9. Chapter 9
9
Chapter 9
Sean
One moment Sean had been enjoying the sparring match between Dad and Gramps, the next Blue walked through the door with a guy who was probably a real underwear model. After that, things were a blur of flying popcorn, balloons, and his family all rushing around him and over to hug Blue.
Sean stayed on the floor behind the loveseat, hoping beyond all hope that the balloons would hide him and he’d be able to dog-crawl out of there. Then again, he’d seen the way the balloons had moved when Sweetie’d gone through them . . .
He was a Navy SEAL for crying out loud, he’d faced insurgents in half a dozen countries, he could do this—he could get out of here undetected. The plan:
A. Crawl under the piano.
B. Belly-slide through the kitchen, using the table as a shield.
C. Somersault out the back door.
D. Sprint to the beach and freedom.
If that didn’t work, he could face the firing squad; AKA Blue with another man. A Ken doll at that. That would be the manly thing to do. SEALs faced their worst nightmares every day! Bah.
What was she even doing here?
Belly down on the hardwood floor, beneath a layer of balloons, Sean scrubbed a hand down his face. Also, the floor smelled so lemony. He wondered what Grandpa had used on it. Delicious.
“You made it!” Kate cheered, and Sean glared. Kate was his soon-to-be sister-in-law. She should have warned him! “I’m so excited.”
“Hi,” Blue responded, and Sean could see his future sister-in-law embracing his ex in his mind’s eye. “Me too. Still so weird you’re marrying Axel.”
“Gee, thanks,” Axel said.
“Still so weird you used to date Sean,” Kate said.
The room went silent.
Some cleared their throat.
Sean wanted to die.
“Sorry,” Kate said. “This probably isn’t the place to mention that.”
“I think it’s the perfect place to mention it,” Johnny said, then came a smacking sound followed by a yelp. “Quit hitting me.”
Sean wished whoever had hit him this time would do it again.
Firm, determined steps headed his way, and when a hand grabbed the back of his shirt, he knew the decision had been made for him. Gramps yanked him to his feet.
He shrugged out of Grandpa’s hold. “Let go,” he muttered under his breath for only Gramps to hear.
“Man up,” Grandpa whispered back.
“What is she doing here?” Sean seethed under his breath.
“I invited her,” Gramps growled as he tugged Sean’s shirt into place. “She’s my girl.”
Sean’s heart cracked. Grandpa just lost Grandma and now he’d done all this party stuff for Mom. Blue always had a special place in his heart and that place was as soft as his cream puffs.
“Hey, Sean,” Blue said.
Sean and Gramps looked Blue’s way. Sean’s family parted like the Red Sea or a pink sea of balloons. Mom stood her ground, her arm around Blue as if she’d found her long-lost daughter. Stupid Ken didn’t let go of her either and she was lovingly sandwiched between them while Sean stood with an emotional brick who’d just as soon smack him in the back of the head as lovingly encourage him to be the bigger man.
“Hey, Blue.” He’d just seen her a few days ago, but it felt like years as her beauty washed over him anew. He could spend hours memorizing the curve of her bottom lip.
The fiancé sniggered. “You all right there, mate?” He had a thick accent. Australian. Crap. That was only the sexiest accent in the world. What a jerk.
Blue’s face went beet red as Ken’s grip on her hip tightened.
Sean squared his shoulders. “Dropped the popcorn.” He stepped forward and offered his hand—the guy had a decent grip. Sean hated that. “Good to meet you.”
“Right, sorry,” Blue said. “Everyone, this is Jonah, my fiancé. Jonah, this is my friend Sean, and his family.” She introduced everyone. Including Rosa and Polly who were staring at Jonah like he was made of coconut ice cream on a hot day. And they weren’t the only ones. Mom had stars in her eyes and Kate darted a glance at him from under lowered lashes and then blinked, put up her guard, and turned her full attention to Axel.
Jonah shook his hand out after he shook Axel’s, Johnny’s, and then Dad’s hands. “You men have good grips.” His hand was red, which made Sean feel slightly better about his brothers. The ladies may be taken by a pretty face and a lover’s accent, but his bros would stand with him.
What had Grandpa been thinking inviting her here? Of course she’d bring her fiancé, and of course the men in his family would want to trample the guy for Sean’s sake. The men in his family weren’t exactly known for playing it cool. God bless them for their loyalty.
“I just love your accent,” Mom said. “Where are you from?”
“Thank you, I’m from Sydney,” he said, and his baby freaking blue eyes were piercing. “I love your accent too.”
Mom blushed.
Jonah glanced from Mom to Kate to Polly and Rosa, then Dad and Axel. “I don’t know how you gents get anything done around here with all these pretty sheilas to distract you.”
Mom winked at Blue. “You picked a good one.”
In a move that was all Clayton, Axel pulled Kate back against his chest and wrapped an arm around her, and Dad looped an arm around Mom’s shoulder. Johnny chuckled under his breath. At least someone was amused. If it really came down to it, Johnny would always have his back, but when there was a good chance for some light humiliation, he’d sit back and let this situation play out.
“Though, I could say the same for you blokes.” Jonah made a sweeping gesture around the room, then glanced down at Blue. “What do they put in the water here?”
“Told you.” Blue grinned up at him. “They’re all like that.” She waved a hand indicating Sean’s family.
“Such handsome boys,” Rosa agreed.
Polly nodded as well.
“Good genes,” Gramps said.
Dad dropped his arm from Mom’s shoulder, smiling, clearly flattered by both Jonah and Grandpa’s comment; though Grandpa didn’t mean to compliment him.
“That’s for sure,” Jonah agreed.
For the first time since arriving, Jonah took a good look at Axel.
“Three, two, one” Sean counted under his breath.
“Wait, you’re the Axel.” Jonah’s mouth went slack. “Axel Clayton from The Venturists.”
Axel narrowed his eyes just a fraction.
“I went to your concert in Melbourne four years ago.” Jonah spread a hand out. “Best concert I’ve ever been to. Hands down. Even all these years later.”
“And he likes concerts,” Blue added.
Sean scowled at her. The little vixen knew exactly what she was doing, playing on everyone’s egos as easily as Axel plucked guitar strings.
Kate smiled up at Axel from where she stood in his grasp; like he was the best thing she’d ever seen. “He’s pretty great.”
“ 23 Lions is my favorite song,” Jonah said. “Listening to it live was like feeling the earth move beneath my feet. My mates and I couldn’t stop talking about it for months. Life-altering.”
Axel loosened his grip on Kate, his tense posture eased, and a smile covered his face. “Thank you.” He pointed to Sean. “I wrote that song for Sean.”
Everyone turned to Sean with expectant faces. If it were any other situation, he would have bragged about his unit and made some comment about how honored he was to serve with them. But he couldn’t get his tongue to work. The SEALs were a part of his life he didn’t want this guy anywhere near—they were now the only part of his life that wasn’t Jonah-tainted.
Dad cast looks at himself in the window, obviously pleased with his good genes and Axel stood atop his rock and roll pedestal. At this rate, they’d ship Jonah and Blue before they cut the birthday cake.
Sean had the sudden urge to go into Gramps’ garage and beat his punching bag. To death. If Grandpa hadn’t already killed the thing weeks ago.
Against his better judgment, he looked at Gramps. Gramps was still frowning at Jonah. His shoulders were back and he leaned slightly toward Sean in the biggest show of solidarity he’d ever displayed. Sean straightened, grateful for the support.
“Well, should we get this party started?” Polly called from the kitchen. The group glanced that way, saving Sean from their scrutiny.
People headed back to their seats, and Sean caught Polly and Rosa staring—their gazes darting between Sean and Blue and her Ken doll. Had there ever been a Ken doll that looked like Sean? No.
He scrubbed a hand down his face and rolled his eyes at himself. What was he thinking? Had there ever been a Ken that looked like him, for the love. Who thought things like that? He was losing it. In front of his friends and family. And Polly and Rosa were getting a front-row seat with their knowing gazes.
Jonah kept his hand on Blue’s lower back heading for the chair. He slowed when he saw Bear. Then Sweetie moved, knocking balloons around, and a second later, her green, scaly tail popped out of the sea of pink. Jonah jumped back, yanking Blue behind him, then pointed. “What’s that?
A deep, rumbling growl came from Bear.
Polly rushed forward, kicking balloons out of the way so Bear and Sweetie were visible. “It’s just Bear and Sweetie.”
Rosa was behind Polly lickety-split. “They’re mascots for The Palms. Aren’t they adorable?”
Jonah narrowed his eyes, then smiled wide again—the guy wielded that thing like a weapon, and so far it seemed to work. Every time. “We don’t normally keep alligators as pets where I’m from, but sure, I guess they’re cute.”
At least he hadn’t used Blue as a shield. Though, if he had, it would’ve made it easier to hate the guy, but Sean had to admit, that so far he’d been perfectly nice. He hated that too.
Sean had a flash of an image of Jonah dressed like Crocodile Dundee.
“Are they in costumes?” Jonah frowned.
“Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth,” Rosa said.
“Right,” Jonah said. “ Persuasion . I love that book.”
The women exchanged looks and Kate let out an audible, gusty sigh. Not that he’d thought any of them were ever on his side, but now he knew for sure they weren’t. Sean frowned. Of course Jonah had read Persuasion . Sean hadn’t even known who the characters were.
Jonah let out a loud sneeze, and then another.
“Are you all right?” Mom asked.
“Fine, fine,” he sneezed again. “It’s just that I’m allergic to dogs.”
Blue stared at Jonah, eyes wide, then whispered in his ear. He shook his head and she frowned, quickly turning from him to place her gift on the piano with the others.
“Oh! I can take them outside.” Kate exclaimed and jumped to her feet.
Axel grabbed her hand. “Let Sean do it.”
“Sure thing.” Sean took a deep breath and got a move on—he needed a minute, and this was the perfect excuse to step outside.
“Thanks, Sean,” Kate said.
“Anything for my future sister-in-law.” Sean grabbed Bear’s collar and led him and Sweetie on her tether, through the sea of balloons.
Gramps stood next to the couch, his face a ruddy red, muttering under his breath. Mom reached up and patted his arm.
Sean pushed the screen door open, and out the trio went. “Sorry, guys.” He rubbed Sweetie under the chin and scratched Bear behind the ear. “I know this stinks, but people get priority over animals.” Though Sean’d be willing to bet that what Grandpa had mumbled in there had been something like “they were here first.”
As Sean shut the screen, leaving Bear and Sweetie staring in like party hopefuls. There was something so sad about a dog wearing a cravat and overcoat, staring through a screen with big, brown puppy eyes and a hang-dog expression.
Jonah sat in the armchair with Blue on the armrest, but he pulled her onto his lap the moment Sean laid eyes on them.
Bear let out a whine.
“You and me both, pal,” Sean said and headed for the couch.
Blue tried to wiggle out of his grasp. “I can sit on the armrest. Or the piano bench. It’s right behind us.”
Jonah smiled up at her. “I like you on my lap.”
Kate and Mom swooned. Sean squeezed in on the couch between Kate and the armrest. She scooted down, but with the three massive Clayton brothers shoulder to shoulder, there really wasn’t much room. They all sucked it in, giving Kate enough room to not be squished, but even she was in a tight spot—not quite as tight as the Clayton boys though.
Sean immediately wished he’d sat on the armrest. He’d wanted to be close to Blue without making it look like he was hovering over her and Jonah, but now he just felt squeezed in like a sardine.
“Don,” Polly said. “Rosa and I are heading out.”
“You sure?” Grandpa asked, heading for the women who were still standing near the piano. “There’s plenty of food and cake.”
“Maybe save me a slice of the cake?” Rosa asked, kissing Don on the cheek. “It looks delicioso .”
“Will do.” Don gave Polly a side hug.
They waved to Sean.
“Ladies,” Jonah said, like he’d taken the word right out of Sean’s mouth. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“You too,” Polly said.
“Happy birthday, Sandy,” Rosa said.
“Thank you!”
They headed out the back door.
“Blue,” Mom turned her gaze on Blue. “What have you been up to? It’s been a long time.”
“Not much, really,” Blue said. “I opened a shop downtown.”
“You’re living in Diamond Cove?” Dad asked.
She nodded and squirmed a little in Jonah’s lap.
“She’s too modest,” Jonah said. “She’s very successful. This is her second shop. Her first was in North Carolina, but when we decided to move here before getting married, she sold her old store so she could start a new one here.”
“She was always a go-getter,” Don said.
Blue glanced over her shoulder at Gramps and he winked at her.
“She came to girls’ night a few nights ago,” Kate bubbled. “She was a hit.”
“How’d you two meet?” Johnny asked, signaling between Blue and Jonah. Sean thought he’d rather have his nails ripped out than sit through this, but he put on his best I’m-interested face and listened.
“Base jumping,” Jonah laughed, then kissed Blue’s shoulder.
“Base jumping?” Johnny laughed. “Blue?”
“Yeah, she’s something of an adrenaline junkie,” Jonah said. “The first time I saw her was at the edge of a cliff. My friends and I had just made the summit where the jump was, and she was standing on the edge. She took one look at us and jumped.”
“I didn’t know you were into base jumping.” Dad scooted forward in his seat and grabbed one of the glasses Gramps had placed on the coffee table, pouring himself water from Nonna’s crystal pitcher.
“It’s relatively new,” Blue smiled, and took the pitcher from Dad, pouring her own glass. It had to be a new interest in at least the last ten years, she hadn’t been into any of those things when she and Sean had been dating. Though, Sean wasn’t entirely surprised she did those things. She’d always been brave, and occasionally reckless.
“Not that new.” Jonah smiled up at her. “She’s been doing it for the three years I’ve known her.
Sandy frowned. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
Blue smiled at Mom. “I’m careful.”
“She loves it.” Jonah rubbed her arm. “Base jumping, skydiving, cliff jumping. She just loves the spotlight.”
A little color went to Blue’s cheeks, but she kept her head up.
“She and Nora are planning on going cliff diving together soon,” Kate said. Nora was The Palms’ indoor water aerobics instructor and former Olympic diver hopeful.
“Shall we do presents now?” Gramps asked, picking up a couple from the piano.
“Good idea,” Axel said.
Gramps grabbed a couple of presents off the piano and headed over to Mom with them, but Sean couldn’t help but jump back to their previous topic. Maybe it’d been years since he’d seen Blue, but Jonah was wrong.
“She doesn’t love the spotlight,” Sean said in a near whisper.
Blue faced him, looking at him for the first time since Jonah had pulled her into his lap, and then Jonah looked too.
“What?” Jonah’s smile fell just a little.
Sean spoke louder this time. “Blue doesn’t love the spotlight. I’d agree it loves her, but she doesn’t love it.”
A pregnant pause strung out like a tight wire.
“When was the last time you saw . . . Blue ?” Jonah asked.
Blue turned her head toward him. “Don’t.”
“Ten years,” Sean said.
“Ten years,” Jonah smirked. “Maybe she’s changed?”
Sean clenched his fists at his side. What was he going to do, start an argument? No. That would be dumb. “Maybe,” he said, though it cost him to do it.
Blue’s gaze locked on him, and her jaw clenched.
“What is it you do?” Jonah asked Sean.
The tension in the room was thick. “I own an underwater salvage company.”
“And he’s a retired Navy SEAL,” Gramps added as he gathered up Mom’s gifts. “It’s part of the reason he’s my favorite.”
Sean smirked at the miffed huffs from his brothers.
“Dad!” Dad and Mom cried out together.
Kate snorted under her breath, and Blue sucked her lips in to keep from smiling. It was enough to make Sean grin.
“Grandpa,” Axel said with a dramatic hand to his heart. “That hurts.”
“The truth usually does.” Gramps hauled Mom’s gifts to the coffee table. “He served his country, he’s a responsible, contributing member of this community, and owns his own business.”
“I’m my own brand ,” Axel said.
This time Johnny snorted. “You think that’s going to get Grandpa’s approval?”
“What you do is admirable,” Grandpa said. “I’ve seen it close up, but it’s attention seeking. I wonder if you and Johnny got enough attention as kids.” He scratched his chin, which had a little white stubble on it. First time he’d seen stubble on Gramps’ chin ever.
Kate was silently laughing so hard now, Sean could feel her sides shaking beside him.
“They’re fine, Dad,” Dad said.
Johnny stared past Axel and Kate to Sean. “Why don’t you tell Grandpa what it is you’re looking for right now.”
That’s it, after this was over, Sean wasn’t going to take his anger out on the punching bag, he was taking it out on Johnny. Johnny had an unfortunate habit of sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong and snooping until he got answers. It’s what made him such a good journalist—and a crap brother. He got in. Got his answers. Then blew them up for the world.
Johnny knew all about Ryker. And he knew all about the Rey del Mar and the treasure on it. Sean still wasn’t totally sure how he’d gotten all that information. But Grandpa wouldn’t be happy if he thought Sean was treasure hunting—and he couldn’t tell him what he was really doing or face a court martial.
“Was it some kind of famous ship?” Johnny asked innocently, reclining back on the couch as best he could despite being tight quarters.
“Yeah, Sean, what was it you were looking for again?” Axel asked. He knew too. Johnny’d told him.
Sean glared at his brothers who looked ridiculously smug considering their shoulders were crammed together, their arms squished in their laps.
“The Rey del Mar , right?” Blue asked, taking a sip of water. “Is that it?”
Sean’s spine went ramrod straight.
Jonah laughed. “Please tell me it’s a pirate ship with treasure on it?”
Blue laughed as well. “Sean, a treasure hunter? I don’t think so.”
Johnny smiled. “Well, it’s been ten years since you’ve seen him. Maybe he’s changed.” That sobered Blue up right away. It also made Sean reconsider just how hard and long he was going to pummel his big brother.
“No, he’s right,” Gramps said. “Definitely not a treasure hunter.”
“Just an underwater salvager,” Sean agreed. “Recovering a yacht for a client right now. I did find an old bottle of wine that was apparently worth a few hundred dollars on that one, though.”
“See,” Gramps signaled to him. “No fame and glory-seeking from Sean.”
“Silly me,” Johnny replied.
Jonah’s phone beeped a text, and he quickly pulled it from his pocket and read the message, laughing at it.
Johnny pointed at the phone. “Is that the new—”
“Yes, yes it is.” Jonah finished answering his text and smiled.
“I thought those phones weren’t out for another few months,” Dad said taking interest now too. Dad and Johnny loved technology. Whatever was newest and shiniest caught their eyes.
“How’d you get it?” Johnny asked, moving forward in his seat and squishing Axel who squished into Kate who squished into Sean with her sharp elbow.
Sean groaned.
“Sorry,” Kate said.
“No worries,” Sean said. What was an elbow to the kidney compared to having his heart tromped over?
“Jonah’s a professional extreme sportsman with a hit show on YouTube,” Blue said. “His sponsors got it for him.”
“What’s your show called?” Johnny asked.
“X-Games Xtreme,” Jonah said.
Johnny lifted a butt cheek and carefully extracted his phone. Within seconds, he was doing a search. “Wow, you have over a million subscribers. That’s impressive.” He turned on a video. “Whoa!” He turned his phone to Axel. “You seeing this?”
And now he’d for sure lost Johnny.
Jonah turned to Sean. “My phone’s waterproof. I bet you have a waterproof phone.”
Sean nodded. He didn’t brag about it, though. In his world, it was a necessity. Admittedly, his was nowhere near as fancy as Jonah’s.
“It’s waterproof?” Dad asked.
“Those don’t work,” Johnny said and finished watching a video. “They’re water resistant but not submersible.”
Jonah’s brows shot up. “You think?”
Johnny put his phone on the coffee table. “Who’s going to throw their phone in some water to test it?”
Jonah stood, lifting Blue off his lap as he went. He reached across the coffee table and dropped his phone in Nonna’s crystal pitcher.
The room went silent.
“Call it,” Jonah said.
“Jonah!” Blue snapped.
“Call it,” Jonah repeated.
Johnny picked up his phone and Jonah rattled off the number. Jonah’s phone started ringing from inside the glass of water. Little bubbles drifted up from the sides.
“See,” Jonah said. “It’s part of the reason I requested it. We occasionally do water stunts, and it’s nice to not have to worry about it.”
“You making a lot of underwater calls?” Axel asked.
Blue laughed.
The ringing abruptly died off, and every phone in the room, including Jonah’s in the water, had the emergency alert go off. Long low-pitched whines, coming one after the other.
“What is that?” Mom asked.
Sean whipped his phone from his pocket just as everyone else did. On his home screen, it read:
Emergency Alert
National Weather Service: A HURRICANE WARNING is in effect for this area for dangerous and damaging winds. This warning is issued up to 36 hours before hazardous conditions begin. Urgently complete efforts to protect life and property. Have food, water, cash, fuel, and medications for 3+ days. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS.
One after the other, the alarm started to turn off as each person in the room looked at their phones. It was only seconds after the alarm went off that an urgent text came through on Sean’s phone.
He stood up and moved closer to the piano, and out of the way of possible prying eyes.
Gray: Are you seeing this?
Sean: Yes.
Gray had sent the alert, along with video clipping from the local news station. At this point, the hurricane was projected to be between a category three and four, with wind speeds between one-hundred-and-twenty and one-hundred-and-forty miles per hour. Those numbers would climb as the storm got closer.
Gray: If we don’t get the treasure off that ship now, the currents from the hurricane could sweep it out to sea.
No one knew that better than Sean. Even normal currents could seriously change a wreck sight.
Sean: Meet up in thirty minutes.
Gray would gather the team at Bob’s Underwater Salvage.
“Everything all right?” Axel asked from behind him.
Sean turned. Everyone was standing now, talking through their next steps. He shot a look in Grandpa’s direction.
Johnny came up behind Axel. “You’ve got to go?”
He did but he didn’t want to leave Gramps. If something happened to him, he’d never forgive himself.
“This isn’t like the time Grandma broke her hip,” Axel said, catching Sean’s attention and making his stomach wrench. “First of all, that wasn’t your fault–”
Sean was pretty sure Nonna’s hip was his fault. Grandpa had asked him to stay with her one afternoon a few months after she’d been diagnosed, but he’d been on duty and hadn’t been able to get there.
“It’s not your fault either,” Johnny said, glancing at Axel. Axel had been on his first world tour and dealt with some of the same feelings of guilt Sean did.
Axel’s posture tightened, but he ignored Johnny and continued. “And second, you have backup now.”
Johnny nodded. “We’ll take care of Gramps; you go find your treasure.”
“So there really is a treasure?” Jonah asked. “Crickey. That’s exciting.”
They all shot looks in his direction, but Sean’s gaze dropped to Blue. She and Jonah stood just to the side of where he and his brothers were talking, her indigo eyes wide with worry.
“Yeah, there’s a treasure,” Sean said, tearing his gaze off Blue and pinning it to Jonah with a big smirk. “It’s called Bob’s Underwater Salvage and it’s right on the water. I’ve got to get it locked down before the hurricane hits. And I have a boat on the water to secure.”
“He’s so proud of his baby,” Axel said in a mocking tone. “Bob.”
“Who’s Bob?” Jonah asked.
“The guy I bought my company from,” Sean said. His gaze dropped to Blue, to the way Jonah held her close at his side, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He looked at Jonah. “Good to meet you.”
“You too, mate,” Jonah said.
“Take good care of her,” Sean said, grabbing a couple beignets of the piano before weaving through the crowd to his mom. He thought he heard Bell say his name, but it was too quiet to be sure. He kissed his mom on the cheek. “I’ve got to run. Happy birthday.”
Mom patted him on his cheek. “Be safe.”
“You too.”
Gramps pointed to the beignets and whispered. “Do you really need those?”
Sean shoved one in his mouth and chewed, enjoying the burst of powdered donut, cream cheese, and strawberries on his tongue as Grandpa gave him a disapproving look that only made Sean chuckle. It eased a little of the building tension in him. He’d needed that laugh—and beignet—and Gramps was always good for a laugh.
Swallowing what was left of his first beignet, Sean turned to the group and said his goodbyes quick-like before heading out the door and shoving the last beignet in his mouth. Bear and Sweetie still sat on the porch. Bear looked more hangdog than when he and Sweetie were separated when Aaron had gone on his honeymoon with Cocoa last year. Bear did not like being left out of things. He lifted a paw as Sean passed, and Sean stopped to scratch him behind the ears.
“Stay here, buddy,” Sean warned, then rubbed Sweetie under her smooth, leathery chin with his other hand as he continued to scratch behind Bear’s ear. “You guys don’t want to get lost before a hurricane.”
The screen door screeched open, and Sean glanced up just as Blue stepped out.
“I’m sorry, Sean,” she said.
He turned his attention back to the animals, nuzzling into his touch. It was easier than looking at Blue and feeling his heart ripping out of his chest. “What for?” Sean found an itch spot under Bear’s chin and Bear started thumping the ground with his back foot with one loud thud after another.
“I shouldn’t have come,” she said.
Sean stood and faced her. “Why did you?”
She folded her arms in front of her chest, and the movement made her look so small and fragile. He wanted to scoop her up and hold her. Reassure her that everything would be all right, but she wasn’t his to do that for anymore. “Your grandpa invited me and I wanted to see your family. They always treated me so well.”
“They love you,” Sean said matter-of-factly.
“I know they do,” she said, brushing a lock of her spun gold and silver chin length strands behind her ear.
Taking a deep breath, Sean braced himself and stepped forward, placing a hand on her arm—the temptation to rub his thumb over her silky skin was strong, but he refrained. “I’m glad you came. So are they. It’s been too long.”
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable,” she said, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I just . . . “
He dropped his hand. “It’s been ten years, Blue, but I’m never going to be comfortable seeing you with anyone else.”
Her mouth fell open, and everything in him told him to kiss her. Instead, he took a step back, reminding himself that she belonged to someone else now, and of all the responsibilities he had hanging on his shoulders.
He had less than thirty-six hours to get all the treasures off the Rey Del Mar or it could be lost forever, he had an entire country, not just Ryker, depending on him and his team, and he was short two men—of all the times command demanded Liam and Mack come in, it would be during a hurricane. If a ship being stuck in a reef with a hurricane fast approaching wasn’t the definition of being stuck between a rock and a hard place, he didn’t know what was.
Sean turned his back on Blue.
“Sean,” she called after him as he headed down the path.
“It was good to see you, Blue,” he called over his shoulder, then went into a jog. He had to get out of here—away from Blue as fast as he could. Also, a box of strudels called his name.