Authors: Emma Taylor
Gabe clicked off the television. He and Mason looked at each other, relief evident on both their faces. After months on the run, they could finally relax and settle down. Mason winked at Stacy, enjoying the slight blush that creeped across her collar bone every time he did that. She was easily embarrassed, though it didn’t show in the bedroom.
Her cell phone rang, and an official-sounding man asked for Stacy.
“This is she.” She listened to the man speak, nodding several times, though he couldn’t see her. “I understand. I’ll be in Monday to sign the documents. Thank you.”
She hung up, a bewildered expression on her face.
“What was that about?”
“Brad. He left his entire estate to me.”
“His estate?”
“Yes. He was such a recluse. Apparently, he’s a millionaire with no family and I’m his sole beneficiary. I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Gabe wrapped his arms around her. “You can donate the money if you don’t want it, none of us need it. Mason and I both have plenty, and with three adults in one household—”
Stacy looked at him, pulling away to search his eyes. “What are you saying?”
“You don’t think that either of us is going to step aside and let the other have you, do you?”
“Well—”
Stacy was speechless. How had a “welcome to the neighborhood” basket turned into this? She smiled. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t choose, and was glad that she wouldn’t have to. She beamed at Gabe before resting her head on his broad chest. She felt Mason reach out and set his good hand on her thigh. She had no idea how this was going to work out, but she knew she was right where she needed to be.
THE END
Bonus Story 6 of 20
It was freezing cold out that night on the base. The official start of winter was less than three weeks away and already I couldn’t wait for spring. As I stood outside of the clinic I wondered if the Pride Team had made it in yet for their pre-deployment rigors. SEAL Team Thirteen had an operation to carry out near D.C. and that’s the most I knew about their mission. As one of the on base medics I was just to stand by for any injuries that would come through.
With these highly trained guys it was a rarity that I had actually to operate on one. Especially Team Thirteen. They were almost superhuman and I was fairly certain that really was the case. Nearly a year ago I had seen a couple members of ‘Pride Team’ go out for a really late run. The late run wasn’t that unusual; but before they left their campus grounds I saw them morph into lions. Just like that. As lions, they took off towards the base’s outskirts and the coast.
I kept what I knew a secret of course. I was freaked out and scared by what I’d seen so I never confronted any of the team about it. This time around I was more morbidly curious and looking forward to having them on the base again. I planned on pulling one of them aside and asking about what I saw. I was stone cold sober and a doctor for Christ’s sake, so I knew what I saw was real.
A man’s voice called out. “Hey, what you doing out here apart from freezing your ass off?” It was my partner in crime, Wendell. He joined me outside and pulled out a cigarette from his windbreaker.
“Just breathing in the cold, meanwhile you’re breathing in the death,” I commented. Wendell laughed and then choked on the cigarette smoke he had inhaled.
“You know I only smoke every once in a while. Ever since you said you like my ‘tinge’ of cigarette scent.” I laughed at Dell’s lame attempt to flirt. He was the other trauma surgeon on site and had been trying to get me to date him ever since we started working together years ago.
“I also said, that could be replaced if you took up being a barista part-time.” Dell snorted and took another long drag on his cigarette.
“This is easier.” He grinned at me playfully and I rolled my eyes. “So what are you doing out here really? I know you hate the cold. Trying to get a glimpse of the hunky
SEAL
officers?” Dell’s tone was sarcastic which made me grin.
“No, I…just have nothing better to do,” was my excuse. Dell was right though; I was trying to get a glimpse of them as they arrived on campus. Maybe they’d decide to go for a run and shift again. Seeing that a second time would only strengthen my resolve to get to the bottom of Team Thirteen’s secret.
“Got that right. Though once their pre-deployment training starts up we
might
get a pulled hamstring or two,” Dell said, master of the sarcasm tonight. It wasn’t like the SEAL teams were the only people on campus. There were other navy officers and plenty of recruits going through the rigors of training. It’s just that all the men and women here were highly qualified and often didn’t make mistakes that would put them in the clinic.
“Well don’t be so bitter about it Dell, that’s a
good
thing,” I reminded him. Dell grunted before finishing the rest of his cigarette. He flicked it to the pavement and ground out the light.
“In any event, I can’t wait until we go off duty. Then I can finally ask you on an actual date.” Dell smirked at me, his eyebrows lifted confidently. I rolled my eyes at Dell and turned to head inside. “Oh c’mon Lina, it’s been long enough of your rejecting me, even you have to admit,” Dell was almost pleading and that was a definite turn off for me.
“Exactly Dell, I think it’s time you moved on. There are tons of nurses and a couple other doctors who would kill for you to ask them out,” I told him as we walked into the clinic. Dell sighed, longsuffering, and I hid my smile. I knew that somewhere deep down he really did like me, but I didn’t have any strong feelings for him. Dell and I were better as friends and I wished he would just leave it at that.
“Yeah, but that’s why
you
drive me crazy girl. You couldn’t give two fucks about my feelings. You’re a damn challenge woman,” Dell grumbled. I sighed and turned around to grip his shoulders firmly.
“We’re friends Dell. Just friends.” I kept eye contact with Dell until I saw that he finally got it. “Now we have to go and…pretend to do work,” I added to lighten the mood. Dell laughed appropriately and I let his shoulders go, a small sigh of relief leaving my lips.
“Yes we do. Hey, don’t forget to show up at the cafeteria later. We’re going to celebrate doc Reese’s birthday tonight,” Dell reminded me as we headed to the trauma wing. Dell and I usually hung out at the nurse’s station when nothing was going on. We’d all share stories and goof around mostly, everyone in the trauma wing were like family. On our own individual tours we had seen atrocities that people suffered and died from, as well as suffered and survived from.
That day, instead of joining in on the various conversations around me, I mostly thought of the time. Team Pride was due to arrive in thirty minutes; of course they had work to do right away to prepare for the situation near DC. But I was looking forward to running into at least
one
of them near the SEAL campus.
*****
It was almost one in the morning and I was freezing with the Virginia sea breeze coming directly off the coast. Call me crazy, but I decided to take a late jog that was decidedly far away from my house. In fact it was close to the place I saw the two Pride Team members shift into lions. I’d jogged a few miles of the ten-mile path when I realized I needed to start running more often. I was nearly wheezing at that point and only had my legs to carry me back home.
I was taking a breather, hands over my head while I tried to drag air into my lungs, when I saw him. He was jogging towards me; well of course he had to jog towards me as he was running along the path just like I was. It was dark so I really couldn’t make out any solid features until he was right in front of me.
“Good evening ma’am, nice night for a run isn’t it?” He stopped jogging to greet me and I almost forgot how to speak for a second as I took him in. He was shirtless in the forty-degree weather and wore only fatigue pants and boots. He was tall, as are most SEALs, and very well-built with defined muscle. His skin was golden from many jogs under the sun, and his dark brown hair was in a standard crew cut. His features were traditionally handsome, right down to the angular jaw and cleft chin. To say he was gorgeous would definitely be an understatement.
“Uh—um, yes it is…nice and cool,” I stammered. I really needed to pull myself together. I had a hard time trying to form words though as my eyes kept gravitating between his chest, his soft looking lips, and his bright hazel eyes…though they were more tan than hazel.
“You know they won’t let you past a certain point along the path, you’ll need clearance as the SEAL facilities are just around the bend there.” I glanced behind him and took in the density of the trees on either side of the path. I should have realized I was getting closer to the SEAL campus as trees replaced the wide-open views of lit buildings, the marina, and ocean.
“Oh, I hadn’t noticed. I was kind of preoccupied,” I said, recovering from my earlier stuttering mishap. He gave me a knowing smile which made his face that much more handsome.
“I know what you mean, a good jog always puts me in the zone. I’ll just keep going and going if I’m not careful.” He chuckled and I almost got lost in the sound. Really, why was he so dazzling? “I’m Michael Lawson, SEAL Team Thirteen officer,” he introduced himself formally and took my hand to shake.
“I’m Lina—Lina Ross, Medical Officer,” I replied succinctly. Michael smiled at me as if he was pleased I gave him my name. It was only common courtesy. Then I realized that he said he was a SEAL. My eyes widened and my heart picked up its pace. This was what I was after! A Pride Team member was standing right in front of me…and was still holding onto my hand as a matter of fact.
“It’s nice to meet you Lina. Would you like to have some company while you finish your jog? You know it isn’t safe to be alone out here so late at night. Even if we are on a naval base,” Michael said with mild disapproval to his tone. This was turning out better than I thought; he wanted to jog with me. I wondered how I would bring up my many questions about his being some sort of lion shifter.
“Sure, that’s very gentlemanly of you Michael,” I smiled up at him and he finally let my hand go. I turned around and jogged with him back towards the start of the path. By the time we got to the beginning of the trail I had successfully gotten enough exercise to last the rest of the month.
“You know, it would actually count as training if I carried you back to where you’re housed,” Michael said with clear humor in his voice. He was making fun of my being out of shape.
“You know Michael, I’m one of the
few
doctors who works in the nearest clinic to your compound there. If anything happens, God forbid, you wouldn’t want to have had insulted the closest trauma surgeon.” Michael actually laughed at my warning. I rolled my eyes and smiled reluctantly.
“It isn’t
my
fault that you’re out of shape Lina—I mean ma’am. Wouldn’t want to be too presumptuous with the nearest trauma surgeon that might have my life in her hands one day,” Michael teased. I inclined my head regally as if he was absolutely right and Michael laughed again. He had a nice sounding laugh. It reminded me of hot chocolate, or maybe honey—smooth and soothing.
“So where are you from Michael?” I asked nonchalantly. It would be too indelicate if I started asking him the hard questions first.
“I’m from right here in Virginia,” he replied. Well that was anti-climactic. I figured he’d be from somewhere exotic, though he did have a real American accent, so it was hard to doubt he was telling the truth.
“Does your family live in the state as well?” I asked curiously, maybe
they
came from somewhere exotic and had moved to the US with their family of lion shifters.
“Yes ma’am they do. Though it’s just my parents and baby sister here, my grandparents moved to the US from South Africa. So most of my extended family lives there.” I hid my smug smile, I was right, and I was getting somewhere, finally.
“Wow so have you been to South Africa at all?” I was genuinely curious about anything having to do with travel. One of the reasons I joined the Navy was so that I could travel and experience the different cultures out in the world.
“I have a few times. In fact once my leave comes around I’ll be travelling there with my family to visit,” he answered, obliviously. Michael really had no idea that I had seen two lion shifters near their compound. He was most likely one of the two SEALs I had witnessed and I was sure I would find out.
*****
We reached my car, which I parked at the nearest commissary building to the SEAL campus. Before I unlocked my car door I paused and looked up at Michael. I hadn’t asked him nearly half of the questions I had planned to ask yet.
“So do you have any plans for lunch tomorrow Lina?” I thought about his question for a moment. “Come on now, don’t break my heart ma’am,” he said. I realized that I really liked him calling me ma’am. It sent a small thrill up my spine every time he did.
“I don’t, why do you ask?” I gave him a coy smile and Michael grinned at me almost predatorily.
“I’d like to take you for lunch if that’s okay with you?” He was nothing if not respectful and that’s just something every sailor had to learn early on. I pursed my lips and thought about his request. Michael didn’t seem put off by my toying with him, in fact his eyes had brightened and he took a step closer to me. I took a step back, but was stopped by my car.
“Yeah I think lunch is okay with me. You taking me isn’t so bad either,” I said with a smirk. Michael chuckled and curled a lock of my tousled hair around his finger. My hair was pulled into a ponytail and his gesture forced me to keep eye contact with him. Suddenly the air felt charged and I was drawn into him and all I could think about was how his lips would feel against mine.
“It’s a date then Lina,” was his simple response before he bent down to kiss me softly on the cheek. The small contact awakened goose bumps on my skin and my cheek felt as if it had been branded. Michael let loose my hair before taking a step back so I could get into my car. While I drove the short distance from the naval base to my house I wondered how he’d find me if I didn’t give him my cell phone number. Well I did tell him that I worked in the clinic nearest the SEAL campus.
I was preoccupied with my thoughts as I got home and made my way up to the bathroom for a shower. How would I bring up the fact that I knew Pride Team’s secret? Would Michael have to kill me because I knew? Was it even a good idea to confront him about what I witnessed? Well if we have lunch around people tomorrow then I’d definitely ask him. He couldn’t kill me out in broad daylight.
I showered and then got ready for bed. Soon after I lay down on my soft mattress though, I realized I was looking forward to tomorrow too much. I would never get any sleep at this rate. I sighed and then tossed and turned for about an hour before my mind finally allowed me to rest.
* * *
I woke up the next day already impatient for my lunch hour to come around. As I got ready for work I realized that I had to come up with an excuse for Dell. We usually had lunch together everyday and I really didn’t know how he felt over my formally rejecting him for a date.