Hot SEALs: Protecting Julie (Kindle Worlds) (SEAL of Protection Book 0) (8 page)

They took off back toward Coronado at a much slower pace than they’d left. Patrick still hadn’t moved from the bottom of the boat, and thus Julie hadn’t either.

The trip back was relatively silent until Wolf said, suddenly and somewhat bizarrely, “Does Johnnie know who you are, Julie?”

She raised her head and looked at Wolf. “What do you mean? He knows my name is Julie, but if you’re asking if I gave my phone number to a five-year-old when we were treading water in the middle of the ocean, the answer is no.”

“So his mom won’t be able to find you to thank you.”

“Probably not, unless she really digs. But so what? I didn’t jump my ass into the ocean to get accolades. I did it to save Johnnie. He’s what mattered He’s a five-year-old kid who let his curiosity get the better of him. He made a mistake. He didn’t do it on purpose.” Julie was slightly miffed that Wolf would think she’d demand thanks from Johnnie’s mother, until she saw the smile on his face. She looked over at Cookie who was driving, and he too was smiling.

She turned to Patrick, only to see a smile as big as she’d ever seen creep across his face as well. “What the hell are you all smiling about?”

“You didn’t do it for thanks. You did it to save a life. Was it worth it?” Cookie asked.

Slowly Julie understood. “Yeah,” she breathed, “it was worth it.”

“So, you’re welcome, Julie. You now know firsthand that we don’t do what we do for thanks. We do it because it needs to be done. Just as you did today.”

Cookie’s words sank in, but Julie couldn’t let it go completely. Almost, but not quite yet. “But sometimes, the person you saved
needs
to say thanks.”

“Then say it so we can be done with it and we can all move on.”

Julie smiled. She couldn’t be pissed. “Then thank you, Cookie. And Wolf, thank you for getting my ass out of that hellhole.”

“Again, you’re welcome. Now we’re done with that, yeah?” Wolf asked with mock impatience.

“We’re done.”

“Good.”

“Relax, sweetheart,” Patrick said into her ear as he pulled her into him again. “You’ve had a hard day, let me take care of you.”

“I can do that.” She smiled into Patrick’s neck and let him take her weight. It felt right, being in his arms. She was where she was meant to be, and it was a pretty damn good place to end up.

Julie tried not to hyperventilate. The company picnic had been postponed; there was no way Patrick wanted to put any of the people under his command in danger. The rip current was gone, but no one wanted to take a chance on another while their families were enjoying a day at the beach.

After the boats had arrived at the training area at Coronado, Patrick had helped her to his office, sat her on a chair, and told her he’d be back in two minutes to take her home. He’d been true to his word. He’d returned and, without a word, picked her up, even though she’d insisted she could walk, and taken her back to his place.

She’d showered and put on a pair of his sweats, which were huge on her, and a SEAL T-shirt. Patrick had made her drink a full bottle of water to replace some of the fluids she’d lost out in the ocean, and they’d both crawled onto his bed even though it was only five o’clock in the afternoon.

Julie sighed, remembering how safe she’d felt wrapped in Patrick’s arms, under his covers, wearing his clothes, snug as a bug in a rug. She’d fallen asleep and hadn’t woken up until the next morning, when Patrick kissed her forehead before he’d gotten out of bed.

Apparently her conversation in the boat with Cookie and Wolf had indicated to Patrick that she was ready to talk to the rest of the team—and Fiona. He’d informed her, after another shower and while they were eating yogurt and bagels for breakfast that he’d arranged a team meeting that morning.

Julie had tried to protest, but Patrick had stopped her by asking two questions.

“Do you want to be with me? To see where this can go between us?”

Her answer was immediate. “Yes.”

“Then we need to be there at ten. The guys will meet us there, and Fiona is coming over at ten-thirty.”

So now it was time. Julie was sitting in a surprisingly comfortable chair in a large meeting room at Patrick’s building. The leather chair squeaked a bit as she shifted nervously and tried not to freak out and run screaming from the room. But she wanted this. She did. It was why she’d spoken to Missy and Zane back in Virginia in the first place. Why she’d wanted to track down the SEALs. She wanted to move on.

Patrick was sitting next to her, looking amazing in his battle dress uniform. Julie hadn’t gotten to fully appreciate it the day before in the middle of her rescue. He was there to support her, to make sure his men didn’t say or do anything that would hurt her further. He’d told her they wouldn’t, but he was still there, having her back.

The door opened, and Julie watched as Cookie, Wolf, and four other men entered. Four sat in various chairs around the table in the room, while Cookie and one other man stayed standing, leaning again one of the walls.

Julie didn’t beat around the bush; she started right in, deciding that drawing it out wasn’t the best course of action for her rapidly beating heart and her psyche.

“Thank you for coming down to Mexico to rescue me. I know you did it because of my dad, but I appreciate it nonetheless. I’ve already had this talk with Cookie and Wolf, and I realize you probably don’t need or want my thanks, but you have it anyway. I know it was your job, and you’ve done it before and you’ll probably do it again, but please know that even though I looked unimpressed and acted like a selfish child, I appreciate it more than you’ll know.”

Julie then turned to Cookie. “And I said it to you yesterday, and I’ll say it again today in front of your teammates. I’m sorry about how I acted. I was scared and hurting. That’s no excuse, because I know Fiona was too and she didn’t act like me. The thing I’m most ashamed of is trying to get you to leave that stupid hut without telling you someone else was there too.” Julie looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap under the table. She dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to gather the courage to say what she needed to say. Patrick put his hand over hers and squeezed, letting her know he was there for her.

She looked up into Cookie’s eyes. “It doesn’t change anything that happened or anything I said or did, but I’m trying to be a better person.”

Cookie put her out of her misery. “As I told you yesterday, Julie, you’re welcome. I can’t lie; you weren’t the most enjoyable person to be with in the jungle, and I did have a hard time forgiving you for almost allowing me to leave Fiona there. But, she didn’t get left. She’s here, alive, and she’s doing great. I don’t need your thanks or your apology, but they’re appreciated all the same.”

Julie sagged in relief. Again, though they’d kind of already had this conversation yesterday in the boat, him accepting her apology and her thanks in front of his comrades somehow made it different. More official. She nodded at him, grateful.

The other man standing against the wall spoke up as well. “I’m Dude, and you’re right, Julie. No thanks are necessary, but to be honest, it’s nice to hear every once in a while.” He came over to where she was sitting and held out his hand. Julie put hers into it and was surprised when he pulled her out of her chair and into his arms for a big bear hug. “I’m glad you’re changing your life around.”

The other men in the room also came over and hugged her, each accepting her thanks in a personal way. Afterwards, they filed out of the room. Finally it was Cookie’s turn. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. “You ready?”

Julie knew what he meant. She nodded.

He walked to the door and looked out and gestured to someone. Fiona came into view and Julie watched as Cookie took hold of her hand and held it as she entered the room. Cookie closed the door behind them.

Again, knowing she had to jump right in, Julie immediately apologized. “I’m sorry I was a bitch, Fiona. You did nothing but try to help me out there. You were gracious and even though you were suffering, you still tried to comfort me. I threw it in your face, making fun of your counting and even being greedy with the food. I played into your insecurities about not being the one they were there to rescue. It was inexcusable and I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know.” Julie’s words were rushed, as if she thought Fiona would butt in and cut her off before she could get them out.

“Apology accepted,” Fiona said easily.

Julie’s eyes welled with tears and she bit her lip, trying to control herself. She felt Patrick’s hand on her back, caressing and reassuring her.

Fiona went on. “I didn’t expect to see you in your store. It was a shock and I didn’t know what to think or feel. I think I owe
you
an apology for the way my friends handled the situation.”

Julie began to interrupt her, but Fiona held up her hand. “Let me finish. In Caroline and Alabama’s defense, I’d had a flashback when I got home after Mexico, and I took off. I thought I was back there, and there were men chasing me. No one knew where I was and I totally freaked my friends out. I know they thought seeing you would bring on another flashback and they only wanted to make sure I was safe. It wasn’t really about you, Julie.”

Julie shook her head sadly. “But they know about me.”

Fiona nodded slowly. “Yeah. I told them some of what happened down there. It’s what friends do.”

It was Julie who nodded this time. “I know. I’ll apologize to them too. I’ll apologize to anyone you want me to, Fiona. I admire the hell out of you. You survived so much more than me. I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

“Yes, you would. I was just like you, Julie. Exactly like you. At first I was ready and willing to do whatever they said so they’d stop hurting me and hopefully let me go. But slowly I realized they weren’t going to let me go, so I started fighting them. You would’ve gotten to that point too. I know it. Look at you now. You have a will of steel. You not only braved Hunter and the other guys, but me too.”

The two women smiled at each other. Julie knew they’d never be besties, but maybe, just maybe, they could be comfortable enough that seeing each other wouldn’t cause old wounds to open and fester.

“Would it be all right if I stopped by your store sometime soon? I never did get to see all the awesome things you’ve got there, and I heard all about how great it was from Caroline after she went the first time.”

“Of course. Anytime you want to come by, I’ll be there. Just let me know, even if it’s after hours.”

“And you really do donate clothes to women’s shelters and to teenagers who need a dress for a school dance and can’t afford it?” Fiona asked, sounding somewhat impressed.

Julie nodded. “Uh-huh. I love the looks on their faces when they come out of the dressing room wearing a Vera Wang or Gucci dress and it’s obvious they feel fabulous.”

“I’d say you’ve come a long way since that bitch in the jungle.”

Julie laughed, not offended in the least. “I hope so. I’m trying.”

“You’re succeeding.”

“Thanks for giving me the chance to apologize, Fiona. Seriously.”

“You’re welcome.”

“See you tomorrow, Hurt?” Cookie asked, shaking his Commander’s hand.

“O-five-hundred for PT,” Patrick confirmed.

Cookie nodded and he and Fiona left the room.

Julie felt herself being pulled back into Patrick’s arms. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her cradled against his chest. “You okay?”

“Yeah. That was…” Her voice trailed off, unsure of the word she was looking for.

“Cathartic?”

It was as good a word as any to try to explain how she was feeling. She nodded and nuzzled her cheek against Patrick’s shoulder. “Thank you for setting it up for me.”

“You’re welcome. It’s what Tex sent you to me to do, after all.”

Julie laughed. “Only a few months later than he expected it to happen though.”

“True. You ready to go?”

“Yeah, I have some stuff I need to do at the store. I’ve been neglecting it too long. The people that work with me are good, but they hate the sales stuff. Daddy hired them because they’re good at marketing and accounting. I need to set up a meeting with the director of a women’s clinic and see who has interviews coming up and what I can do to help.”

“In case I haven’t told you already, you’re amazing,”

Julie turned in Patrick’s grasp, happy he kept his arms around her, and looked up. “It feels good to help people, rather than belittle them or make fun of them for what they don’t have. It’s what I’ve done in the past, and I’m ashamed of it.”

Instead of responding to her words, Patrick said, “You’re coming over tonight, right?”

Julie thought the change of subject was a bit bizarre, but she answered affirmatively anyway.

“Good. I enjoyed holding you in my arms last night. But I think it’s time to move our relationship to the next level…if you’re ready.”

Julie knew exactly what Patrick was saying. She grinned up at him. “I’m definitely ready, and I’d like that.”

“I have a meeting at four today, but I’m headed home right after. When can you get there?”

“Anxious, are you?” Julie teased.

“Hell yes. You have no idea what’s in store for you tonight, sweetheart. I’ve dreamed about your body under mine. I’ve thought about how you’ll sound when you come apart for me. All of it. I can’t wait. And, as you heard me tell Cookie, I have PT in the morning, so you need to get to my place as soon as possible. I’m not planning on either of us getting much sleep.”

Julie knew she had a stupid grin on her face, but she couldn’t help it. “I’ll make sure I’m there by five. That work?”

“Perfectly. And as much as I want to kiss the hell out of you right now, it’s not exactly appropriate for the Commander of a Navy SEAL team to be sucking face at work. So for my professional reputation’s sake, get going. I’ll see you tonight.”

Julie nodded and pulled back reluctantly. “Thank you for being you, Patrick.”

He nodded. “Go on. Be safe.”

Julie smiled at him and walked backward to the door, not turning around until she’d exited and couldn’t see him anymore. The goofy grin on her face stayed there for most of the day.