Chapter 4 #2
“Ten minutes,” Ellory told her sister. “Then it’ll be time to eat.”
Yana nodded, and Bree found herself following the little girl toward her room. It was obvious she shared it with Ellory, because half the room was filled with books and toys appropriate for someone Yana’s age, and the other half was more fitting for a teenager.
Ten minutes later, something made Bree look toward the door.
Smiley was propped against the doorjamb with a hint of a smile on his face, watching her.
She was surrounded by what felt like a hundred Barbie dolls, and Yana had been babbling nonstop ever since she’d plopped down on the floor and began introducing Bree to each and every one.
She spoke in a mixture of Ukrainian and English, and it was absolutely adorable.
Even though Bree could only understand half of what the girl said, she continually nodded and smiled.
The little girl was open and loving, and Bree figured that was because MacGyver and Addison were great parents.
They made Yana feel safe, which was probably the most important thing at this point in her young life.
Smiley had told Bree all about how the three Ukrainian children had come to live with MacGyver and Addison, and she could only be amazed at how well adjusted they seemed after their ordeal.
Bree touched Yana’s arm and said, “I think dinner is ready.”
Smiley nodded, letting her know her assumption as to his appearance was correct.
“Sketti!” Yana exclaimed, jumping up and running toward the door. Smiley scooted out of her way at the last second to avoid a collision as the little girl disappeared into the hallway.
Bree was slower to get up; she wasn’t old, not in the least, but she wasn’t quite as nimble as Yana. By the time she got to her feet, Smiley was in front of her.
“Wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine.”
He studied her face for a long moment before nodding, then put his hand on the small of her back and urged her toward the door. “I don’t know about you, but the last ten minutes have been torture smelling that dinner.”
Bree grinned. “You too?”
“Oh yeah.”
They walked into the living room, and Bree headed for the kitchen. “Anything I can do to help?” she asked Addison.
“Nope. You and Smiley can sit. The kids are responsible for setting the table and bringing food in.”
Bree looked toward the large table just off the kitchen, smiling when she saw the name cards the kids had made.
She was apparently sitting between Ellory and Yana, which was fine with her.
Smiley was directly across from Bree. Perfect.
She could stare at him all she liked without seeming too obvious about it.
Except, as the meal progressed, every time she looked up, Smiley’s gaze was already on her. It was both nerve-racking and exciting to be the center of his attention.
Conversation around the table was lively, and by the time they’d all finished eating the spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and cheese-crusted broccoli, Bree was not only full, she felt as if she’d known this family forever.
After dinner, she helped Artem and Borysko with the dishes, and then everyone settled into the living room to talk until it was time for the younger kids to go to bed.
Bree found herself reading a book—or three—to Yana in her room, and by the time she arrived back in the living room, found Ellory sitting at the kitchen table wearing a pair of headphones, working on a laptop, and the adults chatting quietly on the couches.
Bree sat next to Smiley, loving how their thighs touched as the cushions sagged, pushing her closer to him.
“So…welcome to our crazy,” Addison said with a small laugh.
“It wasn’t so bad,” Bree said immediately.
“Well, it’ll just get crazier with the addition of this one,” she said, putting a hand on her belly.
Talk turned to Addison’s pregnancy, then to the kids’ improving English, then to Ellory’s current Crohn’s treatment, and finally to the other women in their SEAL family.
Ellory got up and kissed her mom, hugged MacGyver, said good night to Smiley and Bree then disappeared down the hall. And still the adults talked.
There was never a lull in the conversation, and Bree discovered that MacGyver was actually funny—and very much in love with his wife and family. He might not be the biological father to the four kids living under his roof, but he adored them as if he was.
Bree had no idea how late it had gotten until Addison said something about PT in the morning. Looking at her watch, she was startled to see it was almost midnight. Smiley and MacGyver—and her too, since she was going everywhere Smiley went—had to be up in four and a half hours.
“Thanks for coming over,” Addison told her, when everyone had stood. She gave her a heartfelt hug as she said it.
Bree loved being included. It was a heady feeling.
“Thanks for having me.”
“I said it before but…thank you. Seriously. You have no idea how much what you did means to me and my family. If there’s anything you ever need, it’s yours.”
Bree gave her a small smile. “They’re great kids. All of them. You guys are doing an amazing job.”
“It’s all Addison,” MacGyver said.
His wife rolled her eyes, looking so much like Ellory that Bree couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sorry. My daughter is obviously rubbing off on me,” she said.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Smiley told MacGyver.
“I’ll walk you out,” the other man said in a firm tone.
The easygoing evening suddenly shifted for Bree.
MacGyver’s words were a reminder that she wasn’t a woman on a casual date with her new boyfriend.
Because Smiley wasn’t her boyfriend, he was…
what was he? Her protector, her bodyguard.
But she had deeper feelings for him than she’d had for any man before. It was so confusing.
She walked out between Smiley—who had his hand on the small of her back, which she was already getting way too used to—and MacGyver.
Both men’s heads were on swivels as if expecting the boogeyman to jump out from behind one of the bushes in the yard.
Smiley got her settled in his truck and shut the door.
He and MacGyver exchanged a few words, then he joined her inside the vehicle.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, as soon as he started the engine.
“Yes.”
“Would you tell me if it wasn’t?” she asked, a touch sarcastically.
He turned to her with a brow raised in surprise.
Bree sighed. “Sorry. That was rude.”
“No, it wasn’t. You’re allowed to feel what you feel.”
“I just…the night was so good. I forgot exactly who I was for a moment.”
Now Smiley was frowning. “Who you are…?”
“Yeah. A homeless stalker who forced myself into your life and the lives of your friends. I’m bringing danger to everyone. Even Fiona and Julie, women I haven’t even met but who could be in this guy’s crosshairs because of me. I should leave, Smiley,” she finished, her tone low and anxious.
He just stared at her for a moment…then backed his truck up without a word and headed for his apartment.
Bree bit her lip and stared out the side window. He hadn’t disagreed with her—which spoke volumes. Maybe her blunt statement managed to put things in perspective for him.
She was a huge headache to everyone. Smiley didn’t want to let her out of his sight, which had to be a pain in his ass. Hell, he’d had to ask his commander not to deploy him just so he could babysit her. The man couldn’t even do his job because of her.
By the time they arrived back at Smiley’s place, Bree was a mess.
When he turned off the engine, he got out, then motioned for her to climb across the front cab and exit on his side.
Still lost in her own misery, Bree didn’t even ask why. She simply did as he said. As soon as she was close enough, Smiley took her hand in his and helped her step out. He quickly walked them through the front door and into the elevator, all without saying a word.
Depression swamped Bree. This was it. He was obviously waiting until he got inside his apartment to tell her that she was right. She was too much of a liability. That she should go.
Feeling a sense of loss that hurt more than any actual breakup she’d ever had in her life, Bree watched him unlock his apartment door and swing it open for her. She stepped inside…
Then gasped slightly when Smiley took her shoulders in his hands and backed her against the closed, locked door.
“Listen to me, Bree. Are you listening?”
She stared up at a very frowny Smiley and nodded. She didn’t know where to put her hands. So she pressed her palms against the door behind her.
“You aren’t going anywhere. You aren’t homeless—you live here.
You didn’t force yourself into my life—hell, woman, I’ve been searching for you for months.
I wanted you in my life, and yet you were too smart to let yourself be found.
If Fiona and Julie are in anyone’s crosshairs, it isn’t because of you.
It’s because some asshole is an asshole. Got it?”
She stared up at him. Speechless.
Smiley took a deep breath. “I don’t want you to go.
I’ve just found you. And now that I’m getting to know you, watching you with my friends, with the kids tonight, I’m already realizing that I’ve been missing out on a fuck of a lot.
You light up a room when you enter, and you have a way of making everyone your friend.
Within seconds of meeting you, Yana wanted to share her most prized possessions with you—her dolls.
“You need me, Bree. Need my expertise. Need my friends to help find this Castillo fucker and take him out once and for all. But more importantly, I need you. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve hung out with one of my teammates at their homes.
I…I’ve missed it. MacGyver is a great guy, and seeing him with his family was nice, and eye-opening, and overdue.
I need you to remind me that there’s more to life than working.
That there are people out there who are good and kind. Who aren’t just all about themselves.”
Somehow, Bree’s hands had moved from the door to Smiley’s shirt, gripping it at his waist.
“Will you stay? With me? Let me find this guy and make sure he understands you’re off-limits?”
Bree couldn’t say no to that. She nodded.
“Good. And no more talk about you being anything except an amazing friend, a brave-as-fuck person who’s willing to step in and help perfect strangers, and the woman I’m becoming addicted to, who fascinates the hell out of me.”
“Um…”
“And no arguing. I’m right. Just ask any of my friends. I’m always right.”
“Cocky,” Bree muttered, but she couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her lips.
“I swear I’d slay dragons and make a complete ass of myself if only to see that smile on your lips,” he murmured. Not giving her time to respond, he eased back and pushed her gently toward the hall. “Go get ready for bed. I have to get up way too early. And since I have to get up, so do you.”
“I like watching you guys work out,” Bree admitted. “As long as I don’t have to run alongside you and can ride the ATV, I’m good.”
“I’m glad, because until we find Castillo, your ass is gonna be on that ATV right by my side.
We have to leave before the coffee place is open, but I’ll make you a cup to go before we leave in the morning.
” When she just stared at him, he added, “Well? What are you standing there for? Go get changed, woman!”
Fighting another smile, Bree headed for the bedroom, where the few things she owned had been stashed.
They were washed and folded, and seeing them stacked neatly in her suitcase on the floor in Smiley’s room gave her heart a little twinge.
The man she was living with was more than a badass SEAL.
He was considerate and went out of his way to make her life as easy as possible.
She could get used to having him around…
except this was probably temporary. Once he found this Mateo person, she’d likely be moving on.
He said that he wanted more, that he was “addicted” to her, but once her situation was solved, and she prayed that would be soon, he might feel differently. Get tired of her. She hoped not, but Bree didn’t want to get her hopes up and be crushed if he decided she wasn’t what he wanted after all.
The thought hurt, so she pushed it down. She needed to worry about today, not tomorrow. Thinking about the future was a useless endeavor. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring, so she had to live in the moment. And for now, she was going to do what she could to enjoy being with Smiley.