Chapter Twenty-Three
Carefully, Sarah held newborn Cannon in her arms. She exclaimed over his soft skin, his delicious baby scent. “Oh, Becca,” she said to her sister-in-law. “He’s so adorable. So—so incredibly sweet.”
After breakfast, she and Ben had left his condo and driven directly to Rio and Becca’s home. Now holding the baby, she grinned like an idiot, but it didn’t matter. She was an aunt now, and she was going to be the very best aunt on the entire planet.
“They’re good babies,” Becca said, gently rocking her twin son, Brock.
Her hair, sleek and dark, framed her pretty face.
“Unfortunately, I’m not making enough milk for them both.
So we have to trade off every feeding. One gets me, and the other gets a bottle from Rio. The next feeding, we switch them.”
“That would be tiring,” Sarah said. “I want to help you,” she whispered, leaning in, “but they won’t let me.” She cut her eyes to Rio and Ben exchanging man talk in the kitchen, where Rio had brewed a pot of morning coffee and they drank leaning against the counter.
Becca sighed. “Rio told me you offered. And thank you. But they know what they’re doing, keeping you close to Ben. And they’ll catch that guy threatening you, don’t worry. In the meantime, just follow Ben’s orders, okay? We want you safe so these little boys can grow up loving their auntie.”
“I want to visit a lot,” Sarah said, “and please come up to the ranch often. We’ll take them horseback riding and for rides on the John Deere. Boys love that.”
Becca laughed. “Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves? They’ll be infants for a while, you know.” She loosened her top. I need to nurse Brock now.” Placing a receiving blanket over Brock’s head, she kept her modesty preserved.
In the kitchen, Sarah heard a bottle warming timer ding, and Rio came in to casually hand her a bottle and then go back to the kitchen.
Thrilled she would get to feed the baby, she tested the temperature of the formula, found it acceptable, and gently teased the nipple past Cannon’s lips. “Oh! Look at his little rosebud mouth.”
Holding the helpless child, giving him sustenance so he could grow strong and healthy, Sarah felt an inner peace, a rightness in the world which she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
A new baby represented the future in all its bright wonder and possibility.
Her eyes grew misty and she cuddled him.
A deep yearning grew in her belly. One day, would she be able to hold a child of her own? Would she ever be so lucky to become a parent?
She looked up and found Ben in the doorway, his attention focused on her.
Rio was behind him, on the other side of the kitchen, rinsing the coffee mugs.
“You look good holding a baby,” Ben said. His voice was deep, slow, and intense. In the depths of his hazel eyes, living green flames caught fire, came to life.
Sarah swore she could feel their warmth on her skin. She met his gaze with a direct one of her own.
He moved to sit close beside her on the sofa. His thigh touched hers, and his chest pressed into her arm. Leaning in, he studied the infant’s face, and surprising her, he smiled.
Sarah’s breath caught. She’d seen him grin before, of course, but this was the first time his lips had curled in such tender emotion.
Fine lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled.
With his index finger, he touched the child’s velvety cheek.
With his face only inches from hers, he lifted his gaze to hers, and she could not look away.
“You’ll make a wonderful mother,” he said.
Sarah swallowed. Hard. She felt as though she was melting inside. A deep, sensual pull enveloped her.
Yet somehow, in a way she couldn’t yet define, she found his intelligence, and yes, tenderness, even more erotic.
“Wow.” The soft utterance came from the young mother, still nursing her child.
Becca’s eyes were round as salad plates, her mouth slightly open, as her gaze swung from Ben to Sarah and back again.
“I’ve just delivered two basketballs, so in no way am I feeling sexy right now.
Although the heat generated between you two could melt steel. ” She fanned her face. “Phew.”
Rio came into the room to sit beside his wife. “Sooner or later, I knew that would happen,” he said, peering under the concealing blanket at his baby. “Just a matter of time.”
Sarah focused on the child in her arms. “Don’t be silly,” she muttered, embarrassed.
Still pressed close to her side, Ben denied nothing.
Becca smiled at her husband. “I’ve never asked you this, but what is the origin of your name? Why’d your dad decide on something as unusual as Rio?”
Rio and Sarah exchanged smiles. He said, “Dad says he saw a TV special on Rio de Janeiro. It showed beautiful beaches and unusually shaped mountains. He’s always wanted to go there.”
“Yet he knows he never will,” Sarah filled in. “So, he named his son, Rio.”
“Cool,” Becca said. “Mystery solved.”
****
Late in the morning, they arrived at Paxton Security to find fifteen military-aged males already there.
Some were wearing camouflage, some street clothing.
A number of them were clearly packing. They stood around the office while Marge and the others tried to restore order.
Everyone was talking. The office was pandemonium.
Two dogs, held on leashes, sat obediently, panting.
Taking it all in, Ben stood in the open doorway, his feet spread wide, his arms hanging loosely at his sides.
Sensing that something was about to happen, Sarah eased past him and went to linger in his private office where she could view the proceedings but be out of the way. As she moved through the crowd, every male watched her progress. She refused to meet anyone’s eyes and quietly took a chair.
“Welcome,” Ben said in a deep, loud voice, gaining the group’s attention. He remained in the doorway, silhouetted against the morning sun. Putting his hands on his hips, he said, “I’m Ben Paxton. We’ve been preparing for your arrival, and I’m looking forward to getting to know each of you well.”
A few of the men murmured hellos. A couple crossed their arms, taking Ben’s measure.
Through the open door, Sarah observed them. Obviously, they were all cut from the same alpha male cloth, yet each with his own particular ideas and opinions. She could see that it was going to take a strong leader to corral them.
“Now,” Ben told them, his voice ringing with authority, “we’re going to process you one at a time. Marge has forms for you to fill out. Sunny and Linda will give you training schedules.” He indicated the frazzled women. “Tulip will put you on the payroll.”
“Question!” One slender man in chinos raised a finger in the air.
Ben leveled a direct gaze on him. “Your name?”
“Stevens, Sir. My question.” His gaze slid to where Sarah was peeking out from Ben’s office. “Is that Sarah Lang?”
“Sarah,” Ben said in clipped tones, “is under my personal protection and the protection of this firm. She’s been threatened by a dangerous member of the public, and law enforcement has yet to locate or identify him.
At this point, none of you need concern yourself with that.
From now on, you’ll be too busy to wonder about her, think about her, or even cast a glance in her direction.
” His gaze turned into a glare. “Is that understood, Stevens?”
Stevens dropped his eyes and nodded. “Sir.”
“Do you have some area of expertise?”
“Communications, Sir,” Stevens replied promptly. “If it has a signal, I can operate it.”
“Good. We can use your skills.” Ben allowed his gaze to fall, in turn, on each man. “Respect for and between employees of this firm is of paramount importance. That goes from you to each other, to the office staff, and to me. In turn, it will also go from me to you.”
A few of the men glanced at each other and seemed to approve.
“We do work collaboratively here,” he went on, “but first and foremost, you’ll answer to me. This isn’t a big firm. Yet. We’re growing and you are now an important part of that growth. You’ll be expected to conform to our standards, and they may well be higher than other places you’ve worked.”
One of the beefier guys stepped forward, a big, muscled man with a shaved head and arms covered with tattoos. His chin tipped up. “I’m Franklin. What makes you think your standards are higher than the firm we come from?”
“Franklin, I don’t know if they are,” Ben answered. “We’ll find out. Physical fitness is prized here. So is expertise and safety with firearms.” He paused. “Did you serve?”
“Marine recon,” Franklin said, a note of belligerence in his voice.
Unexpectedly, Ben grinned. “Marine, you’re welcome here.”
“You?” Franklin spat the word.
“SEAL Team Three. Twelve years.”
The marine’s manner subtly changed. He gave a respectful nod.
“I run a tight ship.” Ben let that sink in. “What I want to know right now is this: are you all on board?”
Nods and hooyahs erupted without a single negative reply. Even the men who’d crossed their arms seemed to have relaxed. Marge and Linda smiled. Order was being restored and Sarah could see their relief.
The new guys started chatting among themselves and lining up at different desks to fill out forms. Ben moved among them.
Sarah watched it all in admiration. Managing men was a skill, a gift, and Ben apparently was chock full of talent. She could easily imagine him commanding a SEAL platoon. He would give the order, and that order would be unquestioned.
She found it strangely alluring but suspected she shouldn’t be surprised. Ben Paxton was the Lead Alpha among alphas.
In the past six months, ever since the awful incident, Sarah had kept herself aloof from romantic entanglements. She simply hadn’t been able to cope with one more thing.
Now, she glanced out the doorway again and found Ben studying a clipboard. As though he felt her eyes on him, he looked up and caught her. Surprising her again, he gave her a slow wink.
Her heart fluttered.
Despite herself, she smiled. Oh boy.
She was in trouble.