Page 1 of Protecting Addison
CHAPTERONE
Ricardo “MacGyver” Douglas rolled over and glanced at the clock on the small table next to the bed. It was half past three in the morning, and he was wide awake. And the reason was sleeping next to him in his bed. Rolling his head the other way, he looked at his wife.
Hiswife.
That was still so weird to say. Well…to think. He’d been married to Addison Wentz for a month now, and he’d honestly been surprised when she’d said yes to his proposal. It wasn’t romantic. They weren’t in love. It was strictly a wedding of convenience for them both. He needed her to help him care for three children he’d rescued during a mission, and she needed him for the health insurance she could get from the Navy as his wife.
He hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he’d brought her and her twelve-year-old daughter to his home, but he should have. Things were pretty crowded in his small house. He bought it when he’d first moved to Riverton, California. It had three bedrooms, which seemed positively huge when it was just him. He’d had plenty of room for his hobby of tinkering with electronics and building things from random metal, plastic, and ceramic crap.
Now that there were five additional people living under his roof—four of them children—he’d had to clean up his house, put most of his stuff in the garage, and somehow make a comfortable home for the three orphans from Ukraine he hoped to adopt…as well as a wife and an almost-teenager.
Ellory, Addison’s daughter, was in one room with Yana, who’d recently turned five. The boys—eight-year-old Artem and seven-year-old Borysko—were sharing the other room. Most mornings, MacGyver found Yana in one of the beds in her brothers’ room. It would take time for her to feel safe in her new environment, and the child psychologist the kids were seeing had told him to not make a big deal out of the sleeping arrangements.
But it was hisownsleeping arrangements that had MacGyver waking up at the ass crack of dawn every morning. Rolling onto his side, he stared at the woman in his bed.
It was one thing to have a marriage of convenience…to marry Addison for practical purposes on both their parts. It was another to realize, too late, that he was head over heels for the woman.
He’d always wanted what his parents had. A loving relationship. His mom and dad openly adored each other. It often embarrassed MacGyver when he was a young kid. They were always holding hands and kissing. But before long, his dad became his role model. He went out of his way to make sure his wife was safe, happy, and protected. He stood up for her if a sales clerk was rude or if someone disrespected her. MacGyver had grown up with a desire to be just like him, which was part of the reason he’d joined the Navy. He wanted to protect those weaker than him. Protect his country. He hadn’t planned on being a SEAL, but here he was.
Blinking sleepily, MacGyver continued to study his wife. Addison Wentz—no…Douglas now—was beautiful. Tall, with curly auburn hair that never stayed confined in whatever barrette or scrunchie she tried to tie it back with. Her forest-green eyes were too serious most of the time. She carried a lot of worry and responsibility on her slender shoulders. From the first moment they met, MacGyver had wanted to take away some of the worry she seemed to be drowning under.
But underneath all the crippling responsibilities, Addison was a funny, caring, and beautiful woman. One MacGyver was drawn to. He loved that she was the same height as him. He hadn’t even realized he was attracted to tall women until Addison. He could look her in the eye without stretching his neck, she was the perfect height to wrap his arm around her waist comfortably, and when they’d hugged after being pronounced man and wife, he found out exactly how well their bodies lined up.
And lately, he couldn’t think of anything else.
Including now. Which meant his dick was hard…as it was every morning. At thirty-three, he’d thought his days of spontaneous morning wood were past him, but he’d been wrong. Sleeping next to Addison, smelling the lemon lotion she used every night before she came to bed, feeling the mattress move ever so slightly when she shifted positions…it all made MacGyver hyper-aware that the woman he wanted more than he was ready to admit out loud was just inches away.
But they had a deal. In exchange for access to healthcare for Ellory, she’d help him care for Artem, Borysko, and Yana…and help make him look like a better candidate for adoption. That was the extent of their marriage.
Addison had given him no reason to think she wanted anything from him other than what he’d already provided—protection and safety for her daughter.
MacGyver inhaled deeply, then slowly let out his breath. Even though his cock throbbed and it was physically painful, he did his best to ignore his body’s reaction to the woman in his bed. He’d never do anything to make her uncomfortable around him. Not purposely. For two full weeks, he’d actually slept on the floor in his own room, just because he could tell she was uneasy sharing the bed.
MacGyver felt ten feet tall when she’d finally decided it was silly for him to keep sleeping on the floor every night. He didn’t like that the change of heart was largely because she felt bad for being comfortable in bed, while he was on the hard floor. He’d slept in worst places, and had told her as much, but he had to admit he was happy to be back in his own bed.
But now he woke up every morning, dick as hard as his previous sleeping surface, about an hour before his alarm went off. Part of the reason he needed help was because his days as a Navy SEAL started early. Far too early for the three kids under his care. And getting up even earlier because of Addison? Exhausting.
However, that was his new normal.
Besides, being a father was evenmoreexhausting…and MacGyver loved every second of it. Seeing Artem’s eyes widen when he tried Lucky Charms for the first time…Borysko’s enthusiasm when he came home from school excited about something new he’d learned…the relief and pride at seeing Yana gaining weight between her first doctor’s appointment, and the one she’d had the day before.
The kids were blossoming, and MacGyver knew it was partly because of Addison. She was wonderful with the kids…caring, patient, and compassionate.
She sighed in her sleep and rolled over onto her side, facing him.
MacGyver held his breath. Lord, this woman was so out of his league, it wasn’t funny. He was bossy, a loner, and a nerd from his head to his toes. He’d rather spend time alone in his garage, tinkering with his inventions, than be social…even with his SEAL teammates, who were as close to him as brothers.
Addison was a bright shining light, and he was…What was he?
MacGyver smiled. He was the power source behind her light. The nerd behind the scenes keeping her plugged in. Kind of like the guy inThe Wizard of Oz. The one who ran around behind the curtain fiddling with this, messing with that. Keeping things going.
It was a silly thought, but one he rather enjoyed. MacGyver would gladly stay behind the scenes, supporting those he loved, letting them have the limelight.
“What time is it?”
Blinking, MacGyver realized that Addison had woken up…sort of. She sounded still half-asleep. A pang of tenderness hit him hard. “Too early to be up. Sleep, Addy.”
Her lips twitched into a slight smile. “I’ve never had a nickname before.”
