’re in the best possible place for them. And it doesn’t look good when soldiers take three kids from a war-torn country without permission, and without even trying to place them with a family from their own country first.”
“Sailors,” MacGyver corrected automatically. His heart was breaking. The kids had to be so confused and scared.
“What’s happening?” Kevlar asked, hurrying over to his side, obviously hearing MacGyver’s distress. The rest of his team hovered nearby.
“Can I see them?”
“Unfortunately, no. Not right now. Maybe after initial interviews have taken place and recommendations have been made. We’re working as fast as we can on this, sir. I know it’s distressing, but we want what’s best for the children.”
“No, you don’t,” MacGyver said between clenched teeth. “You have no idea what those kids have been through. What they’ve seen and done. You know who does? Me. Because I was there. They’re in a good home, with a mom and dad who love them, with a sister who would do anything for them. They’re getting food and water without having to scrounge for it. They’re in school. I have no idea what irregularities you’re talking about, but no one will love those kids as much as my wife and I do. What’s best for those kids is for them to be brought home. To their home.”
“As I said, we’re looking into things and will be in touch soon. They’re in good hands, Mr. Douglas. Don’t worry.”
Then she hung up.
She fucking hung up on him! MacGyver was furious. And terrified.
“What? What’s happening?”
“They took Artem, Borysko, and Yana. They’re interrogating them and putting them in another foster home! I don’t understand.”
“Did someone call about them?” Safe asked.
“No clue. She just said they’re backlogged and just now getting around to our case, and some ‘irregularities’ came up and they’re investigating. Yana is probably terrified. What if they don’t let her see her brothers? If they put her in a different home than them? Shit!” MacGyver closed his eyes. He could feel his blood pressure rising. Then his eyes popped open. “Fuck. How am I going to tell Addison? She’s going to be devastated.”
“Come on,” Kevlar said, grabbing MacGyver’s arm. “I’m driving. Flash, call Tex. Get him on this. Blink, notify the commander. Safe, can you and Preacher pack up the rest of this stuff?”
“On it.”
“I’ll call the commander right now.”
“Of course.”
MacGyver let his friend lead him to his Subaru, feeling sick as they pulled out of the school’s parking lot. He heard Kevlar talking to someone as they drove, but he couldn’t concentrate. All he could think about was how scared his kids had to be. It wasn’t until they pulled into his driveway, Safe’s Jeep Wrangler pulling up behind them, that he even realized where they were.
Wren and Remi got out of the Jeep and hurried over to Kevlar’s car. He was glad for the reinforcements, but at the moment, all he wanted was to see Addison.
He hurried to the door and unlocked it, stepping inside, followed by his friends. The smell of chocolate was almost overwhelming. Addison had been busy baking gluten-free brownies for a unique brownie cake for a customer. He’d heard all about it this morning.
“Ricky?” she called out from the kitchen.
All of a sudden, MacGyver didn’t want to be there. Didn’t want his wife’s day to be ruined, the way his had been. But it was too late to back out now. She came into view from the kitchen/dining area—and stopped when she saw him and the others standing in the foyer.
The smile on her face disappeared as she asked, “What’s wrong? Is it Ellory? The kids?”
MacGyver didn’t know how to tell her.
“Ricky?” she said, her lower lip trembling.
Shit, he couldn’t drag this out. “Ellory’s fine. It’s…it’s the kids. CPS apparently thinks something is hinky, how they came to be here. They picked them up from school and are investigating.”
“ What? ”
MacGyver took a deep breath. “They aren’t coming home. Not tonight. I’m not sure when. CPS is putting them in a different foster home until they figure things out.”
“Together? Or separate?”
“I don’t know.”
He’d expected Addison to be distraught. To cry and fall apart. But he’d underestimated his wife. It shouldn’t have surprised him, really. She’d been to hell and back with Ellory. Why he thought she’d crumble now was beyond him.
“Right. They’re going to need clothes. And Yana will want her Barbies. Maybe not all four hundred and twenty-three that we’ve bought her, but some. And Artem and Borysko will want the books they’ve been reading. They all need their things. Who do we contact to get their things to them? And what are we doing about getting them back? Whose ass do we need to kick that this happened in the first place?”
Taking a deep breath, MacGyver realized this was exactly what he needed. His wife’s practical nature…and her anger simmering just under the surface. She wasn’t happy about what happened, but since they couldn’t just snap their fingers and change things, she was doing what she could to move forward. To get their kids back.
He stepped toward her and yanked her against him. She let out a small oof as she fell forward but didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around him, to hold him as tightly as he was holding her. He felt her breath hitch, but then she controlled herself.
She pulled back just enough to look him in the eye. “What do we do, Ricky?”
Just then, his phone rang. MacGyver ignored it. But whoever was calling immediately called back. Thinking it might be CPS, telling him they’d made a mistake, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. Once again the number said “Unknown.”
“Hello?” he barked into the receiver.
“What the absolute fuck? This is bullshit! Fuckers fucked with the wrong fucker. How dare they fucking pull this shit! After all those kids have been through? I have no idea who thought it was a good idea to fuck with you, but I’m not going to fucking stand for it. You’ll have those kids back before the end of the day tomorrow, or my name isn’t Tex fucking Keegan. I didn’t fuck up the paperwork. Some asshole must have a stick up his ass, but I’m going to find out who it is and twist that motherfucking stick until it’s a permanent part of his body. Thinking it would’ve been better to leave those kids in that country, at the mercy of a fucking system that’s already overwhelmed with orphans, is fucking ridiculous! And it’s not as if you and Addison aren’t going to make sure they know about their heritage. Fucking fuckers fucked with the wrong people! Sit tight, MacGyver, your kids will be home before you can fucking blink.”
The connection cut out, and MacGyver slowly took the phone away from his ear.
“Was that Tex?” Kevlar asked.
He glanced at his team leader. “Yeah.”
“I could hear him from all the way over here. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say the word ‘fuck’ so many times before. He’s usually pretty stoic and calm.”
“Yeah,” MacGyver said again. For some reason Tex’s absolute fury made him feel better. A hell of a lot better. A pissed-off Tex wasn’t a good thing, at least for whoever his ire was aimed at. He now truly believed that Artem, Borysko, and Yana would be back as soon as possible. It sucked that they’d most likely have to spend the night in a strange place, but if Tex said he’d fix things, he’d fix things.
“Ricky?” Addison said.
“Tex’ll get ’em home.”
“Should we get a suitcase put together for them? They really do need their things…pajamas, books, dolls…familiar stuff.”
“I think we need to let Tex do his thing.”
Addison didn’t look convinced. It was another thing he loved about her. That she worried so much about the kids.
“Did someone report us? Or them? How did this happen?”
“I don’t know. But again, Tex will figure it out.”
“Okay.”
MacGyver turned around to face his friends. “Can you give us a second?”
“Of course. You want us to go?” Kevlar asked.
“Addy?” MacGyver asked.
“Um…they can stay.”
“We’ll be in the kitchen,” Remi said.
“But don’t worry, we won’t touch anything,” Wren reassured Addison.
She smiled slightly at that.
“You want me to go get Ellory when school is out?” Kevlar looked at his watch. “Half an hour, right?”
“Yeah. Would you mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll be sure to flex extra hard so if any of her bullies are around, they’ll see.” Kevlar clapped MacGyver on the shoulder. “Be back soon.”
When they were alone in the foyer, MacGyver said, “I’m so sorry.”
“About what?”
He wasn’t sure. Just that he hated the idea that Addison might be hurting because of him. If she hadn’t married him, she wouldn’t have gotten close to Artem, Borysko, and Yana. But then again, if she hadn’t agreed to marry him, he probably wouldn’t have been able to keep them either. His mind was spinning.
Addison leaned in and put her forehead against his. As they were the same height, it was easy for her to do. Her hands were at his waist, and his were at hers. Their breaths mingled as they stood there. It was an intimate position, and just what MacGyver needed.
“Do you think they’re all right?” she whispered.
“Probably scared and confused.”
“Yeah. I wish I knew what happened so we could keep it from happening again.”
“Me too. And Tex will determine what went wrong. I’m guessing he’ll do what needs to be done to make sure they’re never taken away again.”
“This Tex guy sounds kind of scary.”
“He’s a teddy bear.”
Addison snorted and lifted her forehead from his. “Are you all right?”
“Me? Yeah, why?”
“Because. I know how much those kids mean to you. I love them, yes, but the three of you…you have a special bond. One that was formed in that bombed-out city. This had to have hit you hard.”
MacGyver closed his eyes for a moment. She was right. It blindsided him. He hadn’t been able to function after that call. If Kevlar hadn’t been there, taking control, he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done. “They’re so innocent. They didn’t ask for their country to be bombed. For their parents to be killed. To be on their own so young, trying to survive. If we hadn’t been there…if we hadn’t taken shelter in one of their hiding spots…” His voice trailed off.
“But you were there. And now they’re here. With us.”
“Addison?”
“Yeah?”
“If things don’t work out, if Tex can’t work his magic…if the kids have to go back to Ukraine…I’m not going to hold you to our marriage. I mean, I’ll stay married to you so Ellory can have the healthcare she needs, but you can stay here at the house and I’ll find an apartment.”
“What?” Addison gasped, sounding shocked.
“We both know this marriage happened because of those kids. And if they aren’t a factor anymore, it doesn’t feel fair to make you stay with me.”
Addison straightened. “Seriously?” she asked, sounding pissed now.
“Well…yeah.”
“That’s bullshit , Ricardo Douglas.”
MacGyver couldn’t help but actually like that his wife got pissed when he expected her to be upset, maybe even crying. Not that he wanted to make her angry, either.
“Yes, we got married to make it easier for the kids to stay with you, but I don’t want you to leave. And do you think Ellory wants to lose you? No. She doesn’t. She loves living with you. Having you teach her stuff I couldn’t in a million years. She’s more interested in the crap in your garage than she is learning how to bake or cook. If you’re looking for a way out of this marriage, then just come out and say it. Don’t use those kids as excuses.”
“You think I want out?” MacGyver asked. It was his turn to be shocked.
“Don’t you?” Addison challenged.
Frustrated over the events of the day, with feeling powerless to help Artem, Borysko, and Yana; pissed that the government—a government he’d given his blood, sweat, and tears to—had dared take away three of the most important things in his life; upset that the woman he loved thought he didn’t want her…
MacGyver thrust his hand into her hair and pulled her toward him.
He kissed her. Hard.
Her lips parted in shock, and he took advantage, plunging his tongue inside and aggressively taking possession of her mouth. He wasn’t really aware of what he was doing until he heard her moan. Then he realized her fingers were clutching the material at his chest, and she was leaning into him, giving as good as she got.
What started as a ridiculous attempt to allay some of his frustrations became so much more. His need for her went from one to a thousand in a heartbeat, even as the kiss gentled, becoming more about showing her how much he cared than an act of domination.
They were both panting by the time he reluctantly pulled his head back. His hand was still tangled in her hair, and she was still leaning against him. Her fingers flexed against his chest.
“I don’t want out of this marriage,” he said, unsure what else to say in the charged moment.
“I don’t either,” she whispered.
“Do I need to apologize for that kiss?”
“If you do, I might get violent.”
MacGyver smiled. The day had started out well, went to shit, and now, amazingly, was looking up again. Tex would fix whatever snafu had taken his—their—kids away, and if he was reading the situation right, the woman he’d wanted for months seemed to return some of his feelings.
It was his turn to rest his forehead against hers. “This marriage may not have started out in a conventional way, but I like you, Addy. A lot. Enough that the thought of you leaving makes me feel as if I’m a green SEAL on my first mission. Itchy. Nervous. Panicky.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not leaving,” Addison said quietly.
“Ever?” he blurted. “Sorry, ignore that.”
“Ever,” she agreed. “As far as I’m concerned, this is a real marriage.”
His cock twitched, and since he was plastered against Addison, she had to feel what her words did to him.
She pulled her head back, but otherwise didn’t move away. The smile on her face was shy…and pleased. “I mean, we do have four kids and are sleeping in the same bed.”
“You think someday you might want to do more than just sleep?” MacGyver couldn’t have stopped the question if his life depended on it.
“Oh yeah.”
The longing in her voice almost had MacGyver throwing her over his shoulder and hauling her to their room right that second. The only thing that stopped him was Remi’s voice coming from the kitchen.
“Addison? There’s something beeping in here!”
“My brownies,” she told MacGyver.
“Go. Don’t let them burn.”
“Okay. Ricky?”
“Yeah, hon?”
“You really think they’ll be back tomorrow?”
“I do.”
“Okay. I trust you.” Then she put a hand on his cheek and leaned in once more. This time the kiss was chaste, but MacGyver still felt it down to his toes. Addison smiled at him, then headed into the kitchen.
He had no choice but to let go of her, even though he didn’t want to. When she was gone, MacGyver leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He could feel his lips tingling, and his fists opened and closed at his sides, the silky feeling of her hair still echoing in one, and the other remembering how perfectly it fit in the curve of her waist.
He had no idea what was to come, but married to Addison, he suddenly knew he could overcome whatever life threw at them.
* * *
Addison had no time to contemplate what had just happened. Her emotions were seesawing all over the place. She was terrified about what was happening with Artem, Borysko, and Yana. Hated that they were probably scared and wondering why they were with strangers. She was also pissed at the system that had taken them away in the first place. It wasn’t as if they were being abused in their home. If someone needed to look into the legalities of the kids being in the US, they could’ve done that without taking them out of their current home.
And then there was Ricky. Never in a million years would she think they would’ve ended up making out in their foyer. But it had been good. No, it had been great. Life-changing. This relationship was a dream come true for her. Sure, it wouldn’t be easy, and they’d probably have some rocky times ahead, simply because of how they’d started out. But he was worth fighting for. She knew that without a doubt.
“Are you all right?” Remi asked as soon as she entered the kitchen.
Addison donned an oven mitt to take out the brownies. They were a tad bit overdone, but nothing a little more icing wouldn’t fix.
She put the pan on the stovetop and turned to her new friend. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Tex is amazing. Josie told us all about him. How he tracks SEAL teams and other special forces guys all the time when they’re on missions. Blink had a tracker in his underwear, and that’s how they were rescued from that prison in Iran.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. And Caroline and her friends have all directly been helped by him over the years too,” Wren said. “If anyone can light a fire under CPS, it’s Tex.”
“That’s good.”
Remi tilted her head and lowered her voice. “Did something else happen when you and MacGyver were talking?”
Addison felt herself blush, and she nodded. She wasn’t sure about telling all her secrets to these women, but she liked the idea of having such close girlfriends. “He kissed me,” she whispered.
“Yeah?” Remi asked with a grin.
“Wait, you guys are married. You haven’t kissed before?” Wren asked in confusion.
Then Addison found herself telling them about her marriage of convenience, and how, despite sharing a bed, they were more like roommates than man and wife.
“So, this is good,” Wren deduced, when she was done explaining.
“I think so…”
“Girl, you should see the way that man looks at you. It’s definitely a good thing,” Remi said firmly.
Addison hoped so. She really, really hoped so.