She’d never felt confident trying to predict what her dads’ reactions would be.
Likely because my brothers are such a reflection of them.
But her fathers surprised her. She wouldn’t have thought the retired oil executive and the retired college professor would have had anything in common with a couple of Navy SEALs—but then they’d all bonded over the engine of Michael’s car, and gone on to cement that connection during a Houston Rockets game against New Jersey.
There’d been occasions over the last couple of weeks when Julia thought that her fathers just might be looking forward to her commitment ceremony even more than she was.
Now, Dev extended his hand to Michael Benedict. “Thank you, sir. We both consider the family that we’re marrying into to be the best possible bonus we could ever imagine.”
“It’s not all that common, for two men who aren’t brothers, or who didn’t grow up here in Lusty, to be willing to make a family together with one special woman.” Carson Benedict stood next to his brother Michael, and met first Dev’s gaze, and then Drew’s. “In the last couple of weeks, Michael and I have gotten to know you both. We believe the two of you will be able to manage the sometimes delicate balancing act that will be required of you as you begin your lives together as the husbands to our daughter.”
Drew stroked his hand down Julia’s back while Dev took her hand. In that moment she felt such warmth, and such a connection to both of her men.
“Dev and I have been to hell and back together. As you know, we met in basic training—but for each of us, from that first moment, it was as if we’d known each other all of our lives. And even though we hold the same rank, I’ve always looked to Dev for leadership.” He paused, met Dev’s gaze, and looked back at her fathers. “We’ll both take very good care of your daughter, sirs.”
“We know you will. We’re very proud and delighted to welcome you to our family,” Carson said.
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot to both of us,” Dev said.
Julia thought Dev’s voice sounded more than a little strained. She knew her men, and understood they weren’t used to the parental caring and concern her folks and the aunts and uncles had already begun to heap on them.
Someone turned a radio on, tuning in to the country music station Julia listened to most often, and while no one would likely get up and start to dance, the party atmosphere was now firmly in place.
More family arrived, and the noise level escalated. Laughter formed an opus all its own, a wonderful sound Julia would never tire of hearing. The door opened again and again, and the three of them were kept busy greeting everyone.
“I was just beginning to get used to having you home again.” Her Aunt Bernice hugged her tightly. “But I guess you’ll be pulling up stakes once your men get transferred. It’s only natural, and it’s right.”
“Actually, we won’t be getting transferred, ma’am.” Dev bent down to give her aunt a kiss on the cheek. “We’ll be stationed at Goodfellow for the foreseeable future, as instructors.”
“Then, when this tour of duty is done, we thought we might open a security-training business—there’s a market for preparing people who want to become bodyguards,” Drew said.
“Well, that’s good news,” Bernice said. “What with Carson, Mike, and Abigail moving back from New York, and my own Matt here for good, it looks as if Lusty will once more boast a full slate of Benedicts.”
Aunt Bernice smiled from ear to ear with the prospect of being surrounded by so much family. Julia’s uncles also smiled, but she thought she saw a light of calculation in their eyes—which they confirmed moments later.
“Maybe you’d be interested in doing more than just training other people to do the job.” Caleb Benedict shook Dev’s hand, hugged her, then moved down the line and shook Drew’s hand, too. “You know, your business and ours could complement each other very well.”
“You’re right, they could,” Drew said. “You can be certain that before we make the move from military service to private enterprise, we’ll be sure to speak with the three of you. We’re going to need some pointers on how to go about things.”
“There’s lots of room in that new hangar for another business,” her uncle Jonathan said. “We’d be pleased to have you there.”
There were many things Julia loved about her men, and one of them was just this, the way they both were not only patient, but respectful of her family members. They truly valued the older members of her family, and what a joy that was for her.
Ginny Rose came over carrying a tray filled with soft drinks, a plate of hors d’oeuvres, and a saucer that held a ham-and-cheese sandwich.
“There’s a rumor going around hereabouts that you missed dinner,” Ginny said as she set the saucer down in front of her.
“I did, thanks! I’m starving.” Julia grabbed up the sandwich and bit into it gratefully. Dev reached out and wiped a tiny smudge of mustard off the corner of her mouth.
She loved parties, but one heated look from one of her men was all it took to have her craving some two-on-one time.
It didn’t take her long to polish off the ham and cheese. Sweet tea in hand, she turned when she heard someone whistling “
Another One Bites The Dust.
” Her cousin Josh, accompanied by his brother Alex and their fiancée Penelope had arrived. Josh had been the whistler, and grinned as soon as their gazes met.
“Yep, we’re dropping like flies.” Josh Benedict winked to show he was only kidding. He gave her a huge hug, lifting her off her feet to plant a loud, smacking kiss right on her laughing mouth.
“It’s shocking,” Alex agreed. “Like some kind of killer plague or something. Maybe we should have the water tested. What do you say, sweetheart?” Alex looked at Penelope. “That would be right up your environmental alley, wouldn’t it?”
Julia shook her head and her finger at her cousins once she was on the ground again. “I’d have thought that being engaged, and mere weeks from getting married would have somehow improved your social graces,” she said.
To her credit, Penelope didn’t seem the least bit offended by the geeks’ tactless observations.
“This
is
improved,” the petite black-haired beauty said. She gave Julia a hug, and then stood back. Julia understood the woman was taking in the picture she, Dev, and Drew made.
“You have to hand it to Grandma Kate. She sure knows how to pick ’em,” Penelope said.
Julia had heard the whispers about her grandmother somehow playing matchmaker to all and sundry. She shook her head.
“No, Grandma Kate had nothing to do with our getting together. I met Dev and Drew when I worked on one of the committees connected to Fleet Week in New York last year. They were assigned by their boss to be the Navy’s liaisons. ”
Penelope tilted her head to one side and gave her a look she could only characterize as “pitying.” Then she raised one eyebrow and looked rather pointedly at Dev.
Julia caught the almost blush, and the way both men seemed suddenly fascinated by the floor.
She felt her jaw drop as she set her gaze on each of her lovers in turn, and then looked back at Penelope. Something was definitely up.
“Do you think it was just a
coincidence
that Grandma Kate rented the house next door to yours to
them
?” her almost-cousin asked.
Julia looked at each of her men in turn, and saw the truth of Penelope’s assessment on their faces.
“You never did ask us, kitten, how we came to be in Lusty,” Drew said. “If you had, we would have told you.”
Obviously having decided that staring at the floor wasn’t going to win them any points, her Navy SEALs now looked at her, each wearing smiles designed to soften her heart.
They were working, too.
“And just how in the world did you find my grandmother in the first place?” Julia asked.
“Oh, they didn’t find me, sweetheart. I found
them
.”
Julia spun around, because she hadn’t seen Grandma Kate come in, and hadn’t noticed the diminutive woman had come to stand behind her.
“You found them?”
“Why, of course I did. Since they were looking for you, it wasn’t very hard. After you came to visit me on the Fourth of July weekend, why, then, I knew I had to do
something
.”
Julia appreciated that her grandmother was trying to be diplomatic and not reveal every little detail of that visit to Dev and Drew.
Both men looked at Julia with curiosity alive in their eyes.
So, too, did fully half of the family members in attendance.
Julia recalled very well how upset she’d been that weekend. It was the weekend after they’d simply vanished, the weekend after they’d spent the night together and Julia had awakened to the truth. She’d fallen in love with them. Julia remembered crying on her grandmother’s shoulder, and her grandmother pouring hot buttered rum into her to help her sleep.
Of course her grandmother would have felt she had to do something. That was the Benedict way.
Julia felt the eyes of her unattached cousins on her as they watched, waiting for what she would say. She looked over and saw some of her other cousins—Matt and Steven, Morgan and Henry, Josh and Alex, all looking at her, laughter in their eyes.
“Thanks, Grandma Kate.” Julia wrapped her arms around her. The strength of Grandma Kate’s hugs always surprised her. She kissed the aged cheek, soft as baby’s skin, and stepped back. “Thanks for looking out for me. Thanks for making sure I had a second chance to grab my happiness.”
“You’re very welcome, sweetheart.” Grandma Kate reached up and cupped Julia’s cheek. “I only want you, and all my grandchildren, to be happy.”
Julia smiled. She guessed that was what it was really all about, bottom line. And she knew that together with her two men, a happy ever after was definitely in their future.
Jordan and Peter strolled over to visit for awhile, and Julia tried not to giggle at the way both men’s gazes were drawn to Tracy when she came out of the kitchen to put food on the buffet bar.
Peter looked back at Julia once Tracy returned to the kitchen. “Oh, I had a conversation with one of the prosecutors assigned to Miguel Ramos’s case.” Peter’s smile widened. “I thought you might like to know they consider the case they’re building to be the tightest one they’ve had in years. The man will never see the outside of a prison again.”
“Good,” Dev said. “It’s the very least that criminal deserves.”
“I agree.” Jordan’s voice held an edge that Julia had rarely heard from him. Then she remembered that Ramos had put a contract out on Peter, which had very nearly resulted in that man’s death.
“That is good news,” Julia said. She figured everyone in town would sleep better knowing they didn’t have to worry about that man anymore.
The door to the restaurant opened, and she turned her head to see who’d arrived. Adam and Jake Kendall came in, Jake carrying Ginny’s son, Benny, on his shoulders. Benny’s giggles made everyone smile.
No question about it, the entire town had adopted Ginny and Benny Rose.
Julia looked over and watched as Ginny looked up, her smile blossoming at the sight of her son and his companions. And then that smile froze in place. She looked from Adam to Jake, worry crinkling her brow.
Jake lifted the boy down, and he immediately ran over to his mother. “Hi, Mom. I got a ride!”
Ginny looked down at the small boy. Julia knew she wasn’t the only one who realized her smile was forced.
Something was very wrong.
“So I see, Benny Rose. Did you thank Jake for that ride?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She closed her eyes briefly as she hugged him, and then set him at arm’s length. “Tracy made a special little pie, just for you.”
“She did?
Really
?”
“Yes, really. Why don’t you go on into the kitchen and see her?”
“You betcha!” Benny took three steps toward the kitchen.
Ginny cleared her throat loudly and Benny stopped. He turned, and gave his mother a grin that made Julia think he must have been taking lessons in charm from most of the men of Lusty.
“I mean, yes, ma’am.”
“Be sure to thank Tracy for that pie.”
“I will.”
Ginny waited until the kitchen door swung closed behind her son. Then she turned to face Lusty’s sheriff and his brother, Jake.