Chapter Eleven
S am pushed the stake through layers of dirt and stood back to study her work. The Welcome, Goblins, Ghouls, and Ghosts sign was the first of many to greet Jacob’s friends from school. Brynn and Ransom had outdone themselves. Gauzy ghosts with googly eyes swayed from the branches of the trees, and haybales stacked with pumpkins and gourds were scattered throughout the landscaping. Spiderwebs were draped over the low-lying bushes in front, and orange and black streamers twisted around the rails of the accessible ramp. Every few feet, balloon bouquets coordinating with the streamers were looped around the handrails. Their big dog, Oscar, sat and cocked his head to the side, studying her.
Satisfied that the signs were in place, she walked up the steps with Oscar lumbering at her heels. She’d see if Brynn needed any help with Jacob’s costume and then check on Fred. Ransom and Silver had stolen her neighbor the second she walked into the house, treating him like one of their own. Once inside, she peeked into the living room. The men were sharing a beer, engrossed in conversation.
“Is that you, Sam?” Brynn called from down the hall.
“Yep. Coming your way.” She passed through the living room, and the men paused their conversation.
“Hey, Sam.” Ransom lifted his chin. “Thanks for putting those signs out.”
“They look great.” The thought of the four tough SEALs spending their spare time cutting wood and painting the signs made her heart swell. There were good people in the world, and she was lucky to call some of them her friends. “Jacob and his buddies are going to have a blast.”
“I told him about the dry ice for the punch this morning. He’s pumped that the drinks will actually smoke from the cauldron.”
“This is going to make actual trick-or-treating next week seem lame in comparison,” Silver chuckled. The man was the oldest on the team, but in no way would she categorize him as old, as his nickname suggested. Like the others, he was built with muscle upon muscle. Being around so many good-looking alpha men was a bit overwhelming at times, but the only one who made her pulse hammer was Julian. He was picking up the catering for the event and would be arriving soon. A shiver swirled over her skin. Knowing he would walk in the door any moment made tingles pop and fizz through her body like seltzer. When the front door opened, a weightlessness filled her before a burst of flutters erupted in her belly.
“Just putting this stuff in the kitchen,” Julian called out. After a moment, he walked into the living room, and their eyes locked. His hazel depths, ablaze with affection and something more, consumed her. His long strides closed the distance between them as though she was the only person in the room. One second she was pinned in place by his steady gaze, and the next, she was in his arms.
“Hey.” That voice, so low and delicious, rumbled through her. Julian dipped his head and kissed her, lips lingering against hers like they didn’t have an audience. Like two of his teammates and her elderly neighbor weren’t watching their every move.
“Hi,” she murmured. His kiss left her floating and fuzzy.
“Was just telling these two why I drove Samantha out here. If he can’t keep his hands to himself in a room full of people, he sure as hell can’t be trusted to in the truck.” There was more tease than warning in Fred’s voice, and when Silver and Ransom howled with laughter, there was a satisfied twinkle in the man’s eyes. The kind that came from the camaraderie of brotherhood. Of belonging somewhere. She wanted to belong, too. Her mother had shunned her, and the teachers and students at her school had cast her out. Not physically but emotionally, turning up their noses and whispering hateful things. So far, Brynn, the fiancé of a SEAL, and Julian, a SEAL himself, had listened to her story, and still, despite her background and her father’s actions, they’d accepted her. If the others didn’t feel the same, she might still lose Julian and Brynn. The thought made her feel sick to the depths of her soul.
“Nothing’s going to happen that Sam doesn’t want to happen, Axe.”
“Doesn’t make me feel better about it,” her neighbor grumbled.
“I am standing right here.” One hand went to her hip, and Julian chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead.
“Joker, think you could let go of her for a second?” Brynn popped out into the hall. She’d been so distracted she’d forgotten that her friend was waiting for her.
“I’ll be back.” She drew her hand away from Julian and went down the hall toward Jacob’s room. She drew in a quick breath and rushed over to Jacob. “Your costume is amazing.” Jacob had on a superhero outfit with the Batman insignia on the chest. A cape flowed behind him, and somehow, his wheelchair had been turned into the Batmobile. Oscar wagged his tail, dancing from paw to paw. He wore a Robin costume to support his owner.
Jacob’s eyes shifted from left to right, selecting words from the computer near his face. “Thank you.” The voice output device relayed Jacob’s choice of words. The new assistive technology had its kinks, but it allowed him more freedom than ever to express himself.
“Wait until you see the front yard,” she told him. “It’s so incredible.”
She waited for his response, which could sometimes take several seconds, given the nature of the device.
“I want to wait outside for my friends,” he said.
“Okay, then. Let’s do it.”
“You lead the way.” Brynn skirted around the Batmobile frame to the handlebar of the wheelchair. “Tell me if I accidentally clip your heels.”
“I won’t need to tell you. You’ll hear me yelp.” She glanced over her shoulder. The smile that stretched over Jacob’s face sent a jolt of emotion through her. He was living his best life and having a hell of a time. “Where’s Branch?”
“Jacob’s friend Collin sometimes needs sensory breaks, and Branch is making a quiet space downstairs for him to relax in if he needs to.”
She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. The way everyone rallied around this group of children touched her heart. She’d been working with kids who had medical complexities and disabilities since the beginning of her career, and it was incredibly fulfilling. Her patients gave her more joy and peace than she could ever give them. They were constantly teaching her about resilience, strength, and compassion. She opened the front door and stood to the side so Brynn could wheel Jacob out. His squeal of pure delight made her blink several times.
Another jovial shriek echoed Jacob’s from the driveway. Even dressed as a pizza slice, she recognized Collin, the tall boy with freckles and auburn hair. Brynn had picked him up from school several times when Collin’s mom was in a bind for work. He’d sat in on two of her music therapy sessions with Jacob and was a sweet, exuberant teenager. Collin ran up the path toward Jacob; his mother, who was tiny compared to her son, was right on his heels.
“Safe body, Collin. Let’s walk,” she called from behind him.
“Jacob Godfrey,” Collin sang out, too excited to listen to his mother’s words. “Happy Halloween, Jacob Godfrey.”
Jacob’s gaze moved deliberately over his computer screen. “Hi, Collin.”
By the time the rest of Jacob’s classmates and friends showed up, there were at least a dozen kids, some of them accompanied by parents, peppered throughout the house. She was with Julian in the kitchen, making more punch to go in the cauldron, while Brynn and Silver were facilitating games and prizes. Ransom was refilling the food and Halloween-themed snacks. Branch assisted anyone who needed a break in the sensory room he’d set up.
“Looks like this party is a hit.” Julian scooped up more orange sherbet and added it to the pitcher.
She was separating orange slices, tossing them in with the sherbet when the wooden board got too full. “I love that there’s such a mix of kids here. Jacob has befriended the neurotypical teens, those who participate in Best Buddies, and all his classmates.”
“And all of them are having a blast. Some people might knock the younger generations, but I don’t think one person could argue that we’ve ever lived in a more inclusive time. Things can always improve, but we’re moving in the right direction.”
“I agree.” They shared a smile, getting sidetracked, until Ransom clapped his hand against the doorframe, startling them both.
“Enough googly eyes. Punch is almost gone out here, and once it is, the werewolves and vampires will descend on me.” Ransom disappeared with the tray of cobweb cupcakes.
“He’s having way too much fun.” Julian grinned, the beauty of it momentarily leaving her breathless. “And tomorrow, he’ll be bitching about all the cookies and pizza he ate, so we’ll be forced into a marathon workout.”
“When I was getting my degree in music therapy, my roommate was in the physical therapy program. I picked up some tips on therapeutic massage, if you’re ever sore after one of your workouts, I bet I could help.” Her cheeks heated, which was silly as they’d already slept together.
His gaze dropped to her lips, and the heat reflected in his eyes started a long, liquid pull from her belly to the apex of her thighs. Her nipples peaked into tight buds, and she craved the friction of being flush against him.
“Starburst.” Her name was a tortured whisper on his lips. “The way you’re looking at me right now, I’m having a hard time not throwing you over my shoulder and forgetting my promise to Fred about driving you home.” He dropped his forehead to hers, a gesture that made all her heart’s cracked, dull surfaces shine.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Fred’s raspy voice had them jumping apart. “But only because a pretty woman is waiting for this…goblin punch.” Fred inspected the contents of the glasses as though something was apt to pop out of them. “Keep it clean, Joker. It’s a kid’s party, for Christ’s sake,” he grumbled and walked away, shaking his head. When he was out of earshot, they both burst into laughter.
She rolled her eyes, secretly loving that Fred looked out for her in a familial way. “For an old man, his hearing is sharp.”
“Or he’s been creeping around like he’s on a classified op.” Julian lifted his chin, looking beyond the top of her head. “Maybe you will be driving home with me.”
She glanced over her shoulder, and her jaw nearly dropped wide open. Fred had delivered the punch to a woman who appeared to be around his age. She had luminous white hair cut in a chic bob below her chin. Her red lips curved at Fred’s words, and the woman reached out and touched his forearm.
“That punch all set?” Ransom had doubled back to them.
Julian passed a colorful pitcher to Ransom so he could pour it into the cauldron setup. “Who’s that woman?” He gave another chin lift in the direction of her neighbor and the woman who had captured his attention.
“Cora’s grandmother. That’s the girl dressed as a fairy.” They followed Ransom’s gaze across the room to a pretty girl with blond hair. Jacob’s Batmobile was parked facing the girl’s wheelchair, decorated like a unicorn, and they were communicating with their technology. “Cora has spastic quadriplegia, the same type of cerebral palsy as Jacob. He likes her, and I think he’s going to ask her to the next school dance. Anyway, Cora’s dad is coming, too. He works until five. By the looks of things, you two might be able to sneak out of here without your chaperone.” Ransom took off with the punch, then returned.
“What’d I miss?” Silver sidled up to them and leaned against the doorframe.
“Axe is a stud, that’s what.” Ransom folded his arms over his chest and laughed. Brynn noticed them standing together and crossed the room, snuggling into Ransom’s side. The look of complete adoration in his eyes was beautiful.
“Have you seen Branch around? Usually, when he meets new people, he needs to stop and chat with every single one of them.” Silver scanned the room.
“Collin’s mom, Hannah, got called into work.” Brynn wrapped her arms around her fiancé’s waist. “It’s her day off, but another flight paramedic just called out, and no one can fill the shift. She’s splitting the hours with another air medic, but they can’t get there for a few hours, so Collin will hang out here until she gets back.”
“Wow. It takes a lot of guts to treat patients in an emergency, never mind doing it in a helicopter.” She bit her bottom lip as she thought of the petite single mom with freckles and long auburn hair rushing out of a chopper into an emergency situation.
“Agreed,” Silver said.
Brynn nodded. “She felt awful leaving, but I assured her it was fine. Branch has been hanging out with Collin. He can’t get enough of the beanbag chairs in the sensory space.”
“Joker. Need a word, please.” Fred had wandered over to them. The woman he’d been flirting with was speaking to a younger man and gesturing toward Fred.
Julian nodded, and the two men disappeared into the foyer.
“That’s Cora’s father,” Ransom said. “He must’ve just gotten here. I’m going to say hi.”
“I’ll go with you.” Brynn slipped her hand into her fiancé’s, and they started toward their new guest.
“What do you think Axe’s up to?” Silver stood with his back against the wall where they’d congregated just outside the kitchen.
She still hadn’t gotten used to the men calling her neighbor by his Marine nickname. “I couldn’t tell you. He was pretty adamant about driving me, but I think now he’s having second thoughts.” Sam wiggled her brows.
Silver laughed. “Probably interrogating Joker within an inch of his life.”
“Or getting some dating advice.”
“By how things looked earlier, he had it under control. So you and Joker, huh?”
“I…” A protest was on the tip of her tongue, but then she recalled how Julian had kissed her in front of his teammates, staking his claim. If he wasn’t keeping his feelings a secret, she wouldn’t, either. “Things are still new, but yes.”
“He’s got trust issues when it comes to women. Be patient with him. Under all the moodiness, he’s a good man. Solid. Loyal.”
“I know, and I get it. Growing up wasn’t easy for him.” She glanced around the room, but Julian hadn’t reappeared.
Silver whistled long and low. “He has never, not once, brought a woman around. Never had a relationship with one, either. I’m pleased as hell he hasn’t let you slip through his fingers. He’d regret it every day for the rest of his life.”
“Did someone slip through your fingers?” The wistful tone in Silver’s voice made her ask.
He offered her a half-hearted smile. “No, darlin’. I’ve never found that woman.”
“There’s still plenty of time.”
“Ah, well,” he sighed. “I’m resigned to live as a perpetual bachelor. I’m forty. Set in my ways.”
“Oh, please. Like forty is old. And maybe no one’s told you lately, but you’re not exactly hard on the eyes. Don’t put yourself out to pasture yet.”
Silver rocked back on his heels and let out a gruff laugh. “Joker chose well.”
“Sure did.” Julian’s words reached her a moment before his arms banded around her waist. He pulled her close, her back against his chest. “Fred’s given me permission to bring you home at the end of the party, and he’s taking his new friend for coffee.”
“I think the party’s winding down. We can help clean up when the guests leave and then go.” This had been one of the best days of her life. Experiencing this group of friends’ excitement and camaraderie over the party was palpable. Instead of treating her like a guest or outsider, she’d belonged, as though she was hosting the event right along with them. Having friends was both scary and a blessing.
Only Branch, Silver, and Ransom didn’t know about her past, which was a heavy weight on her shoulders. She would tell them if there was a quiet moment after the party ended. She didn’t want to lose them, but she didn’t want the men to befriend her under false pretenses. Having a support system and a place where she fit was a heady feeling. A safe, warm one. She leaned into Julian’s embrace, giving him some of her weight. She’d learned he could shoulder some twists and turns, but he’d also made her realize that she could, too, and had been for a long time. She wasn’t ready to pat herself on the back for turning in her father and living independently before she entered double digits, but some credit was due.
Julian had opened her eyes to many things, one of them being herself.