Page 35 of Protecting Maggie
CHAPTER EIGHT
“What?” Maggie asked in disbelief.
The last week had been quiet. Almost too quiet. She hadn’t gotten any threatening calls from Roman, work had been smooth, and she’d loved getting to know Shawn better and better. And his kisses made her knees weak and her lips tingle. She wanted more but wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed, since he was a virgin. She didn’t mind that he was inexperienced, but she wasn’t sure if she should take the lead. He was an alpha, that was clear. Would he be turned off if she made the first move?
It looked like it was a moot point for the time being.
“We’re being deployed today,” Shawn said in her ear. It was just before lunchtime, and Maggie had thought he was calling to ask what she wanted him to bring her to eat, but instead he’d dropped a hell of a bomb.
“Deployed? For how long?”
“Shit,” Shawn muttered. Then he sighed. “We haven’t talked about this part of my job, but unfortunately, I can’t tell you much of anything. That’s the nature of being a SEAL. Many times we don’t even know ourselves how long we’ll be gone. But our missions aren’t like your friend Adina’s deployments. They typically don’t last for months.”
The panic Maggie felt was a surprise. She hadn’t known Shawn, or his friends, for that long, but the thought of not being able to talk to him every night like she’d been doing, or see him, felt wrong.
She’d learned a lot from Remi and the other women, however. This was what it was like being with a military guy. Besides, it wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to being alone.
As if Shawn could read her mind, he said, “Remi, Wren, and Josie will be here for you. And Caroline, Summer, and the other women too. And their husbands. You aren’t alone, Maggie. I promise.”
“I know,” she whispered. And she did. The way everyone had embraced her had been nothing short of a miracle. She’d never had so many friends before. And it felt great.
“I wanted to be able to tell you in person, but the orders came down and we have to leave almost immediately.”
“You’ll…be careful?” It sounded stupid, but suddenly Maggie was afraid for Shawn.
“I’m always careful. And now I’ve got something, someone, to come home to, so I’ll be even more vigilant.”
Wow. That was… Maggie wasn’t sure what that was. But his words made her toes curl and for the first time in years, she felt as if she really mattered. “Shawn,” she whispered.
“I know, this sucks. But it’s what I do. Usually we have more prep time, but sometimes this happens. I’ll be back before you know it. Again, if anything comes up, call Dude, Cheyenne’s husband. He’ll be able to help you.”
Maggie wanted to ask what he thought might come up, but she knew what he was referring to. Her ex. She’d told him the other day that she hadn’t heard from him in a week, and while she was relieved, it also made her worry that he might be planning something. Of course, that admission didn’t make Shawn happy. At all.
For the first time since they’d met, Maggie wondered why she was working so hard to keep her ex’s name a secret from Shawn. Yes, she was scared of what Roman could do, but if people knew about him, who he was, then if anything happened to Maggie, maybe Roman would be considered just a little more seriously.
“When you get back, we should talk,” Maggie blurted. Now that Roman’s last threats weren’t so recent, she felt braver about telling Shawn who he was.
“We will,” he told her. “I need to go, we have a lot to do to get ready since this mission came about so unexpectedly. Be safe while I’m gone. Maggie?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to miss you. I’ve really enjoyed the talks we’ve had every night.”
Maggie sagged. “Me too,” she admitted.
“I’ll call as soon as we’re back on base. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Take care.”
“You too.”
Maggie reluctantly clicked off the phone and sighed. Already she felt more alone than she’d been since the day she’d met Shawn and his friends.
By the time she got to My Sister’s Closet for her shift, word had obviously gotten out that Shawn and his team had been sent on a mission.
“How’re you holding up?” Julie asked.
